Covid and Crisis

Just Whoa!!!!!!

So last week, due to reports of Covid19 exposure at a local store which I do shop at, I got tested for the corona virus.  Six days later, I got a text and an email:  "A person with registration code [ ......] was tested on 7/15/2020, born in [XXXX] and your COVID-19 test results are negative. [Emphasis added.]  The test did not detect the virus. If you have any questions about the test or the result please call the NMDOH COVID-19 hotline at 855-600-3453 and press 1."   It referred to the code I received when I set up the testing and my year of birth.  So I'm negative.  Still being cautious and masked but relieved.......Thanks for all the good wishes!!

So now I'm going on a different rant---the erosion and destruction of our Constitution by the incredible idiot occupying the Oval Office and his dastardly crew.  As I'm sure you're aware, the Dept. of Homeland Security has sent troops into an American city, Portland OR, under the excuse of aiding the city in controlling the "anarchists of the radical left."  On July 20, he threatened to send “more federal law enforcement” to New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, Baltimore, and Oakland—cities run by “liberal Democrats,” he asserted.  There are already lawsuits filed against these actions and the Philadelphia District Attorney is threatening a step beyond lawsuits---arresting Federal agents who flout the law and Constitution.. I don't condone the violence and looting but I also don't believe in using Gestapo-like tactics to suppress either the violence or the mostly peaceful protests. The DHS, ICE, and CBP aren't the SS and shouldn't be employed as such.

Such over-stepping of the authority by this alleged president cannot be met with anything other than contempt and his removal from office.  He's already been impeached once and only a poor job of making the case by House Dems allowed rhe foller-dogs of the Senate to absolve him.  But today, even fools like Turtle McConnell opine that he might be going too far.  I'm not sure that our country can wait until November or January to rid ourselves of this constitutional menace.

I'm well aware that there are many citizens who might disagree with my position.  Such is the nature of our discourse since 2017---divisive, uncaring, overly aggressive.  See, he has had an effect--a thoroughly negative one, unfortunately.  Consider the history of Nazi Germany and the rhetoric of Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin.  Then consider the maxims espoused by Mandela, John Kennedy, FDR.  The current "president" certainly echoes the former, not the latter.  Time to wake up America!!!  Time for a new dawn in the shining city on the hill, as the conservative beacon Reagan asserted!!   The Federal government has already caused the death of thousands of Americans by its botched response to the novel corona virus.  Please let's not let its absurd and criminal treatment of its citizens to continue for another day!

The links in this post are from The Atlantic and Bloomberg.  I deliberately avoided articles/ op-eds from the  NY Times and Wa Post because I would hope that even conservative readers and/or friends would seek understanding of the issue without labeling them "fake news" and the other derogatory epithets that so pollute our national discourse.  I used enough inflammatory prose for all of us but if it makes even one person evaluate the condition we've sunk to, it's worth it.

Stay safe, wash your hands, don't touch your face, wear your mask!!

Adventures in Pandemerica

Wow, been awhile-- last post was in May.  How time flies when you're locked down and self-isolating!! Just so busy, busy, busy......

So this past week was a trying one.  As you're all aware, the pandemic is still growing.  Many states have rescinded their reopening plans.  For instance, here in New Mexico, the governor again closed restaurants and bars to in-house service.  So after a few weeks of relaxing on Friday mornings at Nellie's Cafe, it's back to curbside takeout.  The federal government has changed covid statistics reporting---now it will be handled by the DHHS rather than the CDC.  Some issues with transparency considering this is an election year and federal response to the pandemic hasn't exactly been stellar.....

I have been doing some shopping---essentials, like wine, beer, and green chile cheeseburger ingredients.  Still biking to the Las Cruces Farmers Market Saturday mornings.  Last Saturday we went on a little different route, ended up at a blind intersection, and I managed a very clumsy fall and face plant.  No pix because my knee and nose are too scabbed over.  No permanent damage either.

