Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Thank You, Nonstop Alarming Media Coverage

I am officially losing it. I AM! I cannot seem to leave the house because I am about to lose my cool with this stupid-ass swine flu. I was supposed to visit a friend today and I cancelled (hello, Noel! Thank you for not laughing at me!) This is ridiculous! I am aware of that. I am a freak. But whenever I think of something I want to go do, I just have this image in my head of some infected person (during the incubation period, before symptoms show up) touching all the surfaces of the place where I want to go. And then, I can't go. I just can't. I start to hyperventilate. I think about Andrew and how we don't really know if the fetal blood transfusion/anemia thing affected his immune system. We are supposed to have his white blood cell count taken sometime this year and until I know the results of that, I worry. I think about Becca being hospitalized last time SHE had a virus.

The infected victims in Texas are basically from this neighborhood. Shopping at the stores we go to here, eating at the restaurants near us, hanging out at parks around here. Touching the door handles in all public places. I know this virus is out there and I know it is out there IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. I don't think I would be this worried if I were not THIS close to it. So, I can't seem to get myself to go anywhere.

But I can't just sit inside being scared, either. That isn't healthy. I swear I need professional help. Seriously.

That's all I'm going to say about that. New subject, PLEASE.
*****
We've been having a great time here. I have tons of cute photos that I need to post but that would require rifling through my trashed suitcase to find the card reader and then finding the USB port, and well...that might just be too much work for someone on vacation! So, maybe tomorrow. For now, I am glad the sun is shining and the kids are napping. I'm off to think positive thoughts and to convince myself to get out of the house!

11 comments:

Swistle said...

You know what you could do? Get a packet of those Lysol wipes or whateves and stow it discreetly in the diaper bag. Put one across the inside of your hand, and use it to open doors and polish slide railings and such--just leave it in your hand and periodically refresh it. If you were all casual about it, I doubt anyone would even notice.

My original idea was to carry a can of Lysol and spray a cloud of it ahead of you, but that seems more likely to draw attention. You could use it on swings, though. (You probably think I'm kidding. But I'm not.)

And all this is assuming swine flu is not resistant to things like Lysol, which I don't know about because I have been avoiding all coverage, and if it IS resistant I DON'T WANT TO KNOW.

The Quinn Report said...

No worries & I completely understand!!!

Look forward to seeing you Thursday!

Grammy Bonnie said...

We're all going to be exposed to it sooner or later, even in Minneapolis and (Holy Cow) BALTIMORE!!

Tracy said...

sorry grammy bonnie, i have already requested the virus not come here!

Swistle, what a great idea about the lysol and the swings. I have my ocd moments, but have NEVER thought of doing that. Do they make travel sized lysol? Call the company, you may cash in on that idea!

Katie, I am so sorry it is so close. I agree with you though. I think masks are in order, at least on the plane. You may look funny, but you won't see any of them again.

Katie said...

the masks are supposedly not effective unless you have a respirator. And, of course, I HAVE travel sized lysol in my purse....so someone already cashed in on that idea! it is probably sold out everywhere at this point though...

I'm kind of wondering if it would be better to be exposed before it mutates into something worse!

Angie said...

I'm cracking up here, because OF COURSE you have travel size lysol!

I'm really not a germaphobe, not by a long shot, but I might hesitate to go many places when you know that it is in your neighborhood. I can certainly understand that you aren't wanting to go anywhere.

lisa said...

I would not mock you for getting professional help. Im right there with you. And its so dumb since all our medical is free.....why dont I just get over myself and go? I'll go if you go.

Laura said...

I don't blame you at all. I would be the same way and I'm not even a germaphobe. Does Amazon sell bubbles?

Tracy said...

OMGoodness call me Katie Jr. I have crossed the line. I think I have yelled at Madison about 30 times in the last two days about her fingers in her mouth...AHHHH! DO you think they could be socialized if they never leave the house..OH my I just realized, we have gymnastics tonight.. I can only imagine the fungus there..BREATH.. ITs not here yet... Sorry, freak out mode for a minute here!

sgtsharp said...

get the bleach out!!

Lost in Space said...

We have to scare people or else we will get sued.