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Quarantine Tuesday Reading Kaffeeklatsch: 1/26/21
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Theresa wrote: "Where has January gone? I am still in a bit of funk, distracted at work, anxious about too much, and just tired of it all. Not helped by having it confirmed today that my special needs disabled e..."
We are going through a similar situation with my stepson, who suffered a brain bleed in July. He's been in a rehab medical facility since then and was diagnosed last week with Covid. We were very concerned because he has breathing issues from being on a ventilator for three months. Fortunately, he seems to be completely asymptomatic, not even a fever. He received his first vaccine a few days prior to his diagnosis, so we wondered if he was partially protected because of it. In any case, we are grateful he seems to be okay.
My closest friends have covid and thankfully are doing okay with it. Another friend's elderly parents have been in the hospital with it. They too, live in assisted living. @Theresa, I hope your sister's symptoms continue to be mild. I'm glad that you got the vaccine.
@Olivermagnus, I'm glad that your stepson has been asymptomatic. I can imagine your worry and concern.
We're living through such hard times. Sometimes, it feels surreal.
On a lighter note, I spent all day yesterday making stew (a comfort food), due to last week's discussion. It was delicious!
Hugs to both Theresa and OliverM-having to deal with the stress of a family in a medical facility is bad enough, but then for the virus to reach them-it is just not right ;(Bloody Marys on a Sunday in the Park-sounds like heaven to me!
The fight with the insurance company is over. As I suspected, as soon as my doctor called them he got them in line. However, by that time his calendar had filled and now I wait until Feb. 5th to have the procedure.
Bitter cold here in Michigan, I hate it-'nough said
@Joanne, That's good news about your medical procedure being approved. I hope it goes well.
My heart is with all of you who are working through medical challenges and loved ones with Covid diagnoses. We've had friends and family very close to us diagnosed with Covid, but so far my immediately family (my husband and two adult children) have escaped it. I worry because the most vulnerable member of my household (my son, who is diabetic) is the only one of us who is not able to telework. He is a concrete sawyer and has to travel to a variety of job sites and interact with different people every day. I'm glad that his employer takes Covid seriously and they have solid safety procedures in place to keep their employees as safe as possible.We are definitely feeling some "cabin fever" as we've been teleworking or, in my husband and daughter's cases as freelance workers, experiencing a decrease in work/income. My husband is the more social of the two of us, and has been finding some company by daily visits to the area dog park with our dog. It's outside and everyone is able to stay far enough from each other while still being able to visit, so that's nice for him.
Our 20th wedding anniversary is February 2, and we've decided on a small trip to celebrate. We're going to be visiting a historic inn on the shore of Lake Michigan. They've got pandemic procedures in place, including a "disinfecting fogger" treatment of rooms between guests, and UV treatments in common areas, plus no cleaning services in the rooms during your stay. I'm also assuming they won't have a ton of guests the first week of February at a lakeshore inn! They have a couple of dog-friendly rooms, so we've reserved one of those, and we plan to bring the dog and take some long walks, order takeout from local establishments, and generally just relax and chill out in a space that isn't our house for the first time in months.
This second surge is Huge and seems to be affecting everyone we know and everyone knows someone. At at the same time, more and more people are getting vaccinated. And not yet fast enough. We are all so sick of this, tired and defeated, and yet we know we are on the verge of breakthrough! Darkest before the dawn. I am just praying that we and our loved ones all just hang in there, because the light is coming!I have my first dose scheduled for March 12th.
And, if anyone were interested I told my story (oft told) about how I started with and found you guys on the Shelfari thread. Lots of Shelfari lovers out there. I never knew the difference. But I am so much better for having found this community!
I second that Bloody Marys on a Sunday in the park sounds amazing. It is literally freezing here in Indiana. Awful :(My friend told me yesterday she will not be getting the vaccine.
But according to my other friend who is a nurse, and what I've read, as long as at least 70% of the population is getting vaccinated we should be good. I hope...
