82 thoughts on “Sunday Serendipity”

  4. Jack, what patd said. 
    patd, good one!
    What should we take to the hospital if we’re so sick from Covid-19 that we have to go?  I couldn’t find anything online and friends haven’t thought about that. Even if you don’t live alone, no one can visit you there so you’re on your own. I can’t ask my son because he’s so busy.  So you don’t want to take important stuff.  It’ll get lost or stolen.  So far all I can think of is copies of medical ID cards and maybe DL and relevant medical forms or a list of drugs you take. I don’t know how relational medical databases are, i.e. can they pull up that info if that’s their protocol? I’d also take my phone and charger and a list of important phone numbers, e.g. relatives, your primary doc. You could die or not. Should you take a change of clothes? At least underwear? Would that even matter? 
     
    Any thoughts?  I’ll make sure to check here throughout the day for replies.
    Remember, I’m the one who’s never a prophet in my own land, i.e. no one ever listens to me.  But I took masks to a small group of friends a few weeks ago and was wearing gloves then. They looked at me with puzzlement. And it was I who thought about the choir in Washing state where 45 of the 60 members got sick even though they didn’t shake hands back then.  So breathing is a possible vector. Not that I’m that smart, I just think and ponder and consider.  After all, what else is there to do with this thing?
     

  5. Me old mother used to play those opera records all the time while she was futzing around the house. I’m a little kid with an ear for music so I could enjoy the music, but until I heard this Andy bit I didn’t know about any of the stories to them and what it was they were saying.  (I much preferred the 78rpm Hank Williams records), but anyway,  it got me to looking into the stories behind all that singing.
     Thanks again, Andy.

  6. Kaw-Liga was a wooden Indian got my attention.
    Because his heart was made of knotty pine, and he wished he was still an old pine tree.  

  10. jack – I had only heard the instrumental of that before.  Very nice.
    My dad had an Andy Griffith record. One side was, “What It Was Was Football.”  The flip side has him trying to order a large orange drink over a speaker at restaurant, I believe.   
    I wonder if polio vaccine would help.  Yes, I know that’s for something specific, but I don’t know how else to phrase it.  Folks are feeling tightness in their chests; the pneumonia seems to be from fluid backing up (bacterial) into poorly, functioning lungs.   Jamie mentioning her step-sister’s iron lung made me think of this virus as more of paralytic than respiratory beast.   

  11. That Carmen cut was a bit on the football record by Griffith. The big orange drink also figured into the football story. 

  12. Why is George Stefanapolous in the studio when he lives with a Covid-positive person?

  14. That football story was pretty much what got Andy the lead in “No Time for Sergeants” on Broadway and then the movie, where he met Don Knotts.

  15. It’s been 30 years since I’ve listened to it. I only remember the football and the orange drink.  It seems like it was a 45, but it could’ve been an LP with more on it.  I don’t recall.    My dad also had “The First Family,” comedy album.  Makes my “Monty Python Live at The Hollywood Bowl” seem pretty low-brow.

  16. Fauci is really laying it out matter of factly on Face the Nation, unlike anyone else in tRumpco in any setting. Pity he’s the lone voice in the wilderness that is tRumpco. 

  18. From WaPo:

    Trump has handled the coronavirus the way he handles everything: Like a toddler
     
    The pandemic is highlighting all of the president’s worst impulses.

     
    In January, when Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar first tried to brief President Trump about the coronavirus threat, the president got distracted and wanted to talk about vaping instead. That same month, Trump told a CNBC reporter that he was not worried about a pandemic; by March, he was claiming, “I felt it was a pandemic long before it was called a pandemic.” After declaring a national emergency, Trump fumed about the images of empty airports and grounded planes on television. He has publicly compared his poll numbers with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s. He has responded to anodyne questions from reporters by saying they are “nasty” and demanding that journalists “be nice.”
     

    In other words, not even a crisis as massive as the novel coronavirus has stopped the president from behaving like a cranky toddler.
     