Of course, to add insult to injury, I woke up Sunday stiff and sore (more so than usual) and attributed it to the crash.  We have gotten into the habit of checking our temperature every so often.  To my shock, it registered 100degF Sunday morning.  Now it happened that the Walmart we frequent was ordered closed by the DOH because of virus infection.  It was recommended that any customers who visited within the previous month or so get a test.  I was there a week earlier.  That, added to the cough I woke up with, had me scramble to the Dept. of Health website.

Now New Mexico isn't known for being a leader in education, standard of living, or health care.  But I have to commend the Department of Health.  The website was easy to use and the information was easily found.  The CVS pharmacy chain has a testing location---couldn't get an appointment for over a week and lag times for results could be as long as 2 weeks!!  (There were disclaimers to this effect on several of the private providers information sections.)  I was able to schedule a test on Wednesday July 15 at the NM Dept. of Health office in Las Cruces.    They do from 170-200 tests per day, 7-9am.  I got there at 6:15 and was the 7th vehicle.  They started the testing a little early and, lo and behold, I was home in time for breakfast at 7:00 o'clock!!  Kudos on the testing program.  Should have results in 2-4 days---check a web page with name, age, test date and done!!!

Quite the contrast with the veterinary hospital later in the day.  Again, it's a curbside service--you call when you get there, they call when they're ready to come get your pet.  First, I had to call about 16 times before I got a live person--then was on hold for 7 minutes!!!  I realize the virus has caused changes in customer service but we have been involved with it long enough that I believe a business should have modified their procedures to make sure customers are taken care of in a prompt and efficient manner.  Doesn't seem to be the case for some--and the lesson they should learn is that poor service will cause a downward spiral just as fast as the pandemic and shut downs do.  And the Sharprador is fine and protected from parvo and rabies for 3 years.

Finally, this---Dr. Fauci has been maligned by the administration.  His response is to call it "nonsense".  Given the lack of empathy or understanding of the issues people are facing (and hurting!) of the resident of the Oval and his minions, I'd choose to listen to the scientist rather than the blowhards.

Y'all stay safe, wash your hands, wear your masks!!!! 

 

Another Covid Saturday

As followers of this blog might remember, Saturday mornings my stepson Ben and I ride to the Farmer's Market for exercise (about 11 miles round trip on the ditches) and for my empanadas.  Last week I was fortunate to get the last of the pineapple empanadas at Joe and Dolores' stand so this week we left an hour earlier.  Now the market is open 8:30-1:00 on Saturdays during these social distancing times.  By leaving at 8 am we were able to get there right as it opened.  The full selection was available---except Dolores told me they hadn't made any lemon empanadas this week so all I got was pineapple.

In normal times, i.e., pre-Covid-19, the market takes up pretty much the entire downtown Main Street area.  Now it's confined to the plaza with the only vendors being food sellers.  There's three bakers, a couple of vendors of local honey, and a couple of vegetable sellers.  The stands are set far enough apart to encourage social distancing:

And the customers pretty much comply with the 6-feet apart recommendation.

The City has spent a lot to make the downtown attractive and a destination.  There's a walkway between Main Street and the parking lots a block away.  It could have been an alley but instead, it's an artistic exhibit:

Shadow selfie and Ben in the distance

Places to rest and protection from the sun

Of course, parks are still closed:

Pioneer Women's Park

So after shopping, we headed home up the ditches.  As usual, there were critters---no roadrunners today but some guinea hens had escaped:

They must live on the other side of that fence because that's where they all headed to escape that creature on the bike with those huge tires.........

I've been trying very hard not to rant on this blog but the past week just took the cake.  I wish the Federal Government would project leadership and compassion, as well as CONSISTENT MESSAGING---one day they're disbanding the task force; the next they're not; then they repurpose it; then they don't release safe opening guidelines.  The only word I have is incompetence.

