These Days …

I am generally an optimist.

When I was writing this newsletter last Friday, I believed I had caught a cold. I’d been out among masses of unmasked humans and, though I was masked myself, I assumed that I’d picked up and carried cold or flu cooties long enough to get infected. No big deal. I had a sore throat, sore throats were usually, for me, the first sign that I’d gotten a cold and I can handle colds. I’ve had hundreds of them in my life.

However, just to be safe, I got some quick covid tests from the drugstore. Annndddd, yeah, I tested positive for covid. We tested Sarah at the same time. She tested negative. So we masked up and kept our distance from each other and tried to enjoy the four day weekend. As the day went on, Sarah started having symptoms. Maybe she had a cold? We’re both optimists.

Sarah tested negative again on Saturday but it seemed silly to think she didn’t have covid. The tests aren’t perfect.

The four day weekend stretched out. I called the station on Monday afternoon to tell a supervisor that I wouldn’t be in. He told me at least three other carriers had also called in covid. I’m one of the few carriers who still masks up the station so hopefully they didn’t get it from me. The carriers mentioned don’t mask. I’m guessing that if they didn’t mask while at work in a building with over fifty other people, they weren’t masking out in the world either.

I’d planned to work on the Mighty Nizz comic on the weekend. That didn’t happen. At no point did I feel like the sickness was life threatening but being ill wasn’t conducive to either concentration or holding a brush. We just hung out and did our best to enjoy each other’s queasy company. My Big Sister blessed us with a cornucopia of her wonderful cooking so we didn’t have to try to think of how to feed ourselves.

I’m not a great patient. I rather take care of someone else than be taken care of myself so there were some cranky times. Sarah was very patient. She’s currently taking a round of antivirals. Covid didn’t necessarily hit her harder than me but her immune system has more issues so it seemed like a good idea to give it some help. I managed to get a little art done each day. That helped my mood. By Wednesday I felt healthy enough that, if I just had a cold, I’d have gone back to work.

When is it safe (mostly for other people) for me to go back to work? Based on CDC guidelines and advice from friends in the medical professions – five days after onset of symptoms. So, unless something happens after I’ve posted this newsletter that will prevent me, I’ll be delivering mail again today.

Yay.

Mugshots

Who is this lovely lady? Who are the folks in the robes? Every picture tells a story but I don’t always know what that story is. You’re free to make up a story of your own.

Available as:
A mug in my Zazzle store
On a variety of schtuff in my Redbubble store

Before the Rainbow

Below is the scanned black and white art for the latest Oz Squad/Land of Oz design. On the left, Bungle the Glass Cat. On the right, Eureka the Pink Kitten. Pot. Kettle.

After the Rainbow

And here is the final colored version. It’s available in both my online shops. Oz is a socialist utopia overseen by an unelected princess but, since we don’t live there yet, I have some shilling to do.
That’s it for this week!

May your next seven days be healthy and happy and relaxing.

And if they can’t be that, punch a Nazi for Jesus.