Arbitrary Steps

 They say the second wave is on it's way and is starting in Europe already. I discussed this yesterday. We decided today that we aren't going to wait to see if we should restock, and set out to do so .  Other then a few things I think we are fully restocked and ready to hunker down again for a few months. This whole process has become routine: Make sure we have enough masks, cleaning supplies, and food to last several months. Avoid crowds at all costs, stay away when near anyone. Pick up and delivery instead of going out.Wash our hands a ridiculous amount. Pray for a vaccine. Each day is this same routine over and over. We are used to it now. I worry so much about not just family and friends who may not be as prepared, but also those out of work and struggling. How do you prepare for this second wave and try to keep your family safe if you don't even have grocery money? What if you are evicted? I am so VERY blessed to be safe, yes we worked HARD to get here, but at the same...

 The second wave is hitting Europe now, they say it will be worst then the first. Last time the virus hit Europe we had a month of lead time to get ready, so without waiting for any official advice we are jumping in and preparing now.

 Today was the first time in 6 months that my hubby and I went to see the dentist. When Covid statrted seeing a Dentist was listed as a "Dangerous" activity, so we brushed our teeth more carefully and crossed our fingers that our teeth stayed healthy. It worked! No cavities! There are a bunch of changes to how the dental office conducts buisness: - Everyone is masked, in fact they are double masked - When you walk in they take your temp and make you sign a legal paper that says you have no Covid signs, symptoms, nor have you been around anyone that is sick - There are plexiglass barriers put up in areas where talking is common (the receptionist area) - The waiting room has all chairs spaced way apart and half the amount of seating they used to have. As a test case for what the new normal is going to look like it was a resounding success

 Not good, not bad...but okay. We both noticed we don't laugh as much as before COVID, but it's stress related and we recognize it. One day the laughter will return. We are however doing well and hubby and I are thankfully on the same page as far as how we go about day to day changes due to COVID; Wearing masks, still stocking up, and staying home most of the time. I can only imagine the changes coming. How many businesses will never come back, what the final death toll will be, how many will refuse to be vaccinated. We are at about the halfway point until the vaccine comes so we are entrenched in how our home life has changed, but the outside world only comes to us through our TV screens. Add to all of this the election coming up and our world is a bit depressing right now. Other countries saw virus numbers decline and opened back up only to have another surge...it happens over and over. I get not wanting to kill the economy but couldn't they have looked at other countries...

 I repeat myself...a lot. I know this, but it's a side effect of being home 24-7. In exciting news we have a tiny bit of rain! It's just "Showers" according to the news, but it should help our air quality and help fire fighters battling various fires in our area. We have been 100% stuck at home since the wildfires started, wheras before we could a least go to a few places and maybe anything outdoors.  I am so VERY excited to get out of the house!  

 I never know if our leaders are misdirecting, or actually trying to tell the truth about the virus and are just bumbling their attempts. I trust Dr. Fauci and most of the medical community, the rest? Not so much. Rumors and supposition say that the virus is going to be much worse this winter but some scientists say the actual horrible time will be this spring. Our President? He still says it'll all magically go away. Regardless of what our leaders say we continue to prepare our household just in case we go back into lockdown. Once the vaccine is out we still won't be free. Half of the population says they won't take it, and even once you are vaccinated you can still carry the virus so mask wearing will still be a thing for a long time to come. I am not so much wistful for the pre-covid days, I just want to get to our "New Normal" as soon as possible so I can acclimate and find my happiness in that space, I can be happy anywhere as long as I have a framework to wo...

 So first my brother in law and his wife got Covid (she has recovered, he is having a harder time with fatigue etc, but is home). Now one of my husbands neices tested positive for COVID.

 When the pandemic hit stores were cleaned out of many items they normally have in stock. Slowly a few items came back, but in limited numbers. Now when you go to the grocery store they have disinfectant wipes....but it's all some generic off brand I have never heard of. This is true store wide; some items are consistently back in stock but they are all strange brands, and I'm not exactly sure where they are sourced. Clorox and Lysol wipes are still $75 on Ebay (Normally $6). Also stores have been strategically arranging shelves so they look fully stocked., but if you look closer they just spread out certain items to fill in what would be bare spots on the shelves left by items they still don't have. For the most part things are semi-normal. The stores are still stocked and we go about business as usual....it just takes a minute of looking to realize though that all is not quite as it appears.

  Currently at 586 cases for our tiny town