I hear your feelings Lisa and I would never dismiss them. At the end of the day I believe feelings are what truly inform behaviours, at least for most people. We all have different motivations and catalysts (I guess today they’re called triggers) for our emotional responses to things, all equally valid since things so personal can’t be objectively weighed and measured. I think fairness dictates we all try to give each other the same respect in that regard.
I’m just guessing here but I think the brief, factual statement of average life expectancy, with no real context, gave you the impression that the message was a callous disregard for the deaths of the elderly. That is why I referenced the video, produced in Ireland and based on their statistics, which had been provided by @MommyinHonduras . (Maybe knowing the sources will reassure you it is not some crazy right-wing rant.) There are many balanced and politically/ideologically neutral voices producing factual information and simply that it exists and can be “taken on board” isn’t a threat. I will never agree that verifiably factual information should be suppressed just because it makes me uncomfortable. Nor does knowledge negate our right and responsibility to filter it through out own visceral and moral lenses when making decisions. And I don’t think you would either.
The situation we find ourselves in really has no easily identifiable good outcome. Something (either large or small) is at stake no matter what decisions are made. Your point about not really knowing what we are or are not willing to live with in the aftermath is a good one. Nobody can say until they have a lived experience, which you have had in a particular way.
Australia seems to be going along well - as Elphaba said earlier Victoria has had 0 cases 0 deaths in 28 days whilst here in NSW we are up to 20 days. It’s sort of feeling ”normal” - today was the 3rd time I have had a manicure since October and I didn’t wear a mask for the first time (there are plastic shields between the technician and customer as well as sanitiser and contact tracing forms to be filled out prior to sitting down).
We are even taking our kids out of school next week and are taking a 7 day trip to Queensland - we haven’t had a family holiday since December 2018 and since our usual trips overseas are not going to happen again until at least 2022ish, we figured Queensland will be our destination this year.
Yet so many defend him. Think he's a hero
did not mean to upset anyone, but at our store these days are the busiest and most of our regulars that come in do not wear masks, and when I have asked them during conversation they tell me that they will not. Sorry for the upset.
Yes! She checked in a week ago with this:Has anyone heard from @MommyinHonduras since the last hurricane Iota? Honduras and area were hit very hard, not sure about Roatan. Always enjoy her interesting views.
Well we are well as we were not directly hit by either Eta or Iota, but while praising God we are untouched, my heart is grieving at the devastation. Two major hurricanes in two weeks is, there really are no words. Hundreds of thousands of homes have been destroyed. Whole cities and regions throughout Honduras are flooded and damaged and cut off from food and supplies. More than three million people affected. That is 1 in 3 Hondurans. Not neighborhoods. Whole cities all around the country completely flooded. To the north, the south, the east, the west. Landslides everywhere. Bridges and roads out. On a scale of 1 to 10 it's a 12. How does one even begin to plan recovery for this? I know so many who are serving, literally shoveling mud out of homes, feeding and and loving on people. It is the bright light in this dark mess. Here are two but I could list 30 easily https://missionupreach.org/eta-relief-fund/ https://servehope.net/ Stay small, the photos coming if of warehouses of donated food and supplies lost and not given to those who it was intended to help are rage inducing. It means smaller is better for the same day relief needed.
I've beginning to wonder if whenever that day comes when I don't wear a mask all the time out in public (aside from eating or drinking at a restaurant or out in a park or whatever away from peeps) if it will feel like when I go out of the house without my wedding ring on lol. I'm so used to wearing my wedding ring out and I've gotten used to a mask being something I have to think about. Did it feel freeing or were you a tad nervous?Australia seems to be going along well - as Elphaba said earlier Victoria has had 0 cases 0 deaths in 28 days whilst here in NSW we are up to 20 days. It’s sort of feeling ”normal” - today was the 3rd time I have had a manicure since October and I didn’t wear a mask for the first time (there are plastic shields between the technician and customer as well as sanitiser and contact tracing forms to be filled out prior to sitting down).
