Right after 9/11 — talk about thunderlessly eerie… Nothing left the ground for days.

Sorry, We're Closed | Quarantined Sacramento | COVID-19 from Eddie Arcilla on Vimeo.

There are a lot of similarities in the Florida and California experiences. Took me a couple of weeks to find real bleach (don’t buy “splashless bleach” for disinfecting, it’s not really bleach, more of a laundry soap with a smidge of bleach [and lye]. Don’t get me started…). Bleach and paper towels I both found by showing up at Safeway soon after they opened, and had restocked. Buying lots of paper towels makes sense, for disinfecting, and to strictly follow the hand-washing advice to use a disposable towel. And TP I figured out when I blew my nose into a couple of squares: It’s what you hoard when you expect industrial-strength nasal congestion.

I use grocery delivery when I can, but it’s iffy. There’s a long delay between submitting the order and delivery, several days. Which opens a window for items to go out of stock. As a result, I keep making these quick, small, to the store, to pick up just a few missing items. I go masked, and use the near-field payment thing on my smartwatch to pay, so I don’t touch the pinpad.

Speaking of masks, I read multiple reports that the CDC is about to reverse itself and start recommending normal people wear masks. But they say we should only wear DIY, or at least non-medical grade N95 or surgical masks, to free those for the professionals. OK, but have you looked at instructions to make a mask at home? You need a sewing machine! I don’t have a sewing machine.

But I do have an N95 mask, which I got two years ago during the last catastrophe, the wildfires. But now I’m bashful about wearing it in public, for fear it would be seen as selfishly depriving a pro. And I would if I could, but they only take unopened packages, and require delivery. So looks like it’s simple bandana for me, for now. Over the mask…

The streets are empty, there is an eerie silence on the land. Indeed it is. Sacramento’s never been safer for pedestrians. It’s the capitol, and when the guv, Gavin Newsom, PBUH, says workers stay home, the place becomes a ghost town overnight.

It doesn’t feel any less safe, though, not to the extent that I feel the need to go armed. On my daily walks, people seem calm, and frequently give some signal of solidarity, we’re all in this together etc. Like ostentatiously keeping to the margins of the sidewalk when encountering an oncoming walker.

But there are more homeless people out than up until recently, and they’re often wearing surgical masks. They seem to be aware that they’re an at-risk community in a pandemic. Instead of spare change I carry hand wipes, and give those.

It’s said that, ultimately, 70% of Californians will catch covid-19. My strategy is to delay my infection as long as possible, at least until after the peak forecast in the second half of the month. After the hospitals start to subside, and the health professionals get some sleep. And to take best advantage of any lessons they learn.

Ideally I hope for a mild case to confer immunity (which is not yet certain, but probable). As it is, while my lungs remain clear, my temperature sometimes blips to 100 for a couple of hours, my nose is runny, and sometimes I have a dry cough. Sweet if that’s my mild case already, but that’s too pollyanish even for me.

Hunker down and be socially distant. Remember, it’s six feet apart, not six feet under.

I live with my brother these days, out of work and contemplating retirement. Seems no one wants to interview anyone for a job these days. They’d probably mask-up for a vid-chat.

Brother is still out daily, as an essential employee. He makes credit/debit cards. I guess there’s still a demand for that in the world. Washes up before leaving work and washes again when he gets home.

We seem to be doing fine.

Traffic outside the door — a minor city artery — seems to have cut back drastically since just yesterday.

Med appointments next week for heart and circulatory. Anticoagulation is monthly, cardio is annual.

Lots of writing, got the cat napping on the floor beside me (snoring — possibly talking in her sleep). So far, all remaining peaceful.

Stuck inside today. Drizzle with icing and snow later. Maybe the ice will protect the blossems on the peach tree that is blooming way too fucking early.

Thanks for checking in with your observations, ER. Stay safe and best to your cellmate.