    Trump’s toddler traits have significantly hampered America’s response to the pandemic. They aren’t new, either. In the first three years of his term, I’ve collected 1,300 instances when a Trump staffer, subordinate or ally — in other words, someone with a rooting interest in the success of Trump’s presidency — nonetheless described him the way most of us might describe a petulant 2-year-old. Trump offers the greatest example of pervasive developmental delay in American political history.
     

    The elevation of a toddler to the Oval Office intersected with a trend that predates Trump and has made the problem worse: the increasing agglomeration of power in the hands of the president. In the half-century since Watergate, presidents from both sides of the aisle have beaten back formal and informal constraints. They have resisted congressional oversight, cowed judges into submission and disciplined bureaucrats into obeying their every whim. Increasing political polarization has facilitated presidential power grabs by enervating congressional oversight, increasing the political loyalty of Cabinet officers, and eroding the norms and unwritten rules of the presidency.
    (continues)

    By 

    Daniel W. Drezner
    Daniel W. Drezner is a professor of international politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and a regular contributor to PostEverything.

     
    Ain’t that the truth?

  20. Goodness, Andy telling stories , the stooges acting crazy, dancing hippos and a wooden Indian. Makes for a fun start of the day. Thankyou everybody
    BTW, Pat, dancing hippos, perfect
    Sturge, good stuff, your Ave Maria is a perfect  “Sunday recovering hangover” music. Easy on the ears.
    Jack
     

  21. TT
    Your phone and charger a must, it lets you call for help and keep in touch. Very important when you are in isolation.  While all medical staff are heros some are better at it than others. Have someone who can make important medical decisions and make sure they know your wishes. Give some one a durable power of attorney.
    A list of your meds, and doctors and all insurance. We all should have this in our wallets where we carry other important ids, not for CV but just because,  come to think of it 
    yeah, a change of clothes just incase you decide to bust out of there.
    Also a robe so when they start getting you up to exercise and walk down the hall your back end doesn’t hang out for the world to see.
    Also think about selecting a few colorful dodads that some one can bring later to brighten up the world and remind you there is a normal world out there.
    Jack

  22. It is that time of the year when all the critters are up and yakking away.  This squirrel was not happy with Chunky laying out on the deck.  The birds are all catching up on their winter adventures too.

  23. Why is George Stefanapolous in the studio when he lives with a Covid-positive person?
     
    BiD… he’s either not living with his wife at the moment… or she’s in isolation in another part of their house.  Amy Klobuchar was going on CNN and MSNBC when her husband tested positive.  She said she tested negative and was living with a friend until they got the ok to live together again.

  24. Tiptoe, I was just in the hospital and I took my phone & charger, earbuds, clean underwear for each day & lightweight pj bottoms and tops (actually just cotton workout pants and long sleeve t-shirts) I have never been comfy in a hospital gown so the UW & pjs made the stay much more tolerable. The hospital provided me with a black eye mask, and it was a godsend. And of course toothbrush and toothpaste. I was very comfortable and didn’t have to screw with a hospital gown and a breezy ass.
     
    The electronics are a game changer.

    All that said I would have been fine with the garb I got in PACU – one gown as usual (butt exposed) and a second used like a robe. 

  25. not just hippos in tutus.  throw in gators, elephants and ostriches on point in toe shoes for a finale

  26. Me and Brewster the dog are looking really shaggy. Maybe barbers and dog groomers should be on that essential worker list. 
    Jack

  28. I’m confused. MSNBC is saying only 6000 people have died my local paper is saying 8500.  What’s the deal
     
    Nice job Jack.  We don’t have tutus but we are dancing

  29. So staying home just slows the spread
    Does this mean that we are going to have to stay home til there is a vaccine 

  30. KGC – Part of the slowing the spread is that a certain amount of herd immunity is building, so a sick person has fewer victims to infect.  The distancing of people is simulating that right now when everyone is a possible victim because there is no immunity.  But, if an infected person cannot pass the virus on, then that builds one more immune person.  The concept is the same with mumps and measles, but immunizing everyone, until the anti-vaccination idiots start breaking the herd immunity.
     
