My homemaker, the one I sent home two weeks ago and did not come last week, is not coming anymore, since it turns out she also works in a nursing home which also now has a case of covid-19. It can take up to two weeks for symptoms to appear, if they appear at all and you’re not just a walking contagion. Glad I sent her away two weeks ago. A different person is coming today to shop and take out trash.

Feeling really awful. Back, of course, and cannot take meds for it because of stomach problems cause by them, am hoping to get a roll-on lidocaine thing if the grocery store has it, otherwise I will have to order it from No-Longer-Amazing. Off balance, and have almost fallen over three times in the last couple of days. No idea why. Allergies effecting my equilibrium? Allergy season is no longer a season, but an all day, every day thing. Yay. Need to get twelve hour allergy pills. Also, the usual all-over fibro pain which has been playing up recently.

House is getting messier and messier, but I am just not capable of doing anything about it. Am struggling to keep up with dishes, and have reverted to ‘open box, eat contents’ meals, because cooking is not happening. God, I hate this. Especially since I was doing so well. Mother Nature hates when I do well, so it seems. Trying to think of ‘open box, eat contents’ things I can get in the shopping today. Fruit cups, yogurt, thinking is not going well at all. LOL

It’s weird about the alnost falling over, because I completely forget about it til it happens again, and then I remember oh yeah this happened yesterday, too. I try to be very aware of movement anyway, because right now I am pretty rickety thanks to the back thing, so watch where and how I step. Gertrude of course makes walking an obstacle course cause she just lies down right where I need to step.

I just wish this pandemic thing was over and I was a ‘normal’ person again, and I could get done what needs doing and why is life so hard sometimes? Yes, whiny Jean is in some pain and very whiny today. Sorry about that.

Flylady again. I signed up late on the first. Between the first and the second, I received eight emails. Seven emails on the third, and so far today I have received nine. So 24 emails. Four of those were things to do. The rest were selling things or ‘motivational’. I think I am now going to unsubscribe from Flylady. She has a good idea, but check out her website instead of emails, is my advice.

Beirut Explosion Videos

Did you see the videos of the explosion in Beirut? We hear about things, maybe see a bit on the news, but seeing these videos and those done by people on the streets in the aftermath, were just horrific. I cannot imagine how devastating it was for anyone in the radius of the explosion, and it was a pretty big radius. It looks like an accident brought upon by storing volatile items in too close proximity, and not an act of terrorism. I don’t know if realizing it came from neglect and really piss poor safety measures is better than if it was deliberate, but either way, once you’ve seen the various videos of the actual explosion, you will not soon forget it. How sad for all of those affected, and the loss of life is just horrible. I imagine there will be a lot more deaths, because it was massively destructive. What a horrible thing to happen. They were finally having some semblance of normal life in Beirut after so much war. Horrible, horrific, I don’t even have the words to describe this.

So I used to do Flylady, back when I could still do most things for myself. Came across it again yesterday and signed up for the emails. Today I had one email with something to do, and six emails trying to get me to buy things from her. She has a pretty good system, I think, but once she started selling things, it’s all about that, obviously. Flylady dot com if you’re interested.

Trying to muster up energy and pain-tolerance to go downstairs for my packages. Dreading this, I can barely walk right now, thank you bad back, so lifting things into the cart is not going to be fun, but at least I can hang off it as I go downstairs in the elevator and back up in the elevator. With mask and gloves. I wash my keys, after, as well as my hands and whatever else. Caution is the way to go. Right now, I just need to go lie down. Fun times. This is not me lying down, btw. 🙂

‘The Poser’ at Freedom Plaza, Washington DC by Bryan Buckley

Don’t think I can just put a readable article on here, but here’s the headline and the link, in case I’m wrong. Just click the headline:

https://www.whenweallvote.org/mystartingfive/

Closeup from a picture in an article about how Texas is full-out open for business, because Texas. Maybe we should not have fought at the Alamo. Let Mexico keep it. Just saying.

