The State of Victoria: Rise in Cases

Victoria has had some bad luck. They are averaging 350 - 400 new cases a day. We've seen a couple of new cases in ACT... Sydney has seen 15 or 20 rise of cases each day. It is an important time...

COVID-19 Details

The cafes are back open. Victoria have huge rises in cases. I have a sort throat. I haven't got tested. The real issue is fluctuations in the numbers killing the world economy. Obviously, the leaders are going to look after us. I hope we don't go into some situation our people aren't prepared for.

I was thinking the other day of how much the media is a unreliable communication tool. They are still talking about lock-down finally being over, and not that Melbourne has lock-down again. It is also evident in the fact that I had a sore throat and didn't get tested.

I think most people have moved on... I mean, they've completely moved on; there is not even a remnant of memory or thought left. I know I am exactly how it was. I know that might be insensitive. There are business owners who are going under.

Let's hope we all return to normal next year. The time they gave us was end of February until we get back to normal. What I want is to know it's over. The Black Lives Matters protests scared me too. It was like Armageddon for a while there; everywhere you turned there was another bit of violence. Oh, I'm glad that's changed. Let's hope for good news, eh, not another bout of horror, which may well happen?

Um, we'll be glad when Donald Trump gets thrown out. God, he's scary. I think you should stand down, mate. You're not the right guy right now. You'll have a good life from now on. You'll have a big house, good food, and every need provided for and people will like you.

Um, but there was one thing, people. Donald Trump's wife was blue in a photo shoot. I don't think it was what she signed up for. She didn't sign up for President's wife. I'd be like that if I were Donald's wife. I'd hate the cameras, and being seen as a fool, and being seen as a sex toy or whatever. She probably saw reserved life, and non-events from now on. I'd love to not be going crazy. Is everyone crazy, and in pain? Losing face is the worst pain of all... It causes shame. No one should be forced into toxic shame. Anyway, I'm breaking the male code and the "emotion taboo"... so I'll leave it there...

But good times are ahead on the TV... There'll be a new Christmas song or something... Or they'll surprise us by saying that fucking Maria Carey song has been lost for good... or banned. My God, I'd die a seriously happy man!

Well, It Turns Out Aussies Are Being Let Off

How lucky are we? Corona Virus is in the news still, but we are all back at work, and going like usual. I'm pretty sure people are back at work, because the roads have returned to normal. The cafes are still closed. But how lucky are we? Corona Virus has skipped Aussies. There'll be economic impact still. Also, Donald Trump is so unsympathetic. He'll forget our two country's long-time alliance, and if the economy fails, he'll ignore us. That is not that we need help. Australia are rocking it. We've got a hell-strong economy. Oh, and it's in the news Donald Trump might have been exposed to it. He's like seventy, so I thought I'd mention this. Who knows, he may get sick, and it might turn out badly. Let's hope that doesn't happen, because he's OK. It spreads ultra easy. They are going overkill on testing. It's possibly a verifiable bit of science the testing. It just seems crazy, and wasteful.

103 A.C.T Cases - 5 Days Straight

We are still on full lock down, but Australia's curve has plateaued. They are getting 5 or 6 new cases a day in Sydney, and everything looks fine. They are starting to talk about relaxing the lock down, in four weeks. I have been going to KFC more often than I did even before Corona Virus. I don't know if I've said it in my other posts, but doing my bit means I shouldn't go to KFC, because I know that food handling is a way to pick up the virus, and I have vulnerable friends. Well, that proves me pretty unscrupulous, doesn't it?

I think it's fizzled. Any enthusiasm I had for doing my bit and staying at home is gone. I stay at home anyway. I've been at home today. Yesterday, I went to another friend's house, but this person did not let me in their house. I did some work for them.

