3/21/2020
Ithaca NY, USA
Day 6 of self imposed isolation
Today was interesting, got up at 5 am and headed to Walmart only to find they had changed the store hours to open at 7 instead of 6. I decided to talk a walk around, ended up looping around the edge of the jungle, was interesting, i hadn't been back there in a few months, it was still dark but i could see a lot of lights and activity inside, clearly there are still a lot of people there, even saw a light in my old house, seems returning there is out of the question.
Got a lot of stuff at Walmart, considering it my final big shopping trip, we are well stocked up now, a few of the things i got at Walmart: Gallon of cooking oil, 2 bottles Acetaminophen, peanut butter, dish soap, a bar of chocolate, instant coffee, honey and some other stuff i can't think of right now!
We also went to salvation army which was giving away boxes of food, got a whole bunch of good stuff. Then me and my roommate walked to the outdoor farmers market, was pretty cool, not a lot of vendors, got 2 pounds of frozen ground beef and a bunch of veggies. Feeling pretty good about my preparedness level, hoping not to have to go out much more, except to do laundry or go to the woods.
Tomorrow me and my roommate are going to train the Yagyu Shinkage-Ryu style of Japanese sword we practice. We are trying to keep our regular Sunday morning time even though we cannot train with our teacher as he is older and at risk, it's difficult and sad but we will continue to train, it is important to me we keep our school going through this.
Tired today, starting to get a little stir crazy, felt like i kept running into more and more disinformation and stupidity, driving me a bit crazy. Saw this Joe Rogan video where he was putting out the most ignorant and dangerous ideas, just completely unaware of the situation, even seemingly that you can have Corona Virus and show no symptoms. I am continually both impressed and disheartened by peoples reactions to this crisis.
Decided two nights ago to quit drinking and mostly quit smoking, a little worried about compromising my immune system, seems to be going well so far, been going to bed at a good time and trying to eat healthy, drink lots of liquid and working out.
The news keeps getting worse, Italy had more deaths today than ever before with no sign it is slowing, i fear we are about to plunge into the abyss ourselves, tomorrow they are implementing a full shutdown of all non essential business effective at 8pm, shouldn't change much for me but trying to be prepared to stay in from then on, except for going on nature walks to get exercise and keep my sanity. Hoping to take a walk with one of my coworkers from the restaurant in a few days, nice to have something to look forward to.
Beyond that, things still very much feel up in the air, not sure i can make any predictions now about how this country will look in three weeks. Keeping my options open. We will see what tomorrow brings, people seem to be taking social distancing more seriously, i hope the Governors orders can bring some sense to those who are still not complying. That's all for tonight i think, be safe out there.
Your Humble Servant,
Luc
Saturday, March 21, 2020
Friday, March 20, 2020
3/20/2020
Ithaca NY
Day 5 of self imposed isolation
Things are moving incredibly quickly, this morning Governor Cuomo announced a full closure of all non essential businesses effective in 2 days, also everyone is supposed to stay in unless absolutely necessary. It has been very encouraging and reassuring to see the strength of his leadership in the face of this crisis.
Things online are starting to get nasty, people are angry and scared, lashing out or unable to cope with the reality of the situation or with other peoples extreme emotions. I myself am dealing with the stress decently, but have gotten caught up in some nasty arguments.
Today i went to the woods for the first time since being in isolation, it was a good opportunity to think about the situation and come to a few conclusions. I also stopped by my old restaurant job and saw one of the cooks and my boss, its very clear now that my job is gone never to return.
I realized today that things aren't going back to normal, even if we shelter in place and shut everything down, when we all come back out the disease will just spread again. Either we shut down society until a vaccine is created or hundreds of thousands will die, at least.
The conclusion i have reached is that i will mostly likely be forced to leave town and set up either on my friends farm, on my parents land in Trumansburg or on my friends land in Vermont. None are easy choices but i do think once i make it there it will be more relaxing, working in a garden, out of this constant stress living in the city around people who are not taking this seriously.
It's incredibly frustrating, today i met a friend briefly to pay him back a little money i owed him, from the moment i saw him it was clear he wasn't taking it seriously, he kept trying to come closer to me and was saying a lot of really idiotic things. So out of touch with reality.
I've been thinking alot of publicly normalizing social distancing. Making public displays of social distancing can help break the ice when it can be awkward or socially difficult, it can also help signal the seriousness of things to someone who isn't paying attention. I've been trying to do this as much as possible.
These are dark times, and i fear things will get much much worse. Every day it become increasingly clear how badly the response to this was bungled, especially by Trump and the Federal Government. Its appalling.
