I almost died out there yesterday because somebody needed chicken fingers RIGHT THE HELL NOW.
This big pickup crossed two travel lanes from the left then stopped sideways in front of me when they couldn't get into the right turn lane bc other cars were in it.
Glad my habits of careful driving and paying attention on the road paid off.
I drive with the assumption that everyone else is likely to do spectacularly stupid things, and, well, someone did.
Most of my social circle is online, so my orbit is pitched way to the #CovidCautious side. & fortunately there aren't strong countercurrents IRL around here. But I have gotten into some really uncomfortable conversations with a couple of close friends.
Mostly, though, they respect my boundaries. I just wish they'd practice some of their own.
The high cost of rapid #COVID tests in the U.S. forces bad choices even on people who would like to be #COVIDcautious.
Because I stockpiled eight tests per person per month for the entire period when they were covered by insurance, and also thanks to my wife's awesome job that keeps her well-supplied with tests, we have as many as we need.
1/?
I'm going down to #NYC tomorrow for my uncle's birthday and taking him to the #opera, opening night of La Forza del Destino at the #MetropolitanOpera. He's been a huge opera fan for most of his life, and he can't really get there on his own anymore, and I think this may be the first time he's going since the start of the pandemic, so this is a Big Deal. I am a bundle of nerves; there's so much that could go wrong! 1/6
To start, there's #COVID. I'm still being #CovidCautious so generally speaking I wouldn't go to the theatre on my own, but this is extraordinarily important to my uncle and who knows how much longer he'll be able to make it to the opera, so for him I will risk it. I'll wear a good N95 mask the whole time (which alas means no restaurants), and I'll use Enovid, and it'll probably be fine. But probably isn't definitely, and my uncle won't mask so I have to worry about him getting sick. 2/6
Our #COVIDcautious lifestyle has increasingly pushed us into social isolation. Which has resulted in a siege mentality of sorts, where it's the two of us against the rest of the world. Family and friends were lost to us due to the push towards the normalization of the ongoing pandemic by a neoliberal order under late stage capitalism. It individualized responsibility, which not only forced us deeper under siege, but also made us increasingly lonely.
We tried to reach out to other people in similar situations, but no one seemed interested to engage with us in a committed way. #MutualAid, #GermPods, #CommunalCare, #CirclesOfTrust, it all sounded good in theory. But they were not happening for us.
What can we do?
We would be really grateful for some leads.
The kind and thoughtful replies to my last “tired of talking about this shit” #Covid post inspired me to recount a dream I had the other night. It was a variation of the “caught indoors without a mask and feeling naked” dream that’s so common to us #CovidCautious types.
This dream was scarier. I was unmasked, and knew it. I’d given up, and was wondering how bad my first infection would be, any day now.
No fucking way that’s gonna happen. Might get it, but it will be despite an #N95 respirator.
#WashingtonDC knowers: seeking tips for a ~weeklong adults-only trip late June.
What not to miss (“Used Tissue Museum is amazing!”), what /to/ miss (“Postage Stamp Gallery overrated”), what /not/ to do (“avoid Metro on Tuesdays, when it's usually on fire”), etc.
Current plan: hotel in Dupont Circle, metro-or-drive as needed (eg: metro to Mall, drive to Udvar-Hazy).
Hey fellow Covid Cautious people, how do you deal with overwhelming loneliness and despair? Because, y'know, everyone else is fully capable of dealing with these things and it's just me who doesn't know the one weird trick to coping with an absurd and horrific existence.
@ShaulaEvans@Traiken
Oooo! Yes! This is exactly one of the things I was hoping the @lonelinesscorps group might help with. Both sharing online ways to connect as well as ideas for safe social stuff irl.
Pls feel more than welcome to use it! #covidCautious#lonely
With wastewater still showing high prevalence in my area, I went to the #CVS website to confirm the process for getting a #PCR test just in case. I was shocked to find CVS only offers rapid tests now?!?
It looks like #Walgreens stills offers PCR tests. No idea if insurance covers it, but the list price is $128.99!!!