Australia has managed to control the virus, but I think Australia will have some issues with economy. I think that the people who need to pay off houses, and who earn millions, will have troubled, stressful times. The Prime Minister talked about mortgage and tenancy agreements, but the dialogue can change. Soon they'll be talking about economic responsibility and survival of the fittest. Fuck, I shouldn't say it, because I actually predicted a pandemic. I didn't predict that everything would close down. I just thought we'd have lines going out of the grocery store and people would wear masks. This is weird, I suppose. I read it in a book.

You have to understand, nothing really has changed for me. There's more people exercising outside, because the gyms are closed, but I just stay at home. There is the fact I'm studying from home, which is a change. However, with university holidays, half the year I am at home too.

When this all started, I was sure it was only a matter of time before everyone was going to catch COVID-19, and I'd get it, and I'd stay at home, and if things got bad, I'd call for a ambulance. However, Australia is not going to have that, it somewhat looks like.

It's a blessing, because who wants a city where everyone is walking around knowing, "I have no mum now." "I lost a young work colleague." Or "I have to be careful with him, because he lost a work colleague." It's not a good thing to have, people with that burden.

Oh, probably the worst thing about this is the painful ads. They are of these gimps humiliating themselves on national television, by saying, "Oh, this is a hard time." You are soft, have soft lives, and you have to advertise it? I wouldn't show my face in a public forum, if I were you.

The worst ads are the Telcos, and Insurance Agencies, though. These ads are sentimental and designed to be affronting, insensitive, and self-serving, commercial, and sedating (unscrupulous in these times, hey?) - in the face of what could have potentially been terrible. A sound clip of mockery to suffering. I'd say these people should get what they deserve, but they already have. Enjoy what you have, with your Trump worldliness and equally Trump intelligence, Lord knows you understand very little, and will die understanding very little. Be comfortable. Be blind.

I'm just chilling though. I did that work yesterday for that friend. My other friend distanced from me, but still he goes through a drive thru a million times a week. You aren't going to catch it from this old soldier. You will pick it up from Joe Slop with his adolescence and grease-exacerbated acne wrapping your burger. However, people did discriminate against me just a touch.

Do you know what I like? That girl that talked to me yesterday with that dog just bloody up in my face like normal. Truthfully, anyone with any sense would ignore the shit, and socialise as normal. There's no use being a ballerina, especially when you're under fifty. The same people wearing and hogging the masks, and acting like it's Armageddon - they're the ones, that in peacetime, show up at the same tute as me with the cold, loudly proclaim they have the cold, and you dread for the rest of the tute. And leave bloody tissues in shopping baskets. 

Two Sides of Me - A Blacker than Usual COVID-19 Blog Entry

Everyone is still driving around. You see hundreds of cars out. I wish everyone would lock down. It'd make things easier if there weren't mixed signals. Last night, I had a dream that a politician was talking to me, and he was saying, "It's over, Australia can go back to normal." That's all I remember of the dream. I sort of hope Australia gets it as bad as everyone else. It'd be a let down if we didn't. Of course, it'd be better if we didn't let it run away from us. Maybe we have avoided it. We've only had 52 deaths. US has had 16,000.

We've had many people working from home, and the unemployment has skyrocketed. I am not even sure if everyone is doing there bit. There's no community spirit, and I just do not feel inclined to stay at home. They need to do road blocks. The sooner the better. They should be doing 'stops', like the Random Breath Testing stops, but asking people, "What is essential about this travel?" Everyone is out, just soaking up the feeling they are getting paid without going to work.

But everyone is still driving around.

I was thinking of calling Lifeline the other day. I just want to check if I'm doing the right thing. I want to tell them I went and visited my mate, and we went shopping, like we would have before. I need to explain something before we go any further. I spend 50% of my waking hours reading. Before this COVID-19, I spent 90% of time at home, which is greater than the average person does. It makes it so now I am probably home more than the average person post Corona, but I haven't changed much about social distancing. Sometimes, I just have to have human contact. You need an interaction every 5 days, I believe.

