Year 2 - Day #104 - Still Hot, Still Here
Jun. 29th, 2021 08:43 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkatI probably skipped a day in there, not certain, don't really care. I doubt anyone will notice anyhow.
Me: I wish I could go down and take you places, run errands for you - basically do everything for you that you did for your mother.
Mother: Are you beating yourself up again?
Me: Yes.
Mother: Stop it. And don't let other people pressure you.
Mother did however let her cousin pressure her into following up with her doctor - so that the bone stimulator folks came today and showed her the CT scan. No change. Still not healed. They are fed-exing another portion of the bone simulator -since the strap doesn't fit around her hip. They told her to push back her doctor's appointment and give the simulator a chance to work.
Mother also found my father's television remote and squared him away in his new room at the long-term care facility.
Meanwhile, in other news, Aunt M has been released from the occupational therapy center, and will have home health care and PT. She has a long haul, but turned a corner for the better. Spoke with Aunt K - and apparently all is well in her corner of the US - her entire community in Clear water, Florida has been vaccinated now - so they have activities, visit with each other, and she teaches water aerobics three times a week.
Also she got involved with the vaccination effort - and felt great to get back involved with nursing for a bit.
On a sadder note, yet another friend from my church has been diagnosed with Cancer - this time colon cancer. They found a malignant tumor and it's scheduled to be removed. I don't know what is up with this year - but everyone seems to be going in and out of the hospital with various ailments. Okay, not everyone, just more people than I'm used to. Last year, actually, wasn't as bad.
Learned from Aunt K that she stopped Hormone Replacement Therapy because it caused cysts, and the black chobash messed up her stomach - apparently it doesn't digest well or at all, and just works its way out. This fit with Jen Guttner's Menopause Manifesto which strongly advises against homopathic remedies. Especially black chobash. I wish I knew this before I bought some. All well only took about six. I threw it out. Throwing out the other bottle as well. Apparently the only things I can use are ice packs, a fan, diet, exercise, and light weight clothing in layers. Lovely.
***
Covid
Masks are once again the focus of conflicting views as a highly contagious coronavirus variant spreads across the globe.
In May, American health officials said that fully vaccinated people no longer needed to wear masks, even indoors. But that was before the Delta variant took hold. Worried by a global surge in variant cases, the World Health Organization stood by its recommendation that everyone wear masks to stem the spread of the virus. On Monday, health officials in Los Angeles County followed suit.
Well that's not confusing at all. Sigh. I wish people would make up their mind. I'm wearing the masks inside, and not outside. Except in cases where no one is around or I can social distance by six feet or more. [They can't make up their minds regarding masks. Neither can my work place - although this explains my work places confusion regarding it. We keep getting revised emails regarding the "revised" mask policy.]
The Delta variant may cause us all to go under lockdown again in the Fall, just around the time - I'm getting ready to visit my folks. The Universe is such a jokester.
The variant has been identified in at least 85 countries, and now accounts for one in five infections in the U.S. Countries in the Asia-Pacific region with slow vaccination campaigns are scrambling to slow the spread of the variant by resorting to new lockdowns, including in four big cities in Australia as well as in Bangladesh and Malaysia.
Well, yeah, the US has folks traveling about too. It's not just other countries.
Also? NYC now offers at home vaccines for anyone over the age of 12 and up. Also, apparently at home rapid virus testing is still available for the vaccinated with any sniffles or fears of contracting it.
Brazil has become a serious problem - it has the Gamma and Delta variants, also it's hit the second highest death toll in the world, and the highest average - 1 in 400 have contracted and died of the COVID virus. People there are being choosy about vaccines - they don't want the Chinese vaccine. Also they aren't following any protocols - it's business as usual there. Small wonder that they are averaging 3-4,000 cases a day. Note to self stay away from Brazil - during pandemics.
I don't trust the numbers coming out of India and Russia. I know it's much higher than either are admitting.
NYC meanwhile is trying to figure out how to make outdoor dining permanent. I'll give them credit -they've certain been creative with the whole outdoor dining thing. Does make going down sidewalks perilous though. Areas of Court Street and Smith in Brooklyn are almost impossible.
Courteylou is much better. It has side-streets. And not as many.
Meanwhile..
* The African Union is pushing the European Union to amend its digital travel pass to include Covishield, a vaccine used in many low-income countries.
* In Abu Dhabi, the U.A.E. capital, unvaccinated residents older than 15 will not be able to access most public places after Aug. 20.
* Canada is still mostly closed to Americans. Here’s why. [I'll save you the read - apparently they are afraid the US will give them the Delta variant - which even vaccinated could contract and transmit to non-vaccinated. So they are being cautious.]
* Britain offered a narrow exemption to its quarantine rules for business travelers “bringing significant economic benefit.”
* United Airlines is rapidly expanding its fleet to keep up with rebounding travel.
