Category Archives: Journal of A Plague Year

HOSPITALS WEIGH DO-NOT-RESUSCITATE POLICY FOR CORONAVIRUS PATIENTS: The Washington Post recently reported that Northwestern Memorial Hospital is among medical centers considering a do-not-resuscitate policy for COVID-19 patients, “regardless of the wishes of the patient or their family members.”

CVH tells me that today’s coronavirus government briefing will start with some age-appropriate videos. First they’ll have a video for small children, explaining what’s going on with this virus situation. Then there will be a video for older kids,” she … Continue reading →

Tonight, CVH wanted to watch The Thing (1982 Carpenter version). As you may recall, the story is about a group of men essentially on lockdown. They fail to practice appropriate social distancing, and as a consequence, risk spreading a contagion … Continue reading →

One bright spot in this dreary lockdown is that the Met is streaming free operas everyday. They have selected some notable productions from recent live broadcasts. “Notable”, in this context, is not necessarily the same as “finest”. Nonetheless, this week … Continue reading →

Like most states, the Kentucky governor has ordered all in-person retail businesses that are not life sustaining to close.  We can still get take out.  For now.  By the way, liquor stores are considered “life-sustaining”; there’s only so much even … Continue reading →

“Out of bay leaves!” CVH exclaimed. “Can we go find some? The Indian grocery, perhaps?” “I suppose. I’m about out of Horlicks, anyway.” The store had bay leaves and Horlicks, all right, but the rest of the strip center was … Continue reading →

Oddly, one thing that hasn’t slowed down since the beginning of this crisis are the telemarketing scams. Our phone continues to ring all day long. I mean, are they still trying to give us a free cruise?

These days, I feel sorry for people in the Sun Belt. This time of year, they are used to getting out and having fun and doing things and being with people. But that cannot happen in a Plague Year. On … Continue reading →

Grocery shopping these days is like it was for Martha in The Americans. CVH was able to get a chicken, some fish, hot dogs, and ground pork today. The view at our local Kroger yesterday morning, well before sunrise. So … Continue reading →

Being Houstonians, we are naturally prepared for a temporary interruption in American life: a week’s worth of canned goods, an extra propane tank, a solar powered radio – but this is different. I don’t know if CVH didn’t accept my … Continue reading →