When I was going to call Lifeline, I was going to say, "This is pretty shitty. I am single and lonely, and I need all the contact with girls I can get, and now they say, 'Stay 1.5 meters away from each other.' It isn't that staying 1.5 meters away is bad for a while, it's the habit it teaches me over a whole year. I seriously don't think I'm coming back from this. If I have to wait 1 year of not approaching girls... not even having the option to approach girls... it ends it for me. One year will be wasted. I am 37, I can't waste a year. I still have a nagging feeling, I could approach girls, but this is wrong. We need to keep 1.5 meters away. It's law, and it's courteous and polite in these times. A year will put me under."

So, I was going to say all that to Lifeline.

It's Easter, and I need a chocolate. I'm going out for a chocolate egg on whatever day the Easter bunny's supposed to come. People aren't allowed to travel. I don't celebrate Easter, anyway, in poor, or good times, or indifferent times. Enjoy your Easter. Thanks for the ads. They really added something to my life, and just made it that little bit better. I know you're flattered that I mentioned your ads. They're a real compass for the people, and you telling us your happy family are still making one hundred thousand from home is so great to see... NOT! Fuck Easter, and fuck off your crappy TV. (Note to self and notice to Blog of a Dog readers: avoid the TV like the plague.)

I like the sound of the TV. It's soothing and reassuring. I suppose that DVDs would be better. However, it gets kooky without the ads. I just wish they weren't so insipid. I visited one of my friends, and there was 1,000,001 ways I could have come into contact with COVID-19. I am going to another vulnerable friend too. I'll live with myself if I pass it on to these people, but I'll remember it, till death.

This isn't World War II yet, but there might be issues, you never know. I'll keep you posted.

96 Cases ACT, Visiting Friend

I am going to visit Tommy when he gets his advance. I've promised. I need to visit one friend, and that should be Sam. I've said, "This is the last time. We both have to work on this." We've got 96 cases in Canberra. Canberra is 350,000 population town, so it's not worry stations yet. To tell the truth, it's become normal for me.

At first, I thought that things were going to change a lot, but they haven't really. I never really visited anyone anyway. I think I need to watch the whole news tonight, to get informed, and reaffirm the gravity of the situation. I never really got on the road often, but many people are still on the roads.

One very important thing to note is that the media haven't said where we are headed. They haven't said that we will have 1,000,000 (a million) cases, 100,000 (one hundred thousand) cases, or what we can expect in one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight months, or next year, 'cos there are 8 months left in the year.

One annoying thing is it's just another thing to fuss and shop over. They aren't being frank; they are putting reasonably intelligent people on the TV acting like all we need are soft and cuddly words, and kids drawing rainbows. Each to their own, but this irritates me. It is the reason why I've been not watching the news. I might just be traipsing over to my fate - a grumpy old man. It's elitist, and not helping. If that's the propaganda that will make or break us, it'll break us.

I badly need to do a grocery shop. I might do it first thing tomorrow. I'll tell you how it went.

Something I am Disappointed with the System For

Quickly, I will tell you how seething I am about something in particular. We are four weeks into this pandemic in Australia, and they do not have hand sanitizer when you go into the grocery store to shop. It is fundamental that they get the basics going. I am venomous about this culpable lack of foresight.

Back Home, Feeling Like I Haven't Done My Bit

Last night they had a party. They slept like puppies in a basket. I stayed in my room, and laughed at their jokes about the virus, and how one of them had the cold. There is altruism, but it's nuanced, and subtle. What has really disappointed me about myself today, is I was hungry and went through the drive thru. That puts me at risk. Baggage handlers, and department store workers have contracted it, and I'm going to KFC??? As far as I can tell the incubation time is 7 days. I'm going to do my bit with a full lock down for 7 days. Then, I'll visit my friend again, the day after today next week. I'm not going to visit one of my other friends either, even for gardening, in that next 8 days. I watched something on the news saying, "Young people, take this seriously." I need to do penance for the whole adventure I had over the last four days, culminating in KFC. Take it seriously, young people. That's the message from the U.S.A, who are looking at 250,000 deaths. Time to lock down!

