Sunday, March 29, 2020

SO CAL -- COMMUNICATION -- TECHNOLOGY

  
Writing here becomes increasingly challenging for me to avoid discussing the issue dominating in the USA today as it likely does in other nations around the world.    Most specifically in the state of California and county of Los Angeles where I live, escalating COVID 19 is spreading through all ages bringing the obvious potential for mild to severe illness, even the possibility of life and death.      

As a former health care worker in U.S. medical settings I am raging angry at the politicized medical distortions promulgated from the White House for too long, minimizing the seriousness of this COVID 19’s effects on our nation’s citizens -- the neglect of timely preventative measures to slow the disease spreading, including lack of availability of diagnostic tests – the failure to effectively provide personal protective equipment and adequate working medical equipment, including respirators and ventilators for nurses and doctors use to save patient’s lives and their own as State governments have sought help.  

Should you wonder about the meanings of some Coronavirus terms such as those last two prominent now, click on this Vox site link.   

Following the Administration’s lead the echo chamber of one national media outlet and other ill-informed broadcasters continue their pattern of all too often dispensing misleading manipulative reports masquerading as factual news which I find dangerous and insulting as people capable of critical thinking recognize.  Efforts to contradict accounts from those medical workers who are actually providing the patient treatments, also blaming responsible press reporting those actual facts as hyping is nothing short of criminal distortions of truth.    

Here in California, So Cal, in keeping with sane precautions we’re increasingly being ordered to stay inside our homes.  We stay in our yards, may walk on our streets in a limited manner but basically confine ourselves.   Pacific Ocean coastal beaches, piers, parks and hiking trails, including those popular in my city, have had to be closed since too many individuals frequented the areas compromising voluntary social distancing requirements.  Trips for essentials at grocery stores, pharmacies, drive-thru restaurants are still acceptable.   

We’ve had only one person diagnosed with COVID 19 in my city to date.   We’re about 30 miles east of Los Angeles with multiple cities in between all running into one another, some of which have residents with the virus.  An immediately adjacent city is the location of one of our hospitals where the first Los Angeles County virus diagnosed patient died.   A student at one of our city’s five undergraduate colleges and two graduate schools was diagnosed with the virus.  Immediately all colleges cancelled on site classes for the remaining semester with students leaving campus and the city as their dormitories closed. Airports such as Los Angeles (LAX) are virtually vacant as few people are flying commercially.

The United States Navy Hospital Ship “Mercy” docked at L.A.’s San Pedro, like USN’s “Comfort” recently docked in New York, is accepting non-COVID 19 patients from hospitals to free bed availabilities for expected inundations of infected patients in April needing admission at those facilities. 

Take a video tour of the USNS Mercy (T-AH-19) hospital ship. The Mercy class of hospital ships are converted supertankers now used by the United States Navy as naval ambulances. In this video: Interior medical spaces, engine room, pilothouse, and various other spaces.”



Californians hope the proactive preventative measures instituted by our Governor Newsom and L.A. Mayor Garcetti, if followed by citizens, will minimize the adverse consequences COVID 19 threatens.  Would that our Federal Government’s leaders had been and would still be more concerned for citizens welfare, be capable of implementing more effective problem-solving actions other than belatedly reacting in a hodge-podge manner.  

Despite how well we plan for ourselves and our families, unexpected events can even upset our best efforts.   Recent news in the Los Angeles area reports a community that has had an extensive power outage still being repaired as I write this.  Families are lamenting the lengthy outage duration has resulted in their losing refrigerated food they had purchased to use through this COVID 19 isolation period creating a variety of problems for them. 

On a more positive note, individuals all over the country are sewing masks, though not usually designed to meet the N95s medical filter level status, they do function with varying degrees of protection.  These are being distributed to hospital staffs in the creators’ areas.

One of several mask creators in the L.A. area most recently catching my attention is a Downs Syndrome man who initiated the idea with his sister who has joined and assisted him in making masks for doctors and nurses.  Are there individuals or groups where you live aiding as those sewing masks, for example,  in combatting this COVID 19?

