It’s Honestly Traumatizing And My Heart Goes Out To Anyone Who’s Experienced This

Oops, I'm back, sorry about that Ladies!

Anyways, quick update, dumped my situationship that was on and off for all of 2024 in December, met a man in the beginning of the month, not just a man, but a horseman too. I've been pretty offline in general, not just here but... everywhere, because my time is pretty much consumed with work, dates, and work-dates/barn chores with said horseman, and class work. I've also been getting more involved in my Parish and Church lately as well, and the Horseman has been integrating really well into my church life as well. I'm still line dancing when and where I can, but we're also learning Texas Two-Step and Western Swing dance as well. He's a farrier, and it's honestly a LOT of fun being with someone who is in an adjacent field and can understand and relate to the problems that come with working both with animals and their owners. Since I'm primarily in rehabilitation medicine as well, having someone who understands soundness/lameness issues and how neuro vs musculoskeletal vs conformation vs injury lameness varies is also really nice. Plus he's kind and I'm on a bit of a learning curve on how to accept really being cherished and loved the way I should be rather than begging for scraps. Anyways, I'll try and get back to regular blog posting, and as penance, here's a photo of my man while he was shoeing his gelding last weekend.

The day he came home vs 2 weeks later is crazy!

He's gained 2 lbs (5.18 lbs to 7.25 lbs)

Outgrew his kitten collar (6"-8" size) and moved to his big boy collar (8"-12" Collar)

Is now sensitive to catnip (He's a total stoner)

His canines are starting to wiggle and grow out to make room for his big boy canines

小红书 is literally my favorite app at this point. Sorry Not Sorry. It probably helps that the vast majority of users are educated adult women.

THE SWIMMING PIC HAS ME SOBBING 😭😭

Masking also doesn't just apply to protecting you from Covid. It also helps defend against TB, most influenza strains, and numerous other particulate, droplet, misted and air born diseases. And it helps defend against dangerous pollution, allergens, and irritating natural dusts that effect air quality. Get the most effective and efficient masks you can afford.

Now is the Time to Start Masking Again

If you stopped paying attention to COVID with the release of vaccines, you've missed a lot.

COVID is airborne.

Long COVID impacts 10% of people infected by COVID (though this is beginning to look like a low estimate). Risk of Long COVID goes up with each reinfection. Long COVID is worse than initially reported.

Bisexual and trans people are more likely to develop Long COVID.

Black and Hispanic folks are more likely than White folks experience more symptoms and health problems from Long COVID.

***COVID and Long COVID has much more in common with HIV and AIDS than the flu (28:19 - 38:30 of linked video)***

The Basics

[WEBSITE] You Have to Live Your Life

[ZINE] What's Up With COVID and How to Protect Yourself - 2024 Edition

[FAQ] r/ZeroCOVIDCommunity's FAQ and Resource List

"This is great and all but it's overwhelming. TL;DR?"

COVID is airborne. Long COVID is much more common (and serious/debilitating) than previously thought.

Mask with an N95 or better in all indoor spaces and outside when close to others. Improve your indoor air quality by opening windows and using fans/air filters.

Rapid tests are prone to false negatives so make sure to retest in 48 hours after exposure and/or when you develop symptoms. Isolate in the meantime. Consider upgrading to a NAAT (PlusLife, Metrix) or PCR (Lucira) if you have the money.

Things for you to do today:

buy some N95s or request some from a local mask bloc

open a window more often and/or buy an air purifier

buy the best COVID tests you can afford

Basics in Video Form

If you have limited time, watch the videos with * first. They will cover the basics in about 20 minutes.

*VIDEO: COVID is Airborne [2:53]

*VIDEO: What the latest research tells us about long COVID's most common symptoms [5:58]

*VIDEO: FDA warns of false negatives with at home COVID Tests [2:19]

*VIDEO: How to Stay Safe(r) at Home [10:35]

--

VIDEO: The Astounding Physics of N95 Mask [6:08]

VIDEO: Mask Fit 101: Seal [4:07]

VIDEO: Mask Fit 101: Qualitative [3:49]

VIDEO: Mask Fit 102: Quantitative [5:04]

VIDEO: How to get [and give] FREE Masks [6:07]

VIDEO: Try this DIY indoor air purifier for cleaner air [4:22]

VIDEO: Why is EVERYONE more SICK [54:55]

Want to Get Involved?

Join your local Mask Bloc

No local Mask Bloc? Consider starting one

Talk to the people in your life about COVID

Print quality zines and spread them in your communities

Push for COVID Conscious changes in your spaces.