@Kimber - totally sounds like the inn getaway will be perfect! Very much like my visit to Mohonk in fact. I can vouch for how improved you feel after a few days!@Olivermagnus - it is so worrisome, but all we can do at this pointis hope for the best. In December I also started seeing COVID outbreaks in law firms here that had returned to some level of being in office vs. WFH. That simply reaffirmed my intention to just continue isolating.
@Joanne - Feb 5th is just around the corner! Meanwhike, you seem to be doing a fantastic job with your library's booksales! Tgat is a wonderful thing, and a project that can continue even after things return to normal.
Bloody Marys on a Sunday in the Park - thank you Joanne for that perfect title! It was hovering around freezing but we were dressed for it, had things like handwarmers and waterproof fleece lined bkankets to sit on just as you would to a late fall outdoor sports event, and sat in sun. We lasted 2 hours, the drinks also warmed us, and I highly recommend it.
@ Kimber - the 20th honey-dew sounds fabulous! Enjoy, relax and fall in love all over again!
My mom is getting her first vaccine shot today and my 94 year old grandmother is scheduled to get hers this week too. I'll be happy when it's available for my fiance as he'd probably fare the worst in this house with his heart problems.It's snowing away here so I'm happy I don't need to go anywhere.
@Theresa and Lynda I hope your relatives recover from covid soon.
Sending healing thoughts out for all of you with relatives experiencing symptoms. I'm also rejoicing for every vaccination received !I'm actually having a good time today with the disadvantage of youth. I'm the youngest member in my group of retired teacher friends. There have been long text conferences on vaccine availability and how to schedule appointments, etc. As of today, almost all have been vaccinated or have appointments scheduled. Except me, as I am the 'baby' of the group. ( I took an early retirement) I won't be 65 until November. I don't qualify for the current rollout in California. But, I excited for them. And relieved. It feels like the sun is finally coming out.
@Theresa--in some care facilities things like Covid travel quickly for various reasons. If it's memory-loss patients, they don't remember the rules, for example. This is one of the reasons visiting has often been completely cancelled in many places (or very restricted). I am very thankful that my mother is able to still live at home because my father is healthy for his age and of full mental faculties, and that my mother-in-law is also at home.I hope your sister recovers soon and am glad to hear she has such a mild case.
Thankfully vast majority of my extended family is pro-vaccine (although one sister-in-law did a reduced, different schedule as I recall).
NYC must have received a new shipment of Moderna vaccine today because I was finally able to schedule my 2nd dose - for February 18th the first day I can get it. I will be pleased just to have this done, even though nothing is really going to change in my work or living situation. I'm not suddenly planning to travel anywhere etc. With the new strains multiplying like rabbits, can't be too careful. Now if I can only get motivated to crank out some serious work.
Massachusetts just opened up for the top of their phase two, Phase one group six, which included the vast amount of non-facing healthcare workers opened up 11 days earlier than planned, and new sites are opening up everywhere! Now they are moving onto Co-morbid and over 75 out of congregate care. Which means soon all my singing friends will be taken care of....
Theresa wrote: "NYC must have received a new shipment of Moderna vaccine today because I was finally able to schedule my 2nd dose - for February 18th the first day I can get it. I will be pleased just to have this..."FYI-Natalie has been on the virus story since it begin and she reminded me that although you cannot catch the virus after vaccine, you can still pass it on-so you are smart to realize that nothing rally changes until 70-80% of population is vaccinated.
In a press conference I saw this morning, they are putting that date at late summer/early fall. I want to cry
I think WA state has run out of vaccine... There is no one way to try to get on a list. The site is awful and we've gone to the sites of tons of other healthcare facilities or pharmacies. Some offer a waitlist, some are a first come, first serve reservation website with no new appts. Sites are starting to post that they don't have vaccine and they don't know when they are going to get it. There is no clear communication of the plan. My mom is in the first group and they expanded it down to 65 and now the demand far exceeds supply with no way of knowing when she'll get the opportunity to be vaccinated at age 74. Everyday we check the websites and hope that more vaccine has arrived. Luckily we live rural and I do what I can to make sure she wants for nothing. It has not been handled well here.
