Covid-19 Community Support and Mental Wellness Thread

So, I put the boat in the water on Friday. Went fishing on Saturday.

Caught a 1# lai which I ate sashimi style for dinner that night, And a 4# kaku. Lost a papio, but it was probably too small to keep anyway.


I was a little worried about ciguatera poisoning from the kaku but it was small enough to chance it. My daughter and I shared one fillet last night and I had half of the other for dinner tonight. One more meal to go. I'm not going to covert the cost of the fuel to a per pound price for the fish because that is not the point.

"There is nothing- absolutely nothing-half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats."

originally posted by: Finspiracy

Maybe I am.

I've never had a favourite 'meme' before. All that has now changed.

Thank you muchly. Love it.

originally posted by: Finspiracy
You are not alone.

I am not alone.

We are all in this together.

This is so great! Thanks.

When I researched my ancestry, I discovered one of them was from Finland.

originally posted by: argentus
a reply to: drussell41

I don't know you, but I know your situation, as someone I love shares it.

I think it will feel safe for you again. What we are all dealing with is a an evolving reality, in which we feel more or less capable of adapting to it. This process will change all of us, and our procedures, even those who don't want to change, those who feel it is an imposition to change. Life is not static like that, although many of us have enjoyed the illusion for some time that life can be static. Change doesn't mean adversity, especially in your situation. Change can mean you adapting to a "new normal, or even boldy striking out and defining it yourself on YOUR terms.

I think there will come a time when you walk to a restaurant and maybe pause to steel yourself, and walk in. Perhaps there will be different processes, but the feeling and the comfort will be the same.

All of this, this history we are defining, is made up of all of us. …. And as ol' Granny said about memories... "Look backward fondly, but don't stare." ;o)

Thanks, Argentus. You're right. Life is not static. I'll try not to stare backwards. I will be rereading and pondering your words. I'll be reading that post that you linked too.

a reply to: Hefficide

It’s 3am and I’m wide awake.

I’d say the one mental disruption I’ve had since the outbreak is sleep issues. I’ve always had it, but they are worse now. And crazy dreams too when I do sleep.

Everyone I’ve talked to said their schedules have been off, way off. It’s weird, even though we seem to have more time to get things done, it translates poorly, and less gets done. My mom says this is common in retirement too. You have all the time in the world, so you put things off.

There really is a simple comfort to the schedules of work, school, weekends and things/dates to look forward to.

originally posted by: JAGStorm
a reply to: Hefficide


I’d say the one mental disruption I’ve had since the outbreak is sleep issues. I’ve always had it, but they are worse now. And crazy dreams too when I do sleep.

Yeah, my insomnia is worse too. It doesn't help when a cat decides she needs to scream every two hours.

Your mom is so right about retirement. If it weren't for my husband still working, I'd have a hard time keeping track of the days. One is just like another.

Im not going to let this black stray cat break my heart, becuase i will take and have him fixed, fixed up, and then adopt him. i know what hes going thorugh, i understand why hes at where hes at. everybody deserves a chance. everyone.

a reply to: JAGStorm

Nah, we're sticking to our routines as much as we can, and we've settled in more or less.

Our morning routine is still mostly the same absent putting kiddo on the bus and anyone physically leaving for work. We get up at the same time, we do things the same way, kiddo starts his schoolwork at the same time, husband goes and brings in coffee, and we both start work at the same time.

Three nights every week we re-arrange the entire living room so kiddo and I can practice his tae kwon do via Zoom. I wouldn't be doing it except he doesn't want to feel all alone (part of the fun for him was working with all the other kids before shut down time), and I need the exercise if I'm going to get my shoulder back to full range of motion and athletic capability.

I think maintaining a routine in spite of it all is part of the key. At most, we lose track of the day a bit.

Today, I separated my water lily and repotted it. Now I have two ... provided I didn't manage to kill them. I've never repotted a water lily before. We'll see if they start to take and grow in the next few weeks.

On Monday, the dumpster company will drop off the dumpster we rented, and we'll spend next week doing a thorough spring cleaning of our garage and basement. We'd been toying with it for a while, but it occurred to us that this was likely the perfect time to do it. We don't even have to take time off to stay home for it.