So, here's a couple of links to hopefully help keep you all safe and alive:

What's Safe in Reopening

Why the Economy shouldn't reopen

Stay safe, wash your hands, and virtual hugs to all.  Oh, yeah, Happy Mother's Day!!

Covid-vival Part II

Resting on a tree

So I get antsy during this phase of self-isolation and ride my bike to the Las Cruces Farmer's Market on the downtown plaza every Saturday morning.  I ride it to get empanadas and fresh veggies.  It's a nice ride mostly on the gravel maintenance trails bordering the irrigation ditches.  It's so peaceful to not have to think about traffic---crosses 5 or 6 roads then the last 3/4 of a mile is on streets in the downtown area that are usually pretty empty.  Thanks to all who abide by the shelter in place restrictions for making it so.

Art

This mural is on a wall by Lion's Park by the railroad tracks just off US Hwy 70, known as West Picacho Avenue in Las Cruces.  The park itself, with tennis courts and a pool, is closed due to the pandemoic restrictions but the mural is accessible from the trail.

Lady

This mural is from the Visitor Bureau in downtown Las Cruces, about 3 blocks from the central plaza that houses the Market. 

My Buddy

And this Blue Heeler always greets me when I ride by his house on the ditch. Just one of the many dogs, pretty much all fenced in their yards, that can be visited on the ride....

         

Onions

The onion fields to the east of the Mud Shack are about ready to harvest.  It's so tempting to pluck a couple whenever I ride through these fields.  In contrast, the fields to the west are just getting going:

Baby Onions

We do co-operate with many of the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, however.  None of the markets around here will deliver wine or beer but many items, if you can find them in stock, can be delivered for a nominal charge and a tip for the driver.  We've had groceries from both Sam's Club and Sprout's delivered via Instacart.  And yesterday had our first experience with restaurant delivery via DoorDash.  Both services worked well and the delivery times weren't outrageous---a couple of hours max as opposed to pick up scheduling two days out at Sam's!!!  Not meaning this as a commercial; more like expressing surprise it works so well, so far at least.

And finally, a shot of the Mud Shack from the onion fields to the east surrounded by blooming pecan trees:

Stay safe, enjoy your isolation---Trying to figure out what I'll be watching this week what with Homeland, Better Call Saul, Little Fires Everywhere, and Marvelous Mrs. Maisel all having concluded their seasons (and absolutely finito for Carrie).  At least a few favorites like Billions and Succession should return in May.

And I Saw That----DON'T TOUCH YOUR FACE!!!!!

Covid-vival

So how y'all doin' with this covid thing.  Staying home?  Washing your hands?  Hoarding TP and Purell?  Not touching your face?  All of the above?  None of the above?  Are you ingesting Lysol like our fearless leader suggested?  Of course, now he claims he was being sarcastic to see how the media would respond.  Between his comments and tweets and the ridiculous bombasticism from the Senate Majority Turtle, it's a wonder this country will survive until November......
I have to confess I have a hard time staying home.  My stepson Ben has been doing some shopping for us and his aunt.  We've used Instacart to get items from Sam's Club and Sprout's.  I ride my bicycle to the Las Cruces Farmer's Market every Saturday morning to get my favorite empanadas and any miscellaneous veggies we need.
We've only had one Corona death so far here in Dona Ana County, 88 cases as of last night.  There's talk of limited openings mid-May.  No testing upticks though so I guess we'll see.
Agriculture is still going strong:

Lettuce in a field

And it's pretty easy to maintain social distancing on a bike, riding solo on the ditches. It is a little weird picking up a prescription at the veteranarian though.  You call it in the day before, drive to the animal hospital, call them fom your car and they verify that it's there, take your payment info, then bring it out to your car.  Guess that's safest for everyone.

