I made it!

I worked 8 days in a row so I could have a 4 day weekend. It wouldn't have been so bad except I picked up a very bad cold half way through. I'm still shaking off the last of the symptoms, but at least I'm no longer miserable.

Of course, the weather continues to be 'interesting'. Since I worked last weekend, we were destined to have a snow storm and we did. Then, this week brought a fast-moving cold front (which most of the country probably felt). I got a text from my wood guy that he received three calls from customers that they were out of firewood and needed some that day. It was the coldest day of the winter for us. How could a person not notice their wood supply was getting low?? He thanked me again for getting my orders in early. :) Two loads delivered already for next winter.

I did find out what was keeping the birds away; there's been a hawk hanging around. :( Now, I love hawks and eagles, but not so much in my backyard. It hasn't bothered the chickens yet, but I still hope it moves on after it cleans out the rabbit population.

On a more serious note: I've been keeping an eye on the developments around the novel coronavirus, aka covid-19. Since I work at a hospital, I asked around a bit to get other impressions. Not surprising, the nurses ask about travel both in the ER and the clinic. I suspect eventually there may be a sign put out directing people to mention foreign travels like there was during the Ebola scare. As to individuals, it seems to run the gamut from very concerned to 'it's no worse than the flu'.

I've heard that comparison to the flu from a number of sources. My issue with that is in China's response. Why would a country of over 1.3 billion people cripple their own economy and open themselves to global commentary because of something that might cause a few thousand deaths? There is no logical explanation that I can think of which makes me suspect it could be much, much worse than anything we've seen thus far.

Personally, I'm taking a cautious, middle-of-the-road stance. I won't quit my job and lock out the world, but tomorrow will be my last visit to a store until I have a better understanding of what will happen. I don't really eat out anyway, so nothing has to change there. I'm also taking food/supplies to my son so if he is exposed and told to self-isolate at home, there won't be any shortages to worry about.

I am sincerely hopeful that this will blow over and be a false alarm.