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Quote of the Day

In the rush to return to normal, use this time to consider what parts of normal are worth rushing back to.” ~ Dave Hollis

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Responsible Social Distancing

We were both suffering a bit of cabin fever yesterday, so I suggested to Ben that after dinner we take a drive. Not actually go anywhere, but just take Rabbit out for a run (since the most I’ve done with the car has been a week’s worth of seven mile round trip commutes, a few trips to Target,  and my daily runs to Starbucks, which is about five minutes from the house).

Neither Ben or I had been on the new 202 freeway, so we decided to check it out.

Traffic was light. I’d compare it to a Sunday night on a -day holiday weekend when everyone’s out of town. We ended up doing a loop through the southeast valley and then headed home.

It was a much needed escape.

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Just in Case…


Yep. If you’re still stuck indoors in 3 months, blame those idiots on the beach in CA and so many others like them.

P.S. Don’t believe a THING that orange shitstain in the White House says.

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#Mood

I think everything is finally catching up with me. In a deep funk tonight. I thought I was doing a pretty good job of keeping everything in check, but when we made a brief run to Target this morning it all started falling apart. Whereas a week ago, with the exception of the paper products aisle and anything disinfectant-related being sold out, pretty much everything else was the same as always. There were fresh veggies, meat, frozen items, and ready-to-eat products in quantity. Not so today. It was as if a swarm of locusts moved through the store. And it still makes absolutely no sense to me at the items that are sold out. We were able to get the items we needed, but it was just…sad.

So then we came home to another rambling bather-fest by the orange menace in the White House. When are these news organizations just going to stop broadcasting his every dim-witted word salad? We need leadership, not bullshit.

And it doesn’t help that AutoNation is still dicking around with my financing. I was told a week ago the loan had been approved by Belco Credit Union and I’d shortly be getting a welcome call from them. Lies. AutoNation’s finance guy called this morning asking me to send them proof of employment because Belco was asking for it—even though I’d sent this to my salesman earlier in the week when he requested it. I swear one hand doesn’t know what the other is doing at that place.

Frankly, I don’t mind being cooped up in the house. Truth be told I was looking forward to this scenario as my retirement. You know, not having to go out and deal with people on a daily basis. The dogs obviously love it, even if they seem a bit confused why Ben and I are home all day. And they’re certainly enjoying their evening walks (because neither Ben or I are used to just sitting at a desk all day; even I am used to walking to and from the parking garage, walking across the building to hit the restroom, and going to lunch).

So that’s where we stand at the moment. I’m in a deep Sunday evening funk (deeper than my usual Sunday evening funk). I know there’s a light at the end of this tunnel, but no one can see it yet, and the Federal Government is doing nothing to install confidence that they even know what they’re doing. Thankfully local and state governments seem to be stepping up as best they can.

So how are y’all doing? Leave a comment below…

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So This Happened Last Night


As I’ve mentioned, since last Tuesday I’ve been working from home. I won’t lie. It was stressful, and I swear I did more during those four days than I normally do in twice that amount of time.

My boss was kind of surprised that I hadn’t brought my company-issued laptop home, and was instead connecting back to the office via a perfectly serviceable Dell desktop that I’d pulled out of storage and just upgraded in anticipation of all this going down. Not knowing at the time how long all this would last (or if we’d even ultimately get approval to do this) I didn’t want to have to drag the laptop back and forth in addition to my personal Mac.

He was also surprised I didn’t have a dual monitor setup at home. I told him it’s no big deal; the ol’ Dell supported only a single VGA connection without a separate video card and like I’d said, it was working just fine.

“Order yourself a video card and go downtown and grab a second monitor,” he said.

I reluctantly said I would, but as long as my current setup was getting the job done, I didn’t feel any urgency.

Well, a lot can happen in 48 hours amid this Coronachaos. Friday evening we received a notice that starting Monday all our facilities would be closed to the general public except by appointment. Shit was getting real. Add to that rumors were circulating that Phoenix was going to join other municipalities and go into lockdown mode next week.

So after some further contemplation, I last night I texted my boss and told him that instead of ordering a card for my personal PC, I was just going to go downtown (while I still could) and retrieve my company laptop. He said that was great; he was planning on heading down with his wife after dinner to retrieve her equipment (same organization, different department).

