So...what's new?

It's been a minute, I know, since I last posted but in my defense...I'm going to blame the virus - because why not?  And, since I'm not leaving my house and I sit here alone during the week, there is nothing new or exciting to report.

I imagine it's the same for a bunch of us.

The only "fun" thing happening around here is that I have, somehow, come to the attention of some kind of spam bot who, for a while there, was pinging away at the blog thirteen or more comments at a time.  So for now, I've enabled comment moderation - which I hate to do but have no choice at this point.  I'm still getting hit but the number has dropped so hopefully that will go away soon.  (And right after I typed that - the number just jumped up...kinda like NC's COVID numbers are jumping *sigh*)  What's exceptionally irritating is that the "comments" come from the same "person" that I have reported repeatedly.  What gives Blogger?!  What's the point of reporting if you can't stop them?

Also The Husband has started a new project and pulled me in as his assistant and resident IT person.  I'm happy to do it for him - especially since he's enjoying this little project SO much -but it seems to take up a lot of my free time as I'm learning on the fly and he wants it done NOW (only because he's SO excited to see the results; not because he's bossy and demanding).  While he is very appreciative of my efforts and understands that I am learning on the fly, that does not translate into me teaching him how to do any of it.  It turns out he has NO interest in learning the stuff that I've been doing - so until he bores of this new project, I am on duty.

Working from home continues to work out surprisingly well.  I was in an email conversation with a colleague who is still at the office (there are usually only three people on the floor) and she has informed me that she is not mentally ready to have everyone come back  (she has actually mentioned this several times, so much so, that now I don't pop in during the week at all; I only show up when no one else is there.).  But I can't say that I blame her.  I'm not mentally ready either.  Based on a tele-meeting with our team a week or so ago, it looks like we won't be going back for a good bit (thank goodness!), particularly as the numbers continue to go in the wrong direction here.

And when I drive by local shopping centers they continue to be packed.  I know that people are tired and ready to get back to normal...but just because we are tired of it that doesn't mean the virus has just *poof* disappeared!  The whole thing is disheartening.

So much so, that I'm finding myself being even more cautious than I was at the beginning of all this.  As our state started opening up, I began to notice that more and more people were ignoring all the precautions and engaging in risky behavior and I knew I just did not want to be out and about with those same people.

For God's sake, stay home.  Wash your hands.  Wear a mask. Is that really too much to ask?

I find it curious that colleges and universities are planning to open next month.  How?  No, really - how?!  At this point in the game, I really don't see how colleges or any other school can open next month.

I know the colleges, particularly, are itching to get back to their "money makers" i.e., sports (aka football)...but I just don't see how that is feasible at this point.

Man-Child's high school team has started "training" and it seems to be social distanced.  When I voiced my concern, he said that they needed to do it because in the unlikely event that they were able to have a season, the kids needed to be ready...particularly for those kids that weren't doing any kind of training during the lock down.  Which makes sense, I suppose.  You can't expect kids to run out onto the field, cold, and play ball without some serious consequences.  But if this thing continues on - as it appears to be doing, I cannot see there being a football season this year.

Okay.  Well, that would be a dismal ending to a post.

Instead, let's end with this.  The world is on fire both literally and figuratively (again...not so upbeat), but there have been some benefits to *waves hands wildly* all this.

I read an article in the paper the other day about some of the positives from there being no visitors at the local zoo.  Apparently, the lack of visitors have given some of the more reticent animals a chance to reproduce.  Which is good - particularly for those that are endangered.

So - there's that.