![\"R](\"https:\/\/bone-in-the-throat.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/REM.jpg\" "\\"REM.jpg\\"")
That old R.E.M. song has been running through my head for days now.<\/p>\nThat old R.E.M. song has been running through my head for days now.<\/p>\n
I do feel fine. <\/p>\n
Since I was traveling I’ve been self quarantined since I got back. I’m supposed to be clear on April 2. Not that it matters given the rest of the country is locked down. <\/p>\n
My natural avoidance of crowds and having few friends does make the lockdown and quarantine perhaps a little easier on me personally. <\/p>\n
I do find myself wanting to go drive and enjoy the open freeways. I’ve got a growing case of cabin fever. The cabin fever has been cooled due to the weather. It’s been cold, gray, and intermittently snowy. None of which make me want to be outside even for much of a walk.<\/p>\n
Once the sun comes out and the temps rise though… I’m probably going to lose my mind.<\/p>\n
The Government passed a stimulus bill. Great! That’ll add one more month to my ability to pay my bills. It’s unclear if I’ll be able to restart unemployment and my job future is even more unclear. I am a bit annoyed at our government for approving more H1B1 visas. Corporations will choose the lowest (apparent) cost option, and that will make the job market even tighter.<\/p>\n
While the uncertainty does drag at me, I have to say that generally speaking I’m okay. I have no idea what the world will be like after this passes. Will we have a new reality, or will we complacently go back to life as usual, pre-pandemic?<\/p>\n
Will companies having proven that they can work remotely go back to the old “Manager Lording over the underlings” way of doing things, or will they wake up to the concept that it is cheaper and more efficient to have people working from home?<\/p>\n
Change is hard. I’m betting they’ll have everyone back in the Petrie dish cubicle farms quicker than lightening. Otherwise, how will a manager know<\/em> they’re important? Is a manager really<\/em> a manager if the workers aren’t cowering their cubicles? <\/p>\n Will the dating \/ sex apps continue? Or will people be a little more circumspect about who they’re hopping in the sack with? I believe that once the quarantine is lifted there will be a significant uptick in people getting together but that after the initial thrill, folks may just be over it.<\/p>\n On one of the dating apps, I just blocked someone entirely. Their only communication has been two words “Fuck Me” and this person has sent that message daily or multiple times daily for the past 4 days.<\/p>\n Uh… You’re not my type, we’ve never communicated before, you’re not paying attention to my profile which clearly lists my likes and dislikes. That list includes the fact that I need more in an initial contact than “Hi” or “Hey”. I specifically say that you’ll need to complete a sentence demonstrating that you have a brain. <\/em><\/p>\n “Fuck Me,” while qualifying as a sentence, is insufficient to garner my attention unless You happen to be someone that I know. In that case… I’ll be right over!<\/p>\n Clearly, this person is wanting something beyond my sexual prowess. My suspicion is that they’re wanting to trade sex for something. Probably money, and it’s likely they have no intention of providing the stated service, but will ask for money to drive, get a hotel, or buy something plausibly necessary, then they’ll be unable to make the tryst. They’ll find some sucker, but it’s not gonna be me.<\/p>\n It could simply be boredom on their part and that’s the only way they know to start a conversation. That being said, if that’s all they’ve got, well it would be a very short conversation.<\/p>\n I know that after the quarantine is lifted, I’m going to be spending time in the sheets with a few “special” friends. I’m really looking forward to it.<\/p>\n Back to the job search and cleaning another room in the house. I think I’ll start boxing clothing that is worn out for disposal, or stuff that I no longer wear for donation to those in need.<\/p>\n Over the years a lot of stuff has accumulated that isn’t needed anymore, if it ever was in the first place.<\/p>\n After the fire, I had a clean start and I remember thinking that I’d like to keep things as simple as possible. But, we’re all collectors of things, aren’t we?<\/p>\n It sounds harsh to say, but perhaps this pandemic is nature doing some spring cleaning. <\/p>\n On the other side of it, maybe we’ll be changed for the better and have a clarity about what is, and is not important.<\/p>\n I noticed that grocery stores are once again allowing plastic bags. Can straws be far behind? I’ve always questioned if banning plastic bags and straws was really that important. Plastic grocery bags were used in my bathroom as trash can liners. Now I have to buy trashcan liners. Did a plastic bag ban really accomplish anything, or did it just move the problem around?<\/p>\n Now that almost all of our interpersonal communication is digital; will we appreciate physically being around other people and regain lost social customs like courtesy and politeness in public? Not because those things are culturally important, but because we’ll enjoy having other people around?<\/p>\n Will we demand a higher standard of service from our elected officials and eschew the pettiness of divisive politicians, parties, or causes?<\/p>\n Having seen our weakness, due to globalization, in health care, and in disaster planning, laid bare, will we constructively correct our deficiencies?<\/p>\n Perhaps… Perhaps not. <\/p>\n Change is hard. Humans are harder headed than any other animal. Maybe brutally indiscriminate hammering by a natural force is necessary to wake us up so that we re-evaluate what is really important.<\/p>\n Hint: It isn’t stuff<\/em>, regulations, or odious laws. It’s family, true friends, personal responsibility, & community.<\/p>\n I could be wrong, I could also be gone tomorrow.<\/p>\n These are just some of the random things that have been running through my head over the past couple of weeks.<\/p>\n This post lived up to the Blog’s tag line. “Random Ideas, Comments & Thoughts, Sometimes Political, Sometimes Adult… Hope you don’t choke.<\/em>“<\/p>\n Live well. Love well. Be good to each other.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" That old R.E.M. song has been running through my head for days now. I do feel fine. Since I was traveling I’ve been self quarantined since I got back. I’m supposed to be clear on April 2. Not that it matters given the rest of the country is locked down. My natural avoidance of crowds … <\/p>\n![\"IMG_0038.jpeg\"](\"https:\/\/bone-in-the-throat.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/IMG_0038.jpeg\" "\\"IMG_0038.jpeg\\"")
It sounds strange to say, but I miss the clarity and uncluttered life that I had just after the house fire that totaled most everything I owned.<\/p>\n