COVID Ordeal Challenges While Living in Airbnb + Art in Durham

It got me... Two and a half years... Working in hospitals for over a year during the pandemic, I was vigilant protecting myself, but it finally got me. I first started having a sore throat, two days later progressing to a deep bronchial cough, mostly unilateral. The COVID home test resulted negative on day one, so I thought it was just a cold that it transitioning to bronchitis, but decided to go to the Urgent Care regardless. This was the only other option except going to the ER, which would have cost me a nice chunk of money, even with insurance. The challenge of living away from the home state is that I don't have my regular doctor around here, nor do I want to have one.

At the Urgent care, I requested a flu, strep and COVID tests. I was really surprised when the PA said I was positive for COVID. She prescribed me an inhaler, just in case and sent me on my way to isolate for 5 days. Gosh, I remember when isolation was 14 days!

The worst symptoms lasted only 2 days as I continued my steam breathing treatments. The last day of quarantine was two days ago, and while I am back at the gym, I will take it easy for a week to recover. I am so glad to have been vaccinated as I am back on the trails hiking 3 miles to start.

Rainy weather

I continue getting occasional tasty meals from my host. I asked her if she would make those delicious blueberry muffins if I gathered berries from the bushes. She said she would! With the muffins came a full dinner. A few days later, she stopped by with a tasty mozzarella fold served on spicy pretzels. Who thinks to serve something like that on pretzels?! Needless to say, while I froze a few muffins for future use, the meals are gone.

My work trip disappointingly was canceled as my team did not feel comfortable with me attending the retreat in person even though I would have been well beyond any required quarantine. I was really looking forward to it, but I had no say here.

On a good note, now that I am out of my quarantine, I visited 21cMuseumHotel in Durham with a really unique art exhibit that I believe correctly represents our current divided state of living in the US.

The museum also had a few other pieced I liked, including a bank vault in the basement!

Finally, Kitty stays by my side, always! Love all around here!