Sending healing thoughts your way, monstro! And I hope it cheers you up to think about this sign becoming standard all across the land. 
monstro so sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Best wishes to you in your struggle.
Totally agree on the mask rant.
Amazon has a bunch of Powerpuff Girls face masks, and now I’m seeing something new. Matching masks and headbands, with the headbands having big buttons for the ear pieces. Very cool.
I ordered this one for me, but my rotten husband laid claim to it.
I kinda feel sorry for those misguided folks who don’t want to join in on the fun and fabulous face mask fashion!
(((((monstro)))))
My mom has become very enthusiastic about masks since she found some fabric ones that work for her. I have a variety of masks too, from my standard dust ones to pretty designer ones. We both make sure to wear ours during outings, especially since some of the local yokels see nothing wrong with completely ignoring the social distancing markers at the checkout lanes.
I came to the board to vent this morning, then saw this thread, which got me even more riled up. I was just informed by a co-worker that the virus is “just the flu,” and that masks are worthless, and that no one will put up with the mask-wearing requirement once the workplace fully reopens. >.< Another co-worker has decided that Febreeze is an effective disinfectant for the office, and sprayed so much of it this morning that I could taste it.
Thanks, but Amazon doesn’t need my money.
So sorry, monstro.
Good luck on treatment and crossed fingers.
From Arizona, where cases of covid-19 are increasing:
Today in stores like Target I saw close to half of the people are not wearing masks, but the workers do.
In gas stations like QT there is 100% idiocy. Even the mini store workers are not wearing masks so it looks like a management decision.
Our local grocery chain, which dominates the market, has lifted the requirement for customers to wear masks. Staff and vendors will still wear them. To me this is waaaaay too soon. I still plan to wear mine when around other people.
sorry to hear about your diagnosis, Monstro, I wish you all the best with your treatment.
I’m wearing my mask in public (and at work, of course) but many here are not. I don’t see any stores making it manditory but they should, IMO.
My county in PA is now “green” which means bars and breweries are allowed to sell on premises as long as they keep social distancing by allowing only 50% capacity, use plastic cups, etc. Last night was the big reopening.
We drove around a bit, but crowds were a bit intimidating, so we didn’t stop. We eventually found a brewery that was less crowded and had very specific rules. You had to be masked in the building (which has giant garage doors that were kept open) unless you were seated and drinking. Table service was in place with “raise your hand to request a drink” which worked pretty well.
We had a beer “inside”, then bought a growler and some Chicago Style Hotdogs from the food truck and tailgated in a distant corner of the parking lot.
Hugs to you, Monstro. And a smile too, except the mask hides it, and you can’t see it unless you look at my eyes.
You are right on about the masks and lots of people not giving a hoot about anyone other than themselves. Lots of folks here are fans of yours, as you can tell.
Take care.
So store workers won’t be protected from customers’ germs. Swell. :mad:
And it’ll really be too soon until either a vaccine has been made available to everyone, or failing that, until a test-track-isolate program is well along. The latter won’t happen while Trump is President, and simple logistics say the former won’t happen this year either.
If everyone would do this, we might even be able to open things up a bit without major repercussions. But the same people who are in such a hurry to open up, are also the anti-mask sort for the most part.
Funny thing -
Yesterday I filled in at the gas station satellite of the big store due to someone calling off for the day. We have a sign on the entrance saying “wearing of a face covering strongly recommended” (we can’t say “required” due to state/local regulations). At least one person opening the door stopped when seeing the sign, then returned to his car to get a mask.
Which shows that suggestions can help, even if they aren’t perfect.
No, “surgical” masks, cloth masks, and scarves are not perfect. That’s not the point, The point is that they help. They reduce viral load in the area even if they don’t eliminate it. Sneeze guards aren’t perfect, but they also help. Limiting the number of people in a store helps.
It’s all additive. It all whittles away at the problem. It reduces how quickly this crap spreads.
Even if people only cover their mouths that will still reduce viral spread when people speak, which I assume helps given that the authorities have told us that speaking (along with singing, shouting, and coughing) can expel virus into the environment. I’d prefer they cover their noses, too, but it’s better than absolutely nothing.
If you’re in a leaking rowboat you don’t look around for a container big enough to remove all the water at once then throw up your arms and give up because you can’t find one. You start bailing with what you have, and if you have enough small containers you can bail fast enough to stay afloat even if the bottom of the boat never dries out and you still have some water sloshing about down there. That’s the point behind the hand washing, the “face coverings” of any sort, the sneeze guards, the limiting of numbers indoors… they’re all small bailing containers which individually aren’t worth much but together make an actual difference that’s worth making.
Brilliant analogy! 
Sorry about the diagnosis and best wishes for the treatment, monstro.
Any bets he uses the raincoat in a shower argument with his girl?
Hugs and hopes for you, Monstro.
Damn. You go away for several years and come back to one of your favorite posters having cancer. That’s so awful, monstro. I’m so sorry to hear that, but know if anyone can kick its ass, it’s you. Sending you light and love.