How is YOUR Self-Isolation Going?

That good, eh?

From amusing ourselves

to shaking our heads at those who will soon be its next victims...

But...one thing is apparent.

This virus is no HOAX or laughing matter.

This 3-D imaging shows how the virus attacks the lungs-

https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2020/03/26/3d-video-shows-covid-19-attack-lungs.cnn

This week in the US alone- we have seen

10,000+ new cases Monday

10,000+ new cases Tuesday

10,000+ new cases Wednesday

17,000+ new cases Thursday

18,000+ new cases Friday

And our total for this hour in the United States is now

112,377

with

1,873 deaths so far.

Globally...the total is

629,471

with

28,964 Deaths so far.

And I hate the dryness of stats. 
I really do. 

It is easy to say Twenty eight thousand, nine hundred and sixty four dead.  Without looking at that as individual people.

Grandmas and Grandpa, Moms and Dads, Sisters and Brothers, Lovers and Friends, Sons and Daughters, Children. 

Most of us may know 300-400 people, tops...family and friends.

Imagine everyone that you know is dead.

Now multiply the number by 100 or more.

And we haven't reached the peak yet.

I have to admit I broke isolation yesterday...after 15 days in and feeling a LOT stir-crazy.

I called our local transit...who is offering individual rides at a much higher price.

It was stupid.

Risking my health when there was absolutely nothing that I HAD to have...that I couldn't have got easily online.

Just to get out.

I went to a small local business that was still open.

Let me tell you about that foray out...

My driver was outfitted with her suit, mask, gloves and eye protection. This was my first

"What the hell am I doing?"

  moment.

The normally busy streets were quiet, with very very few cars.

Most of the businesses were closed and a lot of the parking lots were empty or nearly empty.

Apocalyptic.

When we finally reached my destination I had seen most of the few people who were out were wearing masks, gloves or both.

I was wearing neither.

I was only in for a few minutes. A lot of the shelves were bare. No bread, no flour or yeast to make bread, very little meat, no eggs, beans, rice, pasta...

I picked up a few frozen items...some canned...and a small carton of Snickers Ice Cream because it was there...

(...and the thought actually passed through my mind "Sure...I ended up with Covid-19...but hey...I did get this delicious ice cream...")

Yeah, I know

STUPID.

Being out there was unsettling, eerie, creepy...

And such a relief when we finally got to the relative safety of home.

Home looked positively WONDERFUL.

No. No more treks out for a long time.

If I don't have it...and I can't get it delivered...well then, I don't NEED it.

Sofi...and James' Bullys have the right idea...

We all just need to relax!

Got a few red roses delivered with my Insta-Cart Groceries.

Had Grub-Hub deliver KFC for lunch.

And tidied the patio...getting ready soon to start a few seeds and plant some new Hostas.

Enjoying the first "Gardening Day" of 2020.

(...and still marveling a little, when I opened the Compost Tote after all winter...to see that the leaf litter, egg shells, coffee grounds, twigs and vegetable peels and such were now 30 gallons of rich black soil to fill containers and pots...and top dress my borders...and a new pile of winter leaf litter to start next year's compost...)

Yeah...I am easily amused.

And speaking of easily amused...check THIS out!

A Lego-Bricks Waffle
Maker.

Sent this photo to Chris and Tina...I think we ALL need one of these...lol.

Definitely something to do during self-confinement.

                                                              "That...and adore the cat!"  ~Gadget
Stay Safe! 
And pamper yourselves...

Virtual Islands: Guam

A territory of the United States in the Western Pacific...Guamanians are born American Citizens.

Within an area of about 220 square miles the island boasts a population of 150,000 people.

Not exactly your deserted isle.

 But parts are beautiful.

And it is those parts we will explore today...

Guam has an average temperature of 85 degrees year round.

And some beautiful coastline and beaches.

 Old Spanish Forts to Explore

And Rain forests with spectacular views...

Tour of Guam

https://youtu.be/Nc5fxOVD6bo

See you next week...when we will check out

San Blas 

Saturday's Solitude...and The Update

Yes...my 10th day of Self-Isolation...and very slowly getting a routine established here. The New Normal.

 (No...eating...napping and fwipping between the ISDH, the John Hopkins Site and the COVID-19 Global site did not count...)

Also learning I would do very poorly in prison .