My thoughts are with each of you who read here, wherever you are in the world.  I do hope you are safe, have been able to amply prepare to nourish yourselves adequately and stay well, especially if confined indoors.  For those of us who have friends and loved ones living elsewhere that we can’t unite with in person, we can be glad for technology that offers us various ways to interact. 

Friends of mine who have a large family scattered about So Cal and Nevada typically have family gatherings at varying family members’ homes on several holiday occasions each year.   Plans are being made for them to have an audio video collective group gathering at a designated time on a web site offering such capability this next holiday.   I may propose something similar to my much smaller family unit, but one scattered from coast to coast and north to south borders. 

What technological approach would you propose using or recommend?   For example, I have Face Time on my Apple devices.  My friends may use Zoom.   This recent New York Times article discussed this very topic.

What innovative ideas do you have for bridging the separation gap from others?
What togetherness activity as my friends plan appeals to you with friends and loved ones?   
Might you consider such a get-together in the future? 

Sunday, March 22, 2020

LIFE'S INTERRUPTIONS -- CRITTERS, BUGS -- HOPE


INTERNET RE-CONNECTED – FINALLY!    
Thanks to some little critter chewing on my internet and landline phone wire connections outside my home I lost the service of both the day after my previous posting.   

Five days later was the earliest I could receive service, so I had to depend on my cell phone and texting necessitating using a keyboard for which I have the greatest animosity – several alphabet letters on each key – what a pain!     I briefly reconsidered possibly acquiring a lsmart phone but again concluded I presently don’t need or want one. 

Thanks to my all-news Los Angeles radio station, KNX, coupled with my erratic TV programming I could keep up with the rapidly changing issues evolving with the spread of the Coronavirus -- local, state and federal official associated actions – to determine how I would be affected.  My antenna TV reception was inconsistent due to signal interference caused by our rainy weather atmospheric conditions.  

There are typically few occasions when our weather conditions are such that I’ve experienced this TV signal interference, so this has not proved to be a problem generally – one that only began when broadcasting changed from analog to digital transmissions initiated a few years ago as described by clicking on this site.

SAFER AT HOME
All the world knows now that due to COVID 19 community spreading in Los Angeles County and our entire state, residents are being ordered to voluntarily stay in our homes referred to as Safer At Home.  Most small retail businesses are closed as are restaurants except for carry-out or drive-thru.  Farmers Markets are reported to be good fresh food sources.

I think progressive changes have been gradually moving us toward what has the potential for requiring even more strict requirements if the situation worsens as some project.    All this in an effort to thwart the most severe COVID 19 spreading effects to our citizens necessary to lessen demands on a health system reported to be inadequately equipped to address such a problem. 

I’ll share my experiences for whatever it might or might not be of interest to others.  The last time I was in a grocery store was a week or two ago before the first person in Los Angeles County died locally from the Coronavirus (refer to my previous post).  I had gradually purchased the final few items that week to add to my earthquake emergency preparedness kit – now my Coronavirus kit.   Even when I shopped so early hand sanitizer liquid and wipes were no longer available, so I still have none.   I anticipated if the virus progressed here as it had in other countries I did not want to be out in stores, knowing humankind would likely devolve into just the sort of rush on stores we’ve seen with shelves being stripped clean of products. 

No doubt some people are hoarding, also a few may be hoping to make a buck by selling items at inflated prices – they will be aggressively prosecuted if their asking price is increased by more than ten percent.  But I think most people, especially those with families – children, older and special needs family members, maybe a few who might be shopping for others, for example – are simply trying to purchase needed items they hope will last for the unknown duration of this event so they won’t have to leave the safety of their homes to even go to the store – which is also my intent.  Some stores have recently setup a special time period for oldsters and disabled to shop before opening to the public, also have started limiting the number of some high demand items that can be purchased. 

