COVID Quarantine

DAY 1

Monday morning wasn’t exactly how I had planned. Bekah wakes me up just after 3AM telling me that her test came back positive. Those days we thought she was fatigue from helping as a CNA might have been the virus all along. I’m pretty certain the hard days were behind her. She is on the recovery side of this s***. So guess what that means for me? For the last 5 days I’ve shared kisses with someone that has COVID. Not f***ing cool. I wouldn’t have it any other way, though. I love my Bekah and without a daily kiss my days wouldn’t be the same.

I called my boss to let him in on my joy. I completed my wellness survey and HR quickly contacted. My drama with HR. Boy. Lots of stupid questions. “You showed symptoms Friday!!” We went over this. It was allergies. “If you knew your wife had pending test, why have you been coming in!!!” Because she gets tested twice every week and wasn’t showing symptoms. So am I ever to come back to work cause she will always have pending? Well, I’m to stay home until she can go back and I’m to get my brain poked. Again, not f***ing cool.

So it was raining, which was cool, but it gave the whole testing situation a very horror film vibe. It was like waiting in line for the guillotine. To make matters worse, of course the urge to pee hits me which makes matter uncomfortable. My sister in law was at the front of the line. I was 8 cars behind. This was going to take a little while. So we slowly progress like a meandering river. Once I’m finally waved to the first tent I get interrogated. Who was I in contact with? Blah blah blah. Basically my daily wellness screening but by a rude little lady who didn’t like the rain. After that fun I was sent along my way to the second tent. This was where the fun really happens. I am asked which test I want? Quick less accurate or accurate less quick. Let’s go with the accurate. After that’s established, I chat with the nurse about how I like her boots. They were wild rain boots. All “day of the dead” style. She seemed pleased I noticed. Now time for the test. I’m asked to grip the steering wheel. Sure. I’ll do that. Tilt your head back. I closed my eyes. I could not see it coming. 15 second left nostril. Totally uncomfortable. Felt like a life time. 15 seconds right nostril. Searing pain. Like fire on my brain. I don’t know how to explain it. It caused my tear ducts to flow. When it was finally over the nurse said “high five, you did it!” I did it. Now let’s hope I don’t get it because this isn’t f***ing cool.

The rest of the day was spent talking with HR on where we go from here. Reading Dune. Might as well start a 700 page book. I got stir crazy on my first day. Not a thing to do with Bekah, but I don’t sit still at home. And Monday my mind is set on being productive. Frowned upon I’m sure, I left the house to drive around. I wasn’t going anywhere or around anyone. I just needed out. I found some duck friends and they made me happy.

Back to the depression of the f***ing quarantine. At least it was gloomy.

DAY 2

I wanted to maybe sleep in a bit but the dogs had other plans for me. Since I was awake I decided to take advantage of the nice morning and clean all the muddy paw prints of the patio. If I’ll be spending time on this patio I want it to look nice. Still in a productive mood, what to do next? Yvette suggested cleaning out the attic. I’m glad she did. We had meant to do that a LONG time ago. Out of sight out of mind. It’s a bunch of old tax information and other junk left from the prior owners. The chore would have been easier with some help, but I got it done. Need a shower ASAP. So gross.

The only symptoms Bekah seems to have shown are headache & fatigue. I’m glad that’s been it. She seems to deal with staying at home better than I. A week in bed watching TV is no problem for her. I have not shown any symptoms. I’ve just been anxious waiting on the f***ing results to come in.

It might be frowned upon to go for walks when you are in quarantine but I have no choice. I can’t sit still. I took some friends idea to not do it in my own neighborhood, least my neighbors shun me for my actions. At least in another neighborhood no one knows me. I mean, it’s silly right? I’m outside alone. That should be alright, right? Tell me otherwise.

I also decided to explore some of the county backroads. It was a relaxing ride through the country side. The weather was nice with the windows down and the wind in my face.

We had some deliveries left on our porch. My mom brought us a couple of non essential groceries while she was out shopping. Things like paper plates, trash bags. Bekah wanted corn chips. She also brought Bekah some sun flowers. Jamie made a liquor run so we wouldn’t run out of hooch. Sounds insane, no? Positive with COVID and drinking. Well I guess a headache and fatigue is just a normal day for her. While I’m still well (and hopefully I remain well), I need a drink to settle the anxiety. Maybe Jameson is the cure? It’s great to have family and friends in lockdown times.

Happy first day of autumn, friends!!

DAY 3

Woke up to some good news. I tested negative. It was a great feeling and I’m glad I can share the news with my family and campus family. I hated to put unnecessary stress on any of them. Since Bekah is still in quarantine I am not in the clear yet. Or am I? She went to the office to get tested again so she can come to work next week. She decided to look at her results and they were actually negative all along. ALL of this was for nothing!!! Myself, sister-in-law & niece all got tested and sent home for NOTHING!!! What a hell of a mess!!!! My spouse was LIVID!!! We have all been so worried for nothing.