Blog Post at My Girlfriend's

I am at that vulnerable friend’s house I talked about. She has a fellow that comes here to sleep, and she has her workers. She is in more danger than me of catching Corona. I am washing my hands after I go to the bathroom, but there’s no point otherwise – if one of us has got it, we all have got it. Last night, when she was sleeping, she was puffed, like she was seriously running. I think it will end her, if she catches it. I think about staying here, but it really is tough going staying here. I think staying for this two days is all I can do. They’ve also stopped all her groups. My vulnerable friends are in danger. I thought about it when I visited another friend, who smokes and is over weight. I think as soon as it gets bad, these mental health workers will abandon them. Another thing which I think is unfortunate is that with the new rules about social gatherings, my friend doesn’t get to do group. Before she was embroidering, doing collages, and making dream catchers. That’s all changed. Anyway, I’ve got nothing more to say. I do not know why my life is like it is. I don’t know why it’s so darn complicated. Actually, it’s not. I am sleeping over tonight. It makes her day. Please God, make this virus go away. However, it won’t. I promise to visit her more often if you do.

My Role as a Citizen in 2020, and What Life is Like for Me at 77 ACT cases

There are 77 confirmed cases in the ACT. I've stayed at home almost all weekend. Tomorrow, I will visit a vulnerable friend for a few nights, to leave that relationship at peace. I really am torn about it. We were very close, but she is very hard to deal with, and it hurts a lot to even be with her. Also, I feel like I am too late with girls. This is the door closing... "Too slow, Jan."

I went to Woolworths Mawson during the weekend, and it was disorganised at the least. People all had different views, and I got within 1.5 meters of near everyone. They had sneeze guards up to protect the cashier girls, but no hand sanitiser as you went in. I am not wearing a mask. The masks have to go to the doctors. I am doing my bit by staying at home. I'd like to say I'm doing fruit picking, but obviously that's not in my power, being long-term unemployed, and a liability. I need to study. I need to stay at home. I need to allow the professionals to do their job. If anyone doesn't like it, that's their opinion.

I think people should write a shopping list before they go into the supermarket. I also think it is time for doctors and nurses to have free run of the supermarket on weekends. I hate authority, but that's a reality. At the start, I was going to pay a web designer to make a website, which organises regular people, who are well to deliver groceries to the sick. If a person had had the disease, they were the new people to run the place. I am not a leader. I am a follower. I have no choice anymore. I heard something... "Together, Apart." I joke, but this is hard. I will make mistakes, regarding putting myself and others at risk, but I will learn from them.

I think they should make a channel that just has text affirmations on it. Stuff like, "Thanks for being at home." "77 cases in the ACT." "Make a Shopping List." "If you are sick, don't even go out for Groceries." "If you are Sick and You think it's serious, Contact Here." "If you are lonely, contact here." Ah, and, "Watch DVDs, read a book, listen to the radio, or Lie under the blanket, if you are bored."

That's all I can say right now. Their is change in the air. I can feel it's different, but it isn't that different. The big change is I am not going to uni, I am studying online. In addition, there is fear on the streets. People don't want to get germs. I think it's a mistake that KFC and takeaway are still open, but we need them for the economy. If one cook gets sick, he could pass it on to tens of people. Oh well, I don't know the facts. However, I know I've got sick before off fast food. There was once a crook person working at Stockman's Chips, who gave me a terrible flu. I am ready for whatever comes. I am scared of pneumonia, but I know I should be able to make it through. That's the real test. If I get sick, I have to call Lifeline to check in. I want to give it to 00.000 people.