I have only left my home twice to go to drive thru businesses – a nearby pharmacy, though my regular pharmacy provides free delivery service  which I’ve used too.  I realized despite my planning I had no acetaminophen, only another type of anti-inflammatory pain reliever said not to be best to use for the COVID 19.   I thought I’d just order some on the net, but they were basically sold out with only one source at inflated pricing, so was pleased my drug store had a bottle for me when I phoned them the next day.  My previous medical work has had me well-prepared to engage in lots of hand washing, plus I have a box of gloves purchased years ago. 

NEIGHBORS
The first day after the initial stay-in-our-homes announcement, especially older people, two  younger neighbors arrived at my door independently of each other bringing me containers of delicious home-made soups – chicken tortilla and minestrone – I’ve only now finished eating the last servings.   Both offered help should I need it and would purchase store items for me when they went out.  I consider myself extremely fortunate they’re concerned for me and another contemporary living alone nearby though she does have family in California which I do not.   We do observe the staying 6 feet distance from one other and I have no one entering my home.

I do find myself thinking of what I could do for others if I was more able.  I am unaccustomed to being on the receiving care end, but I know how important it is to caregivers for the care recipient to kindly and graciously accept offers of assistance – not to be too demanding.   When I retired a few years ago I never imagined my physical activity would have been slowed as has  occurred.  I fully expected to be hopping around with much more agility as some others older than me who are in their nineties or more seem able to do – my possibly volunteering to aid others at a time like this  But, we all age differently I remind myself and I am where I am, so adjust and adapt to my body’s dictates, continuing to value my sleek blue cane companion. 

TAXES
I’m pleased we have a reprieve until July 15 for filing our federal income taxes.  Our state income taxes previously extended to June have now been aligned with the federal July date for submission both of which I must complete.   I don’t lack for ways to occupy my time while this stay at home order prevails. 

FAMILY
My children and I keep in contact across the country now that I have internet connections again.   I’m relieved they are able to work from their homes, one independently, the other whose company supports doing so, a grandchild in pharmaceutical graduate school studying at home now -- required necessary lab work postponed until a future semester -- meanwhile part time work in a pharmacy causes me to hope grandchild has access to protective items available for use.  Other elementary school grandchildren are adapting to being home all the time – as are their parents.  I sent them some jigsaw puzzles and a couple hands-on exploratory-type kits.   

COVID 19 PREVENTION
I’m distressed the advance preparation for this Coronavirus has been decidedly negligent at the Federal level.  Clearly this rests at the feet of the highest level of our government despite all the excuses, blaming of others our prevaricating leader utters.  If this isn’t critical to ensuring the security of the American public, I don’t know what is, once again revealing incompetence and betrayal by this President to his oath of office. 

We must focus on weathering the full fury of this infection.   When the disease peak finally passes, there must be an accounting for the negligent preparation, delayed initiation of preventative efforts and even timely production of protective gear and equipment -- not only for our caregivers but ordinary citizens – including the continuing absence of adequate numbers of tests to even establish the presence of the virus. 

DENIERS
I’m constantly amazed at the attitude of a longtime friend (age 89) who has been an ardent supporter of our current national ruling regime.   She is angry and resents being told we are being confined to our homes.   In fact, she took no responsibility for her own behavior, making a point of walking about many stores the day before the request to stay home had to be made an order.   She has perceived the threats of this virus as being overblown echoing our nation’s leader, but now resents being unable to go about her life as usual.  A cult-like mentality willing to engage in self-destruction seems to prevail with some, lacking in critical thinking, or understanding of even basic science.  They can jeopardize their own lives if they choose, but, unfortunately, all of us are affected.

She demonstrates no effort at her workstation to provide protective germ-killing cleaning between clients.  Many of her clients have cancelled appointments as I have done.  She lauds  this government’s actions confronting the viruses danger, excuses all the obvious previous shortcomings and never seems to mind all the blatant lies told by our leader – some actually contradicted by the facts -- such as everybody could get a Coronavirus test, and ignores respected scientific experts having to clarify a certain medication was not yet proved to be a safe, effective treatment for the virus contrary to our leader’s assertions.