Theresa wrote: "NYC must have received a new shipment of Moderna vaccine today because I was finally able to schedule my 2nd dose - for February 18th the first day I can get it. I will be pleased just to have this..."Let me know how that second dose goes. My friend was just saying the second one has been harder on people, but nothing crazy. Just like getting a little sick like you might after the normal flu vaccine.
Charlotte wrote: "I think WA state has run out of vaccine... There is no one way to try to get on a list. The site is awful and we've gone to the sites of tons of other healthcare facilities or pharmacies. Some offe..."I was about to mention that Canada is falling behind, I think, with the vaccine shortages, but I guess it's happening for you, too, Charlotte.
But, here, even the first group may have trouble getting their 2nd vaccine. Health care workers and people in nursing homes. Many (though not all) have had their first dose. Only a few have had their second. At least in Alberta, though I know the shortage is all over the country.
Canada does not have its own factory making vaccines, so we are reliant on buying from other countries. With Pfizer slowing down to expand their factory in Europe, now the EU is calling on a ban of exporting the vaccine. Oh, boy...
There's news today about ramp up in vaccine production --- but it is unlikely to hit until summer- June was mentioned. We also have to remember that vaccine needs to be shipped to countries who do not have pharmaceutical companies - not just Canada but much of Africa, for example. It isn't just our own country and people that must be vaccinated but the entire world because this virus will keep mutating, creating more resistance and dangerous forms of the virus, as long as people catch it. It's a tough global situation, and here in the US, complicated by our former federal government, and still handicapped by the actions of state governments. I just read that today Wisconsin state legistlature voted to rescind the governor's mandatory mask wearing order. Serioiusly.
Book Concierge, time to move???
On the other hand, vaccine supplies will also increase as more and more of those being tested are approved. Like the Johnson v. Johnson one shot vaccine which is expected to be approved in spring.
Anxious as we all are, just think how extraordinary it is that less than a year into this we have more than one vaccine.
Theresa wrote: "We also have to remember that vaccine needs to be shipped to countries who do not have pharmaceutical companies - not just Canada but much of Africa, for example...Anxious as we all are, just think how extraordinary it is that less than a year into this we have more than one vaccine. ..."
Personally, I love staying home, so the delays don't bother me much. I'm likely to be among the last of the people to get vaccinated. I suppose my one "high" risk activity is that I take public transit.
What you've mentioned here (and that poorer countries are in far worse shape than Canada is for vaccines) are things I've thought of as I see news stories of everyone complaining about the delays in receiving the vaccine (though I do feel especially badly for those who have one dose, but are waiting on that 2nd dose).
I also feel like... you know, there were bound to be some bumps along the road, even after the vaccine(s) was (were) approved. I feel like things just happen to slow things down. I am not surprised.
I am also in Wisconsin. My county (the liberal one where Madison is and where Trump paid $3 million to find out again that he lost) has had a mask mandate since last spring and apparently that won't change. Luckily our governor is a Democrat, while the legislature is Republican. If we still had Scott Walker, there probably would have been a decree that no locality could even choose to impose a mandate. So much for belief in local control! In theory, my husband and I are now eligible for vaccination because we are over 65 but there is nowhere near enough vaccine for everyone. Our clinic sent us an email that gave us a link to sign up that we are interested, not sure what good that will do. Also not sure what is happening with people over 65 who aren't computer savvy, probably family members are trying to sign them up.
The people now in charge at the federal level have admitted that there was basically no information or process in place. It has been interesting to hear Dr. Fauci and Dr. Birx being interviewed now that they can be honest. So I'm not disturbed that it is going to take a while to get vaccinations done.
