Wayne Gray

Awwwww ... She was amazing. But you're right ... what a life!

A huge part of my job currently is making sure that isn't the case for our patients. I am in charge of our testing supplies, interfacing with the state for allotments, tracking tests performed so our supplies are replaced, researching alternatives when our current supply runs out (the state warned us we need to switch testing methods a few weeks back due to declining stock), researching their limits (negative and positive predictive value, or false positive false negative %) and training staff on new tests as soon as I teach myself how to do them. This is now at least 30% of my job. It's not easy. But doing it means we can get someone tested the same day. We're lucky that my organization has deemed this effort worth allotting my time to do. Every organization doesn't have the staffing or connections baked into what is at my disposal. I'm not special - anybody could make this work if given the resources to do so. But again, a lot of places just don't have the staff and/or training required to make it happen.

Finding asymptomatic carriers is important. But without timely testing, it's really almost useless.

These are antigen tests ... the BD Veritor. Meaning they have to detect actual chunks of virus to be positive, and viral shedding varies a lot, even if someone has the virus. That's the reason for the disclaimer. This means, if someone is symptomatic, and has a negative antigen test, we still treat them as positive until we run what's called a PCR (polymerase chain reaction). That test is FAR more accurate AND precise. It is considered the gold standard. Had you been positive on the antigen test and symptomatic, we wouldn't run the confirmatory test. It sounds like they've collected for their own version of the PCR test, so you should hear back soon (depending on the backlog). The reason for running the antigen tests even with such limitations is two fold - speed and the fact that symptomatic+positive means not having to perform a far more expensive PCR test. They have their uses. Way better when the PCR can be resulted the same day to back up the results, though. Good luck and rest.

Awesome. More ammunition for my kbois-based character! Some of the things that happen to you sound utterly made up, and I love it. 😛

Kitt, weird things happened to those I followed, and to my notifications recently. All without anybody doing anything. So I think it's more likely there's a "ghost" in the machine at work.

I think it'd make a good kids book. That'd be pretty cool. I do think you're right. Acceptance is the key to almost everything good, and that's what it'll take to see a better world. My part in that is to write, provide examples of how things could be, and try to help others see it. Someday. Thanks for reading and for the nice comment!

Thanks for the great comment, Chris. And it's all right if you're late to the party; it's still here to be read! 🙂 Oh, I guess you're right about Mia! Chad and Mia have a healthy baby girl, and they plan on having another baby down the line. They make great parents. Paul undoubtedly saved Corbin's life. And along the way, he snared his heart too. I like how this one turned out, and I appreciate the time you spent reading it. Now, if you want to switch gears a bit, start on Camp Refuge. Eventually you'll see characters from this story there too, though not for quite a while. And that story is not a suspense/mystery. But I hope you enjoy it anyway.

Merry Early Christmas to all those who celebrate. We're hosting a couple we know this year, and I somehow became the guy cooking? I am still unsure how that happened. Regardless, the menu is: Beef Tenderloin with a spicy, umami, slightly sweet rub, mashed parsnips & potatoes, puff pastry brie cups with my husband's homemade apple chutney, and various finger foods. Eggnog with brandy too, of course. I've done as much as I can today to prep, and now we just have some cleaning to do. Bring on the morrow!

I heard about this story, and it's so cute.

I'm with Kitt. Bailey's Irish Cream cheese cake, and wash it down with eggnog! 😄

Thanks, Reader! We're fine. Kevin was working, and he didn't even feel it. Crazy. hehehe

Thanks, kbois! Yeah, earthquakes are just a thing here. Gotta learn to live with them.

Thanks for asking, spyke. We're doing okay here. We had some stores lose windows, and some chimneys came down on a few neighborhood homes, but nobody got seriously injured. The most damage happened to one of the local casinos. They lost the lobby ceiling, and their main water line burst. So the place got flooded, and had to be closed immediately. It's blind luck nobody was seriously hurt. Our little house is fine. It has been here since 1940, and I think the place will still be here after we're gone. 🙂

I live in Humboldt County California. I can get the "secret ingredient" anytime I want. I'm way more interested in chocolate. 😛

My husband brought home hippie granola bars. But ... they had CHUNKS of dark chocolate in them. So I swung from happy when I first saw the box, to disappointed upon learning the Flower Children had made them, to happy again when I realized they had dark chocolate in them. Nothing against hippies. Not now that I know they use chocolate.

You lot can do what you wish. I have a cliff to ... err ... a story to write!

I'm not sure why I was even in the running. I'd never leave readers teetering on a cliff!

Yep, they're working fine now. Thanks for checking.

Hahaha ... I don't know HOW I missed this! Maybe my notification issues I'd been dealing with (fixed now). I'm well into chapter six of this latest one, and it's just ... well. It's this sweet and confusing (for the characters) opportunity for growth. How that looks is different, though. It's not the same for all the characters, just as it's not for us. The Hazards of Love is just such a perfect title. Because yes, there are many hazards on the path to love. But ... god. What a payoff.

Listen to your husband, Fae. I know you're trying, and that's good. I put "love" on the reaction because you've got SP there reminding you that it will work out. Treat yourself somehow. Dessert, or a hot tub, or just binge a funny show. Do something you'd otherwise consider an indulgence. It'll help.

I'd think that'd be a powerful argument to getting your stone removed. I know the variant has done a number on the systems there, but damn. Good luck, Chris.

I experience a sliver of what you do. But it's enough; a glimpse of the dark is plenty enough. During those times for me, I crawl in on myself and hide, so it makes me respect that you go on. That you function, and work, and cook, and survive in spite of it. I know it's hard in the moment to remember that you're loved. But you are. Whenever you reach out, you'll find a hand to hold. Good poem, tim. xo

That was like ... dad joke level. Nice. 😛

I'm getting notifications again. Unfollowing/following everyone seems to have fixed it. Good morning, all. @chris191070, man I'm sorry your procedure is getting bumped back so much. I hope something changes sooner than later.