Just because our self-proclaimed genius leader said he “feels” use is supported to counter the virus because he knows he’s been right about so many things does not make it so.  Who can believe these bizarre pronouncements, respect such a person, or want to follow this kind of leader? 

The debt this nation will incur to aid our citizens, as we should,  results in this leader  successfully leading our nation toward incredible deficits  --  which, coincidentally is what he  accomplished most in his own personal business career – multiple bankruptcies.  What would revelations from his hidden tax returns show?      

BIRD WORLD
Big Bear Bald Eagles finally gave up expecting their eggs would hatch and left them overnight during the time I was without Internet service.  Reports are that the ravens moved in and ate the eggs contents.   Jackie and Shadow, the parental eagles, have surprised everyone by bringing more twigs and fluff to the nest.  This leaves researchers studying them wondering if they’re planning to lay some more eggs this late in the spring, or are they just indicating an intention to remain a pair who will return to raise a family next season?   

Heard on the news the past afternoon that the Big Bear mayor has tested positive for COVID 19.  So, the mountain elevations are no hinderance to the virus activity,

PPE
We continue to have a drastic shortage of personal protective items, masks and gowns especially critical for our health care providers.   A continuing need for equipment, especially ventilators, is ongoing.  It is just incredible to me that only today do I hear our nation’s leader finally announcing he’s ordering release of some additional masks for our health care workers.

Reports I read earlier stated many stored reserve masks dates indicate some have expired.  You can read about the implications on this 3M worker safety website and on this Business Insider website specifically addressing the n95 face mask. 

Doctors and Nurses report on TV they’re running out of protective gear such as masks, gowns, goggles, are pleading for more if community has any they can donate.

GOOD NEWS
FDA has approved the first rapid response test offering results within hours instead of days NPR reports. 

L. A. area Long Beach Community Hospital is being reopened adding more beds to be available for Coronavirus patients. 

St. Vincent Medical Center is reopening with more beds for Coronavirus patients.

L.A. County Sheraton Fairplex Hotel near where I live is making their 244 rooms available to quarantined Coronavirus patients.

I perceive our state’s Governor Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Garcetti initiating meaningful preventative actions to address issues here, contrary to the often foot-dragging reactive actions that have prevailed at the national level.  Given that California has the fifth largest economy in the world and a large population the challenges here are not small. 

Frequent press conferences independent of each other from our Governor and the L.A. Mayor inform us of the truth and reality of our dynamic constantly changing situation as they take a pro-active approach to our problems.  They provide needed information that I experience as offering an expectation they are doing what can best be done, adjusting and adapting as circumstances dictate. 

I am prepared for the situation to become worse before it gets better but may not be as bad as it could be if our citizens cooperate with the guidelines we’ve been given as our responsibility.  I have hope and look forward to our future. 

Sunday, March 15, 2020

SURREAL WORLD -- COVID 19 -- SOCIALIZING

Up Date:

Faced with mounting coronavirus infections, California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday issued sweeping new restrictions in California, calling for home isolation of everyone in the state over age 65, the high-risk population group.

*****
A surreal world we’re living in now, or that’s how it feels to me.   The world as I have known it all my life keeps being shaken, turned upside down, slammed around a bit.   As if the bizarre past four years haven’t been weird enough with our nation’s government, plus the weather and environmental changes we’ve experienced, now viral microbes have launched one of their own in an attempt to dominate humankind once again – remember SARS, or the Hong Kong flu in recent years? 

This Coronavirus is a viral microbe sweeping the world, referred to as COVID 19.  Much is still unknown about this virus believed to live from hours to days depending on the surface, but scientists are still determining those timelines.  We humans come to know these microbes when we feel ill, then seek a cure and our doctors remind us antibiotics cannot be prescribed because they are ineffective.  