Our Wisconsin legislature is a joke. The jerks refused to go into emergency session to discuss / plan / implement any protocols and then sued the Governor every time he issued an emergency order. The Legislature has not been in session since last MARCH! As for the vaccine rollout. I know it's a waiting game, but I'm frustrated with the lack of information or the seemingly random way that info in distributed. I have friends who have gotten emails from the same healthcare system (hospital & doctor's practices) to which I belong, while I've gotten NOTHING. I called my doctor's office and was told "the hospital is running the vaccination clinics." I called the hospital and was told "Your doctor's office will schedule your appointment." I called the doctor's office back and reported what the hospital said and they said, "That's news to us." I called the hospital again and asked how to get on the email notification list and was told there is no such thing (and yet three of my friends have received emails ... which they are kindly forwarding to me).
The local paper posted a list of all the sites / venues and links on how to get on mailing lists. MY healthcare provider basically said, "Don't call us, we'll call you." Except that they aren't calling.
I've signed up for four different registries, in three different counties ... including one where I will have to pay $35 per shot .... and then given the forms to fill out myself to ask my insurance for payment. I am fortunate to have the resources to pay that fee ... IF they ever get a supply and I get to make an appointment, that is. So far all I've gotten is an email thanking me for registering and a notice that "we'll let you know when we are taking appointments."
Well, they can't schedule what they don't have. Theresa in NYC was lucky to get her shot because a lot of appointments in that area got canceled.
LibraryCin wrote: "With Pfizer slowing down to expand their factory in Europe, now the EU is calling on a ban of exporting the vaccine. Oh, boy."Actually, as far as I understood it, it is not going to be a ban on exporting vaccines, rather a control of exports (which I admit could in the end amount to the same in some situation). There was a huge uproar here in the EU about the fact that they (I'm not sure whether Pfizer/Biontech or Moderna planned on not fulfilling the contracts with the EU, but fulfilling the contracts with the UK, even though the factory is in the EU (I believe in Belgium, so it must have been Moderna?). So I thought it sounded like they wanted an even distribution instead of favouring one area. Like: if you can't fulfill the contracts, evenly distribute what you have among the contracts you have or something like that.
On the other hand, I think the politicians should probably take a step back and try to look at the situation calmly. This crisis is not a regional or national crisis. It is a global crisis. So we all need to get vaccines at some point. Otherwise we won't be able to function internationally.
BUT: what about poorer countries? Are they getting any vaccines at reasonable prices soon?
Robin P wrote: "Well, they can't schedule what they don't have. Theresa in NYC was lucky to get her shot because a lot of appointments in that area got canceled."Here, a lot of appointments don't even get made :-) People have a hard time accessing the booking systems and the process is taking very long. So far only people above the age of 80, high risk patients (don't know how they find that out) and caretakers that are in contact with Covid-patients get vaccined as far as I know.
I recently saw a virtual calculator that calculated the possible vaccination day for people. My first vaccination according to this would be some time in the summer of this year. If that were true, that wouldn't be so bad.
Hoping your loved ones (Theresa, olivermagnus...) are improving in health soon!
On a lighter note: I have never drunken a Bloody Mary. But Bloody Marys in the Park sounds so good, now I want to do it, just to be able to call it that.
Book Concierge wrote: "Our Wisconsin legislature is a joke. The jerks refused to go into emergency session to discuss / plan / implement any protocols and then sued the Governor every time he issued an emergency order. T..."Perhaps your clinics/hospitals are doing what Michigan is doing? It is being worked like a lottery-all eligibles are in a data base. When vaccine is available, names are randomly drawn from that data base. If this is not what is happen in Wisconsin, then it baffles me why they cannot tell you what the procedure is!
I know my grandma wouldn't have gotten an appointment if it weren't for my aunt lucking into an appointment online as my grandma doesn't have internet. I do feel for all those seniors who aren't as familiar with technology. The vaccination process in the U.S. is chaotic but I'm hoping Biden will be able to help it attain some sort of order. My aunt sent a picture of my grandma beaming, at home, after getting her vaccine. It made me tear up, happiest I've seen her since this all started.
Miriam wrote: "On a lighter note: I have never drunken a Bloody Mary. But Bloody Marys in the Park sounds so good, now I want to do it, just to be able to call it that."Go for it!
I bring the Bloody Mary Mix which I make myself - we like it spicy! My friend brings the vodka as she gets a lot of premium vodka as gifts and promotions. We pour vodka into our plastic cups (to desired strength - at least 1 shot), add Bloody Mary mix, give it a stir with a handy straw and voila!
My Bloody Mary Mix is a little of this and a little of that:
2.5 cups tomato juice
Squirt of Worceshire Sauce*
Splash of Hot Sauce* - tabasco preferred
Shake of Celery Salt*
Double shake of black pepper*
Dash of salt*
Squeeze in half a lemon
If not using ice, add 1/4 cup cold water (to thin the tomato juice)
Stir and taste. Add more of the * items to taste. I like mine really spicy so I increase the hot sauce and black pepper. Usually takes a couple of tastings to get it right.
Chill in fridge until ready to mix with vodka. Serve in tall glasses with a celery stalk as a stirrer (of course we skipped the celery in the park - too awkward to manage while wearing mittens). This makes at least 4 drinks.
It's healthy - there is tomato juice and celery in it!
Bloody Marys are just breakfast salads.
Miriam wrote: "Moderna planned on not fulfilling the contracts with the EU, but fulfilling the contracts with the UK, even though the factory is in the EU Yikes!
Like: if you can't fulfill the contracts, evenly distribute what you have among the contracts you have or something like that.
This makes sense to me.
On the other hand, I think the politicians should probably take a step back and try to look at the situation calmly. This crisis is not a regional or national crisis. It is a global crisis. So we all need to get vaccines at some point. Otherwise we won't be able to function internationally.
Agreed!
BUT: what about poorer countries? Are they getting any vaccines at reasonable prices soon?..."
:-(
Theresa wrote: "My Bloody Mary Mix is a little of this and a little of that:2.5 cups tomato juice
..."
Please add to our RECIPE BOX ...
On a totally other much lighter subject... I've rearranged, repainted and am reorganizing my office. Because well... there's no telling when I'll be going into Amazon. They say June but we'll see with the vaccines. Even then my boss is talking a hybrid WFH model (Yay!!!) Anyway... My two ginormous Ikea bookshelves were delivered this week and my husband is going to put them together today or tomorrow so I will have hours of bliss playing with all of my books and hopefully... hopefully... there will be unfilled space that will need to be filled by the purchase of new or used books!!!
Book Concierge wrote: "Theresa wrote: "My Bloody Mary Mix is a little of this and a little of that:2.5 cups tomato juice
..."
Please add to our RECIPE BOX ..."
Done!
Charlotte wrote: "On a totally other much lighter subject... I've rearranged, repainted and am reorganizing my office. Because well... there's no telling when I'll be going into Amazon. They say June but we'll see w..."THAT will be HEAVEN!
Charlotte wrote: "On a totally other much lighter subject... I've rearranged, repainted and am reorganizing my office. Because well... there's no telling when I'll be going into Amazon. They say June but we'll see w..."Well, you'll have to join a zoom session after it's done so we can see those full shelves!
Arranging and rearranging my bookshelves is one of my favorite things to do!
My husband is scheduled to get a vaccine at 7:50 tomorrow morning! We are also scheduled to get 3-6 inches of snow by then. Should be interesting. Thank goodness we finally got a snow blower (electric) this year for the first time. We got a message a few weeks back about registering if we wanted one. But all the email said was that there was a message on our chart, not what it was for, so I din't sign up till some days later when he told me about it. That might be why he is getting one now and not me, or it might be because he is older. As far as rearranging, we decided to replace our 11-year old computer but the old one still works. So I took that and for the first time ever I have my own machine. We came up with a space to use it and I got a desk, chair, etc. I haven't had my own workspace since we moved to this house in 2002! We have also separated our emails so we don't have to see each others' as we have been doing. I am really enjoying the new situation.
Robin P wrote: "My husband is scheduled to get a vaccine at 7:50 tomorrow morning! We are also scheduled to get 3-6 inches of snow by then. Should be interesting. Thank goodness we finally got a snow blower (elect..."Sounds great!
We still have the same email together. It is a really old address and we have had it over 20 years. I've thought about changing and each having our own, and truthfully I do have another one but I never check them or use it.
Robin P wrote: "My husband is scheduled to get a vaccine at 7:50 tomorrow morning! We are also scheduled to get 3-6 inches of snow by then. Should be interesting. Thank goodness we finally got a snow blower (elect..."Hope Dennis got to his appointment this morning.
We, being "on the lake" are getting hammered. 8" so far and still coming down. Watching my across-the-street neighbor struggling with his snowblower in drifts that are over his knees! We contract with a snowplow company, but she hasn't shown up yet today. I'm thinking this is going to be a 2-plowing storm. This company also shovels our front and back sidewalks ... for an extra fee, of course, which we are happy to pay.
Two weeks ago Hubby was talking to our next door neighbor who was shoveling out his driveway and commenting that he really needs to get a snowblower. Hubby gave him ours. We never use it anymore. (Though it sure would come in handy to clean up the end of the drive after the city plow comes through to do the street and leaves a mound at the end of our drive.)
It turned out my husband was able to get out ok without even shoveling/snow blowing but afterwards because we are on a hill he couldn't get back in even after snowplowing half the street. He had to back up and take a roundabout route to be able to come in downhill and he still got stuck in an intersection for a while. The main roads have been plowed but not smaller streets like in our neighborhood.
Glad he made it out and back home again safely, Robin. Our plow service came just after I posted the previous message. When she was done I notice that she stopped in the road by our neighbor's driveway. I thought perhaps she was checking address or route info for her next plowing, but no .... she had seen the city plow coming behind her. She waited for the city plow to go past our house and then she backed up and cleared the mound left at the end of our drive. I love that woman!
Of course, it's still snowing ... and the forecast promised "snow showers" until about 11p tonight. So I'm sure she'll be back later tonight.
I've heard that some people have discovered a way to "jump the line" in getting a vaccine - supposedly if you go at the end of the day just before they close, if there are surplus vaccines that have to be used (I think they can't re-freeze them? Not sure), you should be able to get one as a walk-in.
I'll make sure to join the zoom next week! Hopefully everything will be set up by then!!I spent the morning putting together the bookshelves and am arranging them now, while listening to The Night Circus, while my husband and dogs watch Captain America: Winter Soldier in the main room. After a weekend of putting together Star Wars Legos that I can display on all my new shelves. I don't know what could make the weekend more perfect!!!
Charlotte wrote: "I'll make sure to join the zoom next week! Hopefully everything will be set up by then!!I spent the morning putting together the bookshelves and am arranging them now, while listening to [book:Th..."
Ice Cream Charlotte-Ice Cream makes everything better ;)
@Charlotte - Chocolate - always chocolate!
Unfortunately, ice cream and I are not on friendly terms. Although, Ben and Jerry's have done amazing things with non-dairy options. We did pick some up on our last grocery store run and I'll have some tonight.
I am still in a bit of funk, distracted at work, anxious about too much, and just tired of it all. Not helped by having it confirmed today that my special needs disabled elder sister in a special needs care facility tested positive for COVID, as did every patient in the facility and some staff. Good news: she has very mild symptoms, almost identical to the reaction I had to the Moderna vaccine. Not even as severe as Annapi's. How did it spread so rapidly through the facility? A new staff hire who started Jan 1 tested positive and though quarantine was immediately imposed, it was obviously too late.
All this happened a week before the first dose of vaccine was to be administered.
Just shows you cannot be too careful.
On Sunday a friend and I hung out in Riverside Park drinking bloody marys, venting our respective frustrations, admiring the dogs being walked. A jazz band set up and played near us for a bit. It was wonderful. We are doing it again in February. All socially distanced and masked!
I have found myself reading women's contemprary fiction set in summer at beaches. Most have HEA. Now switching to a regency romance. Have 3 chunksters to read in February. Figure I need a breather first. I did meet all my challenge goals for January!