Y2/D216 - Ah, the heat came on finally
Oct. 18th, 2021 06:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkatIt's been freezing all day long. I finally gave up and put on socks, long sleeved shirt, and jeans at lunch time and kept them on. I'd been wearing joggers, then sweats, fluffy floppies, shirt sleeved shirt and a long sleeved sweater over it. It was not doing the job - I've the worst windows when it comes to insulation - cold air just breezes right through them.
Now, with the heat buzzing on - I've radiator heat, I'm warm and toasty post hot shower. The first time it's buzzed on since April, I think.
Ah, I love this time of year. Slowly falling towards winter.
Been fluctuating in and out of a depressed boredom all day long. In a fit of desperation - took CBD around 10 AM to relieve it, it worked, but it may also have upset my stomach, so maybe not. Would help if I were busier at work - my envy towards folks who are busy is slanting slowly towards resentment. And I battle that with mediation - which helps me see the emotion for what it is, and let it go. It's not their fault I'm not busy.
Any more than it is my fault that they are. It just is.
The shower helped. Had another variation on Tuna Nicoise Salad - basically seared tuna steak, watercress, spinach leaves, shitake mushrooms and broccoli. Made enough for lunch tomorrow - I added cucumbers. Plus in a separate compartment slices of granny smith green apple, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries. I don't like melons, or bananas for that matter. And the only apples I really like are granny smith, the others are too sweet. I did buy an Asian Pear, which looks like an apple but tastes like a pear, although generally speaking - I find pears a tad on the sweet side.
Trying to keep the sugar under control. At least for the most part, but on days like today, it's kind of hard to care. I wasn't feeling well this morning, and for some reason or other felt better when I had a few chocolate candy things (kind energy bar, russell stover halloween candy), you'd think it would have been the opposite.
Mother's birthday was today. I'd sent her flowers. We're (mother and I) are concerned about the state of her hip - which refuses to get better. It has only been five weeks since her surgery though - so we need to be patient.
But we both think her pain should be less somehow? I'm resisting the urge to google it.
**
* Colin Powell, decorated general and national security leader, died today of complications from the coronavirus.
Powell, 84, had been vaccinated and was being treated at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. A spokeswoman said his immune system had been compromised by multiple myeloma, a rare blood cancer. [Sigh. I liked Colin Powell.]
* The Supreme Court signaled it may act quickly on the Texas abortion law.
In a forceful brief today, the Biden administration urged the Supreme Court to temporarily block a Texas law that bans most abortions in the state while a legal challenge moves forward, calling the law “plainly unconstitutional.” [I wished I trusted the Supreme Court to do the right thing, but alas, I do not.]
* The F.D.A. is planning to allow “mix and match” boosters this week.
The agency could allow the use of coronavirus vaccine boosters from different manufacturers by Wednesday, when it is expected to authorize boosters of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. [So, let's get this straight? The FDA has held back on authorizing the Moderna Booster, but it has no problem allowing mixing and matching now? I am not mixing and matching. I got the Pfizer, I'm getting the booster for the Pfizer.]
* Many northern U.S. counties are experiencing rising coronavirus cases as colder weather arrives and people move indoors.
The top five states in new daily cases per capita are led by Alaska, according to a New York Times database. The next four are Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota and Idaho. The five states with the fastest rising caseloads are Vermont, Colorado, New Hampshire, Michigan and Minnesota. [Well, that was predictable - to anyone who has following the viruses pattern. Indoor gatherings = rise in infections. Hello. You can get it from folks indoors, particularly without masks, but less so outdoors. I noticed more people wearing masks outdoors in NYC - possibly as a result of all of the breakthrough cases and deaths lately. Folks no longer feel safe. New Yorkers aren't quite sure what to do. Do we wear masks outside or not? Are we safe indoors? We don't bloody know, hey, I know, let's err on the side of caution until we figure it out. NY lost the most people during the pandemic in 2020...it's still traumatized.]