We met downtown last night around 7:30, and I have to say it was eerily quiet. Phoenix has always pretty much rolled up the sidewalks after dark (even on weekends), but last night it was dead.

We grabbed his wife’s equipment and then headed to our work area. Once I got to my desk I realized that the docking station for my laptop only had display port and HDMI video. I know we didn’t have any VGA adapters, but I knew I had a USB C-to-VGA dongle at home that I occasionally used with my Mac.

Since I was there, however, I decided to just grab everything: the dock, my company-supplied Verizon hotspot (the power went out at home briefly last week), my wireless keyboard and mouse, and finally the incredible Bose noise-isolating over-the-ear headphones we got a few weeks ago—the reason for which I’m still trying to determine

We had the cart loaded and were heading to the elevator when my boss said, “Where’s your monitor?”

I would’ve loved to have taken it as well, but I told him I didn’t think I could.

“Of course. Go back and get it. Anything to ensure you’re as productive at home as you are when you’re here, especially since this telework situation may last weeks…or longer.”

So there we were.

This widescreen monster has been on my radar as something I’d like to get for for home since it first appeared on my desk at work, but could never justify the cost considering I mostly use my Mac in the evening on the coffee table or on my lap. But this is definitely a joy, even if it means I have to work in the den.

I think I’m going to get spoiled.

 

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Some People

From Jason Kottke:

Some people feel helpless & anxious.
Some people are bored.
Some people are self-quarantined alone and are lonely.
Some people are realizing that After will be very different from Before.
Some people are really enjoying this extra time with their kids and will miss it when it’s over.
Some people just got off their 12th double shift in a row at the hospital and can’t hug their family.
Some people visited their favorite restaurant for the last time and didn’t realize it.
Some people have died from COVID-19.
Some people can’t stop reading the news.
Some people cannot afford soap.
Some people are learning how to bake bread.
Some people are working from home while simultaneously trying to homeschool their kids.
Some people are single parents trying to work from home while simultaneously trying to homeschool their kids.
Some people are living paycheck to paycheck and the next one will not arrive.
Some people are unfit to be President.
Some people left the city for their home in the country.
Some people can’t go to the grocery store because they’re at risk.
Some people lost their jobs.
Some people can’t sleep.
Some people are watching free opera online.
Some people have been quarantined for weeks.
Some people can’t work remotely.
Some people have contracted COVID-19 and don’t know it yet.
Some people can’t concentrate on their work because of anxiety.
Some people can’t afford their rent next month.
Some people are still gathering in large groups.
Some people are keeping the rest of us alive at significant personal risk.
Some people didn’t buy enough hand sanitizer.
Some people bought too much hand sanitizer.
Some people are missing their therapist.
Some people can’t go to work but are still being paid by their employers. For now.
Some people are mainly concerned about what to watch next on Netflix.
Some people are volunteering.
Some people are going to lose their business.
Some people are realizing that teachers are amazing.
Some people are ordering takeout from local restaurants.
Some people would really just like a hug.
Some people can’t convince their elderly parents to take this seriously.
Some people are worried about their 401K.
Some people have never had a 401K.
Some people will face increased abuse at home.
Some people are going to get sick or injured and will have a harder time getting medical care.
Some people can’t buy the food they need because the WIC-eligible stuff is sold out.
Some people won’t stop partying.
Some people lost their childcare.
Some people are doing everything they can to remain calm and hopeful and it’s not working.
Some people are watching Outbreak & Contagion and playing Pandemic.
Some people don’t know what they’re going to do.
Some people are overwhelmed with advice on how to work from home.
Some people are drinking or eating too much.
Some people are thinking about after.
Some people are upset because they can’t travel.
Some people are horny.
Some people are planning for a larger garden this year.
Some people won’t see their families for months.
Some people are logging off to stay grounded.
Some people can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Some people will realize they need to split with their partner.
Some people are singing Imagine.
Some people aren’t on this list.

These are all based on the experiences of real people drawn from news stories, social media, and friends. Take heart: you are not the only person experiencing what you are going through. But be mindful: not everyone is having the same experience you are. Ultimately though, we are all in this together.

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On a Scale of…

Taron Egerton looking at Hugh Jackman

To Ezra Miller being touched by Colin Farrell

How good are you at hiding your attraction?