Complaining About Things [POLITICS]

"Taylor Martin" (tjmartin)
07/16/2020 at 14:05 • Filed to: None

59 Chevy known to the internet as Suspicious Vampire Car.

So there may not actually be a lot of “politics” in this post, but because America is super polarized and everything, including basic human rights/ general wellbeing , is considered political I labeled it as such.

Me, my roommate, and his girlfriend went up to visit my neighbors a week ago (Thursday) , a friendly hello how’ve you been situation. We played some video games , ate amazing sloppy joes, and had a hoot and holler. Last night at 11:00PM we were informed that one of said neighbors has been exposed to a colleague on a daily basis who just tested positive for COVID. Now we’re all locked down, so that’s fun.

I’m not too bothered by it, I hadn’t planned on going out anyways. I’m living off the dust in my pantry because buying food at the local Florida Walmart is literally suicide. My plan is still to drive from FL to MD on the 26th, which is exactly 2 weeks from yesterday. The only question now is if I’m going back to FL to... well... not die... S ooner or later I’ll have no choice. S chool will reopen and I won’t be able to put off the inevitable, but I’m not exactly looking forward to it anymore.

My roommate is bummed because his parents were going to come down to visit next week and now that’s up in the air. But he understands the severity of the situation. His parents are in the high risk category, and while it’d be nice to see them, it’s not worth catching COVID over. It’s m y roommate’s girlfriend, however, who’s having a hard time grasping why she should call off of work for at least a week, if not two, just to play it safe. She doesn’t have to pay rent, my roommate is at no shortage of supplying her for a week. Financially, we’re pretty set and squared away. We have everything we need to stay home the next two weeks, which was kind of already the plan. I’d be mooching of my family down in MD, and my roommate would’ve mooched off his when they drove down here.

Now, it’s still very very very VERY unlikely any of us have it. Once we find out if my upstairs neighbor tests positive we’ll know for sure. He’ll be getting tested soon, though it’s 8 hour lines and week long waits for test results, meaning that, more likely than not, you’ll show clear symptoms of COVID by the time your test comes back positive. They’ve also been taking precautions, my neighbor has worn his mask at work, so they’re not taking this lightly either.

I’m keeping on high alert, and if I get even a symptom of COVID I’ll nix the trip home (no beach week for me, which was my original intention ). I’m incredibly pissed at anyone who hasn’t felt the need to wear a mask. I wish there was a law that allowed people to smack anyone without one on in public, simply because their face is exposed.

But hey, at least we can “Apply All” our citations to photos now. Sure, I only have one, but now if I take a big collection of photos (which will likely happen if I drive up to MD or during the Oppo Rally) it’ll be a lot easier to give credit. Huzzah! One good thing today!

Stay safe folks. Wear a ——ing mask.

DISCUSSION (16)

TheRealBicycleBuck > Taylor Martin
07/16/2020 at 14:42

“ Now, it’s still very very very VERY unlikely any of us have it.”

Don’t bet on that. A friend of ours just lost her sense of smell. Three days ago her husband attended a client meeting in person. They wore masks. They were socially distant. One of the attendees’ wife fell ill and tested positive the next day. They warned everyone about the positive test. Neither of the husbands have shown any symptoms so far, but everyone is going to get tested ASAP.

jminer > Taylor Martin
07/16/2020 at 14:50

I’ll reiterate what BicycleBuck said - this is extremely contagious the odds are pretty decent you caught it.

Glad you’re wearing masks and taking precautions, I’m with you at my absolute befuddlement at people taking a global pandemic and turning it into a political issue.

Hope you and your loved ones stay healthy though!

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Taylor Martin
07/16/2020 at 14:53

We live in an age that requires more and more critical thinking. News sells sensationalism and clicks. Social media boxes gullible people into echo chambers.

It’s the same all over the world (I’ve ranted about this in the context of events in another part of the world), although Americans seem to have a uniquely difficult time believing their scientists and doctors.

In any case, stay safe and stay away from people who refuse to behave safely.

Taylor Martin > TheRealBicycleBuck
07/16/2020 at 15:01

As of right now, all three of us have it, at least that’s how we’re treating this. All bets are off. And I’d love to get tested if I showed any symptoms whatsoever, but without that I’m not qualified. You basically have to be sick before you can get tested, and by then you don’t need to be a doctor to know something is up. Very sorry to hear about your friend, and I hope this all works out for you too my friend.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Taylor Martin
07/16/2020 at 15:18

I’ll be praying for you. This is no joke and glad to hear you are taking it seriously. You are doing good to everyone by staying home and self quarantining.