Once we make it through next week, the surrounding county around us will start to cautiously re-open some, so while we'll technically be under lockdown still ... by 4 blocks ... we'll be close to the beginning of the end. There is a light at the end of our tunnel.

Hang in there folks, it's coming and it will get to all of you soon.

We still plan our menus, cook, etc., like we were before. We maintain bedtimes, etc., and follow all those routines too. I know we're doing it mainly for our son because he's a creature of habit and he's already upset enough over not going to school and not seeing all his teachers, friends, instructors, etc.

a reply to: JAGStorm

I normally have insomnia myself but when a set schedule is meaningless so is insomnia. I just do stuff until I'm asleep and then im awake again at some point and I dont really even know what time it is. This is my natural state, Ive always hated schedules.

Maybe my insomnia is still here but I cant even tell. Im off in lala land trying to come up with a new path like for my next life maybe I should work blah blah blah. The fear of trying a new path is less than the fear of my old path still being viable. so it feels not so risky. which I guess is a silver lining to not being allowed to work OR get unemployment. lmao.

Im making myself laugh everyday.
It's about all I can do.

originally posted by: BoscoMoney
Im not going to let this black stray cat break my heart, becuase i will take and have him fixed, fixed up, and then adopt him. i know what hes going thorugh, i understand why hes at where hes at. everybody deserves a chance. everyone.

Bosco! Do you have a picture? How did he come into your orbit? Thank you for caring!

a reply to: drussell41

I don't. He's a black guy, fairly young, HUGE head from fighting because he has to. Had a slight limp or weird gait when I first saw him, now it's full on can barely use his leg. LilBoy doesnt want him near because he's not fixed, and LilBoy won't back down from a fight despite being fixed since he was 6 months. But the black kitty doesnt start fights, he lays down in a subservient manner when approached by other cats. Although shy, he will get close and allow me to pet him...and he talks a lot. He wants to be loved...and it breaks my heart. LilBoy has chased him away and started a fight or 2 so far that I'm aware of, but I know he would get used to him as he's friends with the neighbors cats and was fine with DooDaughter and my Son. I saw him a little today walking away down the street...I guess we'll let fate decide so I can help him.

a reply to: BoscoMoney

If you wanted to try to trap him and get him vet help, I could help walk you through that.

Here for you all. Me. For at least a couple of hours forward.

Having a better day. Or if i want to be honest with you, and i want to be: i have no "better days" i only have days, sometimes, which are all not "bad from the depths of everything that is bad in our reality". And then it is okay and i accept it from the bottom of my stinky heart.

Some of the posters in this thread has set a fine example and talked about something nice. Something that really seem to matter to them.

Look, i love and protect every living being. But especially close to my heart are women, children and animals. Today i had a strange thing with animals I went to have morning coffee and sat on my friend's couch. He has two cats. I am an absolute and total cat person and i love and adore them all, although they are narcissistic and selfish beings... But their cuteness give a valid excuse. So i was rubbing their backs and under their chin and everything was mellow.

Had to leave to see another friend, Because i owed him 20 euros of money and had promised to pay today. So, this dude has a new girlfriend, and that woman has two LARGE American Pit Bulls. They look like murderers but are real sweethearts. Mom and daughter doggies. So after i was rubbing the backs of two tiny cats it was STRANGE to rub them I have seen the dogs many times during the past two months, and now i consider them as my friends. But take my word for it, those doggies look fierce

I love it when first impression fails. Doesn't matter to me at all, if it is the first impression of a human or animal.

I told you all that there was hope. The end is coming?

After tonight's Zoom session, son's instructor announced that next week they will be resuming on-site classes in a limited capacity. They will still be holding Zoom sessions too, but son can take two session at the school.

The look on his face when that sunk in was priceless. I've seldom seen so much happiness on his face.

Checking in.

My state reopened a few days ago, at least partially. Nail and hair salons, tattoo parlors, Churches and bowling alleys. Why that combination I cannot say. Either somebody in the lobbying trade has a diverse group of clients, our Governor has a diverse stock portfolio, or there's some bizarre labor issue that made TPTB decide that getting that specific group of workers back out there was financially lucrative.

