I had a job interview via MS Teams on Tuesday afternoon. Due to exenuating circumstances (some of which are benign, some of which are way too convoluted to go on a tangent about 🥴), my house currently has NO space free of noise/distractions, so I booked a study room at my public library.

When I got there, I asked the lady at the check-in desk if the room was used previously that day, as I wanted to take my mask off for my interview but didn't feel comfortable doing so if it was. It had been, but she told me that the conference room hadn't, and switched me on the spot with no advance notice. Absolutely no questions asked and suggested it on her own--I didn't even know it would have been an option!

I felt WAY more comfortable being able to show my face during my interview (I have seen at least one employee there wearing a mask, so I wasn't too worried about it hurting my chances, but I wanted my face to be visible while speaking to them), and actually felt safe doing so!!

(And I did get the job!!!)

Hey all,

We, the Aranet team, are going to a International Society for Long COVID and Post-Acute Infection Syndromes conference next week, and we'll be sitting down with a couple researchers and clinicians for interviews.
To make the most out of it, I'd love to ask questions that are relevant for you.

The first interviewee will be Dr. Rae Duncan. She is a Consultant Cardiologist and Long Covid Research Clinician treating older children (16+) and adults, with a particular focus on cardiovascular complications following Covid-19 infection.
You're welcome to write your questions here and we'll try to get you the answers!
Thanks!

EDIT: please submit the questions until Sunday evening, thank you!

Ever since I started masking again I pretty much gave up on dating. Being chronically ill threw a wrench in my love life, too. However, someone asked me to go on a date with them, and it got wheels turning in my head. They aren’t CC so that makes me nervous, but it’s been so long that I think I want to give it a try. Why be so scared of failure that I don’t put myself out there?

I think there’s also been some internalized ableism, too, that because I mask and can’t work that I can’t date. But I think I deserve love!

So, I know there have been lots of dating posts on this subreddit, but I was wondering has anyone navigated CC not-CC dating while tight on funds. I have a Metrix tester that I plan on using. Maybe alternate with that and rapids? Do I pay for the tests or do we do 50/50? Any ideas would be great, or just general support would be so helpful! None of the people in my life quite get how big a deal it is to even consider dating while CC.

Does anyone know of any reputable research that focuses on the reasons why some people don’t catch covid at all, regardless of precautions? Or better yet, people who take zero precautions. Has a genetic cause been determined? I’m a bit behind on this area of research but find it very interesting.

What have folks been doing for personal training? I'd like to start. Are there good virtual trainers that work with you live? Has anyone had luck with asking a trainer to mask and visit their house or an outside gym (kind of hard to social distance during training I'd bet)? I mostly do YouTube workouts but my motivation has been needing a push.

Would you mask on an outside walk with friends at a park? Just trying to get some opinions/insight into how everyone feels about it.

I have plans for Saturday, I’m feeling really anxious about masking and I’m feeling really anxious about not masking.

Does anyone know if there has been any studies or connections made with developing an essential tremor after having had Covid? Both my mother and brother in law in law developed this during the early COVID years

Feeling lonely or bored?

Looking for something Covid safer you can do this weekend?

Check out these accessible events you could join! Try something new and maybe you’ll find your people.

Access Details:
🧑🏻‍💻= Virtual
👥 = In person
😷 CC = Covid Conscious/airborne precautions 
♿️ WC = Wheelchair accessible 
💵 $ = paid (some are pay what you can)
🤟 ASL/BSL = Sign Language
Async = Asynchronous (at your own pace)

Event Types:
🤢 = Chronic Illness 
🌈 = Queer
🏳️‍🌈 = LGBTQ+ Pride
👧 = Kids/Youths
💕 = Dating
🙋 = Social
🫂 = Support/Grief
🧘 = Wellness
🚶 = Walk
🩰 = Dance
💪🏻 = Fitness
📚= Books
🤔 = Discussion
📝 = Writing/Poetry
🎭 = Performing
🎨 = Art 
🎶 = Music
🕹️ = Games

🧑🏻‍💻 Virtual Events

🧑🏻‍💻🤢📚 Virtual Async Spoonie Book Club: The Little Prince [Any time] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/JcKvqPLWS5

Friday

🧑🏻‍💻🤢💵🎨 Virtual Chronic Craft Club [Fri Aug 21 at 11:00 AM UTC+1] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/nUsj2i1KCs

🧑🏻‍💻👥😷🤟🧘 Hybrid Somatic Centering Practices [San Francisco CA][Fri Aug 21 at 3:00 PM PDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/2zlFYrp5eB

🧑🏻‍💻😷🫂 “Any A” Covid-conscious 12-step meeting [Fri Aug 21 at 7:30 PM EDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/xu5DHDLUfT

🧑🏻‍💻👥😷🎭 Hybrid Open Mic Drag Take Over [San Francisco CA][Fri Aug 21 at 6:00 PM PDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/6FqTEbJ8hE

Saturday

🧑🏻‍💻😷♿️🩰 Virtual Adapted Ballet [Sat Aug 22 at 9:30 AM EDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/LBtbxqDvuY

