What's your overall mood? (1 Viewer)

[jamny]

NYC shut down a week to 10 days too late. People were screaming to shut the schools down and bars were still packed even after all sports had been shut down. Failure by both Cuomo and DiBlasio, mostly because of them not getting along.

Seattle’s Leaders Let Scientists Take the Lead. New York’s Did Not

 

[Madam's_Adamant]

My overall mood is not sanguine. It is full of sadness, of lament. Apparently we're going to go back ahead and recklessly open while we plan for our sports no matter what. The evidence seems like it mounts daily, and yet we ignore it, subjecting our loved ones to death and disarray. We can do better than this. I feel like we must. I personally dropped out of society long ago because I saw the disposability with which we viewed our own humanity. Young, fresh, and ready to go were the only concerns we had as a people. 

And this is a sickness that pervades. This sickness in bias against the old or infirm or off the beaten path for one reason or another is really our calling card as to how sympathetic, how empathetic we are as a nation. But yet we have gotten no federal or state leadership where it really matters -- nor should we expect it given the principal players -- and as such, each person is fending for his or herself. It truly is certainly the least "standing together" I've ever witnessed, and our months-long slog of a shutdown showed nothing but the ability to put off the festering virus' effect until a future yet undisclosed date. There was no tracking and tracing, no effective federal or state efforts. This has not shown us how important state and local governances are, it has merely shown their incompetence to the world, while the world that is run by bureaucrats and red-tape enforcers have seemed to deal best with the situation. If dynamism's eyes ever narrowed in disgust, surely these have been the days.

So my mood is not good. As the horse in Ren & Stimpy would say, "No, sir. I don't like it. Not one bit."

 

[TLEF316]

NYC shut down a week to 10 days too late. People were screaming to shut the schools down and bars were still packed even after all sports had been shut down. Failure by both Cuomo and DiBlasio, mostly because of them not getting along.

Seattle’s Leaders Let Scientists Take the Lead. New York’s Did Not

Yeah, this is 100% true.

I started a new job in the city on the 9th. Despite everything that happened that week (sports leagues shutting down, cases spiking, etc.) my company (a very large one) put a plan in place to have 1/3 the work force go in every day, starting on the 16th.

So that Monday, I went into the office (a block from times square). The train was like 1/10th full,  and it was eerie walking through Penn Station.  But by that point, the damage was done, and everyone who had caught it in the week to 10 days prior (even if they didn't know it yet) had brought it back to all the towns in North and Central Jersey.

 

[Madam's_Adamant]

So sad for my country, for us. For me, my family that depends on its elderly to maintain a semblance of order. The willful ignorance on display is breathtaking, quite figuratively and literally. 

:(

 

[shuke]

I could probably do that. I've always done mostly cardio though. I could probably do some machine weights without making a fool of myself

Can you bike?

 

[Ministry of Pain]

My overall mood is not sanguine. It is full of sadness, of lament. Apparently we're going to go back ahead and recklessly open while we plan for our sports no matter what. The evidence seems like it mounts daily, and yet we ignore it, subjecting our loved ones to death and disarray. We can do better than this. I feel like we must. I personally dropped out of society long ago because I saw the disposability with which we viewed our own humanity. Young, fresh, and ready to go were the only concerns we had as a people. 

And this is a sickness that pervades. This sickness in bias against the old or infirm or off the beaten path for one reason or another is really our calling card as to how sympathetic, how empathetic we are as a nation. But yet we have gotten no federal or state leadership where it really matters -- nor should we expect it given the principal players -- and as such, each person is fending for his or herself. It truly is certainly the least "standing together" I've ever witnessed, and our months-long slog of a shutdown showed nothing but the ability to put off the festering virus' effect until a future yet undisclosed date. There was no tracking and tracing, no effective federal or state efforts. This has not shown us how important state and local governances are, it has merely shown their incompetence to the world, while the world that is run by bureaucrats and red-tape enforcers have seemed to deal best with the situation. If dynamism's eyes ever narrowed in disgust, surely these have been the days.

So my mood is not good. As the horse in Ren & Stimpy would say, "No, sir. I don't like it. Not one bit."

You should try getting out and walking your neighborhood. Maybe you won't feel so sad. 

 

[Ilov80s]

My overall mood is not sanguine. It is full of sadness, of lament. Apparently we're going to go back ahead and recklessly open while we plan for our sports no matter what. The evidence seems like it mounts daily, and yet we ignore it, subjecting our loved ones to death and disarray. We can do better than this. I feel like we must. I personally dropped out of society long ago because I saw the disposability with which we viewed our own humanity. Young, fresh, and ready to go were the only concerns we had as a people. 