We are even taking our kids out of school next week and are taking a 7 day trip to Queensland - we haven’t had a family holiday since December 2018 and since our usual trips overseas are not going to happen again until at least 2022ish, we figured Queensland will be our destination this year.
So sounds fairly similar to here in the States but different reasons for protesting. The rail line part is really interesting. We've had bridges, highways and roads and entrances blocked but I'm trying to remember if there was public transit that was blocked by protestors themselves.Ummm, of late Canada does not have a great track record for decisively dealing with protestors of any kind. Back in early 2020, many important roadways, bridges and the entire national rail line were completely shut-down and held hostage by (illegal) protesters relating to various environmental issues and native land claims. Not one single jurisdiction (federal, provincial or municipal) had the stomach to tear down blockades or arrest protesters and the chaos was on-going for months. Had it not been for Covid, who knows but they still might be there?
I do remember protests over oil pipelines a few years ago here in the States going through land both on an ecological issue and on a land rights issue now that I think about it but there hasn't been that as much as other issues being protested about.Yes. In this part of Ontario there are indigenous protests over new builds on their land. Homeless protests with encampments.
I heard that Manitoba (Dh told me not so I'm not sure it was Manitoba) at any rate a hospital made a decision to move a unit into a LTC facility instead of bringing Covid patients to the already stressed hospital.
Thank you Lisa, I was not trying to upset anyone. I am in British Columbia. It is hard to see people maybe not understand or believe.I understood what you were trying to say.
There are many stories, and I have them with my own loved ones, where that generation is having a different outlook.
Where are you located (in general terms, not specific)? Curious.
ugh all of this really is so hard
I am hoping that we don't have any other anti maskers come in to cause trouble on purpose. It is hard enough for everyone trying to work right
sorry for the novel
Update from Ireland
The Irish Prime Minister has just announced that Ireland is moving from Level 5 lockdown to Level 3 with restrictions
From Tuesday 1 December
Retailers, hairdressers, gyms, libraries, galleries and cinemas will reopen. People will be permitted to use tennis courts and golf courses, and religious services will also be allowed to resume.
Travel over 5km but within your county is allowed
People will be asked to wear masks outdoors in busy areas, in busy workplaces and in places of worship.
Households should not mix with others, other than those within their bubble.
From Friday 4 December
Restaurants and pubs with a kitchen on-site are to reopen, but with additional restrictions than before. Hotels will also be able to open to indoor diners.
Pubs that only serve alcohol will not be permitted to reopen before Christmas, but will be allowed to serve takeaway drinks.
From Friday 18 December
Restrictions on household visits will be lifted from a ban on household visits, to allow two households to visit a third. Inter-county travel will also be permitted from this date, until 6 January. There should be no hugs or handshakes with visitors and people should wear a face mask when visiting other households.
I've mentioned it before if my grandmother were alive oh boy she would not have been dealing with this well. "What do you mean I can't go to the casino?" "Why haven't you visited" "I don't want this food" and so much more.I knew what you meant because my older relatives/loved ones are the ones who tell me that they aren't doing this or that. Sometimes straight out defiance, sometimes not realizing (or pretending not to! Smiling.). And although my parents have passed away, I have days thinking about how they would have dealt with it all. Both my parents were beyond social. Total extroverts. And my father was very stubborn. It would have been something. Many sleepless nights, unless I learned to somehow let it go.
Lovely to hear. Progress.
I am sure a lot of it - inter-county travel caught my eye during the holidays - is such a huge relief.
What are your personal thoughts BadPinkTink? And specifically I am curious on your thoughts on how it is being rolled out.
Do you think having the specific dates listed for what is allowed and what isn't on what dates helps or hinders on this point? Like I could see it being "oh look there's the light" but then also "oh look there's the light" but meaning you let your guard down too quickly and throw caution to the wind in some fashion.As for the general feeling, all I see on social media and on the talk radio shows is Covid fatigue.
Do you think having the specific dates listed for what is allowed and what isn't on what dates helps or hinders on this point? Like I could see it being "oh look there's the light" but then also "oh look there's the light" but meaning you let your guard down too quickly and throw caution to the wind in some fashion.