I tried to make an expression the other day about keeping our attitudes positive and our tests negative, but I couldn't pull it off.

I keep almost crying… like, for why?!?

I was crying on my walk the other day after they told us we aren't coming back to the office in January because I can't take another year of that fucking walk. (At least I'll need to come up with some new routes.)

everything is just too much.

making food everyday is too much. not having answers for things at work is too much. numbers of people testing positive more than quadrupling is too much. bills to pay is too much. making this list is now too much.

I hear you, msbelle. It really is. Can you take a short break and just not for a little while? Would that help?

I am mostly not-ing. Vacation was Dec 10 -15 and that was basically just hanging out. I am not exhausted, I am uneasy.

Rose tested positive yesterday, and we are all feeling some flavor of crummy today, although she actually feels better today. So now instead of flying home from Massachusetts, we are renting a car and driving 16 hours to Nashville, with plenty of rapid tests and Tylenol on hand.

Sending good thoughts to all. Sheryl, I hope Mr. S feels better soon and that his test is negative.

Ugh, sorry to hear it, Kate.

Here, everyone: [link]

Yikes Kate! Good luck with that drive!!

I was wondering yesterday when I had a runny nose…and then today remembered I’d run out of allergy meds, and that would explain it. Still not sure at what point I should use the two rapid tests I have left! I guess if I have a fever or feel sick??

Oh Kate, I'm sorry. I hope Rose is feeling well, soon.

Laura, did your DH go?

I think my oldest son has Covid. His fiancée almost certainly does.

As it should be their last unmarried Christmas, their plan was for him to spend Christmas Eve, Christmas, and yesterday (my mom's birthday) with us, while GF spent it with her family.

He rapid tested negative on Wednesday and Friday, but she tested positive on Friday. She was already down at her family's home. Her family tested in advance of seeing an immune-compromised relative (which they then did not do).

Based on his exposure, he couldn't come here, because of my mom and younger son. Her family said since they were already exposed via their daughter, my son should go there.

I didn't think it was the best idea, but he'd been with her every day for a week, so he decided it was likely that if she had it, he had already caught it. I understood why he chose it over spending Christmas alone, but so he went to their house Friday night, came back yesterday, and they all basically marinated in it (without the GF isolating in her room) over the weekend.

He started feeling symptoms (mild, he's a healthy almost 26-year-old who got his booster in early November) yesterday. He had a PCR test today. I hope he didn't have it too soon.

Meanwhile, his GF is still at her parents' house. She went to urgent care today, because her throat was really painful and swollen. The urgent care docs think she has Covid and strep!

We masked up today, and brought some groceries to my son's apartment. He came out (masked) on the front porch, while we stood down on the sidewalk. After we got home, I realized I'd forgotten to bring him leftovers, so he swung by after his PCR test, and we brought them out to our porch.

Thank you, Jesse. I needed that.