Day #320 - Passing flurries..

Basically the snowstorm continued into today, although it was mainly passing flurries.

Below is one of my many attempts to take photos of the myriad of birds that I've been watching in my back yard. They love the snow. Been playing in it all day long like a bunch of kids. I think they even peed and pooped in it, and trounced about in it.



I know this because I saw little stains of yellow dotting the snow.

Tomorrow, I think I might actually venture out in it - it's supposed to be in the 40s tomorrow. I'll pick up my prescription, and maybe wander about. Greenwood Cemetery is closed - until they can pave and shovel it, ie make it safe for visitors. I'm on their mailing list now - because I donated money to them. I figured it was the least I could do - considering I've been basically using it as my retreat from the world for the last eight months and counting.

New York vs. the Snow Storm and the Corona Virus, and well the media

Our Governor was in a good mood today, as was the Mayor - because people behaved themselves yesterday - so the sanitation department was able to clear the roads with incident. Outdoor dining will be back in operation by this evening. (Yes, dining outdoors in little plastic and wooden cabins on the sidewalks, surrounded by slush and snow - with wait staff wading in and out of it - seems bizarre to me too, not to mention unappealing, but what do I know? Restaurants aren't missing me exactly - I've rarely if ever gone out to eat. People come visit me and say - okay pick a place you love or frequent. And I'm like - uh, what if I don't? )

Anyhow, because the Governor was in a good mood, one of the reporters ventured to ask..why his public health managers quit? Was it a personality conflict with him? Issues with Covid? Not knowing enough? Overwork? What exactly? (It was a non-confrontational question that I highly appreciated.)

The Governor with a smile, stated that COVID threw everyone for a loop and people got overwhelmed by it. And many quit, with no judgment, under the pressure. It's an unforeseen situation that we've never dealt with before.

He was telling people to come into the city and visit the new train station. Eh. I'll wait until I have to go to the Jacobs Javits Center to get the vaccine. I can't decide if I want to brave the New York State's site and schedule an appointment based on sketchy eligibility - I'm considered eligible and a non-essential worker via my workplace. Or if I want to wait until crazy workplace sets an appointment for me, based on actual eligibility. I'm not going to venture in right now - unless I have to. I limit travel to exercise, and going to the pharmacy and grocery store. For heaven's sake - I'm working remotely from home for the first time in my life and had caved to buy a printer - which I need to request IT to let me print one drive and Teams docs to.

Oh and some good news, I guess...

We received some good news from the federal government today. The federal vaccine supply to the states will increase by about 20 percent for the next three weeks, up from the initial 16 percent expected bump in allocations. Additionally, private pharmacies in the state who are charged with prioritizing the 65-plus population will now receive an additional 10 percent, or about 30,000 doses, directly from the federal government. This will supplement doses allocated to them by the State. Following the snowstorm, all New York State-run vaccination sites will be open and ready to administer doses during regularly scheduled hours starting tomorrow (by appointment only). If your appointment was canceled due to the weather, don't worry — you have been rebooked. Be sure to check for an email or text rescheduling your appointment.

That explains why he was in a good mood, at least.

Oh and remember how Australia and New Zealand shut down with one case or 100 cases, and go nuts?

From the Governor's email, here's the numbers:
( Read more... )

In brighter news..another inept attempt to capture a bird on film..



Honestly birds are impossible. I need to buy a bird house or feeder - except I'm afraid I'll just be dealing with squirrels, who have an uncanny ability to go anywhere.

The Science of Dealing with Unreasonable People - I need to take this guy's advice.

( excerpt which includes Harry Potter fanfic )

I got into a disagreement with the moderator of a fanboard (which is actually rare for me - except on this particular board], who'd clearly lost her patience with folks not going along with the spoilers she'd released and so diligently found an provided. [Note if she provides a spoiler - it is fact and you must accept it without disagreement.] ( Read more... )

Family

Mother: I did well last night without the home health care aid.
Me: Okay.
Mother: Just wanted to let you know. Only one problem...
ME: What?
Mother: I need to figure out how to have someone help me take a shower - I get do it on my own quite yet. And I can't get someone to help me do it at night - they have other people they have to help get to bed, and in the morning, they have to help other people get up and get their breakfasts and showers.
Me: Aren't you paying these people? And quite a lot for that matter??
( Read more... )

Other news..

I'm ignoring the stuff about the impeachment as much as I can. Although apparently not quite enough.( Read more... )

Meanwhile...

* President Biden is still at work rolling back his predecessor’s policies, this time his assault on immigration.

Mr. Biden signed three executive orders: one that created a task force to reunite several hundred families who were separated at the Mexican border, and two that authorized a review of the former president’s measures on asylum and legal immigration. Above, Honduran migrant families in McAllen, Texas, in 2019.

“I’m not making new law,” Mr. Biden said. “I’m eliminating bad policy.”

* Separately, the Senate confirmed Alejandro Mayorkas as secretary of homeland security, making him the first Latino and the first immigrant to hold that job. [YES! FINALLY!]

* Pete Buttigieg, 39, was confirmed as transportation secretary, the first openly gay cabinet secretary to have been approved by the Senate and the youngest member of Mr. Biden’s cabinet.[Thank god!]

Now if only Congress can get its bloody act together.

But enough...good night and as they say, good luck, wherever you may be in the world tonight. Hopefully it is someplace safe, warm and kind.

For me? It's overlooking a snowy backyard, and white and black and gray landscape...but it is warm inside, and the lights are cozy.