I have to visit my ex-girlfriend. I said I would. When I have, she is on her own, and the lockdown begins. There is no one to judge this action. I just saw the pictures on the news of people in hospital, without family around them. I can't be the hope in anyone's life, but I've said it. She is very, very difficult. When it's over, all I have to do is listen to her on the phone. Talking on the phone is a blessing and curse. It is a multi faceted way of being idle and also a tool. Now, you look at me from a safe time when the world has recovered, the economy is stable, and could a new world blossom from this? I know the government strives for the status quo, but will people stay home after this, and a new social awakening arise? Or will there be sadness? I fear it.

27/03/20 Pandemic Update

62 cases in ACT.
They've got the military in, in Sydney.
Touching surfaces is another thing
to be careful about.

Today, I walked with Rob, and went for a run. Rob and I stayed 1.5 meters away from each other. Actually, I went to get a Mobile Broadband dongle. I did my bit by not having KFC today. I had rice, 2 pieces of frozen fish, and half a handful of frozen peas instead. I have to tell mum to spend that money, because there may be inflation. Her money won't be able to buy as much product as now. I'm getting shoes etc. with my Economic Stimulus money. It's a relief I don't have to talk to anyone. We'll see; maybe it will be worse than I thought. It's late. I'm tired. We'll see, where these uncharted social and economic waters take us.

Number of Cases, and What Life is Like at 53 Cases

We are up to 53 cases in the ACT, and 1,219 in New South Wales. It's going up steadily. I'm getting a cat. I'm also going to sleep over for a while at a ex-girlfriend's flat, who I think is at risk. I'm going to spend some time at her house. Her friend really shouldn't go to Sydney. Those buses are a germ cage in regular times. I've gone out to go to the RSPCA and to get money out for a cat. At some point I am going to have to limit going outside all together. One less case, is going to save this. They think the economy will return to normal after it's happened, eventually. I also heard that things won't be the same for quite a long time. I wonder if in seven days Sydney will have 2,000 cases. Everyone is ignoring what the government said. There are just as many cars on the road. They seem to bank up at the lights. Can we trust Australians - the same Australians that hoarded toilet paper - to self-isolate correctly. There are idiots out there saying that it's hype, I'm sure. "Oh, I'll go out because all this Corona Virus stuff is an exaggeration." I am staying the hell at home when I get it. I'm going to tell everyone, in the authorities. I'm going to tell the Corona Virus Hotline. I'll call Lifeline if it gets bad, and just talk and get reassurance off the counselor. This is a long term thing. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has allowed retail shops to remain open. That has to stop. In 7 days, the retail will be shut, I predict. I suppose that it will make the job search stunted and consistent over a long time. Yes, we have very long social security ques. I think that the grocery store is different too. My life hasn't changed much, but it is apparent that things have changed. The noise of the cars is different. There are more people at home here... I just hope everything works out... I have a lot of vulnerable friends and family... (They should start military recruitment to keep people working...)

What the Evening News Says

The news said we aren't looking at recession, we are looking at depression. The Prime Minister said this will be the hardest year of our life. I called my elderly mum today. She said she can't have me and my brother around anymore. She said, I'm quite happy. We all suffer. She loves her whippets. We all suffer from loneliness and isolation and maybe it isn't so bad for her. Did you know that isolation can hurt inside? It can be painful. I went to the grocery store, and my card was declined because I spent that money I spoke about in the last post on the diffuser fragrance. $71 dollars if I recall. I also had to pay my 3rd party insurance for my car. The cues of cafe workers trying to get payments was silly, but Centrelink's system went down. We are at 1300 cases in the whole of Australia. In other countries it looks bad. They put bloody bubbles over your head in hospital. I imagine you get itchy, and can't scratch... Those hospital rooms in Italy scared the shit through me. My mum or dad is not going to one of those places! Anyway, it's too soon to worry about this. In 2021 things will be better...

