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Midnight Under The Big Top edited by Brian James Freeman

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  • jeffingoff
    replied
    My prayers and good vibes (what there are) are with all of you! I'm hoping we get through this and back to normal sooner than we expect.

    Leave a comment:


  • dannyboy121070
    replied
    Thanks, Martin. My prayers, for what they're worth, are out there for the patient you're acting as caregiver for.

    Leave a comment:


  • Martin
    replied
    Originally posted by dannyboy121070 View Post
    Thanks, Martin. My wife and I both work in healthcare (Behind the scenes, not as providers), which you would think is a bulletproof business during a pandemic, but.....people are afraid to leave their homes, so routine medical visits are being cancelled left and right, non-essential surgeries are banned until after the outbreak subsides, even people with problems that need treatment are trying to just walk it off at home and hoping the issue goes away on its own. My hours have been drastically cut, and I don't qualify for unemployment because I work every day....the fact that it is HALF a day doesn't seem to matter. My wife, on the other hand, has had her salary cut, and is working 18 hour days to pick up the slack of the laid-off staff members, in hopes of making herself so valuable that they keep her on until this ends and people, hopefully, get hired back. If things stay as they are for a long time, or if one of us loses their job, we're screwed. In the short term, we're ok, just cutting back drastically. For now, I'm looking at the bright side, and trying to be grateful that I get to spend more time with my wonderful kids, who are really being rock stars and dealing with being confined to the house in a very mature manner.

    On a side note, you'd think this would be a great time for a bookworm like me, but I am finding it virtually impossible to stop worrying about money, dying, losing our home, etc, to concentrate on reading. I feel liek Burgess Meredith when he broke his glasses, lol.

    Sorry to drone on.....I hope everyone is holding on and doing OK during these trying times.
    I think many people do not realize that while the medical system is in crisis with Covid-19 it is also experiencing a severs financial hit. I know someone who has early stage breast cancer and scheduled a double mastectomy. The hospital cancelled the surgery. Basically her cancer is too early to be life threatening so she is not being provided treatment at this time. The hospitals here are basically locked down for all but life saving treatment. Their profits come from all the routine activities that happen on a normal basis. I have been having to take someone to the hospital repeatedly through all of this and I have watched the change up close. At this point I, as the caregiver, am not even allowed in the hospital. I hand them off and leave, am called when they are done, and they bring them to the car. My consultations with the doctors are now done via the hospitals website, phone calls and video conferencing. On top of that millions of people have just lost their health insurance. Even if the hospitals were performing more non-lifesaving procedures, many people could not afford them anyway. I am not sure of how many people the local hospitals have laid off but I am sure it is significant and many medical offices around the hospital are now closed with telephone visits are being conducted instead. You simply do not need the full contingent of support staff for that. I wish you and your wife the best and I hope things begin to normalize soon.

    Leave a comment:


  • dannyboy121070
    replied
    Thanks, Martin. My wife and I both work in healthcare (Behind the scenes, not as providers), which you would think is a bulletproof business during a pandemic, but.....people are afraid to leave their homes, so routine medical visits are being cancelled left and right, non-essential surgeries are banned until after the outbreak subsides, even people with problems that need treatment are trying to just walk it off at home and hoping the issue goes away on its own. My hours have been drastically cut, and I don't qualify for unemployment because I work every day....the fact that it is HALF a day doesn't seem to matter. My wife, on the other hand, has had her salary cut, and is working 18 hour days to pick up the slack of the laid-off staff members, in hopes of making herself so valuable that they keep her on until this ends and people, hopefully, get hired back. If things stay as they are for a long time, or if one of us loses their job, we're screwed. In the short term, we're ok, just cutting back drastically. For now, I'm looking at the bright side, and trying to be grateful that I get to spend more time with my wonderful kids, who are really being rock stars and dealing with being confined to the house in a very mature manner.

    On a side note, you'd think this would be a great time for a bookworm like me, but I am finding it virtually impossible to stop worrying about money, dying, losing our home, etc, to concentrate on reading. I feel like Burgess Meredith when he broke his glasses, lol.