    If there is no other finding coming forth about the lack of immunity to this coronavirus COVID-19 look at what is happening in assisted living and nursing homes.  The virus hits and many are infected and many die.  Yes, the death rate is high due to age and disabilities, but also the infection rate is high due to close quarters. 
     
    Although many well known names are showing up on the obituary notices, one that is only for old people and NO Saints and Lions fans just came out.  Tom Dempsey is another victim of the virus.  Held the longest field goal record for many years.  At the time I was a Lions fan, even though they were still early in their futility streak of not winning seasons.  The man had no toes on his kicking foot and wore a special shoe with a square toe. Some thought it gave him extra, but, others knew kicking shoes had a square toe so give the man his due.

  31. tiptoe21:
    In addition to all the excellent advice others have given you, here is what I would add.  
    Assuming that you already have will and a designated executor, you can make things easier for them by preparing an up-to-date memo listing all your assets and debts, the location of all important papers, and by providing them with a key to your house or apartment, and a key to your car.   I keep all important papers that are not in my safe deposit box in one location, a 2-drawer file cabinet in my apartment.    
    If you take any important documents to the hospital, such as insurance information, take only photocopies, not originals, as these documents are often lost.  You’ll need them when you check in. 
    Do NOT bring any prescription medications with you.  Just bring a LIST of your medications, the dosage amounts, and the number of times a day you take it.  (This is all listed on prescription containers.)   Also include the telephone number and address of your pharmacy.  When you are discharged, if the doctors order any new medications, the hospital will need to know what pharmacy to send the prescriptions to. 
    You should include on this list the name, address, and telephone number of your primary care physician.  Also list the name and phone number of who has your medical power of attorney, if you have one, and contact information of at least one close family member or friend.  If you have a medical power of attorney, bring a copy of that document to the hospital also.
    I would not bring “underwear” but I would bring several changes of “sleepwear,” whatever you normally wear to bed.  Of course, if you sleep in underwear, then that is OK.  A robe is a very good idea, not just for modesty but because hospital corridors are often cold and drafty.  The patient rooms are usually warm but the corridors are not, and if you are in the “recovery” stage, the nurses will MAKE you get up and walk.  
    Other items you might bring are a small notebook and a couple of pens, and some paperback books to read. 
    Bring your possessions to the hospital in a paper or plastic bag with your name written on it.  Do not bring any kind of firm-sided suitcase as storage space on hospital floors is limited and a soft bag that can be stuffed into a cubbyhole is better.
    Where possible put small labels on your possessions with your last name.  This includes your phone, eyeglass case, etc.  You could also mark your clothes with an “indelible” Sharpie pen.    
    Just remember that ANYTHING you bring to a hospital could get lost.  It’s not that employees steal, it’s just that things can get so confused with shift changes that many items get misplaced and no one on the staff knows who they belong to.   (When I was in college, I used to work part-time as a hospital administrative clerk, at a nurses station on a patient floor, and “lost” possessions where a constant problem.) 
    If you get moved to an ICU, you can’t take ANYTHING with you and all of your possessions will go into temporary storage.  That’s why having a plastic or paper bag with your name on it is important.
    Finally, if you can’t drive yourself to the hospital, then call 911 for an ambulance.  Do NOT ask a friend to drive you.  
    *****
    By the way, I will be doing all of this preparation myself, and I advise all Trailmixers to do the same.
    As they say in the military, “Hope for the best, but plan for the worst.”

  32. newsweek:

    A recently fired Navy captain who was personally ridiculed by President Donald Trump over a letter pleading for help dealing with his coronavirus-stricken vessel has now been diagnosed with COVID-19, The New York Times reported Sunday.
    U.S. Navy Captain Brett E. Crozier, who was removed from command of the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt this past week, tested positive for coronavirus, according to two Naval Academy classmates who are close with Crozier and his family. The Times report comes just one day after Trump said it was “terrible” that a letter Crozier wrote to military leadership desperately seeking coronavirus help was leaked to the news media. The president said he had no influence on the Navy’s decision to remove Crozier, whose four-page letter detailed a worsening coronavirus outbreak among sailors aboard the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt.