Frightened of the Isolation

I am worried about myself. I am worried my mum will die. I saw this hospital on the news. They had patients with bubbles over their heads. It seemed as if they were not allowed visitors. I'll suffer so badly if I am alone in the house, under curfew and my mum goes to hospital. It couldn't be worse than today. When you do university, always the hardest part is the anticipation. I am anticipating a curfew, but when the curfew starts, and I get further into it (say, 2 months into the 6 months), I'll be on my way. As well as university, winter is the same. It is toasty and warm at the moment, but I know the cold is coming. I think, "Why doesn't the cold just start?" When you get into winter, you actually start to enjoy it. The Prime Minister said that the borders are closed to people from other countries. I think every nation is doing this, and it is for the best. I think we are underestimating this, our people. Most of us are saying, we'll clear it. The economy, the isolation, the animosity, the greed, and the reduced choice at the supermarket will be tough. There is going to be chances for us to show compassion. I hope I take those chances. Let us not be ignorant. Let us feed each other from across the table. That's what you do in heaven, when the chopsticks are too long.

A Silly Buy from a Warm Heart

Tonight I spent $61 on a creativity mister, from an Australian website. It hurt. I'm usually very careful with money, but I kept saying it's for the economy. I think everyone who gets a bit of extra money should spend it. Let's get the spirit of this thing going. It was a very silly buy. I need to be careful, because maybe there will be economic struggle. I am not going to horde food, and I am going to spend my money, like they want us to. I'm leaving thoughts of the future by the wayside. I am scared of being hungry. Maybe it was a silly choice. What we need here is rationality. I shouldn't have panic bought. However, it is no big loss. Readers, let's get into the spirit of it. That is the lesson from this. A wise man can even learn off a fool. (That's a proverb, from the Biblical book of Proverbs).

The Government's Reaction to COVID-19

I am having difficulty figuring out how to spend my money within Australia. I'm going to buy pillows. That's not a bad idea, hey. I also like Sheridan towels. I didn't horde groceries, which the Prime Minister condemned today.

I have a survival pack though. I bought tinned fish, tinned beans, a packet of medium grain rice, and oats. I will also have coffee capsules coming in the mail for hot drinks, and cordial for cold, sweet drinks. It's starting to settle in now. They take it so seriously on the news, but I've acclimatized. The truth is we need to look after the elderly.

It is actually really good civilization has the car. It is convenient to drive to the grocery store. I suppose it exposes us to drive thru germs. If a chef gets COVID-19, hundreds of people will be exposed, so they should be recommending grocery shopping.

I really think the government are doing the right thing. They are trying to reduce economic impact. They are working hard studying all the stats in the world.They say: they'll keep the grocery stores open; they'll reduce the number of people allowed at gatherings; they are relying on self-isolation; and recommend social distancing.

I want to help out. Maybe those who have had the virus can join the workforce safely and replace the symptomatic ones. Maybe, if I get the virus early, I'll be indispensable as a chef or shelf packer. I'll advertise on Gumtree when I get the chance.

I've already got cabin fever, and I fear everyone will get cabin fever. Lucky this place is big. I'm a master at social-distancing. Books, petrol, and DVDs are the new currency. Board games are the new currency.

I came up with a cool idea. I'm already thinking of the end, and how we need a celebration. I've got an idea, which is kind of pervy. But it's cool and it's legitimate. I'll tell you tomorrow night, so stay tuned.

The Return of Survival of the Coolest

It's 10 pm at night and I'm thinking about Corona Virus. I think the answer is for people to read as much as they can. My favorite books are Les Miserables and Cannery Row. I also think kids should get educated on the internet. I also think that we need to figure out exactly what foods are important and grow them en mass. We also need to figure out what products are the new hot items, and tax the hell out of people who are making profit, and give it to the dying businesses. I don't pretend to be a expert, but maybe if an expert reads this, she'll come up with an idea, which won't be the same, but through association (in their mind), they've used their expert knowledge, and come up with an idea out of what I think. Anyway, I really have the best wishes for everybody in the world now. 💜💜💜💜