These viral microbes each require their own unique medication to prevent their taking control of our bodies.  Unfortunately, those medications can only be created after each new virus emerges with scientists racing against time to develop the unknown solutions capable of stemming their assault.   Microbiology Society reports:

“Viruses are the smallest of all the microbes.  They are said to be so small that 500 million rhinoviruses (which cause the common cold) could fit on to the head of a pin.  They are unique because they are only alive and able to multiply inside the cells of other living things.” 
New images of the novel coronavirus have been released by The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in the U.S. NIAID produced the images by scanning and transmission electron microscope. Previously, researchers from the University of Hong Kong posted a thin-section of electron micrographs of the coronavirus.

Disgracefully our nation has been quite unprepared to combat this virus.  Few people in our country have had tests available to determine if they have the virus,  quite unlike nations in much of the rest of the world including Europe, Korea.   Our government seems to have had more of a reactive posture rather than a preventative stance despite the forewarning of what occurred in China long before anyone in the U.S. was identified with the virus.   Science and medical experts’ information about this infection -- more deadly than the flu and more contagious -- has generally been disregarded by this Administration with the serious potential effects on American citizens minimized.  

This current Administration has been more concerned with managing the dissemination of information about the virus, that has included falsehoods, misleading data or none at all, and lots of our President’s flourishing blarney talk, often contrary to known facts.  Only now has our President appeared to give credence to the serious potential the coronavirus has for our population and even himself, much less the people he encounters.  He has, at least, finally had a test which revealed he presently does not have the virus and none of the symptoms. 
    
We can thank a few government spokespeople who have reported many of the Coronavirus facts for keeping us accurately informed, contrary to our President’s ballyhoo and outright lies.  What’s disgraceful or worse is that virtually so many others in his administration have not had the courage to speak the truth even as some of them have self-identified as having been exposed to the virus.  Fortunately, responsible members of our press are continuing to report to us the truth of our Coronavirus situation.

I recently learned the first death from the coronavirus in Los Angeles County that I kept hearing talked about on the news has occurred much closer than I had known – at my local hospital, one where I once provided therapy services, in a city adjacent to my own.   National news had been reporting for several days about a 60 year-old woman who was first treated for cardiac arrest, then died, only later to be identified as the first person in Los Angeles County confirmed to have died from the Coronavirus.   

Updated information in my cities current Claremont Courier weekly newspaper has revealed more specifics.   She had been visiting in another nearby town where she received emergency treatment prior to being transported to the hospital.  Her husband followed, where he then
“....disclosed the patient’s travel history and additional symptoms, and the patient was immediately placed in isolation".  Shortly afterward she died.  Earlier news reports mentioned she had traveled extensively around the world, spending considerable time in Korea before coming to visit California. 

Finally, our President has announced more actions to stop the spread of the Coronavirus in a recent rare White House press conference, rather than in his typical Twitters.   He was joined by private business leaders who described their commitment to combatting this virus with increased activity to develop and make available Coronavirus tests.  As more tests become available, reportedly this will be done in a variety of settings, including at an expanding number of drive-thru sites.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at Los Angeles International Airport have recently seized fake Coronavirus test kits shipped from the United Kingdom.  There are always those willing to try to capitalize on the misfortunes of others.   Illegal price gouging on products in short supply during this time has necessitated law enforcement emphasizing a 10% increase in price is the maximum legally allowed which will be aggressively enforced as some attempt to exploit vulnerable others.

Schools shutting down, sports being cancelled, major concerts cancelled, NYC Broadway shows closed, people being told not to gather in large groups to describe only a few ways in which our lives are being altered.   Meanwhile, people have begun clearing the shelves of almost every product imaginable in many of our grocery stores lest they not be available in the future. 

We have L.A. area restaurants closing, others using unique ways to keep customers feeling comfortable and safe to eat there.   Tables are arranged so patrons of different parties will be seated 6 feet from each other.   Another establishment’s waiters wear gloves they replace with new gloves for each table they touch in serving.   One restaurant requires each patron to have their temperature taken before being allowed to eat there.  If a person refuses, then they simply are refused entrance.  There’s talk now of some food sellers providing carry-out or drive through service only.   

