another day in Minneapolis

When I got in my car this morning, someone had left an advertisement in my car door for a local tax preparation office.  It's tax season, and people are hustling for money.

Someone today shared a link to a site where my coworkers can anonymously share their thoughts on "where they're at", so to speak, with fellow employees. Wow. I know I've become stressed and annoying here on Dreamwidth in recent years since moving to the warzone, but other people out there are doing far worse than I am.  I guess it doesn't really matter if your stress and lack of consistent sleep are caused by local gunfire, your own kids at home 24/7/365, or an abusive home life.  It still wears down everyone.

On the way home, I drove by the grocery store. Someone was hawking winter coats for $20 outside the front door. They were gone by the time I left.

It's now been a whole month that I've been double-masking. Here's what my face looks like after wearing them all day at work, with creases along my cheeks and nose bridge. Yes, I shaved the outer part of the beard, leaving the under-the-mask section for now.

People are not okay economically or psychologically.  Well, some people are doing quite well, even if most of us aren't.  Sorry, but we're not on the verge of ending this epidemic. Something's gotta give.