Fortunately, Nellie's Cafe is doing curb side delivery for call-in orders.  So I get to see the Friday regulars and Danny the owner and Josie, his sister and the waitress, every week.  Neither sun, heat, wind, rain, nor Covid-19 can keep me from my Friday breakfast:

huevos rancheros with red and green chile meat, rice, and beans

Gotta admit it tastes a lot better than Tide pods, Lysol, or bleach.  And it won't kill or maim you, either.  Maybe that's an avenue for research by virologists.  Everything's better with green chile---maybe it would beat the virus too!!!  Be better for you than Cheeto's suggestions.......#liberate AmerikafromCheetoandtheTurtle.  Stay safe, stay apart, and eat your chile!!

A Thought Exercise

So Wednesday the wife gets a call from one of the Friday regulars at Nellie's Cafe---"Don't forget Friday is Good Friday and Nellie's will be closed.  Didn't want you and Bill to miss your weekly chile."  No problem---I'll just call in our order Thursday and go pick it up.  Which I did.  But I should have guessed there were changes there when, after I gave my order, Josie asked "And how do you want your eggs?"  Obviously she didn't realize to whom she was speaking.  In person, I don't ever have to tell her what I want.  When I got there, Nellie's was locked up tight, no lights on but big signs in the windows proclaiming them to be OPEN.  I called, Josie answered and said she'd be right out.  I guess thanks to the newest lockdown proclamations they had to close the front door where in the past they had a table set up to collect monies and hand out orders.  Now Josie comes out the back dooor, gets the payment, goes back in and then delivers the order.  When she came out and saw me, she said "It's not Friday!!"  I shot back "So that's why you asked how I wanted my eggs!!"  And we maintained our social distancing while we laughed......So that's my covid-tribution for today.

Now that Bernie is out of the Democratic race, all the news outlets are calling Biden the nominee and there's a focus on the number two slot.  I guess the most prominent suggestions are female senators like Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, and Amy Klobuchar or Governors Gretchen Whitmer of MI and our own Michelle Lujan Grisham of NM.
How about thinking in a different way about this.  Why pick a democratic senator for the post?  Isn't it just as important, if not more important, to get control of the Senate, especially if the incumbent is re-elected?  Now if Kamala or Amy were to be VP, their seats might not flip since both CA and MN have democratic governors who'd likely appoint a Democrat to fill the seat.  Not the case in MA with Warren and a Republican governor.  And in the middle of a pandemic, do we really want to lose effective governors?  Now Stacie Abrams is high  on a lot of lists but does she have the experience to be a heartbeat away from the Oval Office?
Bear with me on this and I'd love to hear your thoughts---personally this option nauseates me but--- how about Vice-President Hillary Rodham Clinton?  Don't know how having two old white establishment figures at the head of the party would play in the general election but HRC does have the chops to be VP---former First Lady and Secretary of State.  Don't really see Pence doing very well on the VP debate stage against her.  And leaving the female Senators in place with the possible additions of Mark Kelly in AZ and Steve Bullock in MT would help with wresting control of the Senate from the GOP.  And Amy McGrath is within the margin of error in her contest with McConnell in TN----wouldn't it be great to retire the Turtle!
As I said, this would not be my first option but isn't thinking about this a great way to give your poor overburdened overstressed mind a breask from corona virus coverage?