Social distancing is an interesting concept we’re advised to follow.  No more shaking hands,  hugging, and bussing one another on even one or both cheeks in the continental style.   We are advised to stay 6 feet distance from others.   An alternate means of greeting one another is what we need to adopt, but no consistent behavior has yet been adopted by everyone.   Some choose to touch feet.  Others touch elbows.  Both of these violate the 6 feet distance admonition.

Personally, I like the idea of merely tipping my head, much as has always been the custom in some other cultures.  I don’t want to get into a bowing or curtseying regimen either.   What are your ideas or preferences as a safe and acceptable way to greet others?

Sunday, March 08, 2020

LIFE -- COVID 19 -- VOTING -- MCCOY TYNER

My thoughts this week have been primarily focused on practical day-to-day living.   I was reminded of how quickly life’s circumstances can be altered when I somehow twisted an ankle while the knee on my other leg was slightly bent, so not locked to support my continued standing.  So, down I slid onto my tush just inside my front door.  That was the easy part.  Nothing broken.  The challenge came in getting back up.   This I finally managed in time but only after moving further into the house. 

The next few days the body has dictated some accommodations and adaptations are necessary on my part due to aches and pain, especially the first night trying to sleep.   I’ve managed to handle the basic necessities including progressing to doing a couple loads of laundry.  Another day I went to the store.  I welcomed sitting down to drive one of their less than smooth-accelerating hot rod vehicles – even managed to avoid colliding with other shoppers. 

***
Meanwhile, I had plenty of occasion to view all forms of media and tech describing what was happening in the rest of the world.   The Coronavirus has us continuing to play catch-up in dealing with prevention and treatment.  I continue to respect select scientific data and some knowledgeable medical authorities reports in preference to this presidential administration’s political efforts to control and manipulate reality with what can best be described as their “massaging the facts”.   

Here in California our news is filled with periodic accounts of cruise ships filled with passengers stranded on board as tests are made to determine whether or not the Coronavirus is present.  A negative test of an ill passenger will now allow all on a ship offshore in Southern California Long Beach to disembark a day later than when they were scheduled.  Those waiting to board for the next trip had to find overnight accommodations due to their delayed departure – if they’re still going.  Another quarantined cruise ship stranded at sea elsewhere with some passengers testing positive is finally being sent to Northern California’s Oakland for further follow-up.   

Large groups of people around So Cal previously scheduled events continue gathering but inconsistently – some events are cancelled, others move forward, such as the Los Angeles Marathon with thousands of runner participants expected.  Everyone has their rationale and justification as to why their event is either occurring or not and why they may or may not attend.  Clearly there seem to be pretty fluid guidelines defining criteria on how best to conduct our lives in the beginning days of this health issue. 

The availability of tests to detect the Coronavirus has certainly been an overdue factor in aiding our more successfully coping with this health issue.  Meanwhile, we are well-advised to take responsibility for ourselves following prescribed hand-washing techniques and a variety of other recommended behaviors in this U.S. Government Center for Disease Control and Prevention – Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Important to note that older people and individuals with certain medical complications are considered to be at high-risk for contracting the disease as noted by the CDC.

***
A ‘Super Tuesday’ of primary 2020 election voting resulted in narrowing to two front-runner Democratic Party Presidential candidates in the days immediately following – former Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders.    This coming Tuesday another group of states will hold primary elections to define even further Party delegate totals.  The Republican Party’s President Donald Trump is a virtually uncontested candidate as he seeks re-election for another four years.  

Los Angeles County voting was problematic as a new system using touch screen technology that prints a paper ballot for verification was introduced.  There were numerous voting sites where people had to stand in long lines for hours and hours with some not finished until midnight.  Machines didn’t work in some sites accounting for some of the problems.   Officials are challenged now to ensure the issues are all resolved when we vote in November’s 2020 Presidential election.   

*** 
The jazz world will miss McCoy Tyner who died Friday, March 6, 2020 at his home in New Jersey.  Here’s a solo piano performance of John Coltrane’s Giant Steps, by McCoy Tyner, 1996, Hamburg.



