Waving the flag of surrender with my inbox

[rthstewart]

So for those who have followed me for awhile, you know that I work in the greater DC area and in food and drug regulation and policy.  There was my life prior to March 6 where I was sending cheery emails to clients about going to lunch at the Blue Duck Tavern and getting ready for big presentations on pharmaceutical supply chain regulation and logistics, drug importation, and cannabis. 

And then it hit.  Every day is wrestling with new problems, new urgencies, and conference calls.  So many conference calls with those trying to get food, drugs, and medical products to patients and healthcare professionals.  Invoking force majeure in contracts and helping clients cancel their events and conferences and hoping that the hotels won't be dicks about it and that insurers will pay up when someone actually had the foresight to get event cancellation insurance with a pandemic disease rider.  (And really?  You really think we're going to be able to hold an event at your facility in May when the Army Corps is building a hospital there?  REALLY?) And I'm not on the healthcare delivery side -- which is as grim as you would expect for those advising hospitals and clinics. 

Masks.  So many masks and everyone trying to get them.  As I've typed this, 3 emails on masks on a Saturday morning and I've already had one conference call.  Every night, about 11 PM, I bundle up the day's COVID events and send them out. 

If any of you need information on SBA, payroll protection, and some of the other things in the most recent CARES Act, let me know via email and I can send what I've got. 

Anyway, this is to say that I'm sorry I haven't been there to read your own posts and comments.  With my inbox at over 300 unread DW notifications and about 1,000 posts to the three sentence ficathon, I've given up.  I love you all and wish you all health and safety most of all. 

There are no days anymore, just yesterday, today and tomorrow.  There are only 3 parts to my day, caffeine, workout, alcohol. 

We're fine, so far, though our county has over 500 cases so far.  Periodically, my allergies really bother me and I panic but when they disappear after 2 diphenhydramine tablets, so I know it's just trees having sex.  I got pretty hysterical last night when I couldn't get my microphone to work to play D&D.  Damn it, it works for Skype, Zoom, GoTo Meeting, and Elevate.  WHY WON'T IT WORK WHEN I WANT TO PLAY?

I have noticed a lot of guest readers to my fic and a few comments.  Thanks so much to those that are reading.  It means the world to me when I'm on my 6th conference call of the day and hearing about the dire condition of the med-surg supply chain to see a notification of a comment pop up.  Thank you.  I've found I'm reading my own fics for comfort late at night when I can't sleep because of a shipment of KN95 masks being held up in Anchorage.  Which, arrogant, sure, but that's the way it is right now.  There is yesterday, there is today, and there is tomorrow.  Time to get back to work.

Love you all,
Ruth

Comments

[oracne]

I hope you are able to get a little break this weekend. That kind of endless stress can't be good for you.

[rthstewart]

Thanks so much for stopping by. We got some of the masks in! There's still a big box sitting in Anchorage. Maybe tomorrow.

I can't get my computer camera to work for D&D, aargh

[jjhunter]

Love you too, Ruth. You are one of the people bringing everyday joy to my life; thank you. Do what you need to do to take good care of yourself.

Warm regards,
J.J.

Re: I can't get my computer camera to work for D&D, aargh

[rthstewart]

Oh thank you, J.J. I feel the same about you.

[branchandroot]

*offers virtual hugs and passes over the whiskey* I so hear you about the vid-calls. So. Many.

[rthstewart]

I HATE them. You actually have to pretend you're alert and paying attention THE WHOLE TIME

[gingicat]

Wow, that's amazing. Thank you for being one of the many taking care of us.

[rthstewart]

Today was one of those days where I didn't feel like I was doing anything. And trying to figure out how to beat back the AWFUL Kushner slim suited consultants who think they know more than the professionals. They have such disdain for professional expertise and those lanyard wearing civil servants. And I see some of my clients getting maligned on Twitter -- oh look, it's THEIR airplane with hijacked medical supplies! and... I know that's not the truth. it's awful. This administration is garbage.

[yalumesse]

I'm sorry you're so horribly overworked, and I know it's weird to say I'm proud of you but I am PROUD. You're amazing. Take care of yourself <3

[rthstewart]

thank you so much my friend. I ALWAYS love seeing you and Peggy in her red hat.

[yalumesse]

<3 Guess that settles the "is my icon in need of a change" question ;)

[corvidology]

I'm sorry you're so stressed out and hope things slack off for you. ♥

I also wanted to say thank you for being part of the effort to get things right.

