The Stages of a Global Pandemic

 The Stages of a Global Pandemic

I chose this source since it sort of explains the World Health Organization 

6 stages: https://www.verywellhealth.com/understanding-a-pandemic-2615488

Just Google "stages of a pandemic" and you will find more than a few ideas ranging from 4 to 8 stages and lots of curves to graphically detail the stages.

Phases of a Pandemic

The Centers Disease for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently has Pandemic Intervals Framework (PIF) in place for tracking the phases of an influenza pandemic. That framework is being applied to COVID-19.

Phase 1: Investigation Interval

A new type of virus is identified and investigated—in animals or humans anywhere in the world—that is thought to have implications for human health.

Phase 2: Recognition Interval

Increased cases, or clusters of cases, are identified, along with an increased potential for person-to-person transmission.

Phase 3: Initiation Interval

Cases of the virus are confirmed with both efficient and sustained person-to-person transmission.

Phase 4: Acceleration Interval

The new virus infects susceptible people. Public health officials may take measures such as closing schools, encouraging social distancing, and offering antivirals or vaccines—if available.

Phase 5: Deceleration Interval

There is a consistently decreasing rate of cases in the United States.

Phase 6: Preparation Interval

Even after the pandemic has subsided, public health officials continue to monitor the virus and brace for another wave of illness.

I know, after reading this your thinking like me "well I have experienced a whole other level of stages during the last year and a half". I am sure politics have always been present in the response to any previous pandemic, but not on the scale we all have experienced with this one. Is this somehow related to Climate Change that is spiraling out of control? Politics run deep on that issue as well.

Our personal Stages: 

Phase 1. Crap, there is another virus spreading around, they will get this under control in the next 3 months and we can resume normal life.

Phase 2. We have got to get out of here and find somewhere safe till this blows over.

Phase 3 Holy Moley, this thing is going to last a year or so, we going to have to find a more permanent place to live.

Phase 4. Remodel and move in to the old homestead, buy a bed and other stuff.

Phase 5. Living with it. Every  person for themselves. 

Phase 6. Never returning to 2019 Normal. Everyone is speculating on the new normal due to the fact that we may never reach herd immunity.

Part of divorcing from cable service years ago, the inside air antenna was not strong enough.

Our weekday walks continues rain or shin.

The garden starts producing puonds of food daily.

Green Beans, Spinach and squash fills the plates.

Okra on its way

All the family and every neighbor gets some cucumbers

Cilantro for everyone who will take it including the random person walking by.

The watermelon and Cantaloupe maneuvering for space

Guardian 

Rain took care of the watering for April and May  but this was the storm that brought Tropical force strength wind and rain. I looked out the window and it was raining so hard I could not see the street, The only time I experienced a rain this hard was during Hurricane Carla, a tropical storm in Corpus Christi and a freak thunderstorm when we were at anchor in Florida with straight line winds.

This low tech rain gauge measured around 11" for May, but the official Austin rain was over 12"

We discovered that the big bubble solution does a lot better when it is very humid, and just as good in the rain.

Can you identify this little green grasshopper?

The water in May is just warm enough in May to take a short dip.

The hose was abruptly turned off in June and feels like 100 degrees fills in. We almost never even thought about turning on our AC till June.

Or some days are a true 100

 

We keep in touch with  the Latest from New York via our first Grandchild Ella

A huge tree between us and our neighbors house fell down in the storm, It was obviously rotting from the inside out, Luckily it fell to the ground without crashing into either home.

This Ligustrum grew into a tree, it has to go.

This is the same type tree that fell over, with a huge canopy over our roof that blew down in the storm, it has a questionable trunk and we do not want to risk it crashing in the roof so it has to go.

This hackberry also has a hollow trunk and its hanging over our shed, it is gonna go as well.

 Our lawn guy is a great tree person as well so he removed three trees that were concerning, Thank you Juan of F&s Lawn Services!

Taken before the tropical storm blew through

These are Leftfooted bug nymphs

Leftfooted bugs like Sun Flowers

A soaked sunflower after the tropical storm

In June we had to start watering everything, The City of Austin is happy to notify us of any excess as a result of our neighborhood being first in Austin to get the Smart Water Meters

The Admiral gets to drive her Granddaughters 79' Scout, Thanks Liv!

Ever wonder how they extrude rain gutters to the exact length on site?

They use a machine like this, you can see the roll of sheet metal that is feed into the shapping machine and then they just cut it so the desired length.

A real adventure for us, we drove over to the new Q2 Austin FC Soccer Stadium to take some pics.

Clara took us to see the water fall in their neighborhood creek.

The Garden is a commitment, you eat a lot of produce with every meal, at least I'm getting some chicken with it this time.

Another trip to Ft. Worth to help Big Dave, he has a new poster in his hobby shop.

There is always something new going on in Big Daves Shop.

Our 6 long time neighbors, any passer by, sons family, daughters family help consume the Garden harvest.

But on Fathers Day our neighbors, the Mendozas,  across the street return the favor big time,

Delia's Tamales fresh up from San Antonio!

And then Humberto from Alens house shows up at our door with a freshly cooked fajita plate!

Not concerned with the Stages But really likes hanging out with Peacocks

The first summer we were here, 2020, we seemed to reacclimate to the Central Texas heat. However the second half of June 2021 has not only brought hot temps but also high humidity, the kind that we experienced when we lived in Corpus Christi. At the time, Corpus Christi was third in the nation in high humidity, Houston was second, and I never thought anything could be worse than Houstons' humidity.