The Coronavirus Chronicles -Three Strikes You're Out
- Thread starter emptysea
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Gone in 60
Road warrior
I've found that I am not enjoying riding near my home as much as I thought I might. After a month of lockdown, while traffic in general is greatly reduced, freeway repair projects are running at full speed to take advantage of fewer cars on the road. And, construction projects are also churning away. So, unless I want to putt-putt around the neighborhood, I need to get on a highway to do anything useful, like check in at my office, ride along the coast, etc. With all of the projects going on, it seems like half of the vehicles on the freeways around me are double-trailer gravel haulers, dump trucks, and heavy equipment haulers, and they're doing 70+ with the low traffic. I can feel myself getting pelted with whatever is bouncing off of them, and am not enjoying it.
At home, my wife and I have gone though an interesting transformation. She has taken over our guest room as her office, and is working full time providing telemedicine. She's talking through the computer to her patients, which means if I'm in the house, I need to be quiet. Most of her patients are elderly, so she needs to speak loudly.
So, to keep myself busy, when I'm not working in my friend's shop, I'm working on engrossing projects in the garage. I spent two weeks reviving my Father-in-Law's old car to sell. My old garage door was getting very rotted, so I tore it down and built a new one. It's an exact duplicate of the original, and in our official HOA colors, so I won't get in trouble with the association.
Being in the garage in a small, dense condominium complex has put me in closer passing contact with neighbors, who have taken an interest in my efforts and drift by to see "Whatcha doing in the garage today?"
In doing so, many of the neighbors have been passing on their dissent about what their neighbors are doing. During normal times, everyone is gone during the day, but now, during the lockdown, people are in close quarters with everyone else all day long. This means we're all seeing and listening to everyone else much more than we normally do.
In my driveway conversations, I'm hearing "I don't know if you've noticed, but so-and-so listens to their TV too loud." "Hey, did you see that so-and-so walked their dog with no leash yesterday?" "That lady over there sneezes a lot...I swear she must have the virus!"
It makes me wonder what the neighbors say about my wife and me. "Geez, that dude is so poor he can't afford to buy a new door, so he spends all day banging away with a hammer making one." "That lady spends all day in her room yelling at herself... you can hear it in the streets!"
At home, my wife and I have gone though an interesting transformation. She has taken over our guest room as her office, and is working full time providing telemedicine. She's talking through the computer to her patients, which means if I'm in the house, I need to be quiet. Most of her patients are elderly, so she needs to speak loudly.
So, to keep myself busy, when I'm not working in my friend's shop, I'm working on engrossing projects in the garage. I spent two weeks reviving my Father-in-Law's old car to sell. My old garage door was getting very rotted, so I tore it down and built a new one. It's an exact duplicate of the original, and in our official HOA colors, so I won't get in trouble with the association.
Being in the garage in a small, dense condominium complex has put me in closer passing contact with neighbors, who have taken an interest in my efforts and drift by to see "Whatcha doing in the garage today?"
In doing so, many of the neighbors have been passing on their dissent about what their neighbors are doing. During normal times, everyone is gone during the day, but now, during the lockdown, people are in close quarters with everyone else all day long. This means we're all seeing and listening to everyone else much more than we normally do.
In my driveway conversations, I'm hearing "I don't know if you've noticed, but so-and-so listens to their TV too loud." "Hey, did you see that so-and-so walked their dog with no leash yesterday?" "That lady over there sneezes a lot...I swear she must have the virus!"
It makes me wonder what the neighbors say about my wife and me. "Geez, that dude is so poor he can't afford to buy a new door, so he spends all day banging away with a hammer making one." "That lady spends all day in her room yelling at herself... you can hear it in the streets!"
LongRanger_imp
Road warrior
I’m very impressed with your handiwork. The new door looks terrific!
the Ferret
Road warrior
:rofl: neighbors.. gotta love em
Where I live out in the country I really can't see or hear my neighbors. The only time I know they are out of their house, is if I hear a chain saw or a mower running. Otherwise, complete silence isolation other than the birds or the wind. I do see them walking up on the street every once in a while.
I see pictures on TV of people in New York or California, or Europe living on top of each other and wonder how people retain their sanity living like that.