[rthstewart]

Not enough. Today was not a good day. Ugh. Just sent out my Daily COVID Report. It's unrelenting. I mean, it's good in a way, to so many people trying to get into the marketplace to fill patient and healthcare needs. I mean, it's AWESOME that distilleries and cosmetics companies are trying to make hand sanitizer and that people are shipping every ventilator mask from China they get their hands on. But... there's a way this stuff is all supposed to be approved and reviewed. And I believe in regulation to keep people safe. With medicine, it shouldn't be buyer beware. And now, if someone gets hurt? There's no way to track that in a meaningful way. When this is all over, some things might be really broken that shouldn't have been.

[autumnia]

Sending hugs and good thoughts your way!!! And I hope you'll find some time for yourself in the midst of all this chaos.

[rthstewart]

you too. Our new infections have maybe been dropping in the state? A little? We should start seeing the benefits of social distancing. I hope. Stay safe.

[petra]

Thank you for doing what you do. I hope you get some breathing room soon.

[rthstewart]

Not today, alas. Every day a fresh new horror. God damn this administration is horrible.

[petra]

Just don't start answering the phone with a verbal "What fresh hell is this?" and you'll be doing great. *Hugs*

[rthstewart]

I mean... on the one hand all these import people shouldn't be getting this into the U.S. at all. It's got to be labeled right, manufactured to certain specifications, there are controls and requirements on even things like surgical masks because that's what the FDA does, you know? It's not supposed to be easy. It's supposed to protect people and maybe you can't get hurt by a toothbrush but, then again, we don't want toothbrushes being made in places infested with rodent droppings or microbial contamination, right? We want to be able to know who is manufacturing and marketing stuff we put in and on our bodies. This isn't buyer bewar. So the fact that some nursing home in Washington State is just purchasing stuff from god knows where and it's sitting on a dock at the port of entry while an FDA inspector tries to figure out what the hell it is and where it came from is a GOOD thing. but.... people are dying... by the minute. and the longer it sits, the more people die. The stuff needs to move and well if the cure is worse than the disease.. oh wait, we'll never know, will we, if a deficient mask or hand santifizer made by a distillery or a bath bomb company kills a patient or a healthcare worker because there's no tracing at this point. Something is better than nothing. A bandana is better than nothing if there is nothing. They need this stuff, even if it is non compliant and even if there is no assurance that it will do what it purports to do because there are no other options. I hate that I'm complicit in undermining the safety of our medical products and their legitimate supply chain. But what else is there?

[petra]

What a terrible dilemma you're facing. It seems like anything has to be better than nothing, but a whole bunch of imported metaphorical bandanas have their own risks, none of which are remotely trackable with things the way they are. Yes, it's all a hell of a mess.

Thank you, again, for doing what you do.

[beatrice_otter]

Take care of yourself, and thank you for doing important work.

[rthstewart]

thank you. you too.

[cofax7]

Thank you for doing good work, and make sure you take care of yourself!

[rthstewart]

I hate this administration so much. Honest to god, the name Kushner and his slim suits... really? I actually heard that today. In the vain of, well, they only want to deal with the CEOs of the big companies and they don't care about your regular customers and patients. They are going to Take It All because they think they know better than the professionals. They are as awful as everything you've read or imagined.

[cofax7]

These people, and the people who enable them. I just... there aren't words enough for what they deserve. So much blood on their hands, for money, for praise, for power. While my friend's father dies in the hospital alone. I hate them so much.

[rthstewart]

I am so sorry. It's so awful.

[st_aurafina]

There are no days anymore, just yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Oh, man, do I ever feel this.


<3 Fistbump of frontline solidarity. Hang in there.

[rthstewart]

hang in there too. stay safe I didn't even have alcohol today. that's obviously a problem.

[sewn]

Wishing you strength during this incredibly stressful time.

[rthstewart]

and to you. Stay safe.

[adaeze]

Take care of yourself.

[rthstewart]

You too. At least I don't have a toddler and am not trying to teach school and work 14-16 hours a day.

[loveandrockmusic]

Sending you all my love; things sound absolutely horrid and I'm sure it's much worse than you'll say in a post. Carry on my friend, you are amazing. xo

[rthstewart]

I've been SO WORRIED ABOUT YOU. I hope you and your family are safe and OK.