And this is a sickness that pervades. This sickness in bias against the old or infirm or off the beaten path for one reason or another is really our calling card as to how sympathetic, how empathetic we are as a nation. But yet we have gotten no federal or state leadership where it really matters -- nor should we expect it given the principal players -- and as such, each person is fending for his or herself. It truly is certainly the least "standing together" I've ever witnessed, and our months-long slog of a shutdown showed nothing but the ability to put off the festering virus' effect until a future yet undisclosed date. There was no tracking and tracing, no effective federal or state efforts. This has not shown us how important state and local governances are, it has merely shown their incompetence to the world, while the world that is run by bureaucrats and red-tape enforcers have seemed to deal best with the situation. If dynamism's eyes ever narrowed in disgust, surely these have been the days.

So my mood is not good. As the horse in Ren & Stimpy would say, "No, sir. I don't like it. Not one bit."

Yeah, it’s rough. At a government level and a human level. I think the governments would be more responsible if there was more pressure to but there seems to be a significant number of people who don’t want to take precautions and angry when asked to do so. There’s almost a certain level of pressure to not take the virus seriously. 
 

I’m proud and relieved to live in one of the few States whose leadership seems to have a grip on reality. Despite enormous pressure and constant backlash, our Governor has stayed the course of following the science.

On a bigger level, it is ultra depressing to know we all lived like shut ins for 3 months assuming our governments would be getting mass testing and contact tracing implanted only to find out that’s mostly not the case and some States weren’t even requiring masks in public. 

On the bright side, it’s summer and there’s no shortage of great movies, books, music, podcasts, walks and sun to enjoy. Stay strong.

 

[madshot31]

Last night was the first time I started feeling like I had the "blues" since COVID started.  The irony is I got the feeling after an evening with friends, something a few friends started doing the last few week.  Three of us (plus one guy I just met through these two friends) get together for a backyard fire and a few drinks, just to hang out and break the motonoy.

The conversation last night hit me for some reason, and I can only explain because there are a number of factors all adding up together.  Taken individually, they all mean little to nothing.

They all have kids going into 9th grade (two of them another younger kid).  My youngest is going to be a senior, and his brother is going to college as a freshman this fall (I also have a step daughter out of college).  Listening to them talk about the baseball season that just started around here reminded me not only that my days of watching my kids play baseball are over (neither of my boys played this summer, though they both had the opportunity.  They just haven't enjoyed it the last couple of years).  But also, while it has been the case for a few years, I'm reminded that my days of coaching my boys is over.  I have coached with them a couple of years, but its just not the same.

Long story short, I can see the days of being empty nesters coming on the horizon.

Another part of the conversation, as we are all fathers of sons, related to what one of them had recently taught his son about something or other.  That got to me thinking, adding to the fact that my days of being a daily father are nearing the end, all of the things I haven't taught my own sons that I should have, and all the mistakes I've made as a father.

Add in the fact that COVID and being done as a coach leaves me with a lot of free time.  For a while, that was all fine and good.  But now, it's not that I'm bored, more that I find my evenings (when we don't do a family activity), meaningless and a waste of time.

You will still get to "teach" them. My dad is a quiet man who shows by example and was a provider. Rub some dirt on it would be his saying if he spoke enough to have sayings. He was my baseball coach growing up and I quit baseball all together in high school due to local politics. We bowled in a junior adult bowling league together for years and years. I'm 33 now and I have learned more from him since turning 18 than when I lived in their house.  It helps that I went into the trades for 6 years which he is just about to retire from, but their is a whole new world of connections and conversations that appear as your kids age. Honestly it sounds like your doing great and may need to find a new hobby or two to fill the time and get that educational or helper itch scratched to feel good. 

 

[ChiefD]

Another part of the conversation, as we are all fathers of sons, related to what one of them had recently taught his son about something or other.  That got to me thinking, adding to the fact that my days of being a daily father are nearing the end, all of the things I haven't taught my own sons that I should have, and all the mistakes I've made as a father.

Man, I think about this all the time.  I had a rough childhood in terms of parents divorcing when I was 9, and my dad really wasn't around much even before that.  After the divorce he remarried quickly (to his mistress), and pretty much was around but not much of a father, unless you count how to treat people like crap, drink a lot everyday, and put your boys in the middle of a constant custody battle with my mom. 

