Life after COVID is strange, especially Omicron. Many of us barely noticed we were sick. I (Devin) found the symptoms more fascinating than troubling. Chris never tested positive and never showed any symptoms, despite sitting in the same room with me for hours on end. We are both O+ blood type, both vaccinated with third doses in August 2021. Do we thank the HEPA filters?
Are we different now? This question is difficult to answer, but the new liberation is pretty sweet. Knowing we have some sort of improved immunity is a fantastic peace of mind. We hope minks and other creatures don’t change that anytime soon.
We are testing Kona N. We mostly love it and it’s been a great way to return to the “post-COVID” normal. Right now, we are working on discussions of the safety tech.
Carpe diem, but be smart about it. As many others, the Omicron experience has inspired us to embrace life in a new way. Have fun. Celebrate. Stay positive, but not when it comes to COVID!
Friends are still amusing. We found many friends provided medical advice during our sick time. As usual, we recommend people follow the advice of their doctor. The one time Chris tried Zinc, he vomited and apparently that’s quite a common reaction. There’s also big news about Ivermectin today. Turns out it officially doesn’t help with COVID, unless you were hoping for some recreational diarrhea to pass the time. Not really my thing, but different strokes, we suppose.
Traffic situations are different. We find it mostly a better experience, in general. A recent report from Tom Tom illustrates the dramatic changes. And while we enjoy driving (especially now), we have always preferred to waste less time in stop and go traffic. Seems like the perfect time to build and maintain new infrastructure and we have seen construction have massively lower impact due to traffic conditions. Unfortunately, data from this year shows vehicle crashes are surging. Stay safe out there and time your trips to avoid traffic and weather.
We visit red counties in the red shoe. We’ve driven the Kona N to red counties to avoid judgement for not wearing masks. Outside the major cities, Texas is heavily Republican and since such a large percentage of the population there has now had COVID, the risks are significantly lower for those who didn’t already die from it. We have been to Buc-ee’s a few times for fuel, food, and car washes.
Social interactions are strange. We believe that working from home has made social interactions quite different in public places. We’ve recommended 1:1 phone calls and VR platforms like AltSpace for maintaining conversational skills during the pandemic. Verbal communication is vital in most workplaces, especially for those in the knowledge economy. Exercise the brain, challenge conversational skills, and expand your perspective. The brain can be adjusted. This has been a common theme in many of my recent discussions. Learn how to train your own brain for greater productivity.
Extreme weather beats us, but the grid has held. Texas weather has never been predictable, but 2022 has been especially extreme for much of the US. We recommend you enjoy good weather while it’s here and plan your schedule carefully to avoid being on the road or in the sky. This week looks to feature all the seasons in only a few short days. There’s something magical about transitioning from shorts weather to freezing in the course of a single day. Don’t forget a heavy coat and towel even for the most the most average of days. We are lucky the freezes haven’t been worse!
Give it your all. Remember to make the most of your life. Celebrate the people around you. Thanks for reading!