My Week That Was - May 30

Bike bridge over the Beltline.
5/25/2020 dwm photo

I found a way-back machine last week.

You probably have one in your home.

Look for a t-shirt that fits snug or even a little tight.  Put it on.  Then you work out, take a long walk, rake leaves - something that gets your blood moving and generates a little sweat.

It's over and you're ready to clean up.  As you pull the shirt over your head, it gets stuck.  Arms over your head.  Bent over. Trapped inside your shirt.

Just like those times when you were seven and your mom had to rescue you from claustrophobia.

My shirt eventually pulled off - everything was fine.  But in that moment, I was a kid again.

Last weekend we prepared the kitchen and living room for the plumber, electrician, and appliance installers to show up.  That meant emptying drawers and removing wood trim and tiles from around the fireplace.

Memorial Day, I got out for a 20 mile morning ride.  I'm looking forward to longer rides, but will build the miles as the area makes progress against the virus.

Juggling was on tap Tuesday as the plumber arrived first to disconnect the old appliances moments before the new appliances arrived.  That crew removed the old and brought in the new.  An electrician arrived to re-wire an outlet and the kitchen counter arrived.

It was an impressive bit of choreography.  We had expected the process to stretch three days or more, but were happy to learn that only the plumber needed to return the next day to connect the sinks, dishwasher,  and oven.  

Lacking a day of the work week was a little confusing - asked when I was going to do a certain project I thought Thursday, then realized it wasn't three days away, but two, which meant there wasn't enough time.  Home-working may result in "day loss," so be sure to keep an analog calendar nearby at all times.

Verona, WI 5/25/20
dwm photo

You can count me among the legion of folks ready for a full return to "normal."  However, I do think doing so requires a more visible trend toward a "public health normal" where workers in packing plants are not at a high risk of infection. 

We aren't talking about whether to open Christmas gifts a couple days early; we're talking about lives lost by jumping the gun.  At the same time, zero risk isn't possible for anybody; so we need to listen to people who study these things for guidance.

It's been eleven weeks since the COVID shutdown began in Wisconsin.  As the state re-opens; it seems clear there is a long way to go as the cancellation of the State Fair indicates. 

We must carry on - have a good week and stay safe!