A New York Times review of public health departments in all 50 states indicates that they’re less well equipped to confront a pandemic now than they were at the beginning of 2020. [Sigh. Well, that's hardly reassuring. ]
Here's why [basically it's selfish asshole syndrom or most of humanity ain't worth saving]:
* Public health agencies have seen a staggering exodus of exhausted and demoralized staff, in part because of abuse and threats.
* Local health officials described increasingly poisonous encounters with the public. “It’s such an ugly and demoralizing experience to have people in your community yell at you, threaten you or lie directly to you,” Danielle said. “We heard from a number of local health officials who said that they felt like they were seeing post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in their staff.”
*Legislators have approved more than 100 new laws that limit state and local health powers, undermining flu vaccination campaigns and attempts to quarantine people with measles.
* Voters have elected officials who ran on pledges to rein in public health departments.
* About 220 health departments told The Times they temporarily or permanently abandoned regular duties to respond to the pandemic, leading to spikes in lead poisoning, drug overdoses and sexually transmitted diseases. They worried that cases of child abuse had been overlooked.
* Billions of dollars have been made available to support public health efforts by the federal government, but most of it has been geared toward stemming the emergency, rather than hiring permanent staff or building long-term capability.
* Before the pandemic, public health was already underfunded and neglected across the country. The political and logistical toll of the pandemic, Danielle said, suggest it’s being further undermined in ways that could reverberate for decades to come.
Gee, it's not surprising I'm battling depression, is it? Join the frigging club. Right? I think I may donate funds to a food bank to make up for the food waste of the baking shows I've been watching and feel guilty for watching. Also, maybe more funds to the Environmental Defense Fund.
And..
* Police officers and their unions are pushing back against vaccine mandates. [At this point I no longer care if police officers die of the virus, gun shot wounds, or anything for that matter. It's sad.]
* As vaccination goals are met, cities in Australia are easing restrictions. While...New Zealand extended the lockdown of its largest city for another two weeks. And South Korea relaxed its virus restrictions.
*Minnesota’s governor called up the National Guard to ease crowding in hospitals. [I know? Send everyone who didn't get vaccinated home to die.]
*The E.U. said it has exported more than one billion doses of coronavirus vaccines, DW reports.
* The Washington Post looked at why so many teachers are considering leaving their jobs.[This needs to be looked into? I'd think it would be obvious? I mean teaching wasn't exactly high paid and easy to begin with, add COVID...and it's a nightmare.]
*The Times talked to New Yorkers who resisted getting vaccinated about why they changed their minds. [Realized they were being idiots?]
Every time I think the situation is getting better - I flip on the news or read the Times, and realize, really not.
**
Neil Gaiman was still fighting with folks over the casting of women in male roles in The Sandman. Apparently it was lost on folks that various roles, such as Lucifer, were kind of gender-less to begin with and could go either way, or better yet neither way. I think too many people only know The Sandman comics via the lens of the Tom Ellis series Lucifer, or the Mike Carey Lucifer comics, and not via Gaiman's actual Sandman series, that was published thirty years prior? Some cis-gendered male idiot thought he'd tell Gaiman that there was a lot of anger out there about this - and there would be black lash against Gaiman. I tweeted that Gaiman shouldn't waste bandwidth on these nitwits. I've lost patience with them.
Speaking of gender, there is a lovely interview with a transgender actress on youtube, via Maurice Bernard's State of Mind that is worth tuning into. She's the first trans character and actress to appear on daytime soaps, with an actual role. Also is an Asian American trans actress.
Brings up some excellent points about the ingrained misogyny in our society, and how it was easier being a gay man than a trans woman, which makes sense. Our society hates women. She talks about how many cis woman get the patriarchy ingrained in them at an early age - and how a trans woman suddenly is overwhelmed by it. She'd not realized how bad it was until she underwent the transition to becoming a woman. We really do denigrate women in this society, and have issues with body image.
