Comments on: Accolades, flu-ry

By: Jem

Jem — Sun, 03 May 2009 12:46:33 +0000

I was surprised – NZ has something like 3 confirmed cases (I saw CNN reporting 13, liars, although many of the suspected cases were on the same school trip so they probably do have it) and they all go to school just down the road from me, yay. I work at one of the most famous tourist attractions in Auckland and I’ve been surprised at the lack of masks I’ve seen – I figured many overseas visitors would be wearing them, but I only ever see about 1 in a day.

But honestly, I’ve thought about it too – I always get complications from the flu (and colds) as it is, I’ve never had one where I haven’t gotten bronchitis as well because of my (pretty bad) asthma, and because of this I get the flu BADLY, and so I suppose I’d be more at risk if I did get the swine flu. But mostly I’ve just been concentrating on not touching my mouth unless I’ve washed my hands, I mean I’m not REALLY going to go to work in a mask or anything.

By: Annie

Annie — Sun, 03 May 2009 05:42:32 +0000

I have a baby who’s not quite three weeks old; I’m scared shitless. It’s as though the media has completely changed its tune, and that makes me more than a little suspicious. my husband made me read The Stand when we first got together. I only wish I couldn’t see all the comparisons between the book and what’s going on with H1N1.

By: Lori

Lori — Fri, 01 May 2009 14:46:25 +0000

I’m currently at home on day 3 of a regular flu/possible sinus infection. I feel guilty for staying home again, even though I know it’s the smart thing to do “swine” flu or not, and I know that I was so dizzy when I tried to go to work I had to lie down in my entryway for 5 minutes.

I think it’s wise to be prepared, no matter what. You’re never going to look back (if/when this blows over) and think “wow being concerned for my family’s health and safety was a waste of time”. Concern and planning does not equal panic. It’s just common sense.

By: GB

GB — Fri, 01 May 2009 05:44:14 +0000

I’m not sure if this is just happening on my end or if this is legit buttttttt your older entries page is now bare! I’m seeing just a link to your archives (pre 04/06).

By: Meagan

Meagan — Fri, 01 May 2009 03:14:15 +0000

I’m with you. My mother-in-law works in biodefense in DC and advised us to get 4-5 weeks worth of food for our household, in addition to avoiding unnecessary public trips. So far we’ve spent about $200 on food (human and dog/cat) that we can use up later if this thing fizzles out. Not freaking out, just a little more prepared than we were before. The media thing is a little weird. My whole family is on the TX border and they’re not worrying because no one’s closed the border yet. It seems like we’re getting conflicting messages, like “level 5 pandemic!!!” but also “geez relax.”

By: Rachel

Rachel — Fri, 01 May 2009 02:53:44 +0000

I think a lot of people underestimate the suck factor of the flu because they’ve never actually had it. They get a bad cold that lays them out for a while and assume it’s the flu. I had the flu when I was 16 and very healthy, it attacked my throat and inner ear so that I was mute for two weeks and deaf for two months – my hearing never did quite recover. This was of course on top of the two weeks of high fever, halucinations, palpitations and being unable to walk unassisted. One of my college professors got the flu and nearly died a year later because of how badly it has scarred his heart.

Which is not to say that anyone should should be panicking and dousing themselves in hand sanitizer (which only kills off the weak germs anyway), just that the flu is a lot worse to have than many people think.

I take it as a good reminder to check my medicine cabinets for supplies (goodbye Tylenol which expired in 2001) and restock my pantry with canned food that we will actually eat, as opposed to the sketchy tinned things with the labels off and the odd single serving saffron rice packets.

By: MichelleRenee

MichelleRenee — Fri, 01 May 2009 01:44:04 +0000

I love The Stand.

Stephen King is so good at freaking me out.

How could you not connect the Superflu with Swine-flu?

But since reading his books, I have NEVER looked at crows and clowns in the same way.

By: Maria

Maria — Fri, 01 May 2009 00:16:57 +0000

So now my proudest Internet achievement as to date is “Sundry mentioned me in passing on her blog.”

I wish I was joking.

Seriously dude? That guy called me too. And completely fixed some wack-ass shit going on with my domain forwarding. I’m decently tech-savvy and I have no idea what he did to make it work.

I used to haaaaaaaaate GoDaddy. But GoDaddyGuy on Twitter actually completely changed my opinion of them. Go team customer service.

SO SAY WE ALL.

By: Josh

Josh — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 22:58:20 +0000

Haha Sundry, you’re such an adorable motherly worry fag. Why don’t you spend less time worrying about non-dangerous bull shit like animal flus, and spend a little more time preparing an underground bunker for the real life zombie plague which really will kill everyone on the planet. (except a lucky and deserving few)

Also, it took me about thirty seconds to figure out that when you mentioned “the WHO” you weren’t talking about a band. Shows how much I care about getting sick. (but then again I touch real life people shit almost every day with no gloves, so I’m a little jaded to the dangers of microscopic disease)

By: Jenny

Jenny — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:14:27 +0000

And anyway, I always base my shopping lists on Stephen King books. New cell phone, handcuff keys, pepper spray for the possessed Saint Bernard. Extra tampons. Stuff like that.

(I agree it’s good to plan for the flu. I just thought your reading was particularly bad timing, and therefore funny.)