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An Update Long Overdue
Sep. 2nd, 2020 01:10 pmI just realized I haven't written anything here since April. Time flies when a global pandemic is raging.
Short version: We're healthy and doing well, no big issues. Life rolls on.
Now for the detailed version...
Work continues for both me and Kent. Michael's travel business has cratered, as you'd expect with international travel down to a trickle, and global tourism almost non-existent. We're all working from home still with no significant issues or problems.
Square dancing is still also non-existent. Yeah, there's virtual dancing and a lot of 1-couple or 2-couple calling, but it lacks a significant social component and I find it generally unsatisfying. Michael has gone into yoga as an exercise alternative, and I still have my karate (now senior brown belt as of last week).
Kent bought a treadmill a few weeks ago and is doing extended walks on it so he can get some exercise without being exposed to humans, nature or the universe in general.
I started going back to the gym in early August, once the state allowed them to reopen with restrictions. I'm delighted that my crowd there has been 100% compliant with wearing masks, wiping down equipment, keeping spacing, etc.: I've heard horror stories about other gyms where the rules have been utterly ignored. I have noticed that a lot of people have given up on the gym entirely and are no longer regulars: I do wonder what this means for the business viability of the place, although it's nice not having to wait for equipment.
Edwin (three years old next week!) is back in full-day daycare as of late August, although there was a brief scare when another kid's parent was discovered to be an asymptomatic covid carrier. The daycare was closed for two weeks and Edwin & his family were all tested, and were all discovered to be negative. There will inevitably be more scares like that in future though.
Elodie had her fifth birthday at our place in June. She began virtual kindergarten classes this week, but I haven't heard how that works or how her parents are adapting to this. More soon, I hope.
It was announced yesterday that Maryland will be edging into stage 3 re-opening Friday. All manufacturing can re-open, malls & retail can re-open to 75% regular capacity, salons & barbershops can open to 50% capacity with appointments, indoor rec facilities can open to 50% capacity, and theaters can re-open to the lesser of 50% capacity or 100 people. My county is currently reviewing the stats to see which components they may implement, if any.
The biggest inconvenience for me is that I'm still effectively locked out of Canada. As a citizen, I can return but there is a two week quarantine period on re-entry, and a full quarantine plan must be presented upon arrival describing where you'd be staying, how you'd be getting food & care, etc.. I do have a plan ready in case I need to make a dash to see Grandma in southern Ontario, but there are extra logistical issues if I had to go to northern Ontario. And since my preferred airline, Porter Air, is not flying currently, I'd have to fly to Buffalo, then drive a rental car across the border. Let's hope that there's no reason to rush back to Canada for a while.
Our respective extended families are doing pretty well too: no illnesses or major changes. We've all been pretty lucky.
So we're chugging along, doing ok and generally going about our regular business. I don't see any major disruption to this routine through the rest of this calendar year.
Short version: We're healthy and doing well, no big issues. Life rolls on.
Now for the detailed version...
Work continues for both me and Kent. Michael's travel business has cratered, as you'd expect with international travel down to a trickle, and global tourism almost non-existent. We're all working from home still with no significant issues or problems.
Square dancing is still also non-existent. Yeah, there's virtual dancing and a lot of 1-couple or 2-couple calling, but it lacks a significant social component and I find it generally unsatisfying. Michael has gone into yoga as an exercise alternative, and I still have my karate (now senior brown belt as of last week).
Kent bought a treadmill a few weeks ago and is doing extended walks on it so he can get some exercise without being exposed to humans, nature or the universe in general.
I started going back to the gym in early August, once the state allowed them to reopen with restrictions. I'm delighted that my crowd there has been 100% compliant with wearing masks, wiping down equipment, keeping spacing, etc.: I've heard horror stories about other gyms where the rules have been utterly ignored. I have noticed that a lot of people have given up on the gym entirely and are no longer regulars: I do wonder what this means for the business viability of the place, although it's nice not having to wait for equipment.
Edwin (three years old next week!) is back in full-day daycare as of late August, although there was a brief scare when another kid's parent was discovered to be an asymptomatic covid carrier. The daycare was closed for two weeks and Edwin & his family were all tested, and were all discovered to be negative. There will inevitably be more scares like that in future though.
Elodie had her fifth birthday at our place in June. She began virtual kindergarten classes this week, but I haven't heard how that works or how her parents are adapting to this. More soon, I hope.
It was announced yesterday that Maryland will be edging into stage 3 re-opening Friday. All manufacturing can re-open, malls & retail can re-open to 75% regular capacity, salons & barbershops can open to 50% capacity with appointments, indoor rec facilities can open to 50% capacity, and theaters can re-open to the lesser of 50% capacity or 100 people. My county is currently reviewing the stats to see which components they may implement, if any.
The biggest inconvenience for me is that I'm still effectively locked out of Canada. As a citizen, I can return but there is a two week quarantine period on re-entry, and a full quarantine plan must be presented upon arrival describing where you'd be staying, how you'd be getting food & care, etc.. I do have a plan ready in case I need to make a dash to see Grandma in southern Ontario, but there are extra logistical issues if I had to go to northern Ontario. And since my preferred airline, Porter Air, is not flying currently, I'd have to fly to Buffalo, then drive a rental car across the border. Let's hope that there's no reason to rush back to Canada for a while.
Our respective extended families are doing pretty well too: no illnesses or major changes. We've all been pretty lucky.
So we're chugging along, doing ok and generally going about our regular business. I don't see any major disruption to this routine through the rest of this calendar year.