Haven’t been on laptop a couple of days, and have only read the really pertinent emails on my phone. First, to let you know, I have been getting calls from ‘Amazon’ asking me to confirm a recent order. Hang up. Just hang up. Do not engage. Do not engage. After the first one, I checked with my credit card first, because did I forget an order? Seems unlikely, and no there is none on the card. Contact Amazon. Tech says Amazon does not make this kind of phone call and they are fishing for my info. Hang up. Just hang up the damn phone, people.

Here’s some things that I came across in my email:

1. I found this one quite interesting, as I’ve wanted to ditch the tech giants as well, but have found how hard it is. I managed to dump Facebook and Instagram, but that’s it.

https://gizmodo.com/i-cut-the-big-five-tech-giants-from-my-life-it-was-hel-1831304194

2. Interesting as well, but not something I’m going to do.

https://gizmodo.com/want-to-really-block-the-tech-giants-heres-how-1832261612

3. This goes with the above.

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/jgxbkg/tech-ceos-invoke-the-american-dream-to-obscure-the-nightmare-they-created

4. Also disturbing, also about tech giants.

https://www.wired.com/story/how-digital-ads-subsidize-worst-web/

5. This is just disturbing, because it does seem that little or nothing is actually being done. No consequences? Seriously?

https://projects.propublica.org/protest-police-videos/

Yes, I am too bored to even go to bed. 🙂

One of the most important things I have learned is probably the hardest, because social media is everywhere. The lesson is: Never Compare Yourself or Your Life to Anyone Else. Only compare yourself to yourself. Am I a better person than I was last year. Have I taken better care of myself than I used to? Have I worked at maintaining a good attitude in spite of setbacks. You know. That sort of thing. NOT: am I being as productive during the pandemic as all those people I see on social media? Am I as thin, smart, beautiful, popular as anybody else anywhere, because seriously, who gives a flying fuck? All we need to know is if we did better today than we did yesterday, and if not, how can we do better tomorrow? Better at being a good person, better at taking care of ourselves and those around us, better at being a good citizen. Those are the things that matter. That’s what I think, anyway. This comes down to little things, like ‘did I tip well the person who brought me my order?’. Did I treat the waitperson with respect and courtesy? Did I offer to help someone who needed it that moment, like someone having difficulty on the stairs or crossing the street or whatever? Was I just kind and courteous and generous and polite to all those I met today? These things are important, not only to the other person, but to our own sense of self, and who we are in the world. Selfish, self-centered, self-righteous. All those ‘self’ words are the ones to work at NOT being.

Back is better. Was more better (betterer?) yesterday,and I actually got a few things done. Unloaded the dishwasher, reloaded the dishwasher, ran the dishwasher, did some laundry in my new tub that sits in the bathtub for doing laundry in, I think that’s it. Didn’t need the cane to walk, and don’t need it today, either. Had franks and beans for dinner, and leftovers for lunch. Van Camp’s Pork and Beans, which are cowboy food as you can just eat them cold out of the can. We always had these growing up. I have not had franks and beans in decades, and they were pretty good. A bit salty, but not unbearably so. There is a law that you must have white bread and butter with them, and possibly a glass of milk. I did skip the milk in favor of Polar seltzer with added orange juice.

Much nicer today. Lower dew point, which makes a huge difference. Still warm, but less humidity makes it much more comfortably warm. Yesterday was pretty bad. The muggiest, most uncomfortable day this summer, up here in the highlands anyway. Which is what my friend Tess calls the second floor on which I live. Had to stay in front of the fan or else ‘whew!’ ick, ick, ick. Laundry was NOT fun.

News from online is still not good. Cutting assistance for people, including the no-eviction policies. Other countries treat their citizens like they matter. We here obviously do not matter to our government. They fake it here and there, but their underlying motives for every single thing they do is how rich can they get off it. “Serve your country”. Ha, serve yourself and your cronies more like it. I am soooo disappointed in my country and especially in those unbelievably non-thinking orange man worshipers. Cannot fix anything, though, so I just read on my Kindle and pretend the world does not exist. Except for Gertrude, cause she’s cute. 🙂

My friend who was very, very ill has recovered and tested negative for the virus twice. Relief. Was really worried about him. I have been friends with him and his wife for most of my adult life.

