I was trying to think who can I schedule F2F time with (outside with physical distancing, of course), because I've been running empty lately, so I counted: I saw four friends (separately) eight times (again, only outside with physical distancing) since this thing began in March. Usually while I ran errands, and they were in the same street so I said hello. And my parents four times, twice to help them with things that couldn't be done in a remote way. No one in the past six weeks, at all.

No wonder the world feels a lot smaller. I miss F2F conversations.

I will try to meara, but I am so bad at it!

Meara, I think your puppy trained your body!

Askye, that sounds wonderful. It is so nice to be recognized for good work.

Msbelle and Cindy, I am sorry your children are being pains. And everyone with parents, I am sorry your parents are being pains.

sj. Condolances on your uncle

Msbelle- I hope your uncle turns another corner to health

ND- It doesn’t sound like a rant. And if it did, you would be well within your rights. I can’t believe the stress you must be under, and since your are kind and compassionate and have other people depending on you it must be even harder. It’s amazing that you were able to keep your full timers when large corporations (my former student was full time wardrobe on a late night talk show) could not or did not choose to,

My county is probably going red on Monday. As I said earlier, they are asking people to pick up extra shifts and really hoping to not have to close the OR to elective surgeries because that was financially disastrous to us. One thing I did not know is that really anything that is not life or death is technically elective. So for example, if you have gallstones or even cancer, that is considered elective unless you are in imminent danger of death. So closing elective surgeons also leaves people in a lot of pain as well. I always though elective surgery was for things like cosmetics procedures, but they differentiate by emergency/trauma, elective, and cosmetic.

However, they seem to think the nurses and doctors can get the vaccine by January if not sooner. I appreciated JZs post about the vaccine on Facebook and was happy to share with several coworkers. The nurses I know are pretty confident but the staff, although they mostly believe inCOVID and masking and distances with only maybe 2 exceptions (and one of them believes in the virus and masking and everything, just thinks that they shouldn’t close businesses or small parties because it is financially and mentally disastrous, which I can’t say he is wrong about, just that I am an ends justify the means kind of girl, and people not dying seems like a good end)

My mother wants Christmas in July, which I think is smart. She also thinks we should wait to buy gifts until then, which is fine, except I was going to make everyone masks from fabric I already have, mail them out, and call it a day!

dcp, that really was a cool video. When I saw the length, I didn't think I'd watch it all, but it was fascinating.

Shir, that must be so hard. I hope you're able to schedule some time with some people.

Thank you, Sophia. "Pains" are a good word for them (at least mine).

As I said earlier, they are asking people to pick up extra shifts and really hoping to not have to close the OR to elective surgeries because that was financially disastrous to us. One thing I did not know is that really anything that is not life or death is technically elective.

Yeah, hospitals are hurting, which makes the Trumplings' lies about doctors/hospitals making more money off Covid extra insidious. Elective surgeries are the bread and butter.

I am so grateful that my son's hospitalizations and surgery were last year. I keep wondering how many kids are going through what he went through, only to have Covid make it all worse.

However, they seem to think the nurses and doctors can get the vaccine by January if not sooner. I appreciated JZs post about the vaccine on Facebook and was happy to share with several coworkers. The nurses I know are pretty confident but the staff, although they mostly believe inCOVID and masking and distances with only maybe 2 exceptions (and one of them believes in the virus and masking and everything, just thinks that they shouldn’t close businesses or small parties because it is financially and mentally disastrous, which I can’t say he is wrong about, just that I am an ends justify the means kind of girl, and people not dying seems like a good end)

I can't see JZ's post, but I wish could get the vaccine today. I do think vaccinating healthcare workers first is the right thing to do and makes the most sense. My hope is that the people who are fearful of the vaccine will have time to think about the fact that the people who know the most are not running from the vaccine, but to it.

My mother wants Christmas in July, which I think is smart. She also thinks we should wait to buy gifts until then, which is fine, except I was going to make everyone masks from fabric I already have, mail them out, and call it a day!

This is a really good idea. Do you have to buy into her present plan? Can you agree to Christmas in July, and still make and send out your presents now, and just save Mom's for July?

I’m trying to think who I’ve seen since the pandemic started. I’ve seen aurelia twice, once outside her house and once outside mine. I’d seen my friend Carla once for Mexican food, served in the boulevard across the street from the restaurant. Since her accident I’ve seen her more because she was only allowed one visitor in the hospital. (One total, not just one at a time.) I saw another friend for a quick drink on an outdoor patio on my birthday, which was deserted because it was freezing. I ran into my childhood friend Ben when I was dog walking in June. And I came with my sister the one time she made it to her outdoor book club.