A Covid Covered Saturday

So I got up around 0630, proceeded to dress and round up protective gear for a trip into the pandemic world  to obtain groceries and other necessities.
First, the PPE.  I've been retired almost ten years now.  One perk from my job was samples of things we sold like masks and gloves and noise abatement headgear.  So when Corona struck, we got the gloves and masks out of the garage storage and moved them into the house.  I'm sure all this stuff was past their "pull date" but for personal use??  Why not.  Made sure I had a bandana to cover the mask which was clearly marked "N-95", you know, the good masks in such short supply for medical professionals....
Small bottle of Purell sanitizer in my pocket, off I went to Walmart, Sprout's, and the Las Cruces Farmer's Market.
Got to Walmart about 20 minutes after it opened.  There were a ton of parking places in the rows near the entry doors which was surprising.  Quickly learned why all the cars were near the west driveway----that's where the entry line was set up.  Laughing and joking, I entered next to another guy who had parked next to me, halfway across the lot.  The store wasn't crowded.  Elbow bumped someone I knew, proceeded to the "necessities" aisles----Rogue Dead Guy Ale, wine.  Next were chips and popcorn; ground turkey for dog food; laundry detergent.  People wearing PPE were about 50% of those I encountered.  One elderly couple used one hand to hold handkerchiefs over their nose/mouth, leaving one hand to pick items and/or steer the cart.  Don't know why they always seemed to be in the same area as me---it considerably slowed me down.  I must say the store was very clean and there were employees apparently tasked with one job---wiping the carts down with sanitizer.  The woman in charge told me they wiped down every cart every 5 minutes!!!
Sprout's was even less crowded than Wally World.  I grabbed hamburger buns, cheese, ground beef and left.  The checker wasn't very friendly when I commented on the pinpad not liking my card.  And she was flat rude to the woman following me who apparently hadn't been paying attention to Covid guidelines as she attempted to unload the half dozen cloth grocery bags onto the counter---"You can't put those here!!" sputtered la checkerina bit*hy......
About cards--my bank hasn't gone all in on "chipped" debit cards yet.  I'm sure when my card expires the replacement will be chipped but for now I still have to slide it.  Well, since I use my debit card for about everything, it's a little worn.  I'm learning which checkouts at which stores need me to slide the card "up" so I don't get a "Card Read Error."  Checkers used to put a plastic bag over the card and swipe it but I've been told that damages the newer pin pads.
The Farmer's Market had about seven vendors: four baked goods, two veggie, one for local honey.  My favorite empanada baker wasn't there again. Sigh.  Which is why I got several cheeses at Sprout's for snacking.....
So I followed social distancing guidelines.  Used the mask and gloves although one of the nitrile gloves split when I put it on so it was pretty useless.  More customers at Sprout's and the Market had on PPE than at Walmart.  And the people I interacted with seemed pretty cheery and upbeat.  The woman at the Market showed me the hand-made masks her daughter was making to send to various charities tht provide them to nursing homes and hospice facilities.  She had a box full, readty to ship Fed-Ex.  Maybe if other places around the world approach this pandemic the way people have here in Las Cruces-- maintaining social distancing, using PPE, and keeping a sense of humor and camraderie--  Corona-SARS-2, aka Covid-19, won't be the catastrophe it might be, despite the mixed messages from our leaders (or lack thereof).
And the kicker to the morning was that after I got home at 0915, I went to the Sam's Club website.  I had a cart set up with items like dog food and vinegar but the pick up window was beyond 2 days.  Since my sister-in-law had given us a gift card that included a free Instacart delivery, I transferred my cart to that site and, lo and behold, the 7 items were delivered to my gate at 1015!!!!!

No Joke

     Happy April Fool's Day.  I see Google has opted to not make a jokey Google Doodle in this time of panic over the pandemic.  I can appreciate the decision, given the assault on the media giants by the government but if there's ever been a time the populace could use a laugh, it's probably now.....
     Follow up on my last post: The husband/wife team that makes those wonderful empanadas was not at the market last Saturdy.  I sure hope it's a temporary glitch in their supply chain.  Their empanadas are soooooo  goooood 😋😋

     So of course I continued my social distancing with  bike riding on the ditches.  The shot below is as close as you'll get to a selfie.  Just me and the bike in shadow with a photo-bombing thumb:
   

     Now people have been working on this field for several months.  I figured it was going to be a new housing development. Never been so happy to be wrong!!  That's a new concrete irrigation ditch and all those white markers are baby pecan trees----a whole huuuuuge orchard!!!  (And the shadow selfie photo-bombed it too)

     I continued down the ditches and levee road until it intersected with the paved loop trail around Las Cruces and Mesilla.  The bike insisted on a portrait by the information marker:

   

     I know there are roadrunners in the area.  Usually they are too quick and scoot away by the time you stop, get the phone,  and try to capture their image.  But this morning I got lucky!!  This guy stood right there on the wall so I could take his portrait:

     

     And further along, bike and I came to a fallow field.  We've all heard about the lilies of the field and amber waves of grain but I got a pic of some egrets outstanding in their field......

