so do your best, and be satisfied with that

alright, so i'm guessing that i will have some sort of comment about the COVID 19 thing on a daily basis for awhile. today let's just discuss how there are some unique issues for florida. it is especially hard for florida because we have about 24% of the population in that 60 Plus age group, so they are particularly vulnerable...and of those, i'm guessing it's a high percentage that are hard-headed and not real containment-followers. (i've seen it with my own eyes). another reason this is a difficult time for florida is because the main product of florida is tourism...that is what drives the economy, so when everything is being shut down and for safety's sake, you really don't want to import sickness, that kind of a shutdown will do a number. another issue for florida is: spring break. and yes, the beaches were open at that time, i have a feeling the state gov was hoping to get as much revenue as possible and hoping for the best before closing the beaches down, but, alas, we all know the spring break crew is not always thinking about others and tend to air on the 'it's all about me' side...at least this year it seemed rather visible. it was ugly. the JUST DON'T CARE CROWD is dangerous.

thankfully that is over. but...um, i just heard this morning on the news that several new yorkers (don't take it personally if you are from new york and happen to not be a violator, not talking to you, breathe...but if you are a violator, please quarantine...) traveled down this way and out of NY when they heard "lock-down", which means there is an unknown amount of people who could easily have been carriers inadvertently spreading that cv around! boo.

i was also thinking about the fact that it wouldn't be too unrealistic to imagine that some of the superbowl visitors were carriers, because the virus was already in the news at that point...30K coming into the airport daily...90k leaving on march 3...i mean is it such a stretch? MIA being an international airport...

i will say that streets were pretty dead when i went out after work this afternoon, so that is a good sign. why was i out? i needed some truvia, shrimp, a large bag of coffee and bleach (which i still couldn't find). but while i was there, since it was so dead, i got a few extra things, and felt a tinge of guilt because the wireless mouse and the squiggly eyes weren't essentials. but don't worry about me and my conscience, it didn't last long. and when i got back to the apt, it was a welcome surprise when i opened my mailbox and found a package with the skin so soft that i had ordered! i am in a kayakers group on FB and multiple peeps had replied to a thread that this was the most effective against no-see-ums, which just are the bane of my existence, and it's about that time of year again, so i thought it was worth a try! i mean if you can't trust your fellow kayaking fb group, who can you trust?!

so the googly eyes weren't necessities...until they are.

so, as i mentioned before, i have gotten used to the working from home gig, but it loses its 'cool' factor when it's a government mandate! i feel for those who are trying to do this with kids in the house-what a completely different dynamic. your kids aren't like my pups who are content to do this for 8 hours:

just gonna' rest for a minute...or all day

what? don't judge.

give yourselves a break, this is new territory. don't expect that you will be as productive as usual if you are new to this lifestyle of juggling work and kids and their schoolwork, and making their meals, and the list goes on...but don't sweat it. everyone is in the same boat, and it will be temporary madness. do what you can, and do it well. it is much more important that your family knows that you love and value them, so do whatever it takes to make sure that you actively love and value them! if that means you need to take a break to just listen or laugh or cry, then do that. this will end, and you will get back into a work routine, but relationships are fragile things, and need to be nurtured. so do your best, and be satisfied with that.

go forth and be your best for yourself and for your family!
julie