How's Your Week Going? - Week of June 15th

[ProudTVJunkie]

Ugh. Now that our #s are starting to taper off and some places are opening (restaurants for outdoor dining, hair salons next week), I see more people becoming lax about distancing and masks when they aren't absolutely required. Thankfully they are still required to get into any store.

But my daughter just got an invite to a friends bbq/birthday/pool party in July. They've invited LOTS of family and friends to the party and there's no mention of taking any type of precautions. I've declined the invitation. Thankfully, my daughter seems to understand. Even at age 10 she knows that she can become a carrier and give it to others, especially her grandfather.

geezer2008, I can relate to what you're saying about losing time with the ones you love. We normally go visit my Mom in California during the summer. This year, that's not happening, and even their visit here at Christmas is in question this year. My Mom feels like she missing an entire year with her granddaughter and video chats aren't the same.

It bothers me seeing so many people not taking this seriously. It just makes it worse for everyone who is at risk. Unfortunately, it seems a lot of people won't care until it affects them or someone they love. I look at New Zealand, where they locked everything down as soon as the virus hit and everyone followed the rules. Now they've had no new cases in almost a month. I wish that had been us.

[tycho657]

I was encouraged today. I went to Target, UPS, and Ace hardware. I only saw 2 people NOT wearing a mask.   Maybe because Arizona has been leading the national news with the spike in cases people are finally beginning to get it?? 
Target had my mega rolls of Charmin, and  Bountry paper towels. Yeah!! My pre-covid supply was getting low. 

I forgot to add that there is a very large fire burning about 25 miles away in the Tonto National Forest. The wind is blowing North towards the fire so that helps to keep the smoke going the other direction from my house. The fire danger in Arizona is very high this year. We had too much rain in the spring and things grew. This was started by a car pulling off the highway into the grass and it caught the grass on fire. 

[DrvrTrnr]

I've also noticed more people wearing masks at the grocery store, and I try to stay away from those who don't. Since both of our daughters work from home, my husband and I go to their houses every couple of weeks and they come to ours, usually to swim or to have a meal. We feel safe meeting under those conditions.

Arizona's numbers are still rising with 36,705 cases and 1,194 deaths. ER visits are hitting new highs. On 10 of the past 14 days, more than 1,000 new cases have been reported. Our governor is still trying to reassure us that everything happening now has been planned for. What a bunch of bs. He's following the party line even though he can't run again (what or who is he afraid of?). It makes him look weak and incompetent, unable to say how bad things really are, IMO.

**UPDATE**:  New numbers since I posted this on Monday:  40,924 cases and  1,239 deaths.  The editorial board of our newspaper posted a scathing  opinion piece criticizing the governor's lack of taking meaningful action.  They said it's time to require masks when out in public   He's resistant to ordering anything that would help slow the spread of the virus. 

[geezer2008]

Wisconsin- 22932(+1006) cases

                     694(+12) deaths

Brown County- 2469 (+48) cases

                          38(+0)  deaths  

My change in numbers is week over week.

They also said that the number of people hospitalized is down which is a good thing.

We went grocery shopping today and about 80% were masked. We shop early so masked numbers are higher. The later you go there are less masked people.   

[geezer2008]

I went on a very enjoyable motorcycle ride Tuesday. I put on 160 miles. I'm always amazed by the complete strangers who will talk to me when I am out on the bike. I've always enjoyed that. I always try to keep my speed constant and 5 over the limit. One day, I had 3 vehicles behind me for quite a ways with no room to pass. I finally stopped for gas and a car followed me to the pump. I thought oh-oh, but the lady just wanted to compliment me for riding a constant speed and not going under the limit. She made my day. Another time, I was out in the middle of nowhere and just pulled over to look at my map. While there, the only 2 cars I saw both stopped to see if I needed help. How nice is that?? An added bonus was that an albino deer came out of the forest, looked over and just went on his way.  A great bonus

My friend, nathanfan, sent me a great idea for a t-shirt for an old biker. It's awesome and will be a Father's Day gift from my wife. Thanks, Bobbie  

[tycho657]

Our fire has been in the national news as it is the largest fire in the US at this time. I still have a couple of weeks before I head up that way to camp in the cool pines. I just hope it's not going to be a smoky mess when I go up. The road I usually take has been closed now for almost a week. I hope I don't have to take the detour. I prefer going on less traveled side roads rather than I-17. I can still see big clouds of smoke and red when I look that direction.
I was out hunting for rocks to paint today down by the Salt River. You could smell smoke. Lots of folks tubing down the Salt River. I sure wouldn't go up there this weekend. People are way to close.My fellow raock painter and I did find some nice rocks

[DrvrTrnr]

New numbers: 49,798 cases and 1,338 deaths as of today. Our governor has finally relented and is allowing counties, cities, and towns to make their own mask rules. His own office is requiring masks now. I guess he "saw the light" after being in the national spotlight recently. There has even been a picture of him wearing a mask. I wonder if he'll wear one when the President comes here Tuesday for a rally? Phoenix is requiring mask use in public (the airport and rally site are both in Phoenix). Should be interesting.

I, too, can see and smell the smoke from the fire. Our hot, dry conditions make fighting it even harder. It has grown to more than 150,000 acres and there are a couple other fires burning around the state. Unfortunately, our monsoonal air flow hasn't kicked in yet. That's when the possibility for showers increases. Until then, we have to hope the winds stay light.