Or they did a poll and decided that tatted up people, cosmetologists and bowlers are the most expendable guinea pigs.

Oh and some restaurants have also opened. I haven't gone out to eat but I assume the openings were done specifically for Waffle House as Waffle House kind of runs Georgia. As odd as that sounds, it's largely accurate.

Unfortunately on a subjective level none of those openings effects my household. Those who were laid off and furloughed remain laid off and furloughed. In the case of the two who were furloughed from Hartsfield International Airport - they will be out for 90 days minimum.

We'll survive but it's going to be a somewhat rough summer. We've cut just about everything bill related back as far as we can get it. No climate control ( AC or heat ) for the duration. Cheaper foods ( A lot of red beans and rice in the coming months ). Set the water heaters from "Oh God yes, SCOLD ME!" down to "Well, maybe it's warm?". Several of the others also cancelled their individual cell phone plans and are now in some sort of Metro PCS family / group thing.

Oh and we dropped our Internet from the "best" to the "worst / cheapest" option... But that worked out oddly because we started paying for "the best" several years ago and, now, the cheapest option - about half of what we were paying previously - is actually substantially faster than what we had - as we wound up kind of scammed into just paying top dollar for an antiquated service.

My personal life won't change too much ( aside from cold showers and sleeping in a hot bedroom without AC ) because I've always been off on my own anyway. I'm fairly Spartan, save my money and have enough to keep my cell service and various subscriptions ( Netflix, Amazon etc ) going - with more than enough left over to ante up a fair bit extra to the community pot as needed.

Anyway, I hope everyone who's posted or lurked in this thread is holding up and doing as well as can be expected. Sláinte mhaith to you all.

Been debating on whether or not to post this.. But I was wondering if any of the geetar players would like to learn a solo Ive been trying to learn too.



Starting @ 1:36

Tabs are relatively easy to find (I usually use Songster, since its a one time fee to unlock everything). Probably my least favorite song from a stellar album, but the section is one of my favorites. Allmost right up there with the solo from Necrophagist's "Fermented Offal Discharge" (heh)

Doubt Ill be able to play it at full speed any time soon, but even slower its quite nice. I dunno, maybe even upload some vids of giving it a go, but maybe more in the form of tips/tricks/etc.

a reply to: Hefficide

I think Missouri is more open than Georgia or will be.

From the way I read the re-opening rules, most everything is allowed to re-open with some guidelines.

There won't be a ban on public gatherings over 10, but they will be expected to observe social distancing rules. So son's tae kwon do practices can go on, but they won't be having class for more than 10 at a time as part of meeting those guidelines. That won't be all of it I'm sure, but that's the start.

Retail establishments can open, but they have to watch their capacity depending on their floor space. It's a percentage of what the fire marshall would ordinarily allow. For many smaller businesses, this is generally not going to be much of an issue, but for some of the bigger retail stores like a Kohl's, it might be a problem.

Restaurant dining rooms can open so long as seating is space 6ft apart.

Barbershops, hair salons, gyms, community centers, aquatic centers and libraries will be allowed to open for public use so long as people are able to keep a safe distance from one another.

But for the above, there are exceptions for jobs where the worker cannot maintain safe social distance.

Organized athletics and camps are also to operate with modifications to allow for social distancing and the like. The plan even allows for the opening of amusement parks and other such venues provided acceptable plans for safety can be put together.

I think so far, that sounds less restrictive in phase I than what Georgia is running with. It truly is unfortunate that everyone jumped down Kemp's throat.

a reply to: Hefficide

Dear Heff sir.

I want to smash this. Virus. Wipe it away from the face of the earth. I want to down a megaton of booze and just go bat**** violent and beat this virus to the ground and let it be gone.

Obviously i am unable to do that. Helpless here

No, this is not okay.

Did i murder this thread? I feel guilty.

My message to you is: Please don't go. Please don't fall. Leave all of that business for me to deal with.

I apologize.

I never imagined that just the simple act of going out and starting everything would be the hard part.

I'm not afraid to do it, but there is so much angst from those who are. It's incredible.

"YOU CAN'T! YOU CAN'T! YOU CAN'T!" That seems to be all I hear when the subject comes up. Damn straight I'm done with this and it's time for life to go on.