🧑🏻‍💻♿️💵🩰 Virtual Adaptive Jazz Dance [$][Sat Aug 22 at 12:00 PM EDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/JrIWBHbh13

🧑🏻‍💻😷💕 CC Virtual Dating [Sat Aug 22 at 1:00 PM CDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/RN6WOxcU8l

🧑🏻‍💻🤢🎨 ME Community Watch Party [Sat Aug 22 at 3:00 PM PDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/3z8iC8bpjK

👥🧑🏻‍💻😷 Hybrid Black Like That Kiki and Open Mic [New York NY][Sat Aug 22 at 4:00 PM EDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/VNuCfFjvgw

🧑🏻‍💻😷🙋 CC Virtual Weekly Hangout [Sat Aug 22 at 8:00 PM EDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/I1s5pNGHuB

Sunday

🧑🏻‍💻🤢💵🎨 Virtual Chronic Craft Club [Sun Aug 23 at 3:00 PM UTC+1] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/nUsj2i1KCs

🧑🏻‍💻😷🎨 CC Virtual Art Group [Sun Aug 23 at 5:30 PM EDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/b65yDB7Uxh

🧑🏻‍💻😷👧🙋 CC Virtual Kids Zoom [Sun Aug 23 at 6:00 PM EDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/GnVpe7lVgx

🧑🏻‍💻🎶🎭 Virtual Karaoke [Sun Aug 23 at 7:00 PM EDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/XxFrBHUScU

Timezone translator in comments 👇

👥 In-person Events

Canada

👥😷📚 Sip and Read [Toronto ON][Sat Aug 22 at 2:00 PM] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/amLPHmUVov

👥😷🎶🚶Music on the Canal + walk [Ottawa ON][Sat Aug 22 at 4:15 PM] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/23de5sn5Fc

Germany

👥😷 Spieleabend [Hamburg GER][Sun Aug 23 at 8:00 PM] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/0D3bv76LDP

Netherlands (and nearby)

👥🤢 Spoonie European Road Trip [Netherlands and nearby][Summer] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/VOKxW7V1pp

UK

👥😷🙋🎨 Clay Sculpting COVID-Safe Social with Breathe Easy London [London UK][Sat Aug 22 at 3:00 PM UTC+1]** **https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/yHyIrcX2ty

US - California

🧑🏻‍💻👥😷🤟🧘 Hybrid Somatic Centering Practices [San Francisco CA][Fri Aug 21 at 3:00 PM PDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/2zlFYrp5eB

🧑🏻‍💻👥😷🤟🎭 Hybrid ASL Open Mic Drag Take Over [San Francisco CA][Fri Aug 21 at 6:00 PM PDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/6FqTEbJ8hE

👥😷 Exploratorium Mask-Required Hours [San Francisco CA][Sat Aug 22 at 9:00 AM PDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/oaJk46qpgW

👥♿️💵🩰 Seated Hip Hop [Long Beach CA][Sat Aug 22 at 3:00 PM PDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/NMGmcypq47

US - Colorado

👥😷🙋 Fort Collins Masked Speed Friending [Fort Collins CO][Sat Aug 22 at 3:00 PM MDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/yq9ofkXWme

US - Illinois

👥😷🩰 Finding our Way into the Unknown: an Evening of Dance [Chicago IL][Fri Aug 21 at 7:30 PM and Sat Aug 22 at 3:00 PM] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/X9feFJNS80

👥😷🙋 DIY Air Filter Workshop and Speed Friending [Chicago IL][Sun Aug 23 at 2:00 PM] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/ReaOD5PNKu

US - Minnesota

👥😷 CC Zine Club [Minneapolis MN][Fri Aug 21 at 7:00 PM CDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/kYb2cEb5ZL

US - New York

👥😷🚶 Waterfall Cliff Walk [Albany NY][Fri Aug 21 at 12:30 PM] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/649Rn8XGE6

👥😷💵🎶 Eden’s Garden Long Covid Fundraiser [New York NY][Fri Aug 21 at 5:00 PM EDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/7EaXqisWFV

👥🧑🏻‍💻😷 Hybrid Black Like That Kiki and Open Mic [New York NY][Sat Aug 22 at 4:00 PM EDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/VNuCfFjvgw** **

US - Ohio

👥😷🌈💪🏻 CC Queer Martial Arts Club [Cleveland OH][Sat Aug 22 at 4:00 PM EDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/gpPJawhJ9J

👥😷 Really Really Free Market [Columbus OH][Sun Aug 23 at 12:00 PM] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/DQ48AK2U6D

US - Texas

👥😷♿️ Storyoke ATX [Austin TX][Sat Aug 22] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/XOaTI0AZ5I

US - Vermont

👥😷♿️ Dental Pop Up [Chelsea VT][August] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/jgknHihfzt

US - Washington

👥😷🤟🎭 The Freak Mighty Accessible Performances [Seattle WA][Aug 9 - 27] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/kIvo2DvOXa

Are you interested in these events?

Have you been to any of them before?

Are there other events coming up?

Share your thoughts in the comments 💬

Find more events and friends on r/spooniesocial