I am CuTRis

On May 11, 2023, Emergency Declarations for COVID-19, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, expire. Along with this, Title 42 also expires. Title 42 is a public health law from 1944, that allows authorities to stop immigration to the U.S. if there is the existence of any communicable disease (in this case COVID-19) that could spread to the American population.

COVID-19 cases are currently very high and the variants are extremely contagious. People are getting less sick; mostly due to the vaccine. But despite how most people are behaving, this is NOT over.

I'm watching the news, and apparently covid isn't over! In fact, there is a surge in new cases. So, even though me and my family are some of the last holdouts to keep wearing masks, I guess we're not stupid after all...

Deltacron, what's that flower you have on? Could it be a worn-out mask from days gone by? And did I hear you say, you'd be appearing again one day, to make more people sick and maybe die?

Today the clinic told me my cloth mask isn't good enough anymore, the school district is talking about no longer requiring masks, and I think the Federal government is planning to send us all N95 masks. I'm so glad everything has been thought through and all are on the "same page..."

'Tis the season to make choices. My family reluctantly made the choice not to go to a Christmas party, after hearing that people who are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine have chosen not to get vaccinated. It is disappointing, but the pandemic is real and the virus is still killing people. As I write this, the state of Minnesota has passed 10,000 deaths (and climbing). The United States is just a few thousand away from reaching 800,000 deaths from the virus. The world death total has exceeded 5 million. Each new case, means that the virus has released its own genetic material into the cells of the infected individual. So, while the vaccine is not changing people's DNA, the SARS-CoV-2 virus is directly interacting with the cells of infected individuals and changing how those cells function. While the vaccine does not scare me, the virus does. Each time it infects a new organism (or person), it can mutate into a slightly new version of the virus. I know why I'm making my choi...

Mask wearing is already coming back in some places. The anti-vaccination people are determined to let COVID-19 win. This is sad and it's dumb. But it's also part of the systemic irresponsibility and disinformation that is causing so many problems that we as a society can't seem to band together and resolve. Some people really need to pull their heads out of their asses and think logically. This isn't just one or two people either. It's a widespread lack of good judgment.

It was a long road back, but after applying for hundreds of jobs, often the good ones having hundreds of applicants, a former employer has offered me a job. Today I've accepted it. The mass layoffs due to the pandemic, caused (in my opinion) many IT roles to become underpaid contract jobs; with out-of-state recruiters who don't know St. Paul from Duluth... or even Dallas. It was difficult at times, to stay positive. But I'm not a newbie to these unforeseen circumstances. I'm also looking forward to my first fully remote job. To anyone still looking, don't give up. I ran my job search like a business. Recently, things changed and I was getting more interviews. I think I can even pinpoint the influx of positive energy to the day I donated blood. Good creates more good. God willing, this pandemic won't last forever. The organizations that use this time to recruit good talent with honesty and integrity, will have invested wisely in the future.

Tonight's Stir-Fry was brought to you by, the pandemic, and subzero temperatures! Because why go out if you can stay home and cook? Also brought to you by wine. Because wine makes it even better!

Norm L By Kevin J. Curtis Finding n95 masks at the thrift store was a wonderful piece of luck thought Norm L. Johnson, as he walked across the street to his car. He was careful this time to move his mask out of the way before taking a sip of his green tea latte. He didn't want to repeat the disaster that happened yesterday afternoon, when he tried to drink through the mask and the entire concoction ended up in his lap. “Damn this pandemic!” He said aloud. He examined the masks he’d just purchased for only 9 cents each. One of them had a bad stain on the front, but the other two looked like they had hardly been used! One never knew what kind of treasures you could find at the thrift store! A new n95 would cost more than a dollar. Norm L. Johnson pulled his Fiat out onto the road and began driving home. Before he’d gotten far, he was blocked by a small stick in the road. A squirrel had dropped it there earlier. There was nothing to do, except turn the Fiat around and drive back ...