Now, it is coffee and chat with John..and catching up with friends and the kids online...and a check in on the virus, of course,

Exercise, and breakfast for me and the cat.

Bath and getting dressed and together for the day.

Tidy the house and do laundry and dishes.

Blog or Virtual Travel.

Journaling ( A recent addition to help cope with the psychological side of our New Normal suggested by a friend and since I have basically been following this pandemic since January )

Phone calls/emails/reordering anything I'm out of

Outside time! (...hopefully playing in the plants before long...)

Nap with the Sofi-cat.

News

Making Dinner

Catching up with Loretta and with John at the end of the day

Reading or Painting

Bedtime

I do so much better with a routine.

So much has happened since last week. 

Nationally...the cases have exploded to nearing the 25,000 mark.

Globally we have went from 181,000 cases to

This

Yes...Holy Shit!

Here in The States we seem to be just at the tip of the iceberg. The next few weeks will be critical.

After seeing the photos from the airports screening lines all over the country...

And those INVINCIBLE kids on their Spring breaks this week and last

(...and special thanks to the Governor of Florida who waited until AFTER the break to close the beaches...because $$$$$$$$$$$, that is why...) 

Yeah...I'm pretty sure we are effing doomed.

(...natural selection in action...)

The herd will be thinned.

And John and I are going to self-isolate for a while and hopefully not be part of the culled...okay?

So...what else is there to do when nearly everything is closed and your neighbors are now not Pete and Sally, but Vector 1 and Vector 2?

Well my oldest grand-daughter decided to go PINK!

Like fushia!

It is beautiful, hon!

Everyone from Distilleries and Perfumers to Federal Prisons have jumped on the band-wagon and are making hand sanitizer!

People have hoarded all the toilet paper available...and their dogs have found part of their stash...

"They said they didn't do it...I believe them."

Commercial companies are coming up with novel ideas to cash in.

or you can just go old-school...

And anyone who has been watching the WH health briefings has to appreciate this...

"When what you are saying is SO DAMNED stupid it make the Corona Virus Expert Guy touch his face!!!"

Well at least the stock market is doing well...right?

Okay...maybe not.


You know...sometimes you just have to get creative and make your own fun!

Anyway...

While the world is basically in psycho-chicken right now is should come as no surprise that

this guy

is now no longer a New England Patriot...but instead has been snatched up by Tampa, and is a Buccaneer.

And Opie has got REAL OLD

(...as have we all...)

~sigh~

Waiting for the weather to cooperate and puttering outside in the plants to begin...

The Book this Week

Ahern's sequel to P.S, I Love You.

If you haven't read the first book...stop what you are doing and read it soon.

For those who have...a beautiful follow up 7 years later.

Well written. Realistic,

Heartwarming.

Worth a look!

No new movie this week...but
I did re-watch Contagion.

(...maybe not so healthy...)

Last week's sickness...as I thought...just a cold...fine now...except the world is now closed and the transit is closed and even Sofi and I are starting to get on each other's nerves...

"I close my eyes...but when I open them you are STILL here...how can I miss you if you WON'T ever go away???"   ~Sofi


Have a wonderful...safe...weekend!

"Chillin' with Dad"  ~Gadget

Virtual Islands: Mykines

Off to the 4th Obscure Island in Lovegrove's trek...Mykines

Faroe Islands.

Mykines is the furthermost western island  (18th) in the chain.  With an area of 4 square miles the island has a population of 10 people.

It is 36 degrees here this morning.

Which might account for the population.

Mykines has many seabirds...a lot of puffins...and hares which were introduced to the island

and the Mykines Mouse

Called the St, Kilda House-mouse.

The thing with introducing hares or mice onto an island with no natural predators, of course, is that they have no natural predators.

Mice and hares overrun this tiny island.

The lighthouse was built in 1909...and automated in 1970.

Guide to Mykines
Island and the Lighthouse Hike...

https://www.guidetofaroeislands.fo/nature-in-faroe-islands/mykines

Where you will cross three of these bridges...

And the hike promises thousands of Puffins along the way.

A stone wall which was kind of interesting on the Puffin Trail (as it is called).

and Puffins along the trail.

Beautiful scenery!

Greenish and warmer than Jan Mayan... but still not a tropical isle.

Houses on Mykines

Known simply as Mykines Village.

It is a Dutch Settlement and the only village on the island.

A small stream runs through it.

Hope you have enjoyed our day trek...

Next Up: Guam