Fortunately my college will be requiring masks, but here's hoping it is actually enforced.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Taylor Martin
07/16/2020 at 15:54

Thanks. Best of luck to you too.

We live in a hot spot, so if you feel like you’ve been exposed, you can get the drive-through test. The results come 3 to 5 days later. The rapid tests are being reserved for people who have fever and/or cough.

Taylor Martin > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
07/16/2020 at 16:06

Yeah, it’s one thing to just require something, but unless it’s done by force there will always be a handful of folks who just won’t abide. Thanks a million my friend.

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > Taylor Martin
07/16/2020 at 16:13

Can you get tested? I have no idea what the situation is like in FL for that. Here in MN, both my roommate and I were able to get the antibody tests done (we both tested posi tive for antibodies which isn’t hugely surprising) without any hassle about 2 weeks ago. That said, I know our infection rate is much different in the South.

haveacarortwoorthree2 > Taylor Martin
07/16/2020 at 16:20

Honestly, unless you stay locked up in your house, it is very likely that all of us are getting secondary exposures every day. Working from someplace other than at home? Definitely getting secondary exposures. Going through a drive thru - maybe getting secondary exposures. Grocery Store? Hair cut? Depending on how long the bug actually lasts on surfaces, even getting gas, grabbing your mail, or picking up that Amazon package off your front porch. The only thing we all can is take precautions.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Taylor Martin
07/16/2020 at 16:26

Sorry to hear that, so stressful. You definitely have the right mindset - hopefully your roommate’s GF comes around too. That’s crazy how long tests are taking in areas where cases have been exploding (obviously understand why). My wife has been tested twice so far out here in Oregon, she had zero wait either time and got the results back within the day (negative both times). I managed to get an antibody test done yesterday - came back negative within the day as well.

Cases are trickling upwards here too, currently around ~300 new cases a day, hopefully doesn’t get much worse. They did scale back reopenings and put in much stricter statewide mask mandates about 1-2 weeks ago (losing track of time at this point), so hope we start seeing some impact in the numbers from that too soon.

Hang in there, hope that between your neighbor’s precautions, yours, and sheer chance you come out of this without having caught it.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Taylor Martin
07/16/2020 at 18:05

“Now, it’s still very very very VERY unlikely any of us have it”

With how easy it spreads, it’s more likely than you think. You should get yourself tested. Don’t wait to hear back on other people’s results.

“He’ll be getting tested soon, though it’s 8 hour lines and week long waits for test results, meaning that, more likely than not, you’ll show clear symptoms of COVID by the time your test comes back positive.”

Not true. Many cases of people who have it, but have very mild to no symptoms.

The point is if you have it, you don’t want to spread it. Because if you spread it to someone with a weak immune system, it has a decent chance of killing them.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Taylor Martin
07/16/2020 at 18:06

“You basically have to be sick before you can get tested,”

And that’s a huge mistake officials in your area are making unfortunately.

I hope things work out for the best for you.

Taylor Martin > ZHP Sparky, the 5th
07/16/2020 at 19:27

God how I’d love to be in Oregon right now for speedy testing alone. Thanks for the concern my friend. We’ll be hunkered down in the meantime.

Taylor Martin > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
07/16/2020 at 19:31

I’m totally with you man, and at this point we’re treating it as if we have it. Getting tested here in FL is kind of a russian roulette , so staying home for the two weeks the virus runs its course, whether we have it or not, makes more sense in the long run. We’re looking into it no doubt, and if we hear that our neighbors had an ok experience with wherever they get tested we’ll be sure to go. But along with that, we have to be qualified to get tested. There is no walk in and walk out, you have to show symptoms and have pre existing medical conditions. It’s maddening man.

Taylor Martin > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI
07/16/2020 at 19:33

In order to get tested, most places are checking to see if you’re qualified, meaning 1.) you’re showing symptoms or 2.) you have pre existing medical conditions. None of us have any of those things. I’d love to get tested, and if I do go to MD that’s where it would happen.

John Norris (AngryDrifter) > Taylor Martin
07/17/2020 at 17:13

Sorry to hear about your situation. Stay safe and make the most of your quarantine. As the crisis continhes to escalate people will get better about wearing masks. Fortu nately/Unfortunately we didn’ t go through SARS and ME RS like Asia did. They learned a lot about wearing masks then. We didn’t.

Sweet 1959 C hevrolet in that picture. Maybe you have some time to research where you can find one for a reasonable price.