Politics or rather NYC Politics
Eric Adams’s lead shrunk significantly in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary, with Kathryn Garcia closing in.
A week after Adams, the Brooklyn borough president, held a substantial lead among in-person voters, Adams now leads Garcia by only two percentage points, 51.1 percent to 48.9 percent — a margin of 15,908 votes — after 11 rounds of elimination, with Maya Wiley in third place.
But those numbers may be scrambled again as the city’s Board of Elections tabulates outcomes that will include more than 124,000 Democratic absentee ballots. A fuller result is not expected until mid-July.
I don't know ranked choice voting is confusing and stressful. Why not just count the first place votes? Also, it's just me or does it take us a lot longer now to determine a winner?
I don't really care who wins - but I think Adams has a better chance against the Republican candidate. I could be wrong about that. I only care that no Republican ever gets into public office ever again.
***
I feel inundated with ads. The return to the office on a hybrid basis - caused me to go on an online shopping spree with mixed results. The skirts fit for the most part, one was a bit tight. Loved the shirt though, may get another. Also maybe a pleated skirt in a larger size.
Sisinlaw had a lovely dress on her website - but alas it was the last one in stock, and had a 24 chest in all sizes, apparently Sis-in-law is oblivious to the fact that big-busted women exist? I may have to educate her on that point.
***
Dinner tonight was La Pasta Gluten-Free Ravolia, hand made, with pesto and tomatoes and parmesene cheese. I don't know if this was cheating or not? Also had a smoothie - oat yogurt (no sugar), a small portion of a banana, peach, three strawberries, hemp protein, and maca. Lunch, salmon over greens, with radishes and cucumbers. Breakfast, oatmeal - quick steel cut oatmeal, cashew milk. Snack? Nuts and dried cranberries and sunflower seeds. With some dark chocolate.
I don't drink sugary or sugar free drinks - so tea and water.
***
Niece plus boyfriend, according to mother, made it up to Rhode Island beach house with my brother, his wife, and their best friend and his significant other. Brother's best friend and significant other sound like a contemporary romance story. He's a trust fund baby, from connected parents, who has bi-polar, and sister committed suicide. His father is a world-reknowned psychologist and his uncle an Archbishop. His last fiancee stood him up at the altar. And he works as a public defender in NYC. His girl-friend has two kids and is divorced. It kind of writes itself.
My life has been uneventful in the romance department. But my brother's is interesting.
Oh well, it was hot in Rhode Island - and no air conditioning. Slightly better today - dipped to 83 degrees. I'm glad I'm not there - I need A/C right now. Also, the water is cold - which I thought was interesting.
Me: I wish I could go down and take you places, run errands for you - basically do everything for you that you did for your mother.
Mother: Are you beating yourself up again?
Me: Yes.
Mother: Stop it. And don't let other people pressure you.
Mother did however let her cousin pressure her into following up with her doctor - so that the bone stimulator folks came today and showed her the CT scan. No change. Still not healed. They are fed-exing another portion of the bone simulator -since the strap doesn't fit around her hip. They told her to push back her doctor's appointment and give the simulator a chance to work.
Mother also found my father's television remote and squared him away in his new room at the long-term care facility.
Meanwhile, in other news, Aunt M has been released from the occupational therapy center, and will have home health care and PT. She has a long haul, but turned a corner for the better. Spoke with Aunt K - and apparently all is well in her corner of the US - her entire community in Clear water, Florida has been vaccinated now - so they have activities, visit with each other, and she teaches water aerobics three times a week.
Also she got involved with the vaccination effort - and felt great to get back involved with nursing for a bit.
On a sadder note, yet another friend from my church has been diagnosed with Cancer - this time colon cancer. They found a malignant tumor and it's scheduled to be removed. I don't know what is up with this year - but everyone seems to be going in and out of the hospital with various ailments. Okay, not everyone, just more people than I'm used to. Last year, actually, wasn't as bad.
Learned from Aunt K that she stopped Hormone Replacement Therapy because it caused cysts, and the black chobash messed up her stomach - apparently it doesn't digest well or at all, and just works its way out. This fit with Jen Guttner's Menopause Manifesto which strongly advises against homopathic remedies. Especially black chobash. I wish I knew this before I bought some. All well only took about six. I threw it out. Throwing out the other bottle as well. Apparently the only things I can use are ice packs, a fan, diet, exercise, and light weight clothing in layers. Lovely.
***
Covid
Masks are once again the focus of conflicting views as a highly contagious coronavirus variant spreads across the globe.
In May, American health officials said that fully vaccinated people no longer needed to wear masks, even indoors. But that was before the Delta variant took hold. Worried by a global surge in variant cases, the World Health Organization stood by its recommendation that everyone wear masks to stem the spread of the virus. On Monday, health officials in Los Angeles County followed suit.