So to make a long story short, I didn't learn much from him. I learned what NOT to be, and that's how I've tried to be a father.

Yet, there are a lot of times where I have those same feelings as you. I feel like I could be even better, and it eats at me that I'm not the so-called perfect dad. I still have a lot of emotional baggage there that I'm slowly shedding off, and my goal is to make sure the traits of my dad die with me. Because they are there at times unfortunately.

Luckily I recognized it early, and so I've tried to teach my kids real-life lessons - money, construction skills, art, music, sports - all of those things.

But there are a lot of days where I feel like I haven't done enough. I guess we just do our best.  

 

[MAC_32]

April and May weren't great. I wasn't successful finding the balance between staying informed without dwelling. And I found that while I can successfully balance WFH and playing dad I cannot add teacher to that equation. At least at our kid's current ages anyway. I think as May progressed I did a better job balancing staying informed without dwelling. Then school ended. And the last month has gone much, much better. Within my 4 walls anyway. I get that isn't the case outside of them. And I get what's going on within other 4 walls are substantially different than mine.

While mine are some form of chaos from dawn til dusk others are isolated - others are breaking - and others have had their livelihood turned upside down. But, regardless of your own situation - think about the balance staying informed without dwelling. How do I make today a good day. I get that some don't feel comfortable 'doing nothing' as it relates to what's going on outside your 4 walls, but you have to find your own balance. If whatever you're doing is a stressor. If it's effecting your day-to-day life. And those around you. You need to re-assess your priorities. What you need to do to be healthy - both physically and mentally. It's okay to be selfish sometimes. Because a healthy you is priority one. A healthy you will positively influence those around you. Whether you see it or not.

 

[Breezy H2O]

On Fridays we booze up!!!

 

[Bull Dozier]

You will still get to "teach" them. My dad is a quiet man who shows by example and was a provider. Rub some dirt on it would be his saying if he spoke enough to have sayings. He was my baseball coach growing up and I quit baseball all together in high school due to local politics. We bowled in a junior adult bowling league together for years and years. I'm 33 now and I have learned more from him since turning 18 than when I lived in their house.  It helps that I went into the trades for 6 years which he is just about to retire from, but their is a whole new world of connections and conversations that appear as your kids age. Honestly it sounds like your doing great and may need to find a new hobby or two to fill the time and get that educational or helper itch scratched to feel good. 

Agree here definitely.  I have continued to coach in the basketball traveling organization they played in, even coaching with my boys for a couple of seasons.  It's just not the same.  I coached both of them coming up for several years, so making those relationships with the other kids on the team, seeing them develop, that's what was so rewarding.  Coaching one group of kids for a season and moving on to another group the next just isn't giving me the same reward.

Sadly, with two kids about to be in college at the same time, my free time might have to be taken up with a second job.  I'll have to see if I can figure something out that would be paid and scratch that itch.

 

[Angry Beavers]

Honestly, I am getting to my breaking point. It is frustrating to hear about people ignoring or refusing to do even some of the most basic things. I feel pretty cooped up working from home, and never really leaving except for essential errands and daily walks with the dog and runs I take. I have to find a way to take the edge off..........

 

[DallasDMac]

Honestly, I am getting to my breaking point. It is frustrating to hear about people ignoring or refusing to do even some of the most basic things. I feel pretty cooped up working from home, and never really leaving except for essential errands and daily walks with the dog and runs I take. I have to find a way to take the edge off..........

This. So much this. My wife and I have done everything right, yet here we are locked down because of all the idiots and morons that went out and blew it for everyone. I think it is only fair to be frustrated by these people. They deserve the ire.

 

[sports_fan]

This is the first I am reading of this. I am so sorry that you are at your breaking point. I have always admired you and your wit on these boards. 

-Is there a professional or a psychologist you can book an appointment with? You need to be able to get some things off your chest and while everyone here wants to help, you would be best served with a true professional. 

-Do you have family? It sounds like you are on your own and that's no fun. Is there anything you do in general to relax and take your mind off things and I am not talking about alcohol/weed, etc...which I'm pretty sure is not a big part of your life to start with. 

-How are you able to get around? Are you using crutches? 

Best wishes your way, wish there was more I could do to help you. Try to not allow other's problems to be your problems, you have enough to deal with.

