Speaking to my condition

Maybe it's because I'm a bit of a news junkie, or because I work in a school, but the pandemic topic is always there.  And, of course, it's tiring.  All those chyrons trumpeting BREAKING NEWS hour after hour (and it's the same news at 5am as it is at 12pm and 8pm).  Because misery loves company, it was with glee that I read Doug's post, in which he wrote

The pandemic always leads. If I have heard it once, I’ve heard it a million times - get vaxxed and boosted, wear masks, avoid crowds, cases are rising (at least someplace), new variants are cropping up, new meds are approved, yada, yada, yada. Dr. Faucci, I am sure you are a great guy, but man, am I tired of seeing your mug every damn day.

At the end of his post he comments on the irony of  The Star Tribune's "Pandemic Fatigue" headline.  It's the same irony I sensed when I heard news organizations talking about the fatigue we all felt about the OJ trial and just about any political scandal (including the Muller report).  It's some comment about how We, the People are tired of continually hearing about whatever the topic is, that it's covered incessantly, that we're just starting to tune things out... and then that same news outlet continues to cover the topic as often as before.  

Just once, wouldn't it be nice if they could take their own advice and SHUT UP?  Just stop the continual coverage and blaring headlines?  Maybe give us an update, in a calm manner, every so often, but not every 15min?  #LazygalDreams

Liar Liar Pants on Fire

 

O rly?  

Please tell me, exactly what in my background or current experience as a school librarian screams "franchise owner" or "auto aftermarket" to you?

Oh, wait, I know: nothing.  Can you even read? 

Come back when there's a franchise for books and tea shops or books and wine shops. Then maybe I'll believe that you read my background and/or have something interesting to sell.

Did I break some year-end mirror?

The past six years have been really difficult between Thanksgiving and New Year's, all in different ways but adding up to the question in the title: was there some mirror I broke?  and if so, will 2022 be the last of this?  To recap:

2016: Thanksgiving Day, we have to bring Mallory in to the vet for the last time.  A week later, my eye problems start up and I spend the first week of Winter Break coping with the effects of an IV steroid treatment.

2017: Trip to Dublin, interrupted by the effects of Prednisone, followed by The Cough That Ate Winter Break, leading to bruised ribs.

2018: Mom's last month, and then, on New Year's, we lost her.

2019: One year since Mom, plus effects of all the CRION meds over the years (muscle weakness, some fine motor control issues)

2020: Month someteenth of the Longest Academic Year Ever.  No Break, just working to keep things going from afar.

2021: An SVT episode sends me to the ER; 11 hours later I'm released (luckily, because the option was to spend the night on a gurney in the ER hallway).  Fingers tripled crossed that this is it for the "holiday" season.

Notable Quotes

 "I'll help you with whatever diplomatic niceties we need." Claire's voice curdled a little at the idea, but her gaze narrowed in Hero and Rami's direction.  "But there's something else we can do in the meantime."

Hero leaned in toward Rami and pitched his voice at a false whisper that would carry.  "Why is it when a librarian says 'we' I hear 'you lot' and when she says 'something else' I hear 'ludicrous peril'?"

The God of Lost Words,  A. J. Hackwith

All the citrus fruits

 

Life has been providing more than just lemons recently - there's limes, grapefruit, tangelos and all the other citrus fruits. 

Last Thursday, I walked into work saying that three shoes had dropped within the past 48 hours.  Well, here we are, 96 hours later, and they just keep dropping.  Where's the dark cave I can retreat to until this is all over?  No, don't answer that.  The cave will be inhabited by bats and bears.  

More when things calm down.