Definitions by Monkey's Dad

smeyeling 

An expression of warmth and happiness, conveyed only by the eyes, when one's lower face is masked.

Although most of her face was covered, I could see she was smeyeling at me.

smeyeling by Monkey's Dad July 23, 2020

99-43-28-14 

The number of days it took the United States to add one million cases of Covid-19 to its total. 99 for the first million, 43 for the second, 28 for the third, 14 days for the fourth million, the fruits of heedlessly 're-opening'.

He stared at the numbers. 99-43-28-14. Not a football play. Not the combination to a safe. It was the exponential, viral spread of the disease. He understood that they could reasonably expect the next million cases to accrue in a week.

99-43-28-14 by Monkey's Dad July 22, 2020

being very careful 

The delusion many experience while taking enormous risks with their health and their lives, during the Covid pandemic.

"You're going where??"

"Out to dinner. With friends. We're so done with being locked up."

"Don't you realize it's not safe to do that?"

"Oh, I'm being very careful."

being very careful by Monkey's Dad July 21, 2020

virologic

Deductive reasoning and common sense, pertaining to a virus.

Mandating that children and teachers be sent into the classroom, at the same moment people were legally forbidden to sit inside a restaurant, was a blatant and indefensible failure of virologic.

virologic by Monkey's Dad July 19, 2020

cohobbitation 

The day and night sharing of life during the pandemic, shut off from the known world, making home start to feel like Middle Earth.

Having been under one roof for months, losing track of the outside world, she gradually began to think of their relationship as cohobbitation, each of them now slightly different than normally human.

cohobbitation by Monkey's Dad July 17, 2020

stand down comedian 

A professional, on stage in a comedy club, who suddenly understands there is no humor in our predicament, nowhere he can take us that is any more absurd than the facts, and walks off.

Oh, he had material ... Mexico building a wall to keep Americans out... Ivanka's first act as president, pardoning her imprisoned daddy, children dying so the school cafeteria staff could return to work... but he saw that we had fallen beyond the reach of laughter. He was finished, a stand down comedian, and others would silently follow.

stand down comedian by Monkey's Dad July 15, 2020

Barely Breathing 

Anthem for our country, our democracy, for Covid victims and victims of police brutality, all gasping for air.

"Barely Breathing" was a 1996 hit song from singer-songwriter Duncan Sheik, now to be sung in protest, shouted in the streets, whispered at the bedsides of the dying.

'Cause I am barely breathing
And I can't find the air

Barely Breathing by Monkey's Dad July 13, 2020