The good news: I had a phenomenal time with BoyGeeding and DaughterGeeding in Washington DC.
The bad news: I tested positive for COVID on Saturday, the day after we returned. I didn’t feel any symptoms until the evening we returned. From that aspect, the timing of it worked out for my benefit, but I hope I didn’t infect any others. I took two tests just to rule out a false-positive. Despite being vaxed and double-boosted, it still got me. DaughterGeeding tested negative, but BoyGeeding also tested positive.
Duing the summer, I have a week-on/week-off possession schedule regarding our children. The swap happens on Sunday evenings. As soon as I found out the COVID-19 test results on Saturday, I did the responsible thing and communicated them through our court-mandated messaging app. Since BoyGeeding is also positive and DaughterGeeding is exposed, In terms of what to do with the kids, I thought the most reasonable, logical, and rational thing to do is for me to keep the kids for five days and return them after a negative test result, per the CDC. But, when dealing with an ex-spouse, you have to set your expectations to a low level you never imagined, and be prepared for them to demand the least reasonable, logical, and rational thing. And, thankfully, I did, because that’s exactly what happened. No matter what, she didn’t want me to have an additional time with them, even if it meant I’d swap or exchange days for the ones they were forced to stay with me. However, she was nice enough to reach out and see if she could pick up and drop off anything for me.
I’m glad when the government first made tests free by mail I requested four of them. They sure came in handy and it was nice having them on hand and not having to track them down.
As you can see, DaughterGeeding administered the tests. Yes, her brother allowed and trusted her to stick that swap far up both nostrils.
As for symptoms, my largest complaint is coughing up phlegm because it hurts like a mutha. I’m using Mucinex to help alleviate that problem. I still have my senses of taste and smell, but other than headaches and body aches, I tire easily and quickly.
My appetite sure hasn’t been affected.
I really think DogGeedingII has COVID-19 as well. He’s never been this sick or eaten and drunk so little.
One of the best decisions I ever made was to get a massage the day before the trip. It took care of any stiffness I had in my back and my back felt great the entire week. However, during our first night in DC, I could feel a sharp pain developing in my right hip. It got so bad, by the time I woke up, I could no longer walk unassisted and had to buy a cane to get around for the first two days. Just to be on the safe side, I had it checked out to rule out a blood clot. If something were to happen, I have some great friends and coworkers in the area. The first day of the trip was the one in which we took the most steps, over 21,000. Most of that was at Arlington National Cemetary. Yup, I hobbled all around that beautiful vast area on a cane. Thankfully, I only needed the cane for another day and a half.
I suppose one of the best surprises was that most of the monuments were bigger and grander than the kids expected, which surprised me. In the world they live in, in which their attention is being fought for every second, I thought they would be unimpressed seeing the real thing, but it was the exact opposite.
It was a bit strange to see all the greenery there, and all the dried yellow and brown vegetation here.