  34. Tiptoe, Nash gives good advice. Much of what he recommends is sound enough advice that it was incorporated into the pre-hospitalization material sent to me by Northwell before my admission. 
    Our governor designated the county Eastbumfuck is in as a particularly hot spot and has given advisory guidelines not to go to the grocery store or pharmacy for the next two weeks.  The guy is a moron. 

  38. My television just asked me if I’d please contribute $25 to help feed holocaust survivors in the former Soviet Union.
     

  40. sturg – That ad with the clips of those same, elderly folks has been running for years.  

  42. The Cockwomble-In-Chief.  Jamie, I think that one’s gonna stick! 🙌🏻

  43. pogo – That’s the national advisory.  Hide under the covers for the next, two weeks.   I suppose it should be staggered, depending on the area, still, avoiding unnecessary trips is probably a good thing.  I do get the car out of the garage twice a week, early in the morning, just because I don’t think it’s good for a car to set for too long.  Also, I might forget how to drive.  

  45. BID
    We didn’t drive for two weeks and mice made a home in our engine compartment 
    We get the car back on Tuesday

  46. BiD, “governor” Justice only applies the hide in your home to 5 Westbygod counties. 4 of those counties have Walmarts, Krogers, Targets, etc. that service surrounding counties, sooooo, I don’t think he understands how viruses are transmitted or that they don’t honor county lines. 

  48. Okay.  Looking around the house I could not find anything that could be a bandana or handkerchief or such of my own.  Gale owns several.  So I decided to use one of hers as my official CDC (SFB never wears one, his make up rubs off on it) face cover.  There are many videos up on how to make one without sewing.  I made one from one of Gale’s bandanas. 
     
    It works good, except for a strong scent of dog.

  49. The first weekend of the stay at home here so many people went to the coast they finally had to close the beaches
    For us we have 20 acres to roam around but if you live in apartment or even a small house and there are 4/5 in your family. I can see why people want to get out

  50. BB
    You are a genius. Of course his makeup and messing up that hair
    Genius. I say

  51.  When Sherry was in the hospital they kept her in a hospital gown she never used her stuff. except her robe.  But she did use her phone. It helped as some times things weren’t going as they should and I would talk to the nursing staff. If you are really sick you need an advocate that has your interests in mind. I wasn’t that good at it so I was really greatful for the times my sister the nurse came up and took charge. I’m not sure the hospital nurses were happy but I made it clear to all of them that she spoke for us when it came to patient care. It helped.
    Jack

  52. Thanks all y’all for the hospital information.  Nash, that was comprehensive. I’ve gathered up most of that stuff but will add the other things. Hadn’t thought of labeling everything.  Also hadn’t thought of a clear plastic bad. Thanks, again!

  54. My neighbor is sewing masks for the biggest hospitals in NH.  She is making them to their specifications.  Today she dropped off 2 for Rick and I.  It was much appreciated.
     
    Many people have been coming up here from Massachusetts and hiking the trails.  We’ve heard on Mt. Monadnock (the second most climbed mountain in the world) that the top looks like an ant colony from all the hikers.  I know people need to get out…  but that’s just stuuuupid.

  55. The dictator’s on again sucking up prime time, as usual.
    When this is over, there will be a lot of vacant houses and apartments as well as open jobs. The population is 327.2 million (2018). And they’re saying 100,000 – 200,000 deaths. That means there will still be a lot of people who will survive this.

  56. BB – SFB’s self-tanner! Of course, you are correct!  I hadn’t thought of that.
    Craig – There are still emails to go folks’ houses for Bible study.  They either do not get it or want to go to meet Jesus.  

  57. TT – But will the survivors have jobs, money to buy the empty houses?  

  58. The bastard dictator’s berating another governor.  He’s such a son-of-a-bitch!  I hope he dies sooner than later.  There I said it. I said it for those who tell me the same thing. He’s such a f’ing loser!!!