That gave me hope. And surprisingly enough? The comments are overwhelmingly positive - proof that there are kind, compassionate folks out there. More than I realized. Nice anti-dote to the news.
**
Random photo of the day...
Now, with the heat buzzing on - I've radiator heat, I'm warm and toasty post hot shower. The first time it's buzzed on since April, I think.
Ah, I love this time of year. Slowly falling towards winter.
Been fluctuating in and out of a depressed boredom all day long. In a fit of desperation - took CBD around 10 AM to relieve it, it worked, but it may also have upset my stomach, so maybe not. Would help if I were busier at work - my envy towards folks who are busy is slanting slowly towards resentment. And I battle that with mediation - which helps me see the emotion for what it is, and let it go. It's not their fault I'm not busy.
Any more than it is my fault that they are. It just is.
The shower helped. Had another variation on Tuna Nicoise Salad - basically seared tuna steak, watercress, spinach leaves, shitake mushrooms and broccoli. Made enough for lunch tomorrow - I added cucumbers. Plus in a separate compartment slices of granny smith green apple, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries. I don't like melons, or bananas for that matter. And the only apples I really like are granny smith, the others are too sweet. I did buy an Asian Pear, which looks like an apple but tastes like a pear, although generally speaking - I find pears a tad on the sweet side.
Trying to keep the sugar under control. At least for the most part, but on days like today, it's kind of hard to care. I wasn't feeling well this morning, and for some reason or other felt better when I had a few chocolate candy things (kind energy bar, russell stover halloween candy), you'd think it would have been the opposite.
Mother's birthday was today. I'd sent her flowers. We're (mother and I) are concerned about the state of her hip - which refuses to get better. It has only been five weeks since her surgery though - so we need to be patient.
But we both think her pain should be less somehow? I'm resisting the urge to google it.
**
* Colin Powell, decorated general and national security leader, died today of complications from the coronavirus.
Powell, 84, had been vaccinated and was being treated at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. A spokeswoman said his immune system had been compromised by multiple myeloma, a rare blood cancer. [Sigh. I liked Colin Powell.]
* The Supreme Court signaled it may act quickly on the Texas abortion law.
In a forceful brief today, the Biden administration urged the Supreme Court to temporarily block a Texas law that bans most abortions in the state while a legal challenge moves forward, calling the law “plainly unconstitutional.” [I wished I trusted the Supreme Court to do the right thing, but alas, I do not.]
* The F.D.A. is planning to allow “mix and match” boosters this week.
The agency could allow the use of coronavirus vaccine boosters from different manufacturers by Wednesday, when it is expected to authorize boosters of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. [So, let's get this straight? The FDA has held back on authorizing the Moderna Booster, but it has no problem allowing mixing and matching now? I am not mixing and matching. I got the Pfizer, I'm getting the booster for the Pfizer.]
* Many northern U.S. counties are experiencing rising coronavirus cases as colder weather arrives and people move indoors.
The top five states in new daily cases per capita are led by Alaska, according to a New York Times database. The next four are Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota and Idaho. The five states with the fastest rising caseloads are Vermont, Colorado, New Hampshire, Michigan and Minnesota. [Well, that was predictable - to anyone who has following the viruses pattern. Indoor gatherings = rise in infections. Hello. You can get it from folks indoors, particularly without masks, but less so outdoors. I noticed more people wearing masks outdoors in NYC - possibly as a result of all of the breakthrough cases and deaths lately. Folks no longer feel safe. New Yorkers aren't quite sure what to do. Do we wear masks outside or not? Are we safe indoors? We don't bloody know, hey, I know, let's err on the side of caution until we figure it out. NY lost the most people during the pandemic in 2020...it's still traumatized.]