So i'm getting ready for bed because i stayed up way to late last night arguing with people on the internet, planning to go to Walmart at 6 Am tomorrow morning as usual to beat the crowds, got my last paycheck today and planning a final stock up on cleaning items and food, Walmart seems to be the best option right now, Wegmans is very chaotic and i don't really feel safe there, its also hard to find stuff because its badly organized so i waste time and put myself in danger pointlessly walking around searching for stuff. Anyway, stay safe out there and see you on the other side.
Your Humble Servant,
Luc
Ithaca NY
Day 5 of self imposed isolation
Things are moving incredibly quickly, this morning Governor Cuomo announced a full closure of all non essential businesses effective in 2 days, also everyone is supposed to stay in unless absolutely necessary. It has been very encouraging and reassuring to see the strength of his leadership in the face of this crisis.
Things online are starting to get nasty, people are angry and scared, lashing out or unable to cope with the reality of the situation or with other peoples extreme emotions. I myself am dealing with the stress decently, but have gotten caught up in some nasty arguments.
Today i went to the woods for the first time since being in isolation, it was a good opportunity to think about the situation and come to a few conclusions. I also stopped by my old restaurant job and saw one of the cooks and my boss, its very clear now that my job is gone never to return.
I realized today that things aren't going back to normal, even if we shelter in place and shut everything down, when we all come back out the disease will just spread again. Either we shut down society until a vaccine is created or hundreds of thousands will die, at least.
The conclusion i have reached is that i will mostly likely be forced to leave town and set up either on my friends farm, on my parents land in Trumansburg or on my friends land in Vermont. None are easy choices but i do think once i make it there it will be more relaxing, working in a garden, out of this constant stress living in the city around people who are not taking this seriously.
It's incredibly frustrating, today i met a friend briefly to pay him back a little money i owed him, from the moment i saw him it was clear he wasn't taking it seriously, he kept trying to come closer to me and was saying a lot of really idiotic things. So out of touch with reality.
I've been thinking alot of publicly normalizing social distancing. Making public displays of social distancing can help break the ice when it can be awkward or socially difficult, it can also help signal the seriousness of things to someone who isn't paying attention. I've been trying to do this as much as possible.
These are dark times, and i fear things will get much much worse. Every day it become increasingly clear how badly the response to this was bungled, especially by Trump and the Federal Government. Its appalling.
So i'm getting ready for bed because i stayed up way to late last night arguing with people on the internet, planning to go to Walmart at 6 Am tomorrow morning as usual to beat the crowds, got my last paycheck today and planning a final stock up on cleaning items and food, Walmart seems to be the best option right now, Wegmans is very chaotic and i don't really feel safe there, its also hard to find stuff because its badly organized so i waste time and put myself in danger pointlessly walking around searching for stuff. Anyway, stay safe out there and see you on the other side.
Your Humble Servant,
Luc
3/19/2020
Ithaca NY, USA
Day 4 of self imposed Isolation
Thus begins the diary of an outbreak. It's been about 2 weeks since i first realized what was happening. The numbers coming from Italy were a real wake up call to us here in the United States, but for most daily life continued as normal, working my restaurant job, going out with friends and living daily life as usual. I remember the day before everything got really real for me, there was a euphoria in the air almost, it was like everyone sensed life was about to be irreparably changed.
Sunday 3/15, the Ides of March. I went to work as usual, but this morning was different, there was a weight in the air, and you could see everyone felt it. We knew things were getting bad in NYC and that there had been a confirmed case in our County, Tompkins. That morning the Governor had announced all restaurants were to seat only half capacity, but our boss wasn't taking thing seriously, he told us we weren't at full capacity anyway so we could go ahead with business as usual, a total madhouse.
From the first moment the doors opened, i knew we were in trouble, people flooding in, we were at maximum capacity, servers and cooks scrambling, ignoring safety for sheer need. I did my best, I sterilized every dish that came through before i touched it, i took every possible precaution, the result was a relentless 10 hour shitstorm inhaling bleach and working myself to bone trying to protect everyone around me.
At some point i checked in with the lead cook and he also said he felt very unsafe being at work, but nothing could change, our bosses were set in their ways. Then, near the end of our shift, we found out a Professor from the local collage had been tested positive, our coworker, one of the cooks who had been standing next to me all day and had helped prep a sandwich i had eaten, his wife was also an IC professor.
