Social distancing / quarantine support thread

[Celestial]

I think I have a problem with obsessively keeping track of UK Covid numbers every day. I get annoyed when the dashboard does not update, for example. I check the numbers and people's commentary on them.

I should stop but don't know how to. This gives me a feeling of a semblance of control.

[Gelquie]

One of the play troupes I follow was putting on a show, which is now out of town for me on account of my move. I was thinking that since things were even-ing out, and they were taking precautions, maybe I could take a trip there to see it, while taking my own precautions. It sounded like a fun time, and since I'm vaccinated, I could probably be fairly safe.

Except the plays are going on just in time for the spikes in cases and the uptick in (necessary) mandates, which I don't think people have caught on to yet, and is probably still getting pushback because so many people here are all "But my freedom! (to get you sick)".

One will go on another week, in which I could wait and see, but if I do that I'd be missing the other one.

And I've been tired and down about things lately; who knows if I'll even still feel the gumption to go, on top of everything else? Is it even really worth the risk, considering what's going on right now?

If things were normal, I'd push myself to just make a quick trip and see it, maybe even take a flight there to save on the drive and emissions. But things are not normal, and I don't think they're going to be normal anytime soon. I mean, heck, even after the pandemic is eventually over, I think the future is permanently altered, even if it's via a cause and effect chain that eventually gets so subtle that no one sees it. It happened with other major events of the past, and the people who lived it and how they subsequently interacted with others; there's every reason to think it'll happen with this too.

(I have a lot of thoughts on pandemic-related feelings lately... but one topic at a time.)

[Thorn]

I am really struggling today and I didn't want to bring it up, because it's all really selfish, but I need to talk about it somewhere and this seemed like the thread to do so.

I lost the parts of this week and the next I was most looking forward to because of covid, and while there are Bigger Badder Things happening for sure, this is The Thing that pushed me over the edge and now I am All Of The Cry and wishing I had chocolate (but I do not! I was gonna buy it yesterday but I didn't, and now we're locked down again!)

So I guess this is a support request? It feels really silly, I'm in NZ and it's been so less rough for us than many other places, but I am just feeling sad and despondent today. Very small things were stopping me being A Despair about the world All The Time, but now those small things are gone.

[Celestial]

Aug 17, 2021 18:19:43 GMT -5 Thorn said:

I am really struggling today and I didn't want to bring it up, because it's all really selfish, but I need to talk about it somewhere and this seemed like the thread to do so.

I lost the parts of this week and the next I was most looking forward to because of covid, and while there are Bigger Badder Things happening for sure, this is The Thing that pushed me over the edge and now I am All Of The Cry and wishing I had chocolate (but I do not! I was gonna buy it yesterday but I didn't, and now we're locked down again!)

So I guess this is a support request? It feels really silly, I'm in NZ and it's been so less rough for us than many other places, but I am just feeling sad and despondent today. Very small things were stopping me being A Despair about the world All The Time, but now those small things are gone.

I'm sending you all the hugs. =( This was exactly me back in December: the things I had been looking forward to just disappeared into smoke. And I did cry, a lot.

This is not forever. You will make it through this. What helped me was taking it one day at a time and finding things you enjoy indoors to occupy your time. Video games, hobbies, creative works. I got into plush making and played through a massive video game during our second lockdown. Don't feel guilty about your emotions, and don't repress them, but don't let them consume you either. Do your best, and stay in touch with those you love.

(Hurried answer because I have to run to work, but you know where to find me to talk in more detail)

[Huntress]

Aug 17, 2021 18:19:43 GMT -5 Thorn said:

I am really struggling today and I didn't want to bring it up, because it's all really selfish, but I need to talk about it somewhere and this seemed like the thread to do so.

I lost the parts of this week and the next I was most looking forward to because of covid, and while there are Bigger Badder Things happening for sure, this is The Thing that pushed me over the edge and now I am All Of The Cry and wishing I had chocolate (but I do not! I was gonna buy it yesterday but I didn't, and now we're locked down again!)

So I guess this is a support request? It feels really silly, I'm in NZ and it's been so less rough for us than many other places, but I am just feeling sad and despondent today. Very small things were stopping me being A Despair about the world All The Time, but now those small things are gone.

Hugs from me too :C

It sounds like an entirely reasonable reaction, though, and not at all selfish. It's like, we've all been dealing with this in all its variations for a very long time now, and it's sucked and it's hurt but we've found ways to cope with it because whatchagonnado - and then it looked like things were getting better, and more hopeful, which is good because it's been so very tiring already and can we just be done - except now NZ went all WHOOP WE'RE BACK AT THIS AGAIN, and your brain goes it's suck all the way down! it'll never end! how many more times am I going to get blindsided?

The point being, you shouldn't compare your suck to anyone else's suck nor feel guilty for feeling the way you do, because the entire world is a catalogue of various makes and models of suck right now. One country might've gotten a sucky camisole and another country a sucky sundress but they both still suck.

(eloquent, I know.)

[Thorn]

Thanks folks. <3 I really like the sundress and camisole analogy, Hunty! It made me smile but yeah, really well put.
I'm feeling a bit better this evening after a long Skype call with a local friendo, and your comment about hobbies is verygood Celes! The problem this morning was that there was nothing I actually wanted to do (it took me forever to even get out of bed!), but I started feeling a bit more like myself early afternoon. And a friend and I have been talking about our lockdown-painting and plan to share pictures of our progress, so that will be nice too.