Tv is boring, even things I usually enjoy. I am just doing The West Wing, Small Animal Hospital (with Captain Jack, John Barrowman. He always makes me smile.), and QI, because who doesn’t need a good laugh these days? So mostly I am reading and reading and reading. Was going to catch up on Lucifer before the new season, but just cannot get into it. The first season was so great and then it just went on a slow slide downhill. I am a fan of Tom Ellis since Miranda, but it’s not enough. The pathologist they introduced just irritates the hell out of me and makes it not fun to watch. Also, whiny Lucifer, and the female star seems to get worse at acting every season. Just a wee little critique there, people. I do love the intro music, though. And DB Woodside. Because who does not love DB Woodside? Seriously.

Did not get to have even a glimpse at the comet, due to clouds and trees and light pollution. I cannot see stars, ever, where I am. Or the moon, cause my windows are in the wrong place. Except in October, for some reason if I sat in exactly the right place, I could see it at an angle. Weird. But cool. Yes, the round white light is the moon, rising. Surprise! First year I ever noticed it, but maybe earth orbit changed just enough to make it possible.

‘I failed my fellow Americans’: the white women defecting from Trump https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jul/29/women-who-voted-trump-who-regret-decision

Did you ever, ladies, and we will be paying for it for a very long time. How anyone could actually believe that a reality TV personality and multi- bankruptcies narcissist knew anything about running a country is beyond me. Makes you wonder what kind of education colleges are serving up these days.

Click on the picture to see the video:

“Republicans are seeking to lower the payments for tens of millions of jobless Americans to $200 a week in a $1 trillion recovery package. Democrats support a $3 trillion package that includes extending the $600-per-week federal payments, which expire on Friday, through the end of the year.”

Because they obviously need that money for themselves and Suckerberg and Jeffy baby. The rest of us are completely irrelevant. Look up what other countries are doing, and be outraged by your government. The one so many of you think is the best thing ever. Because clearly, your brains have given up working altogether.

My back is becoming more and more of an issue every day. I am using my cane to hobble around, I am behind on everything. Dishes in the sink, vacuuming in bad need of being done, no cooking happening at all, it’s just all getting to be more and more of a mess. Keeping up with feed/water/litter box, because Miss G is utterly dependent upon me for her well-being, but my own is just not even getting consideration. I can’t. i can’t do this, I can’t do that. It’s very frustrating. I was doing so well, and Mother Nature never seems to like when that happens.

Not as hot or sticky today. Still puzzled by why I am tolerating it so well, as I never have before this year. Not complaining, Mother Nature. Perfectly happy tolerating hot and humid.

Still no new electric kettle. The one from Amazon was never even shipped from the seller, and my friend went to Walmart, and they only had one of the one I wanted, in a very damaged box. So no. I miss my kettle. If I could figure out how to keep the lid closed on my current one, but I have absolutely no ideas on that.

I am getting bread and lunch meat because I can throw together a sandwich. Things that don’t need much/any prep are the order of the day right now. I also have been drinking Polar Seltzer with added orange or pineapple juice. Very refreshing hot weather drink, and not sweet like soda. I am not a fan of sweet drinks, and never add sugar to coffee or tea. It’s also the reason I don’t like Oreos, too sickly sweet. Hydrox are my cookie. They were not available for a long time, but you can order them online now. Yay. They were actually the original chocolate sandwich cookie, but Oreo took over. Sugar is addictive, people. The sweeter it is, the more you want, the more you buy, the bigger the profit for the maker.
Diet soda is worse than regular, too. Do your research on that. Besides, what is funnier than hearing someone order a double cheeseburger with extra bacon, a large fry, and a diet Coke. Like regular Coke would be the problem in this order. Besides, Pepsi is better, anyway. 🙂 Diet Soda Health Issues

Today is the day Verizon FIOS, the worst customer service company in history, is supposed to auto deduct the three months of payment that it failed to deduct when it was supposed to. It’s on them. I have tried and tried and tried to resolve their failings, and now I just don’t care. Deduct, don’t deduct, shut me off. I can always go back to Comcast if they do. Not that Comcast is any better. My town once wanted to start it’s own internet provider, but somehow, it did not work out. Not sure why. We have a really good electric company, and our bills are much lower than any of the surrounding towns, and they would have been great to run an IP, I think. But no.