I appreciate it. I'm living on my own. To this point, I've been able to walk on my own well enough for short periods to still get by. I trip and stumble a lot, yet I'm still able to manage for now. I've been experimenting with different braces, which are helping somewhat. I'm hopefully my next doctors appointment will lead to some answers and better path forward. I have family nearby to help if things get worse. I've tried therapy in the past without much success. I'm not good at expressing my thoughts/feelings and it seems to lead to frustration for both myself and the therapist. I don't seem to be well suited for it, so I'm reluctant to try it again. I mostly watch shows/movies to pass the time. I've been reading a bit more, which is probably my best method of escape at the moment.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

I appreciate it. I'm living on my own. To this point, I've been able to walk on my own well enough for short periods to still get by. I trip and stumble a lot, yet I'm still able to manage for now. I've been experimenting with different braces, which are helping somewhat. I'm hopefully my next doctors appointment will lead to some answers and better path forward. I have family nearby to help if things get worse. I've tried therapy in the past without much success. I'm not good at expressing my thoughts/feelings and it seems to lead to frustration for both myself and the therapist. I don't seem to be well suited for it, so I'm reluctant to try it again. I mostly watch shows/movies to pass the time. I've been reading a bit more, which is probably my best method of escape at the moment.

Is it logical to suggest one of those big Irish walking sticks or some folks might call it a cane but it's got a little bigger rounder top to hold your hand around. Maybe it would prevent you from tripping as much. I know there's a pride factor but try it in the privacy of your home for a while before you venture out, try a short walk around the block and go from there. I really wish you the best, sometimes we don't realize how blessed we are to actually have our health and sometimes we just get too greedy for wanting more. 

 

[Breezy H2O]

Honestly, I am getting to my breaking point. It is frustrating to hear about people ignoring or refusing to do even some of the most basic things. I feel pretty cooped up working from home, and never really leaving except for essential errands and daily walks with the dog and runs I take. I have to find a way to take the edge off..........

We love you, AB!!!

 

[Don't Toews Me]

Honestly, I am getting to my breaking point. It is frustrating to hear about people ignoring or refusing to do even some of the most basic things. I feel pretty cooped up working from home, and never really leaving except for essential errands and daily walks with the dog and runs I take. I have to find a way to take the edge off..........

Thank you for doing the right thing when others have not. We'll get through this. It all may feel permanent in the moment, but there will be a time where we look back on all of this as the past. 

 

[sports_fan]

I’ve made some progress, I think. I had an EMG test and identified my leg issue is associated to peroneal nerve dysfunction. The test showed little nerve  responsiveness relative to normal function. They expect it’s due to entrapment near my knee. The doctor said it’s unusual for this to come on with no clear cause, but not unheard of. I have surgery scheduled for Tuesday to attempt to relieve the compression and free up the nerve. It will take a few weeks of recovery before we could begin to see improvement. I don’t know if there are other options if this surgery doesn’t help. Finding appropriate medical care and not knowing the issue was a major stressor for me. I’m feeling better about having a direction and a doctor working with me on a solution. My job is still not going well. I know I’m not performing up to standards and I’m struggling to improve. My boss is understanding, but I’m doubting my overall ability to handle the position. I don’t know what to do if things don’t get better soon.

Thanks to all who have offered advice and encouragement. It means a lot

 

[DallasDMac]

I’ve made some progress, I think. I had an EMG test and identified my leg issue is associated to peroneal nerve dysfunction. The test showed little nerve  responsiveness relative to normal function. They expect it’s due to entrapment near my knee. The doctor said it’s unusual for this to come on with no clear cause, but not unheard of. I have surgery scheduled for Tuesday to attempt to relieve the compression and free up the nerve. It will take a few weeks of recovery before we could begin to see improvement. I don’t know if there are other options if this surgery doesn’t help. Finding appropriate medical care and not knowing the issue was a major stressor for me. I’m feeling better about having a direction and a doctor working with me on a solution. My job is still not going well. I know I’m not performing up to standards and I’m struggling to improve. My boss is understanding, but I’m doubting my overall ability to handle the position. I don’t know what to do if things don’t get better soon.

Thanks to all who have offered advice and encouragement. It means a lot

Good luck to you! Nerve damage and nerve pain can be tricky, if not an outright PITA, to deal with. I hope it works out and you get some relief.

 

[Don't Noonan]

Feeling better each and every day as things are beginning to get a little more back to normal.  I coached my son's baseball team in a tournament last weekend, the first in almost 4 months.  We are set to play in another tournament this weekend.  Still working from home but I have gotten more used to it.  We are just lucky to have such great leadership at the top of this great nation guiding us through this tough time and we will be thriving again next year.