  59. Turned of the sound. All there is is his ugly, fat, orange face, little hands flailing around and his big pie hole flapping. Wadda mess he is.

  60. Just another public self-fellatio show. Biggest, greatest, they love us, yada-yada and don’t forget we inherited a broken system bullshit riff. 

  62. Kudos to MSNBC for cutting away and fact checking the DJT BS. 
    They came back in for Pence – I’m 3 shots in already – make that 4.

  63. I’m at 6 now – did I miss any fawning references – 7 – to Mr. President –8.  

  64. Pogo, “another public self-fellatio show.”… yep, and that’s another very small one!

  66. TT, now he’s moved to right to try … sigh. Now he’s saying he’s not promoting hydroxyl chloroquine. Remind me to encourage him not to promote anything I want to succeed. And now attacks CNN for calling him on it. Of course. 

  67. Ummmm, we’re the largest producer of oil at 15M bbl/day, we are also the largest consumer at 20M bbl/day. Sooooo, we fall short by 5M bbl/day. We do need “their” oil. 

  68. Now he’s in essence admitting that he doesn’t know any data the thousands of ventilators being built in the US He claimed earlier in this episode is based on. 

  69. What we need in this country is just ONE governor who has the guts to call out Trump in the strongest possible terms, calling him a lair and a fool.   The problem with most governors is that they all want to sound like they went to college in the Ivy League:  dignified, restrained, and polite, even as their state is descending into chaos.
    What we need now is a governor who can talk like high school drop-out who’s had a few beers and who just discovered that, while they were in the bar, someone bumped into their car in the parking lot and busted one of their tail lights.  We all know what THAT guy sounds like.
    Gov. Cuomo is getting close, but he’s not quite there yet.  
     

  70. Pogo, “promoting hydroxyl chloroquine.” His MAGA, basket of deplorables hear that he IS promoting that.
    Nash, the dictator attacks governors who don’t fawn over him, and he  with holds equipment to that state!  He’s a real punishing bastard!  
    And he keeps attacking the press who ask reasonable questions! How many ways can we say deplorable! 

  76. Good hospital prep advice, today, Nash, “A (plus)”
     
    My Cassandra complex is getting worse, also, Tiptoe, but imma gonna keep getting shit done for my peeps, anyway.
     
    Hopefully, they don’t eat me.

  77. Oh, i love and miss Oregon, Nash, so lifestyle pics of such would be neat, should the fancy strike you🤷‍♂️

  79. I’m late. Sorry.
    Messers Nash and Jack have given great advice about stuff to take to hospitals. I spent way too much of my life in such places, giving and receiving, as it were. In my experience, in ICU, you have nothing of your own except your body. Ditto that in CCU. Maybe they’ll let you have a phone, but taking pics will not be approved.

  80. exrep
    I have no experience with ICU as Mrs Jack was never in ICU but I do know that when ever you are in the hospital you are under their control and they tend to smile and nod then do what they want.  Mrs Jack was a planner and she had everything planned for her surgery down to her daily wear with some very lovely kimonos that she could wear over those horrid hospital gowns. But it was not to be, when you are in the hospital  you do as they say. In hospice they are more relaxed and she got to wear her kimonos. 

    It has been a year ago, I wheeled her out to enjoy the spring sunshine. The hospice had a courtyard that over looked this wooded draw. It was a bit of wilderness in the middle of the city.  It was the last day that she was awake and we talked.
    The next day she was mostly unconscious, my niece and her two boys(both in college) hung out with me. Sherry cried out a couple of times and I went over to her and said don’t worry, I’m here. Then she quieted down.  Later that evening after everybody had left Sherry quietly passed on.
    And  yes I’m setting here tears streaming down my face, feeling emotions just as raw as if it were yesterday. 
    I think a lot of it has to do with all the Covid-19 stories that are starting to circulate. They hit to close to home.
    BTW, this comment wandered a long ways from where it started and where I thought it would go.
    I apologize.
    Jack

  81. jack, you have said nothing to apologize for and, anyway, you’re among friends crying with you.

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