Jerry’s Blog for J D Coussens Inc.

April 1st. 2020

    As I’m writing this I’m reminded its April Fool’s day and nobody is fooling. In January I had no idea one of my main duties as owner/manager of this company would be to check with employees to see what they needed to stay healthy. I’ve heard a reporter state that these are unprecedented times, last week the Times had an article about Rock Island closing all business to stop the spread of Spanish Flu over 100 years ago. We are still here so I think we will get through this too. I don’t know when or what our society will look like in future, but we will get through this. I do know we’ll have some massive debts to deal with on a personal and national level. I’m heartened by the news I hear, red tape is being  slashed in order to deal with the sick. It shows as a nation we still have what it takes to get things done. 

    From a personal standpoint, Julie has asthma and is very afraid she will get the virus and not be able to breathe. Since I meet with many people in my day, she is scared I will bring it home with me. In the beginning I was dragging my feet conforming to her demands to change my ways. I wasn’t worried about staying germ free. I feel whatever it is I’ll live through it, that’s just me, I’ve been sick before and I’m still here. I’m slowly realizing me getting sick may have dire circumstances for her. So I have conformed the best I can. I’m still working in office alone and going to Menards to get material if need be. With this in mind my present M.O is to come home from work, strip down put cloths in laundry, take a shower and put on clean clothes.  During the day I wash my hands on a regular basis especially when I have contact with anyone. I have wipes and sanitizer in my truck if needed.

    On the business side, we have closed the office for a few weeks as we can stay in contact with clients and vendors via the web, telephone or I can visit the guys on the jobs they are working on. We still have two guys working as there is work to do and bills to pay. My goal is to keep them on separate jobs if possible. The jobs we have going are a house remodel where client is not at home. We have two room additions to start in a few weeks that we’ll be outside the home for a month or two. When it’s time to move inside we’ll re-evaluate how we will keep everyone healthy.  

    I’m starting to look at this time of being anti-social as a time to work on my personal projects. I’m getting a lot accomplished as no one comes to visit, and I don’t feel guilty not working full time. 

    I’m not good at getting one blog out a month but I’m looking forward to the next one to see what is happening and my reaction to it.

Thanks for listening

  Jerry