Well that's not confusing at all. Sigh. I wish people would make up their mind. I'm wearing the masks inside, and not outside. Except in cases where no one is around or I can social distance by six feet or more. [They can't make up their minds regarding masks. Neither can my work place - although this explains my work places confusion regarding it. We keep getting revised emails regarding the "revised" mask policy.]
The Delta variant may cause us all to go under lockdown again in the Fall, just around the time - I'm getting ready to visit my folks. The Universe is such a jokester.
The variant has been identified in at least 85 countries, and now accounts for one in five infections in the U.S. Countries in the Asia-Pacific region with slow vaccination campaigns are scrambling to slow the spread of the variant by resorting to new lockdowns, including in four big cities in Australia as well as in Bangladesh and Malaysia.
Well, yeah, the US has folks traveling about too. It's not just other countries.
Also? NYC now offers at home vaccines for anyone over the age of 12 and up. Also, apparently at home rapid virus testing is still available for the vaccinated with any sniffles or fears of contracting it.
Brazil has become a serious problem - it has the Gamma and Delta variants, also it's hit the second highest death toll in the world, and the highest average - 1 in 400 have contracted and died of the COVID virus. People there are being choosy about vaccines - they don't want the Chinese vaccine. Also they aren't following any protocols - it's business as usual there. Small wonder that they are averaging 3-4,000 cases a day. Note to self stay away from Brazil - during pandemics.
I don't trust the numbers coming out of India and Russia. I know it's much higher than either are admitting.
NYC meanwhile is trying to figure out how to make outdoor dining permanent. I'll give them credit -they've certain been creative with the whole outdoor dining thing. Does make going down sidewalks perilous though. Areas of Court Street and Smith in Brooklyn are almost impossible.
Courteylou is much better. It has side-streets. And not as many.
Meanwhile..
* The African Union is pushing the European Union to amend its digital travel pass to include Covishield, a vaccine used in many low-income countries.
* In Abu Dhabi, the U.A.E. capital, unvaccinated residents older than 15 will not be able to access most public places after Aug. 20.
* Canada is still mostly closed to Americans. Here’s why. [I'll save you the read - apparently they are afraid the US will give them the Delta variant - which even vaccinated could contract and transmit to non-vaccinated. So they are being cautious.]
* Britain offered a narrow exemption to its quarantine rules for business travelers “bringing significant economic benefit.”
* United Airlines is rapidly expanding its fleet to keep up with rebounding travel.
Politics or rather NYC Politics
Eric Adams’s lead shrunk significantly in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary, with Kathryn Garcia closing in.
A week after Adams, the Brooklyn borough president, held a substantial lead among in-person voters, Adams now leads Garcia by only two percentage points, 51.1 percent to 48.9 percent — a margin of 15,908 votes — after 11 rounds of elimination, with Maya Wiley in third place.
But those numbers may be scrambled again as the city’s Board of Elections tabulates outcomes that will include more than 124,000 Democratic absentee ballots. A fuller result is not expected until mid-July.
I don't know ranked choice voting is confusing and stressful. Why not just count the first place votes? Also, it's just me or does it take us a lot longer now to determine a winner?
I don't really care who wins - but I think Adams has a better chance against the Republican candidate. I could be wrong about that. I only care that no Republican ever gets into public office ever again.
***
I feel inundated with ads. The return to the office on a hybrid basis - caused me to go on an online shopping spree with mixed results. The skirts fit for the most part, one was a bit tight. Loved the shirt though, may get another. Also maybe a pleated skirt in a larger size.
Sisinlaw had a lovely dress on her website - but alas it was the last one in stock, and had a 24 chest in all sizes, apparently Sis-in-law is oblivious to the fact that big-busted women exist? I may have to educate her on that point.
***
Dinner tonight was La Pasta Gluten-Free Ravolia, hand made, with pesto and tomatoes and parmesene cheese. I don't know if this was cheating or not? Also had a smoothie - oat yogurt (no sugar), a small portion of a banana, peach, three strawberries, hemp protein, and maca. Lunch, salmon over greens, with radishes and cucumbers. Breakfast, oatmeal - quick steel cut oatmeal, cashew milk. Snack? Nuts and dried cranberries and sunflower seeds. With some dark chocolate.
I don't drink sugary or sugar free drinks - so tea and water.
***
Niece plus boyfriend, according to mother, made it up to Rhode Island beach house with my brother, his wife, and their best friend and his significant other. Brother's best friend and significant other sound like a contemporary romance story. He's a trust fund baby, from connected parents, who has bi-polar, and sister committed suicide. His father is a world-reknowned psychologist and his uncle an Archbishop. His last fiancee stood him up at the altar. And he works as a public defender in NYC. His girl-friend has two kids and is divorced. It kind of writes itself.
My life has been uneventful in the romance department. But my brother's is interesting.
Oh well, it was hot in Rhode Island - and no air conditioning. Slightly better today - dipped to 83 degrees. I'm glad I'm not there - I need A/C right now. Also, the water is cold - which I thought was interesting.