A New York Times review of public health departments in all 50 states indicates that they’re less well equipped to confront a pandemic now than they were at the beginning of 2020. [Sigh. Well, that's hardly reassuring. ]
Here's why [basically it's selfish asshole syndrom or most of humanity ain't worth saving]:
* Public health agencies have seen a staggering exodus of exhausted and demoralized staff, in part because of abuse and threats.
* Local health officials described increasingly poisonous encounters with the public. “It’s such an ugly and demoralizing experience to have people in your community yell at you, threaten you or lie directly to you,” Danielle said. “We heard from a number of local health officials who said that they felt like they were seeing post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in their staff.”
*Legislators have approved more than 100 new laws that limit state and local health powers, undermining flu vaccination campaigns and attempts to quarantine people with measles.
* Voters have elected officials who ran on pledges to rein in public health departments.
* About 220 health departments told The Times they temporarily or permanently abandoned regular duties to respond to the pandemic, leading to spikes in lead poisoning, drug overdoses and sexually transmitted diseases. They worried that cases of child abuse had been overlooked.
* Billions of dollars have been made available to support public health efforts by the federal government, but most of it has been geared toward stemming the emergency, rather than hiring permanent staff or building long-term capability.
* Before the pandemic, public health was already underfunded and neglected across the country. The political and logistical toll of the pandemic, Danielle said, suggest it’s being further undermined in ways that could reverberate for decades to come.
Gee, it's not surprising I'm battling depression, is it? Join the frigging club. Right? I think I may donate funds to a food bank to make up for the food waste of the baking shows I've been watching and feel guilty for watching. Also, maybe more funds to the Environmental Defense Fund.
And..
* Police officers and their unions are pushing back against vaccine mandates. [At this point I no longer care if police officers die of the virus, gun shot wounds, or anything for that matter. It's sad.]
* As vaccination goals are met, cities in Australia are easing restrictions. While...New Zealand extended the lockdown of its largest city for another two weeks. And South Korea relaxed its virus restrictions.
*Minnesota’s governor called up the National Guard to ease crowding in hospitals. [I know? Send everyone who didn't get vaccinated home to die.]
*The E.U. said it has exported more than one billion doses of coronavirus vaccines, DW reports.
* The Washington Post looked at why so many teachers are considering leaving their jobs.[This needs to be looked into? I'd think it would be obvious? I mean teaching wasn't exactly high paid and easy to begin with, add COVID...and it's a nightmare.]
*The Times talked to New Yorkers who resisted getting vaccinated about why they changed their minds. [Realized they were being idiots?]
Every time I think the situation is getting better - I flip on the news or read the Times, and realize, really not.
**
Neil Gaiman was still fighting with folks over the casting of women in male roles in The Sandman. Apparently it was lost on folks that various roles, such as Lucifer, were kind of gender-less to begin with and could go either way, or better yet neither way. I think too many people only know The Sandman comics via the lens of the Tom Ellis series Lucifer, or the Mike Carey Lucifer comics, and not via Gaiman's actual Sandman series, that was published thirty years prior? Some cis-gendered male idiot thought he'd tell Gaiman that there was a lot of anger out there about this - and there would be black lash against Gaiman. I tweeted that Gaiman shouldn't waste bandwidth on these nitwits. I've lost patience with them.
Speaking of gender, there is a lovely interview with a transgender actress on youtube, via Maurice Bernard's State of Mind that is worth tuning into. She's the first trans character and actress to appear on daytime soaps, with an actual role. Also is an Asian American trans actress.
Brings up some excellent points about the ingrained misogyny in our society, and how it was easier being a gay man than a trans woman, which makes sense. Our society hates women. She talks about how many cis woman get the patriarchy ingrained in them at an early age - and how a trans woman suddenly is overwhelmed by it. She'd not realized how bad it was until she underwent the transition to becoming a woman. We really do denigrate women in this society, and have issues with body image.
That gave me hope. And surprisingly enough? The comments are overwhelmingly positive - proof that there are kind, compassionate folks out there. More than I realized. Nice anti-dote to the news.
**
Random photo of the day...