If Ken (and most of the rest of the Horde) weren't here in Washington I would be off my head right now. County sheriffs all over Utah are saying they won't enforce the mask mandates, and Governor Herbert wouldn't close the churches. Meanwhile University Hospital's ICU is at 103% of capacity, with all the Intermountain Health facilities close behind; they're about to start opening respiratory triage centers in tents in hospital parking lots.

Because I'm me, I'm still upset about hospitals reducing the number of beds year after year for the last 40 years to post quarterly profits.

Two things happened at work: I revisited a blog I wrote back in March forecasting exponential increase in covid cases without intervention, so that we could discuss the forecasting method and compare my predictions with what happened (I had not accounted for all the disinfo)...and some jackhole slid into my comments with "ANOTHER post about this fake pandemic?!?! This used to be a good blog, but I'm unsubscribing! What about Sweden and how they've had hardly any cases?" (please note this is the federal gov't)

And while I was looking at that, my best friend at work told me her sister died of covid this morning.

We have very easy access to testing here in Los Angeles. So now there is a problem with younger folks getting tested on Thursday so they have their negative result on Friday so that they can then go out and attend large illegal parties on Saturday completely unmasked.

Yeah, that's not how that works. That's now how any of that works.

under 50?

Volans I’m so sorry for your friend.

I’m at a doctor’s appointment at our hospital, and I do not like it one but. Too many people here.

The politicalization of basic health common sense continues to horrify me. DH had to go to one of our medical offices today to make changes on about 30 computers before staff arrived. The last thing he did before leaving the house was grab his box of gloves. He was not thrilled about touching all these people's keyboards even though we know they sanitize the offices at night. Ick! I appreciate that he has taken this so seriously since he does end up in medical offices several times a week. He's been tested 3 times. At this point he would only get tested if one of his contacts ended up positive as he has been so cautious.

eta: gee wiz autocorrect, I know that isn't the right spelling...

So now there is a problem with younger folks getting tested on Thursday so they have their negative result on Friday so that they can then go out and attend large illegal parties on Saturday completely unmasked.

UGGGGGGGH WHY ARE PEOPLE

Volans, I'm sorry, for both those things.

Jessica, I ask myself that at least a dozen times a day lately.

applesauce muffins:

You know what I miss? Driving up to Kingston to a local brewery that has an open mic blues night; Jim getting me a beer and talking to a friend of his who's a regular player, while I walk a couple of blocks to the burger place to pick up supper. Spending a few hours listening to music (and heckling the players in a friendly way), petting dogs who want pets, helping kids get board games out of the stack. When it's over, we all walk down the road to a bar that's open later and hang out until they throw us out, then drive home down quiet roads under the stars.

God, I hope Downpour makes it. The couple who own it are great - I've watched their kids tear around during fish frys in the beer garden - they give so much to the community, and their beer is amazing.