Where I live out in the country I really can't see or hear my neighbors. The only time I know they are out of their house, is if I hear a chain saw or a mower running. Otherwise, complete silence isolation other than the birds or the wind. I do see them walking up on the street every once in a while.
I see pictures on TV of people in New York or California, or Europe living on top of each other and wonder how people retain their sanity living like that.
Like, LongRanger, I’m very impressed with your door. Nice work.
Gone in 60
Road warrior
Thanks, gentlemen. It's one of those projects that quickly went down a rabbit hole. Initially, I wanted to shore up the rotted wood skin on the door. But, once I pulled off a part of the skin, I quickly realized that the frame was rotting as well. At that point, the door was down, I had a 16' x 7' hole in my house, and was fully committed to a quick completion.
Condo dwellers aren't known to be do-it-yourselfers, so comments like "I didn't know you could just make a new door" cemented my Working Class Hero status in the neighborhood.
Condo dwellers aren't known to be do-it-yourselfers, so comments like "I didn't know you could just make a new door" cemented my Working Class Hero status in the neighborhood.
Houtman_imp
Road warrior
You could make money doing odd jobs for "un handy" neighbors , just do not work for young unmarried women as they often do not pay with money and black mail you later for not doing a good job.
Gone in 60
Road warrior
I sort of already do, since I have the “biggest toolbox in the neighborhood.” With the lockdown, several people in our complex are having improvement projects done on their homes. There are power tools buzzing all day.
My wife, who is always making helpful comments about how I can be more ambitious, suggested that I start a cottage industry of building garage doors for other people. I told her that I don’t really want the liability of making large objects for other people that hover over their cars and children.
My wife, who is always making helpful comments about how I can be more ambitious, suggested that I start a cottage industry of building garage doors for other people. I told her that I don’t really want the liability of making large objects for other people that hover over their cars and children.
Gone in 60
Road warrior
Woo Hoo! Boss Man just called. Our payroll protection loan was just funded, and everyone starts back to work tomorrow. While office staff will work out the social distancing, being the lone hermit in the warehouse, nobody comes to visit me anyway.
At least I can get back to daily riding for a legitimate purpose. And, maybe afford to buy new tires to replace the factory originals on the CB.
At least I can get back to daily riding for a legitimate purpose. And, maybe afford to buy new tires to replace the factory originals on the CB.
That's AWESOME!! Very happy for you. I've been lucky to keep job during all this... so far.Gone in 60_imp said:
the Ferret
Road warrior
Good news Gone!
Since my state decided to start opening the state as of last Monday. I have started to extend my rides from 20 miles a day to the park to on average 45 miles a day on could try back roads. If they open it up more I will ride more.
Since my state decided to start opening the state as of last Monday. I have started to extend my rides from 20 miles a day to the park to on average 45 miles a day on could try back roads. If they open it up more I will ride more.
Gone in 60
Road warrior
Thank you gentlemen! My wife is running around the house finding last-minute projects for me to do today. In addition to event production, we are also a magazine and online content publisher, which makes us a media company, which, if you read the fine print, makes us a business that can stay open. Some of our publishing staff have moved to remote work during the shutdown, as files can be drop-boxed and transferred online. They'll continue to work from home, opening up more space in our office for people to stay away from each other.
Great news, Gone.
LongRanger_imp
Road warrior
Today marks the start of Week 8 working from home. The company is in no hurry to reopen the office, and when they do, it'll be on a volunteer basis only. I prefer to work in my pajamas.
the Ferret
Road warrior
thank goodness for pajamas.
My son just told me his company is not expecting to have everyone back inthe building at the same time THIS YEAR!
My son just told me his company is not expecting to have everyone back inthe building at the same time THIS YEAR!
Gone in 60
Road warrior
Pajamas? I haven't bothered with pajamas. Didn't want to overburden my wife with my laundry needs at this difficult time.
Houtman_imp
Road warrior
I just read that pajama sales increased over 140 % this year .
peterbaron
Road warrior
^^ :rofl: ^^...and now, I know why, I couldn't get one....
Just been informed that online teaching only will extend to December. Zoom is room.
So no schools opening in Oregon this year, pdedse?
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