 

[Kal El]

Personally, I'm doing pretty good. I'm staying busy with work(yesterday in a building with no AC, we were running wires for it and had fans, but it was still boiling), and I got today off for the holiday. 

Not thrilled with the news of people blowing off medical advice, and the vacuum of leadership up top isn't helping, but since I can only affect how my family reacts, I'll focus on that.

 

[DallasDMac]

Did curbside pickup at Home Depot and Total Wine today. Only saw ONE person refusing to wear a mask, and it was a dude well in to his 70s or older, so may have been medically driven, or someone that is just ready to die, not sure. But it was encouraging nonetheless.

 

[dkp993]

This week was rough, spent the preceding weeks gearing up to get back to doing business and was excited to do it. Had the rug pulled out from underneath us and now I feel like we’re back to late March.  Mustarded every ounce of energy I had to lead my teams positively and not let them tank, but it was Yoemans work honestly and it’s taking its toll. Wish we were lucky enough to have great leadership at the top of this great nation guiding us through this tough time but I’m hopeful we will be thriving again next year.

 

[DallasDMac]

Bored. Straight up bored. Just when it looked like we may be able to get out and do a few things, this spike hits and we're back to being told to stay home. Hospitals and doctors overwhelmed. So here I sit on a four day Weekend after busting hump at work, and I am absolutely, unequivocally bored. Even considering cancelling Monday's day off just because... why? To sit around and watch the Twilight Zone marathon?

 

[DallasDMac]

Awesome few days in the DMac household. Celebrated July 4th by learning my 6.5 year old AC system is shot and needs replaces. Followed that by a cable outage Monday night. New gateway arrived today and did jack squat. Tech due Friday, oddly enough right after the AC guys are supposed to be finished up and heading out. Did I mention it will be 101 degrees Friday when they have to shut the AC down to do the work? Then to top it off this evening, my wife got the call that her father, who just had a COVID scare two weeks ago, was taken to the hospital for respirator distress. And due to the virus, the hospital does not allow visitors except end of life visits.

So... I would have to say my mood is... crap. Absolute crap. With all this on top of the virus itself, it's honestly becoming overwhelming.

 

[AAABatteries]

Hang in there DMac - good luck to your FIL.

 

[DallasDMac]

Hang in there DMac - good luck to your FIL.

Thanks. Waiting on lab results. They said he was doing better but is on oxygen, which I imagine is standard.

 

[nirad3]

Bored. Straight up bored. Just when it looked like we may be able to get out and do a few things, this spike hits and we're back to being told to stay home. Hospitals and doctors overwhelmed. So here I sit on a four day Weekend after busting hump at work, and I am absolutely, unequivocally bored. Even considering cancelling Monday's day off just because... why? To sit around and watch the Twilight Zone marathon?

I'm right there with ya.  And to make matters even worse, I just started a new job where I work from home.  So I am in my home office all day.  At least with my prior job I got to go to an office, could grab lunch and eat at my desk, and of course the 15-20 minute drive there and back.

Weekends have been terrible.  I LOVE my kids and doing stuff with them, but all they want to do is play with their friends (which is fine) or watch electronics.  No sports means I sit around and watch movies on TNT, Storage Wars, Bar Rescue, Pawn Stars, and other mindless crapola.  

I hope baseball does things right and gets all their games in.  It'll be nice to have a diversion.  I actually watched the MLS game tonight.  

Oh, and mood-wise.... maybe this belongs in the anxiety thread, but I've been super anxious the past week or so.  I usually pop a pill maybe once or twice every month or two... but I've relied on them way too much lately.  Maybe it's the new job.  Ugh.

 

[DallasDMac]

I'm right there with ya.  And to make matters even worse, I just started a new job where I work from home.  So I am in my home office all day.  At least with my prior job I got to go to an office, could grab lunch and eat at my desk, and of course the 15-20 minute drive there and back.

I've been full tie work at home for about 3 or so years now. Both a blessing and a curse right now. In normal times I wouldn't trade it for the world. Of course this well may be the new normal.

 

[DallasDMac]

Thanks. Waiting on lab results. They said he was doing better but is on oxygen, which I imagine is standard.

Confirmed no COVID... again. But has fluid in his lungs so was moved to the Telemetry Unit, whatever that is. They want to keep him a few days for observation I guess.