He left pretty quickly, clearly terrified, i felt so bad, but the fear and realization we may have all just been exposed was like an icy claw of fear in my stomach. After the whole day of stress and paranoia adding this on top was just to much. Our bosses told us we could decide to stay home if we felt unsafe, later, a few of us had a small conference and all agreed we didn't feel safe coming in again, i took the initiative and that night messaged my boss.
By the next morning all restaurants had been shut down except for takeout.
I can never remember being so emotionally and physically exhausted as that evening and the morning that followed. It was so utterly draining, and at the same time, i had lost all my faith in humanity to deal with this crisis.
Since then i'v been isolated in my room mostly, avoiding all social contact, only going out to stock up on essentials. Going to Wegmans or other big stores only in the early morning, getting in and out before 7 am or so.
People around me are clearly not serious about this. I have been wearing winter gloves to touch everything in public, then letting them weather outside when i'm not wearing them. The number of people not wearing gloves, having close contact, or generally not be concerned about this is staggering and strikes a deep fear into my heart.
I am so disheartened that some of us are making such a sacrifice, literally isolated from our loved ones, out of work and recreational activity, when other are so flagrantly disregarding the advice of health care workers and putting us all at risk. I don't think i have ever been so angry or sad in my life.
I understand it's hard for people to perceive such an ephemeral threat, but the information is out there, what you choose to do with it..is on you, but it will effect us all.
In the days that follow i intend to keep a record of what i'm doing as the crisis unfolds. I prey life can return to some state of normality but i am not optimistic. Be well and stay safe out there.
Your Humble Servant,
Luc
Ithaca NY, USA
Day 4 of self imposed Isolation
Thus begins the diary of an outbreak. It's been about 2 weeks since i first realized what was happening. The numbers coming from Italy were a real wake up call to us here in the United States, but for most daily life continued as normal, working my restaurant job, going out with friends and living daily life as usual. I remember the day before everything got really real for me, there was a euphoria in the air almost, it was like everyone sensed life was about to be irreparably changed.
Sunday 3/15, the Ides of March. I went to work as usual, but this morning was different, there was a weight in the air, and you could see everyone felt it. We knew things were getting bad in NYC and that there had been a confirmed case in our County, Tompkins. That morning the Governor had announced all restaurants were to seat only half capacity, but our boss wasn't taking thing seriously, he told us we weren't at full capacity anyway so we could go ahead with business as usual, a total madhouse.
From the first moment the doors opened, i knew we were in trouble, people flooding in, we were at maximum capacity, servers and cooks scrambling, ignoring safety for sheer need. I did my best, I sterilized every dish that came through before i touched it, i took every possible precaution, the result was a relentless 10 hour shitstorm inhaling bleach and working myself to bone trying to protect everyone around me.
At some point i checked in with the lead cook and he also said he felt very unsafe being at work, but nothing could change, our bosses were set in their ways. Then, near the end of our shift, we found out a Professor from the local collage had been tested positive, our coworker, one of the cooks who had been standing next to me all day and had helped prep a sandwich i had eaten, his wife was also an IC professor.
He left pretty quickly, clearly terrified, i felt so bad, but the fear and realization we may have all just been exposed was like an icy claw of fear in my stomach. After the whole day of stress and paranoia adding this on top was just to much. Our bosses told us we could decide to stay home if we felt unsafe, later, a few of us had a small conference and all agreed we didn't feel safe coming in again, i took the initiative and that night messaged my boss.
By the next morning all restaurants had been shut down except for takeout.
I can never remember being so emotionally and physically exhausted as that evening and the morning that followed. It was so utterly draining, and at the same time, i had lost all my faith in humanity to deal with this crisis.
Since then i'v been isolated in my room mostly, avoiding all social contact, only going out to stock up on essentials. Going to Wegmans or other big stores only in the early morning, getting in and out before 7 am or so.
People around me are clearly not serious about this. I have been wearing winter gloves to touch everything in public, then letting them weather outside when i'm not wearing them. The number of people not wearing gloves, having close contact, or generally not be concerned about this is staggering and strikes a deep fear into my heart.
I am so disheartened that some of us are making such a sacrifice, literally isolated from our loved ones, out of work and recreational activity, when other are so flagrantly disregarding the advice of health care workers and putting us all at risk. I don't think i have ever been so angry or sad in my life.
I understand it's hard for people to perceive such an ephemeral threat, but the information is out there, what you choose to do with it..is on you, but it will effect us all.
In the days that follow i intend to keep a record of what i'm doing as the crisis unfolds. I prey life can return to some state of normality but i am not optimistic. Be well and stay safe out there.
Your Humble Servant,
Luc
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