That’s it. Outside of that, my dad, and my dad’s cleaning man Gordon (there’s a story for another day) that’s everyone I’ve conversed in person with since mid-March.

In the past I was occasionally aggravated that my sister still lives with me but especially for COVID times it’s much more a blessing than not.

I told Tim last night "Okay...I'm actually starting to miss hugging people other than you."

Tim: [incredulous look]

Me: "Not *everyone*!!! Just people who I want to hug!"

The only person other than Tim who I've hugged since March is my brother when he was here in August, and that was because I launched myself at him without thinking, hugged him, remembered, flung myself backwards and said "OH MY GOD SORRY SORRY SORRY!!!" This was on the sidewalk outside the coffee shop in my neighborhood, so my hugging faux pas had plenty of witnesses.

I took the job with the company that is working on the covid vaccine supply chain planning and preparation. Turns out they (we) also have people in hospitals trying to innovate ways to treat more people with continuously limited supplies of human workers and equipment. These are good problems to be working on.

However, my first job will be as the strategic innovation lead for a bunch of data science and emerging tech around people tracking, which I'm less excited about.

Either way, it's income and keeps me occupied. I'm just not sure how I'm going to handle being Corporate Girl again after years of being an independent.

(also we've put in an adoption application for a puppy, so wish us puppy~ma!)

I took the job with the company that is working on the covid vaccine supply chain planning and preparation. Turns out they (we) also have people in hospitals trying to innovate ways to treat more people with continuously limited supplies of human workers and equipment. These are good problems to be working on.

This is excellent, Volans. Congrats on the new gig (and you got it so fast).

That's great, Volans. Congratulations. As someone(s) else said above, it gives me confidence to know people like you are working on this.

Well, I was in the hospital for about a week in April after my "final" surgery in March, during which time they imposed the no visitors rule, and then I was in the ER for magnesium infusions every two weeks for a while (since then, I've found a supplement type that works better and am taking a new-to-me drug that helps with absorption, so none of those visits in several months, yay). So, I was seeing people F2F, all masked, but not for good reasons, though I did know and like many of them. Interestingly, my surgeon moved my surgery up a week in March (I was already in the hospital), because he figured he was about to be subject to the non-elective surgery rules, and, though I was not in great shape, gastrically and tubularly speaking, I wasn't at death's door.

Other than medical personnel/appointments, the only people I've seen are my aunt once on her deck outside, my sister and her wife twice, and Matt's mother twice (two visits up where they all live -- we hit all of them in each visit). The only reason we felt more or less OK with those visits is because the three of them were sequestering just as diligently as we were. But even so, we wouldn't do that now.

I would like to see a dentist and a hair stylist, but it'll wait. My hair is kind of hilarious right now, though. Homegrown pixie by two people who don't actually know how to cut hair makes for some laughs. When most people finally go back to hair stylists/barbers on the regular, I bet there will be some horrified (but muted, maybe?) reactions to what people have done to themselves, tress-wise.

Oh yeah, I did get my hair cut in June? July? One of the warm months. And I see neighbors out on the street, and chat with cashiers and stuff, staying apart. But even for my introverted, online-oriented self it’s been rough. You extroverts have my genuine care and sympathy.

The only person other than Tim who I've hugged since March is my brother when he was here in August, and that was because I launched myself at him without thinking, hugged him, remembered, flung myself backwards and said "OH MY GOD SORRY SORRY SORRY!!!" This was on the sidewalk outside the coffee shop in my neighborhood, so my hugging faux pas had plenty of witnesses.

My single normally huggy self can list the hugs I’ve had since March.

In mid-July I hugged my sister and her children when I went to their house to dog sit so they could go down the shore for a week. We’d all been locked in our respective houses since March and hadn’t grocery shopped (our only exception) in two weeks. Haven’t touched them since. When they got home we met up outside with our masks on. In October we had a picnic - we ate six feet apart and were masked the rest of the time. Three days later they came down with colds and I did not so we clearly did something right.

In early September at a socially distanced outdoor wedding one of my good friends (also a hugger, also drunk) spontaneously grabbed me with his big muscular arms and clutched me to his big muscular chest. Fortunately his masked face was a good foot from my masked face.

In October while taking a walk with a friend I started to cry and she lost all control and grabbed me for an entire second before we realized it.

Finally, right after Thanksgiving, I was saying my farewells with a neighbor who is moving. He spontaneously hugged me good-bye which was lovely as he’d had a nasty bout of the virus in April.

Other than drying dishes and otherwise passing things with my roommates the above is my only physical human contact in almost nine months. I think it’s making me a little crazy. Er.