But yeah, thanks so much both of you. <3 I really appreciate it! It's nice to feel Cared About. And similarly, if you ever need to talk I am also available for doing so- I know the past couple years have been rough on everyone.

[PFA]

*belated hugs* Yeah, it's rough right now. I've been drifting in and out of depression because of all the life plans that got put on hold, so I get it. I also echo the hobbies suggestion, because I've gone hard into some really nerdy hobbies for the past year and a half and that's pretty much what's been keeping me sane, haha.

But yeah, hang in there, everyone. We'll get through this. <3

[Thorn]

Thanks PFA. <3 Yeah I've tried to do a bit more painting, and I have a watch list of shows! But I was so close to paying off my switch, if I'd just been a bit quicker I would have fun video games too dangit! xD

[Liou]

"Madam did you use the handwash when you came in?"
"But I came here straight from my home!"


"Oh I beg your pardon Madam, I did not realise that your home was the first fully-certified perfectly sterile construction in the land."
"Oh I am sorry Madam, I was not aware that you were the lucky proprietor of the first fully-functioning teleporting circle in the history of humanity."
"Oh what a coincidence Madam! I also came here from Myhome this morning! Didn't see you there on my way.
Well I had no idea that gave us an exemption, but since it does, I also will consider myself exempted, and stop using any kind of handwash while putting my paws all over the things your entire town also will be touching."


(Hello I have had a whole bunch of those lately and needed to get the sass out of my system.) (Locals are really forgetting the whole hands dealio.)

[Thorn]

Oct 14, 2021 3:39:38 GMT -5 Liou said:

"Madam did you use the handwash when you came in?"
"But I came here straight from my home!"


"Oh I beg your pardon Madam, I did not realise that your home was the first fully-certified perfectly sterile construction in the land."
"Oh I am sorry Madam, I was not aware that you were the lucky proprietor of the first fully-functioning teleporting circle in the history of humanity."
"Oh what a coincidence Madam! I also came here from Myhome this morning! Didn't see you there on my way.
Well I had no idea that gave us an exemption, but since it does, I also will consider myself exempted, and stop using any kind of handwash while putting my paws all over the things your entire town also will be touching."


(Hello I have had a whole bunch of those lately and needed to get the sass out of my system.) (Locals are really forgetting the whole hands dealio.)

I love this one. The hand stuff combined with 'people pulling down their masks to talk to you' and 'people leaning right across the counter when they speak to you' (my workplace doesn't get screens), makes working with the public a great time lately!

 

[Celestial]

Ooh, ooh, can I add some?

"I can't wear a mask, I am exempt".
"I can't give you my details for test and protect because..."
a) We are currently travelling in a caravan and have nowhere to self-isolate if we get pinged.
b) I work for the health service and they tell us not to scan in case we get pinged and have to isolate (bonus points to this person for also being "mask exempt")
c) "Oh, I'm only in quickly to use the toilets" (You're stll in the building, yo)
d) Don't say anything, just turn your nose up and walk away at the very mention of test and protect.

I am glad that my next job will be back of house so I will not have to deal with enforcing the law anymore and dealing with people who just Don't Want To.

[Liou]

I get very little exposure to the book of face, but an acquaintance happened to share a post from a parents' group, and I thought I'd loosely translate it to share an example of what some french parents are going through with the current school-based protocol. (Based on comments, I'm sure others in different areas have different sets of problems too, but it seems to be the same level of chaos.)

SPOILER: Click to show

"Basically, you drop off your kids at school on Monday morning at 8:30.
You get to work at 9.
At 9:30 school calls because your kid is a contact case and you have to get them tested.
You pick up your kid at 10, you search for a place to get them tested without an appointment. You find one, queue for an hour, it's 11. You go home and make your kid lunch.

You still don't have the results because it takes 2 and a half hours instead of 15 minutes.
So it's 1:45, you have to go to the chemist's to pick up self-tests for days 2 and 4. They're out of stock.
You give up and say "welp" because it's 2:30 and there's no point in putting your kid back in school or yourself back to work.
So your kid did not get schooled on Monday.

On Tuesday, you proudly get to school with your kid's negative test. So cool, your kid's about to get taught.
At 1:30, other formerly-contact students return to school since some were not lucky enough to get tested earlier. So the teacher goes over the previous morning's lessons again for them.
Meanwhile, naturally, you thought you could get back to work, but no, nursery school is calling because it's your little one's turn to be a contact case. Here you go again.
Huzzah, it is Tuesday night, you now need 4 tests + 2.

It is Wednesday, the kids are going to leisure center, in their school naturally, and of course their classes are now getting jumbled, because they keep classes separate on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, but no problem on Wednesdays, it's a smartvirus.

So on Thursday you return with your little one's test that you got on Tuesday but no, it's been more than 24 hours, that's not going to work. Here you go again.
Meanwhile on your older kid's side, it's the teacher's son who's a contact case, so the teacher won't be coming today, and as classes can be mixed on Thursdays, no school for your kid again.
Thursday night, 9:30: huzzah, your kid's teacher's kid is negative, teacher can get back to work tomorrow.

Friday morning, your kids can go back to school.
Naturally, you write an empty sworn statement that you got both your kids tested again, because of course you never found more self-tests at the chemist's.

Results: kids barely got any work done, teacher's exhausted from teaching on-site while catching up for all the missing students' delay and explaining catch-up homework to parents, parents haven't got any work done from being called by schools most mornings, and many parents will just have to skip on actually testing their kids."