Strong winds blew colder weather back in town. 11/15/20 (dwm)
As the number of Covid cases continues climbing, we limited our restricted life even farther this week.
Our pandemic drive wound around the back roads of Dane and Rock Counties through farmland, forests, and lakes (photo below right).Saturday morning.
That evening was spent watching Wisconsin football return to the field for the first time in three weeks after the team was hit hard by the Coronavirus. It was an impressive display as the Badgers took Michigan to the woodshed in a 49 - 11 win.
Green Bay managed a win, but it was hard-fought over a team it should have beaten handily. A narrow win is better than a loss any day of the week, but the Pack better take all their talent for the trip to Indianapolis tomorrow.
Tuesday morning the furnace at work sounded louder than usual. Nothing seemed out of order, so I got on the computer. A few minutes later I glanced out the window.
There was an arc of water 10 feet across and 10 feet out from the wall. I grabbed the phone to alert facility services. I couldn't see the source of water from any office window, so I climbed a flight of stairs to an area where I could see it.
Water was spraying out of a hose. I'm guessing the water had been on, but stopped because the nozzle at the other end of the hose was shut. At some point freezing weather weakened the connection to the faucet, and BAM, water spray.
When I arrived that morning, I was thrilled to get a prime parking space on a cold day. While walking in with a colleague we talked about the empty spots open because senior members of the staff returned to their spots in the parking garage.
The two of us started at Oakwood eight years ago. Parking in the garage came with seniority, we knew, but we didn't know how long we had to wait.
It turned out the wait was five hours. That's when I (along with my friend) received an email giving us the option to park inside after completing an application.
My application was in the Human Resources department within the hour.
One of the ads produced for our year-end appeal
raising funds to bolster the Life Enrichment Fund. 11/19/20
Thursday was busy. After a donor visit, I worked on laying down sound for six ads the Foundation will run on campus over the next month, then took part in a Zoom "roundtable" with ALDE.
ALDE is a professional organization for Christian fundraisers. I became a member in 2003.
It's a good group, with an excellent annual conference, that's forced to re-evaluate plans due to the disruption caused by the coronavirus.
Speaking of the virus, I read in the New York Times that if states were countries - 7 of the top 10 most infected "countries" are in the United States:
#1 North Dakota
#2 South Dakota
#3 Wisconsin
#4 Iowa
#5 Luxemburg
#6 Wyoming
#7 Czech Republic
#8 Belgium
#9 Montana
#10 Nebraska (source: New York Times)
North and South Dakota averaged more than 1,200 cases a day for the last month. That may not impress you, but consider North Dakota's entire population is less than 800,000! South Dakota is slightly more with 900,000 people.
There are still people in Wisconsin who refuse to wear a mask. Dane County has banned indoor gatherings with exceptions for houses of worship. While some churches are closing their doors and doing church online to keep their members safe. Others, including the church where we're members, continue to meet while requiring social distancing and masks. I understand the argument but we are taking the safer road by staying home.
I suppose if you believe Mr. Dewey beat Mr. Truman and that Mr. Trump defeated Mr. Biden; you might believe that there is no such thing as Covid-19.
Well, that's OK, I guess, just do us a favor and wear a mask anyway and keep your distance - the life you save may be your own.
Be careful during the holidays. Experts are predicting near "normal" travel for Thanksgiving which is good news if you are a virus looking for victims bad news if you want to stay virus-free.
Use Zoom, Facetime, or Skype to be with your family this year. Don't share a table with anyone who doesn't live with you. That way the odds go up that your whole family can enjoy Thanksgiving next year.
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