For reasons that make little sense to me, I have to get the cities approval. Redundant, but look where I work. Redundancy comes with the job so why am I surprised. Well the city won’t release me. No explanation. When I call they tell me to “refill out the form until I I figure out what question I answered wrong”. I kid you not. This was not the action I took. I decided to email them. This gets me no where. The city official is a dip s***. Back and forth I go only to be told that he won’t release me. Frustrated, I decided to resubmit like I was told only using a different a email address. Within 18 min the same person that refused to release me sent me my release. I had a good laugh at that. The city…..

Since we were no longer prisoners in our own homes I decided to get out and enjoy the beautiful day. Bekah was so mad she decided to clean. Don’t ask, it’s what she does when she is frustrated. I left her be and drove out to the dam to have a walk. A mile in a realizes how bad it would be to have low blood sugar. I had skittles with me, but I felt that familiar itch creeping on. I decided to turn back. That itch got worse. My lips went numb and I could feel my legs getting heavy. My hands were shaking more than usual. I started eating skittles but being that I still had a mile to get back to my car my situation wasn’t looking to good. I did something that I’ve never done: I called for help. I didn’t want to scare Bekah, but I knew what shape I was in and the location wasn’t accessible for a low. Told her to grab a Sprite from the fridge and head to the dam entrance. I guess she heard the fear in my voice and came rolling. I tried to remain calm and focused on the ground and not the distance ahead of me. I made it just as Bekah arrived. The skittles got me to the entrance but if she hadn’t brought that Sprite I wouldn’t have been able to function. Now it’s been a while since I’ve had a scare quite like that. Later I tested my sugar and it was 42. So it seems I was having a low day. Makes no sense. The life of a type 1 diabetic. At least the view was nice.

DAY 4

I guess I’m really no longer on lockdown but what the heck, I’m still off work until Monday. I lingered in bed as long as I could. Bekah left to see her sister. Being around her all this time I missed her presence. I had no idea what the heck I was going to do. I mean, I can leave the house now but what can I really do since I’m treating everything like it’s still the early days of quarantine. Grocery shop! Who needs groceries!! I don’t mind being a personal shopper. I hear they actually make good money. And I needed something to do. Somehow, two trips to the store I still managed to forget the bloody sesame oil I needed. Idiot.

I figured I’d try walking the d*** dam again. I was a little more prepared this go round. But it was warm and you are exposed to direct sunlight. I tried to make it to the EQ. I tried. But a mile & half in I chickened out. I knew I had that same distance to my car and after the prior days scare I turned around. My goal was still probably a mile or so away. I’d hate to die on that f***ing dam. Maybe next time I’ll bring a pack with me.

Day 5

Happy Friday!! Julios burritos! What to do next. I hadn’t a clue.

What a week. It started rainy and horrific. I’ve had nightmares of that brain poke. I was tied to a chair with my head strapped back and a nurse was taunting me. Waving the swab in front of my. Brushing it across my nostrils before slowly inserting it and pleasurably poking my brain before I wake up. Not fun.

I guess the final 2 days of the week were really not so bad. I’ll be looking forward to going back to work next week. What a time.

Horror Film

Event Horizon. Now this film came out, god, over 20 years ago. 1997 to be exact. That makes me feel very old. I was in Midland, TX when I first saw this film. I wasn’t really sure what I was getting myself into. Being a MAJOR Jurassic Park fan, I fell in love with Sam Neill. He was a hero of mine from that movie and I tried to make a point to watch whatever he was in. And I liked horror movies. This was a no brainer. A win-win. My best friend and brother from another mother decided to watch it. I won’t forget the night because not since my youth had I ever been so disturbed and frightened from a film. I need not say what the movie is about. A quick google search will tell you that. (Google it, you lazy a**.). The movie is so visceral. I mean, at the ripe old age of 16, I was unprepared for what I was viewing. At the young age of 39 I am still taken back by the film. It gets under the skin like many don’t. Some of this is the minimal glimpse of horror. The implied pain and suffering. The mood. It has a way of getting into your mind and haunting it years later. The acting is amazing. And talk about a cast. We watch this every year. We watched it this week and once again was fulfilled. Give it a try, I dare you!

Jalapeño

An omelette spilled with chorizo, red onion, red bell, jalapeño and Mexican blend of cheese. Pan roasted potato thanks to Bekah. More breakfast than brunch? I don’t know or care. It was delicious.

We made this on Saturday and Bekah wanted it again. Roasted mixed potatoes, jalapeño chicken sausage, onions, peppers & honey mustard. It’s a warm German potato salad with sausage added. Very tasty.

Beef w/ broccoli stir-fry. Comfort foods. Maybe that’s a theme this week. Unexpected, I didn’t plan for comfort food. I used more ginger than I usually do and I think it made difference.

Fajita chicken. What a tasty meal this was. Simple.

Chinese jalapeño chicken w/ crab Rangoon. Not a planned meal but since Bekah was gone I thought I’d make something extra spicy. I believe this meal usually only comes out when she is gone. I mean, it’s jalapeño & chicken it’s warm.