     And of course, it's impossible to ride in this area without the mountain views:

Picacho Peak

The Dona Anas

The Robledos, home to the Dinosaur Trackways Monument

     So that's how one person is coping with Covid.  I hope all of you are paying attention (as if you can escape the news coverage!) to the reasonable demands being made on we citizens in an attempt to flatten the curve.  If we focus on the alarmist views, 2 million deaths, an economic depression, we'll all be wishing for those end days.  Don't know how the rapture proceeds with social distancing and not sure I want to find out, either.  So wash your hands, keep your distance, go ahead and have that 3rd glass of red..............Oh, and should you need more information, I'd recommend the Axios site.  And for how to avoid the virus from the CDC , also what to do if you get it-- this link includes a self-screening tool.  Be safe!!!!

A Case of Corona

     Whoa!!  Been a while since I last posted.  I guess retirement has made me lazy; too easy to blurt out an opinion on Facebook and start a ruckus than to write something in full sentences......
     So like most of the rest of the citizens in some 43 states, we're under "house arrest" here in the Mud Shack too.  But that can't stop us from living.  And besides, it could be worse.  Thanks to the Amazon Fire Stick I can keep up with my blonde girls---Carrie Mathison and Kara Danvers (Homeland and Supergirl). 
     It's been frustrating trying to watch the local news at 4PM on the El Paso ABC affiliate---bad enough it's usually preceded by Dr Oz but lately they've been carrying the "press briefings" from the White House.  Not much information to be gained there from the primary speaker but at least Fauci and Brix try to make sense and provide usable info.  The lack of leadership and the lack of consistent fact/science based presentation just result in more damage than the pandemic itself. And as if there isn't wall to wall Covid-19 coverage already, the local news, normally an hour, is less than half an hour now between network coverage of the Cheeto and the 430-5 slot being devoted to interviews with various El Paso or Las Cruces leaders or medical personnel about the virus.  Thankful for the local PBS affiliate carrying the World channel so I can skip the local news and get real perspective from BBC World News America.  Besides, Anton Chico, chihuahua más valiente, loves to sit in the recliner and watch Laura Trevelyan.  Puppy love, I guess.
    One thing I have done is increase the number of newsletters and sites I visit for accurate information.  No MSNBC, Fox, InfoWars, Breitbart, or Daily Kos.  I believe I'm fully capable of evaluating news items myself.  That being said, I do regularly read/watch Next Draft by Dave Pell, The Recount , and Axios .  If you're looking for digestible information, check them out.
   And while social distancing and limiting travel in the world is appropriate for flattening the curve of the pandemic, it is spring after all.  That means poppies in the Organ Mountain Desert Peaks National Monument:

Poppy Infestation

White Flowers Too

Poppies Up Close

     And of course, the Rio Grande has water right now and there's all those mountains:

Dona Ana Mtns

Looking Grande, Rio

     Despite the shutdowns and limitations on businesses, the Las Cruces Farmer's Market is still open Saturday mornings from 8-2.  It's very limited--instead of the entire downtown district it's only 10-12 food vendors on the Plaza.  Still beats the store though.  Just hope the bakers of my favorite empanadas can stay in business.  Guess I'll find out tomorrow when I ride my bike down the ditches to the Plaza.......And thank god Nellie's Cafe is still open for take out---not as nice as being able to sit there at our regular table and visit with the owners and the regular Friday morning customers, but I'm not sure I could do the stress of these times without that green chile.  And those Friday regulars are all there waiting for their take out too!!
Y'all stay safe, keep your social distance, wash your hands, don't touch your face, and I hope the only case of Corona you get is this one: