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Day #273
The first major snowstorm in NYC during the pandemic. They've named it Gail, of all things. I'm guessing Bizzard and Frosty were already taken.
The Governor was funny today - during his live briefing on it.
Governor: "I won't criticize the weather forecasters - I was blasted the last time I questioned them. All I'll say is this is an awfully specific weather forecast. Apparently only two small counties in New York State will get the worst of it - between 18-20 feet. The surrounding ones 12-18, and the city 12-18, and the ones up north 6-12, or 1-5. "
He also ranted for fifteen minutes about our insane federal government, which included an expletive, which the news channel bleeped out.
NYC is prepared. They have everything ready to go. They've been like that ever since the city got shut down by the Christmas Blizzard in 2017 or 2018, can't remember which year it was.
I was irritable today, people were getting on my nerves again. I think I'm worried about a few things and trying not to be. There's a lot riding on Trump leaving the White House. I work for a State and Federally funded agency, if that thing stays in the White House, I'm doomed. It's stinking up our country. We can't get an economic stimulus package passed because of that piece of shit. If Biden becomes President as he should be, since he was legally and fairly elected President, I get Buttigeg as Transportation Secretary - and my agency gets funding. And no lay-offs. And life is good.
Please, please, Universe, grant me my last two miracles - an end to the Trump administration and an end to COVID-19. I've been very patient.
I seem to be getting there. And I remember the first two miracles took time, they didn't happen over night and there were set backs. But eventually everything turned around. Tonight at Bible Study Zoom - one of the members said she was thinking of me - when the vaccines popped up in NY State, because that was the delivery of one of my miracles - an end to COVID.
I feel in my gut that Trump will be gone soon. And by this time next year, he'll be a distant memory, plagued with lawsuits and legal fees of his own making. This is all playing out much like it did in 2016, but with Trump on the opposite side of the argument. Hillary's supporters threatened to bring their own slate of electors to Congress in 2016, but Hillary told them not to.
I need to trust my gut and ignored social media and crazy journalists, from unreliable news sources.
Also his own supporters are turning against him.
* Chris Christie - Former Governor of New Jersey blasts the idiots
The problem is MSNBC, CNN, and Fox have been making millions off of the 24/7 Trump show, so they keep putting it out there. It's why I only trust the NY Times and NY1, and things like PBS News Hour - they aren't making millions off Trump and are less into marketing and harmful promotion.
See, my little tree with the gifts under it?
At Zoom Unitarian Bible Study - which is always interesting - we all got booted out of Zoom half-way through the meeting.
While we were discussing a passage about the virgin birth, we all to booted out of Zoom. It was in the middle of newcomer's, Egg's, sentence. The link ended, because someone else accessed it for another meeting. I burst out laughing - mainly because the conversation had started to annoy me.
Me: Okay did anyone else suddenly lose the link? I think it may have gotten double booked?
MHauhn:yikes. what happened?
MRob:I got booted! Did everyone else?
B:I got kicked out and can’t get back in.
MMost:I lost the Zoom and can't get back in.\
C:That’s what it looks like. Added Egg (the woman who was cut off in the middle of a sentence) to this. I can set up a new one really quick through work - hold on.
MR:Let's use this: MR is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. (supplies new link - his personal meeting room.)
B:Seems like it happened to all of us.
MHahn:we all did. i’ll quickly set up a new link.
C:Awesome- adding Egg
C:MH, MR just did.
P:I got kicked out with the message that the host has another meeting in progress. Anyone else with this problem?
MMunroe: MR's got the link! we're all on MR's link! (We discovered that not everyone got the memo - there only five of us on MR's link.)
[ And people are scattered - one person is in Rochester, one in the Catskill, four in four different sections of Brooklyn, none of which are nearby. One of the participants, MMost - lost her broiler today. It was over 100 years old, and decided to poop out now. Also it has Asbestos around it. So it will be an ordeal to replace, and about $30,000. Luckily she replaced the water heater a while back and it is separate from the broiler. Also she was able to get space heaters. But she's freezing. It hit the 20s tonight and is crazy cold. Although sleeting at the moment - so probably got warmer.]
I realized after this experience and last night's experience, that Unitarians need to work on their communication skills. Actually, I think we all do. We all love to talk, but we suck at listening.
I like DW, because you have to listen or read more. I have time to say what I need to say. And often I do feel heard, not always. A lot of the time, I don't feel heard or seen at all.
Also, I can edit, proof-read, and delete. I have more control over the pesky words. In Zoom and Teams meetings, I feel like I have less control, and it's harder to express my feelings and thoughts. I don't do oral well. Pronunciation gets in the way. I've been known to avoid saying certain words because I can't pronounce them, I can see them, I can spell them - I just can't say the word.
Crazy Workplace
New Managers decided to assign me a new project two days before I went on vacation. But I talked to the project manager - who informed me not to worry about it - and I could hold off until January - foiling their evil plans!
They probably are thinking that work just doesn't stick to me? Each item that has been assigned to me this year - has disappeared.
Although this one may stick around, and the other one might come back in January - it's not clear at the moment.
The new project is the procurement of an interlocking signal system. But the higher ups are considering another approach - for the entire railroad. If they go that route, this procurement won't happen. I informed my managers, and told them that the PM would get back to me with a definitive answer in January. Also, in the meantime - I asked him to provide me with answers on funding and project schedule.
Work continues to be interesting. I'll say that much for it.
New York vs. the Corona Virus
New York is steadily working towards its goal of being the first state to defeat COVID. Also they are going full steam ahead on the public education campaign on the vaccine.
So far the only side-effects reported are minor ones - muscle pain where the vaccine was administered. Muscle aches and pains, and fatigue - which lasts up to 48 hours, if that.
The Mayor televised two more people getting the vaccine today. NY has gotten 87,000 doses to date, and is getting 70,000 more. Moderna is on the way.
And the federal government is making a deal with Pfizer to produce more doses.
1. New York launched a new website about the COVID-19 vaccine with everything you need to know. It provides New Yorkers with a one-stop location for accurate and up to date information on the vaccine, safety, distribution priorities and more. On the site, New Yorkers can find general information about the vaccine, a detailed Frequently Asked Questions section that provides facts about the vaccine's safety and efficacy, and other questions you may have.
2. The State has identified Regional Vaccination Hubs to develop vaccination networks ahead of Phase 2. These hubs will be led by local hospital systems and will work with community leaders to develop vaccination networks, which will guide vaccination administration for the second phase. Under the state's plan, the second phase of administrations will focus on essential workers and individuals in the general public who are most at risk.
3. Total COVID hospitalizations climbed to 6,097. Of the 160,947 tests reported yesterday, 9,998, or 6.21 percent, were positive. There were 1,098 patients in ICU yesterday, up 33 from the previous day. Of them, 611 are intubated. Sadly, we lost 95 New Yorkers to the virus. [The tally of deaths in NY is still higher than the rest of the country at 35,966 and counting. Which is why they are fighting hard in NY to end this - 90% of those deaths were in the Spring.]
4. New York State health insurers will be instructed to cover COVID-19 vaccinations. The New York State Department of Financial Services issued a letter to New York-regulated health insurers directing them to immediately cover, without cost-sharing, approved COVID-19 immunizations and administrations. No New Yorker will have to pay a penny to get the vaccine. [It's free. I won't have to pay for it. I didn't have to pay for the flu shot either. Nor did I have to pay for the antibody test. And if I get a COVID test - I won't. In NY - these are free. ]
5. The State has received 87,750 total doses so far. Yesterday, NYS received 77,025 doses of the Pfizer vaccine. An additional 80,000 Pfizer vaccine doses will arrive in the coming days to start the vaccination program for residents and staff at nursing homes.
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That's a little kids dream. Presents under the tree, presents up beside the tree, presents up to and beyond the star! Big presents!
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What started nailing the coffin lid for me was Mitch, stating that Biden was officially the President-Elect. Mitch may be evil, but unlike Trump, he's not an idiot. He waited long enough that Trump can't say he didn't make an honest (dishonest?) effort (although he likely will), and he kept the admission short and sweet-- just a "that's the facts, ma'am" riff.
It must gall Trump that he can't fire Mitch! Heee...
January, please get here soon!
In the meantime, you may get a kick out of this:
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/conservatives-clutch-their-pearls-after-biden-aide-calls-gopers-bunch-of-fckers
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Smart thing to do would be - sign the stimulus, and be nice. But they aren't smart.
Agreed - for me the tipping point was McConnell - stating publicly that Biden is the new President, and going behind the scenes to tell his cohorts to toe the line. (He's not an idiot - he knows that the longer they press this - the less clout and power, they'll have down the line. And McConnell will do whatever it takes to keep power - aiding Trump isn't the route to that.]
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They're lamenting the mess Trump and his followers are making in the meantime, but they're not concerned that anything other than "Biden takes the office, just as he was elected to do" will happen.
I like the blue decor and lights in your various Christmas pics. Pretty.
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Very reassuring. It's what my law background tells me.
Now, if Georgia will just elect two Democrats - we can have a tie in the Senate, broken by Harris - making Harris the most powerful in the Senate. If will also force the idiotic Republicans to work with people and compromise.