I cannot do much that involves movement, so rambling is my fall-back activity, it seems. Have a good day, readers, and please stay home, and wear your mask if you must go out. Save your friends, neighbors and loved ones, if you don’t care enough about yourself to take precautions, or if you mistakenly believe the virus is bogus or you are immune or immortal. Only the Highlander and Captain Jack are immortal. Trust me on this. 🙂Wear Your Mask, Please

From Bloomberg Business Week

How Ben & Jerry’s Perfected the Delicate Recipe for Corporate Activism

Remember Walmart way back when? Everything made in America. Made in America signs, US flags, the store made no bones about it. Then Sam Walton died and his heirs were more into greed and profit than supporting American-made products. Find something NOT made in China in Walmart now. Ben & Jerry’s is the only corporate entity I am aware of that has not abandoned the ideals of its founders. Look at Google. ‘Do no Evil’ was its motto. How’s that working out for them, I wonder.

This is why bad laws, bad tech, bad anything is just plain bad. “Well, it has safeguards, they guarantee they will never use my info, they promise to stick to ethics”, right up until someone else is in charge. This applies to government policies. It’s only safe as long as the people who wanted it to be safe are in charge. Then, all bets are off.

I have thought that they are hoping we all just die off, those of us who are not ‘them’, the rich, I mean.
From The New York Times
‘FEMA Sends Faulty Protective Gear to Nursing Homes Battling Virus’

If you haven’t quite gotten that something is seriously wrong with this administration, I’m not sure how to help you. But you do need help. Badly.

So I have started having a homemaker come on Fridays to do shopping and take out the trash. Handoffs through the door. She has come twice. Today, she said she was not feeling well. Bye, say I, and shut the door. Seriously? I have self-isolated for four months except for the fire alarm, and they send me an unwell person? WTF? How are we supposed to stay safe if the people in the health care business don’t even monitor their own employees. “She said she was just tired today” I was told when I called the agency about it. That’s not what she said to me, and do you not check? These people go into compromised people’s homes. Elderly people, people with chronic illnesses like me, and they can just expose us without a thought? Not happy. Not at all happy. Called my caseworker, and waiting for a call back. Stay safe, people. It may look like life is normal, but it is not, and is not going to be for a very long time, in spite of what the orange man and his worshipers want you to believe. It is on you to look out for yourself, and more importantly, for your loved ones. You may never get sick, but you can still pass on the virus to those friends and neighbors and family who may already be at risk. You can kill people with your selfishness and your misplaced outrage at being asked to wear a mask. It is to protect every one else, not just your own oh so special self. I do not understand the lack of compassion and sensitivity to other people’s needs that this administration has glorified in a good number of our fellow citizens. Selfish, selfish, selfish. The American Way. You all make me sick. No pun intended.

Not my favorite season when it’s hot and sticky, but I am doing well with just a fan blowing on me and the windows open, which is good because with my back issues right now, opening and closing windows is not on. One must adapt. 🙂 Meanwhile, I am reading, reading, reading. Hoping my Kindle hangs on, cause they only make touch screens now, which is the most stupid thing ever. Really. I am not the only one who hates them, either, judging from comments I’ve read here and there. You don’t get a choice anymore. Some idiot somewhere decides ‘this is better’, and that’s it. If you disagree, you are screwed. Look at the moron who killed Google Reader, because he didn’t like it. What about the rest of us who did? Unimportant.

Nothing good going on in this country. The whole Portland and sending troops into big cities thing is rather scary. I have pretty much started to avoid it all, because there is nothing I can do about any of it, and life is hard enough with chronic illness and pain. Less stress is a good thing. Speaking of which, a cartoon from a newsletter I get: