Tag Archives: covid-19

April 27, 2021 · 9:54 pm

Vaccinated

I got my first COVID-19 shot today. Pfizer in case you’re wondering. Everyone wants to know who got what, if they have any side effects, and if it hurt. So yeah, I got the Pfizer. That seems to be the best one. Even I have to admit the the anti-vaxxers are right about how sketchy Johnson & Johnson is.

I went to the 24th St and Capp vaccination site in San Francisco. It was really quick and simple. I got in line on the street, there were five people ahead of me, and I was got in around five minutes later. I checked in, they scanned my barcode, asked my name and birthday, and directed me to a chair to wait my turn.

As soon as I sat down they called my name. I got up and approached a row of doctors (I hope they were doctors), took off my jacket, and sat down where I was supposed to. The doctor asked me a few basic questions: did I have any allergies, was I previously diagnosed with Coronavirus, was I pregnant or planning of getting pregnant… then he prepped my arm, told me I’d feel a little prick, and injected me.

The prick was quick. It did the trick. I hardly felt anything. It wasn’t bad at all and I let him know he did a good job. After that I sat down for a fifteen minute observation period. That was the longest part of the whole process.

A little more than eight hours later and I’m feeling good. My arm is a little sore. Its not too bad, I was still able to do some yard work when I got home. I have my follow up shot in three weeks. I’ll be happy to get it over with and get one step closer to normal.

Critically Rated at 16/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

Leave a comment

Filed under Random Rants

Tagged as , , , , ,

May 6, 2020 · 7:21 pm

Growing My Hair Out

One of the many new hobbies I’ve picked up during shelter in place is growing my hair out. I’ve gotten pretty good at it. It’s easy when all the barbershops and salons are closed and I don’t trust my girlfriend with sharp objects. My last haircut was probably in late November or early December because I didn’t want to look shaggy in holiday photos. I should have gotten a haircut in March before I went on vacation but I ran out of time. I came back on March 10th, had a couple days of work, and then everything shut down.

So here I am, stuck inside with ever increasing follicles. My bangs cover my eyes, some strands reach down to my nostrils. I spent over fifteen years of my life with a shaved head, now I have the luscious locks of a 90’s heartthrob. I’m not used to it. I’ve started wearing hats when I leave the house, something I never did before unless I was going to a baseball game. When I’m at home I’ll alternate between wearing a beanie, a headband, or simply running my fingers through my hair. It’s so soft. It’s like a puppy that lives on my head.

I know I can just shave my head and be done with it. But it’s become a symbol. My untamed hair represents how life has forever changed. It’s the new normal. I will only cut my hair when this is over.

Critically Rated at 12/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

Leave a comment

Filed under Random Rants

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,

April 28, 2020 · 7:54 pm

Space Enforcers

San Francisco has been sheltering at home for over a month and it’s starting to wear on people. I take my dog for a walk to the beach or the park every day and I’ve noticed that some people are starting to get agitated and possessive of their personal space. At least three times last week I’ve had someone say something about staying six feet apart or telling me to get back. I call them space enforcers.

They usually a bitter white person in their forties, often seen walking alone (occasionally on bikes), and don’t wear masks despite their paranoia. They are the Karens of Coronavirus. Not all space enforcers are Karens, but all Karens are space enforcers.

Just yesterday I was on the beach and a space enforcer told me I was walking too close to him. He was more than twelve feet away from me. I pointed at the big blue bandana on my face and said, “I’m way more than six feet away from you and I have a mask on. You’re the rude one contaminating the air. Stay the fuck at home if you’re so paranoid.” It was as eloquent as that but it’s my story so I’ll make myself look better.

Quarantine fatigue is starting to get to everyone. I try to be civil and give people their space. But I will always stand up to space enforcers. They aren’t making this situation any better.

Critically Rated at 4/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed By Brendan H. Young

Leave a comment

Filed under Random Rants

Tagged as , , , , , ,

April 16, 2020 · 7:52 pm

Socialize Safely

FaceTime, Zoom, and Houseparty have been amazing in this time of social isolation, but nothing is better than an actual face to face interaction. Yesterday my girlfriend and I took the dogs out for a long walk in Golden Gate Park and on a whim I texted my friend Jerry and invited him and and his girlfriend to meet us. We settled on a meeting place in a nice meadow where we used to hang out.

Jerry and Dre got to the meadow before we did, and it was great watching the dogs get super excited when they saw them sitting on the grass. Honestly I was more excited to see them than the dogs were. We said our hellos as we sat down six feet away from them, the dogs playing in between us, cracked open a few beers, and just talked for a few hours enjoying the sunshine and each other’s company.

It felt normal, great even, like a weight being lifted from my shoulders that I didn’t even know was there. We didn’t shake hands or hug or do any form of physical interaction, but it was so therapeutic to just bask in the presence of other people. It was the best day of the apocalypse so far.

Critically Rated at 16/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

Socialize Safely

Leave a comment

Filed under Random Rants

Tagged as , ,

March 31, 2020 · 1:57 pm

Quarantainment

I came up with a new word: quarantainment. It’s entertainment during quarantine. Playing cards or a board game is a form of quarantainment. So is video chatting or live streaming. Those lame videos of celebrities singing songs of hope? Also a form of quarantainment. Basically anything that keeps you entertained while being cooped up qualifies as quarantainment.

It’s a great word. Feel free to use it. Just remember you heard it from me first.

Critically Rated at 16/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

Leave a comment

Filed under Random Rants

Tagged as , , , , ,

March 30, 2020 · 6:58 pm

The New Normal

The new normal is awful boring. I had two jobs. Now I’m cooped up at home with nothing but time and a slowly dwindling bank account. I’m lucky enough to live within walking distance to Ocean Beach and Golden Gate Park so I can escape the house and take the dogs out to enjoy nature. Taking out the dogs and going to the store are the highlights of my days now. Especially since I finished watching Tiger King.

I make sure to never leave without a bottle of hand sanitizer. I’ve gotten pretty good at not touching my face in public. I wait until I get home, thoroughly wash my hands, then rub my face. Social distancing from friends is easy (thanks to video calls). Social distancing from strangers is a little bit harder (sidewalks aren’t wide enough).

I would rather be bored than make things worse. If we have to shelter in place, so be it. Let’s be introverts for another month or two and let time slog on until this becomes a weird memory that we can all look back on together. Life goes on. We can get through this. We will. We have to.

To my friends in the restaurant industry: hang in there. Be strong.

To my friends in the healthcare industry: thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Be safe, stay healthy, and don’t get coughed on.

Critically Rated at 10/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

Leave a comment

Filed under Random Rants

Tagged as , , , ,

March 20, 2020 · 6:46 pm

Covid-19

Kind of hard to have a blog and not discuss the elephant in the room: Coronavirus. Kinda hard not to be thinking about it since it took over the world. What started seemingly as a minor inconvenience has become a major disruption in life around the world. I went to Hawaii for a week in the beginning of March. I came back on the tenth to the beginning of a panic. Stores started running out of things. Work was a lot slower than usual. Then nonexistent. One job let me go and the other will be closed for three weeks or longer. I’m lucky that my rent is cheap and I have enough savings to get me through a month or two if I plan accordingly.

I’ve been doing what everyone else has been doing: taking it one day at a time. I’m trying not to freak out or panic. I don’t want this to be the new normal, but there’s a nagging feeling in the back of my mind that it might be the last time I’m out of the house for an extended period each time I run to the store. I try not to hoard but I’ll grab a canned good or some toilet paper or a household cleaner each time I’m out. Makes me feel like I’m doing something.

Netflix, HBO, Hulu, Disney+, and YouTube definitely help pass the time. I have a few books I want to read. We just bought a weed whacker so I foresee yard work in my future. Maybe I’ll teach my girlfriend how to finally play cribbage. In the mean time I’m trying to stay sane and healthy and not think about the inevitable zombies that come next.

People are dying, people are suffering, people are hurting, people are scared. I’m ok. I can’t complain so I won’t complain. It’s a crazy time for all of us. I’m glad we are in it together. Be happy, be safe, don’t get coughed on.

And holy shit, Jeff Bezos is going to make so much money off this apocalypse.

Critically Rated at 2/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

Leave a comment

Filed under Random Rants

Tagged as , , , , ,