The CDC dares say "we have the tools"?!? 😠
So, where do you go for a PCR now? Will a PCP do it if you just ask for it? Thanks.
Back in 2010 I founded the #NonProfit@freetechproject which I still work for and thankfully enables me to #WFH#CovidCautious while caring for my partner who has #LongCovid -- facilitating #OnlineLearning via relaxed, fun and friendly video meetups with predominantly older people that have remained our only method of delivery since 2020. The organisation is seeking to add to its board of directors and it'd be great to have interest from UK folks passionate about increasing online engagement and tackling social isolation, as well as #EthicalTechnology#FOSS#fundraising#PublicHealth and, yes, the fact #CovidIsNotOver. Please spread the word, and/or get in touch if you're interested! Thanks! @onepict@privacydingus@kathimmel@crowgirl
Take a look at @phpledge recommendations. Set a policy now, with the caveat that it "may change, but will only be strengthened, never weakened" and then people have something to work with.
As it stands the conference is excluding anyone #CovidCautious from participating.
#VoicesOfSolaria is a voice-oriented #cripplepunk / #solarpunk Discord server for those who are still looking to protect one another from airborne infections.
When I got to the office, I requested masking as an accommodation. The tech came in wearing an N-95.
Tech: Are you sick?
Me: No
Tech: Then why are you wearing a mask?
Me: So I don’t get COVID
Tech: What is this? points to my HEPA filter
Me: It’s a HEPA filter. It reduces viral load in the air, including COVID particles
Tech: Oh, we should get those for the patient rooms
Me: Great idea!
(1/x)
#VoicesOfSolaria is a voice-oriented #cripplepunk / #solarpunk Discord server for those who are still looking to protect one another from airborne infections.
Frage an die #covidcautious Bubble in #München: Kann man irgendwo safe essen gehen? Notfalls draußen, aber nicht ganz ideal bei den Temperaturen.. #cleanair Gern RT
Do you have any hope left? I see how governments are telling people to go to school or work sick, and pretending that "immunity debt" is a thing. Those who are still being careful are now labeled as having anxiety disorders. We're all being gaslit with statements like "there's always a lot of respiratory sickness in winter" as the hospitals are overloaded like never before. It doesn't seem to matter what medical studies show or what's in front of people's faces, the average person believes Covid is no big deal.
I get the sense that this is how things are always going to be now, except with the addition of worsening healthcare and overall health of people.
#VoicesOfSolaria is a voice-oriented #cripplepunk / #solarpunk Discord server for those who are still looking to protect one another from airborne infections.
I watched a funny medieval parody show yesterday. There was one scene where they had intervention for the village drunk BECAUSE he had quit drinking. Everyone was encouraging him to take it up again because he wasn't fun anymore.
It was so hilariously absurd.
Nobody would EVER be concerned over someone because they've adopted extremely healthy, adaptive habits that improve their lives and significantly reduce their risk of long term illness.
It's just so funny because it's so incredibly unrealistic and absurd.
SOOO absurd.
I just can't get over how funny it was because of the absurdity.
Any y'all #CovidCautious types aware of good resources for how to safely attend large gatherings (eg: tech conferences)?
I think I have the mask angle covered well enough (N95s aplenty, a FloMask that may not fit my face super well, intent to possibly try an EnvoMask in case it fits better, etc, etc).
Mostly unsure about what I don't know I don't know. Tips, tricks, managing anxiety after 4+ years of near total isolation. How to get a personal teleporter for instant escape-to-hotel-room. &c
I'm very happy that my brother did the tests I dropped off to him (contactless) after finding out he had a sore throat and fever. So far the at home Lucira was negative for flu and covid, and one RAT he took 24 hrs later was negative. He's gonna test again tomorrow with a RAT and stay isolating but he's feeling better. Not sure what it is. Wish we had better tests.
I've actually seen a couple of good starts on solid covid PSAs. It'd be great if the #CovidCautious could get systematic about public health messaging. Not sure exactly what that would look like (not my area of exertise), but I wonder if something like the March of Dimes would be a solid model to work from.