Day 14 of the coronavirus. We can’t beat this thing. Every time you start feeling better, it’s like, BAM! Admittedly, the intensity of our “mild” symptoms has gone way down and so has the stress. Yesterday, I was like: “I’m done! I feel great! I beat you, @$$^&#!” This morning, coronavirus got me back – though I am hoping it’s just the weather – It’s rainy outside.
At the start of the lock down I was really hopeful this was going to be a wonderful time for me and my family. We were eating healthy, working out, and spending lots of family time on projects. Then we got sick and we can’t keep up.
Teaching Unwell
Let me be clear, my major symptoms have only been slight fever, exhaustion, and occasional difficulty breathing. So my classes are running as usual. I only had to cancel one day to take Colleen to the doctor. And then I just put the material online in an asynchronous manner later in the day. Everything else isn’t working correctly though.
Colleen and I were talking about what I might write to NSF on my grant progress report. I thought I’d write just “N/A”. She thought it might be better to only write “survived”. This entire year in the lab has been a wash for our team for obvious reasons.
I also planned on helping students and faculty get through the crisis. I like to help. I had office hours planned for every day. But I have been useless. I’d like to say that my office hours have been full of students, but that would also be incorrect. When we are in the department during regular times, I can gauge when people need help by walking around and talking to people. I don’t have that now and I feel like things are slipping. I know students need help out there, but I feel like they are concerned about me or shy or I don’t know. I want to help!
Around the House
Rosie and I were going to have so much fun at the start of the lock out. We started playing football together and doing projects. I was going to help with the home schooling – though Colleen would do most of that. Now we feel like crap. I am happy if I can play our 15 minute family game at the end of the day. We have been playing volleyball in the house – of course we have to take frequent breaks.
Don’t even get started on the mess. It is a disaster. I am afraid to say we are living in real time my favorite poem from childhood:
– Or – Click here for the poem in print.
I MUST TAKE THE GARBAGE OUT!
Or I could just have lunch, let’s see who has enough energy to make ramen noodles.
Call to Action
Watching the news now is especially difficult. I want to get out there and help but I am stuck inside trying to get healthy. I can’t wait to give blood or to go help out at the Uncle Giuseppe’s down the street. We are being called to war. Whelp my contribution is this blog, blah. My brother-in-law has done more to help out than I have. THAT IS NOT ALLOWED, I MUST BEAT HIM AT ALL THINGS! We are really competitive. (Seriously, Good Job Dan!!)
WOW! This may sound like I am sour grapes today. I am just trying to poke fun at my situation. It feels great that we are getting over this thing and I am getting ready to go be useful. I feel like a spring that is getting coiled up and ready to pop. I am being impatient because I want to start helping now and I am not there yet.
Please help my student by filling out this form. She is working on a project:
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