NPR (click for link) provides an extensive obituary beginning with this description:

 “McCoy Tyner, a pianist whose deep resonance, hammering attack and sublime harmonic invention made him a game-changing catalyst in jazz and beyond.”

You can also stream NPR’s In Memoriam Playlist on that site.  

Sunday, March 01, 2020

PREPAREDNESS -- BB EAGLE EGGS -- RESOLUTION

PREPAREDNESS
Expect we’re all paying mind to issues associated with the Coronavirus including recommended care we each should take so I won’t repeat instructions here.  This is a dynamic situation with potential changes daily to be expected. 

I believe there are knowledgeable individuals we can trust including credible press who will keep us all informed as to the science and facts associated with the status of this virus in the U.S. -- whether or not some government officials not known for their belief in science or veracity attempt to control information distribution otherwise. 

Mostly I’m approaching this pretty much as I have with my earthquake emergency preparedness though there are some differences.  Importantly, we must remain calm, rational and not panic. 

***
Big Bear Bald Eagle eggs did not hatch so no eaglets this year.

***
HANGIN’ FIRE ISSUES RESOLVED
Don’t you love the feeling when you’ve resolved some issue that has been ‘hangin’ fire’, so to speak.   I recently received an email from a gal who had been in a writing group with me several years ago.  In a few brief words I was asked to please review a large attachment she sent.  I had reason to be surprised she would send me this request plus the attachment was on an unfamiliar-to-me formal business-looking form I’d never seen before.  A net search revealed such a business site, but I was uneasy about opening the attachment.      

I recalled encouraging her to publish a book of her flash fiction short-short stories that always ended with an unexpected twist our group really enjoyed.  Maybe she had written a few more tales, wanted me to review them before submitting for publication.  But I still had a niggling little feeling of unease about this attachment so decided to follow my gut’s dictates to not click to open.

I thought I’d try to contact the writer to verify the email actually was from her, but this was easier said than done since our group never exchanged phone numbers and communicated only by email, plus the other members had either moved away or died.  I’ll spare you the gory details of all the time and effort I expended in this effort, encountering repeated dead-ends in the process.   

I’d decided to just let it go and if she didn’t hear from me, maybe she’d contact me.  But then the matter would cross my mind again and I’d think of something else to try. I kept feeling like this was unfinished business hanging over me and I wanted to simply wrap it up.  But I finally decided to put it on hold for a while.

Just as I had put that issue on my mental back burner I received an email from a prominent national department store thanking me for purchases pictured with an accompanying receipt – a scarf and 3 pairs of sheer thigh high hosiery of a type these legs of mine now weren’t likely to be wearing any more.   Subsequently, I received several more emails from the store inviting me to sign up (requiring I reveal personal information I expect) to a special club they have, telling me about all their other related stores including some with bargains and a $40 bonus for future purchases. 

Immediately, I’m thinking a phishing expedition since I hadn’t made these in-store purchases in NYC.    In the event this could be the beginning of a fraud, I  forwarded those emails with a brief explanation to the store.   Chat and other exchanges the next few days finally resolved the matter when I noticed on the receipt copy sent to me that they had an email address for the purchaser with an additional repetitive alphabet letter different from my email address.  Either the store or the email provider mis-sent these notices to me. 

Years ago, something similar had happened several times when I received emails meant for some other person but who had a slightly different username and address.  I was finally comfortable this was resolved with no harm done, but I was reminded of my other unresolved email issue.

So,  I searched again on the net, came across what I thought was my former writers group member’s name, but in a nearby city – not where she had lived in my town.  I took a chance, phoned, and the man answering insisted no one by that name there.  I pressed, did he know of anyone by that name elsewhere, mentioned the writing group and instantly he said, “Just a minute.”   Next thing I knew I was talking to her.  Her email had been hacked.  She thought she’d contacted everyone to not click on the attachment.  I was relieved to wrap-up that issue and that I had avoided malware on my computer.   

I’m glad to have resolved these matters once and for all avoiding possible complications.   Feels so good!   

Have you encountered  similar computer complications or matters you resolved leaving you feeling a sense of relief?