    Sorry to drone on.....I hope everyone is holding on and doing OK during these trying times.
    Last edited by dannyboy121070; 04-04-2020, 06:52 PM.

    Leave a comment:


  • Martin
    replied
    Originally posted by dannyboy121070 View Post
    I kept forgetting to e-mail Mindy to be put on the waiting list, and that was probably for the best...Coronavirus has caused a severe crimp in the cash flow. I'm on a purchasing lockdown until things get back to normal and I get my hours back at work, provided that there is a job to go back to. I'll have to track down a copy on the secondary market at some point, or hope for digital.
    Hope things improve for you soon. I am really hoping for an audio book of this.

    Leave a comment:


  • dannyboy121070
    replied
    I kept forgetting to e-mail Mindy to be put on the waiting list, and that was probably for the best...Coronavirus has caused a severe crimp in the cash flow. I'm on a purchasing lockdown until things get back to normal and I get my hours back at work, provided that there is a job to go back to. I'll have to track down a copy on the secondary market at some point, or hope for digital.

    Leave a comment:


  • Martin
    replied
    Originally posted by swintek View Post
    With a little help- - I was able to secure a copy. I really look forward to it- mostly on your good words about it here!
    Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

    Leave a comment:


  • swintek
    replied
    Originally posted by Martin View Post
    I hope you are able to get a copy. It is a great read and I hope anyone who wants a copy can get their hands on one.
    With a little help- - I was able to secure a copy. I really look forward to it- mostly on your good words about it here!

    Leave a comment:


  • Martin
    replied
    Originally posted by Tricia View Post
    Brian, I'd LOVE a copy! I asked Mindy for one, but then realized I didn't have the cash. Then coronavirus broke out and I'm stuck at home. I emailed her again, but no luck. I'm screwed. I so badly want a copy. Is there no hope for more copies?
    I hope you are able to get a copy. It is a great read and I hope anyone who wants a copy can get their hands on one.

    Leave a comment:


  • swintek
    replied
    Originally posted by Brian James Freeman View Post
    Already at the printer, and specifically the printer that has deemed their business to be essential to their state. So... still rolling for now!

    Brian
    Excellent! Thanks, Brian. Since you're here- what book are you announcing Monday?

    Leave a comment:


  • Brian James Freeman
    replied
    Originally posted by swintek View Post
    This is of course a terrible time to ask this question right now, but- where is/was this in the publication queue? Seemed like it was imminent..? But, that was then..
    Already at the printer, and specifically the printer that has deemed their business to be essential to their state. So... still rolling for now!

    Brian

    Leave a comment:


  • swintek
    replied
    This is of course a terrible time to ask this question right now, but- where is/was this in the publication queue? Seemed like it was imminent..? But, that was then..

    Leave a comment:


  • bookworm 1
    replied
    Originally posted by Tricia View Post
    Brian, I'd LOVE a copy! I asked Mindy for one, but then realized I didn't have the cash. Then coronavirus broke out and I'm stuck at home. I emailed her again, but no luck. I'm screwed. I so badly want a copy. Is there no hope for more copies?
    Sometimes people cancel orders. There is always hope.

    Leave a comment:


  • Tricia
    replied
    Originally posted by Brian James Freeman View Post
    Anyone who missed out who really does still want one, even if you're waiting for a little more cash in your bank account, please just drop me a line. There are always cancellations. I'll make a list of who we need to make sure get offered any available copies. Thanks!

    Brian
    Brian, I'd LOVE a copy! I asked Mindy for one, but then realized I didn't have the cash. Then coronavirus broke out and I'm stuck at home. I emailed her again, but no luck. I'm screwed. I so badly want a copy. Is there no hope for more copies?

    Leave a comment:


  • Martin
    replied
    Originally posted by Brian861 View Post
    Saw sneak peak of the lettered endpapers. Insane!
    That image is rather epic.

    Leave a comment:

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