Year #2 - Day 119 (I Think)

In the office today. The commute to work wasn't all that bad, on the way home there were a few more people however.




New Yorkers don't know if they should wear masks or not any longer. So about 60% do, 10% don't and the rest are indecisive. I fall in the indecisive category at the moment - or confused category.

On the train ride to work - a man got on with his daughter and all their beach stuff, and no masks. (There's still a federal mask mandate in place to wear masks on all public transportation. But people are understandably confused - since you don't have to wear them in restaurants, bars, and other places.)

Co-worker informed me that our Crazy-Ass Governor's daughter's wedding is coming up in August. He apparently has a huge wedding planned, and wants the state to be completely open in time for it.

We're annoyed because there's variants wandering about.

Note, found out today that BYT Manager had contracted COVID in March of this year. ( Read more... )

Workplace was kind of deserted today - it was just six of us, maybe eight if that. I did talk to people. One guy, who retired way back in 2019, visited us. He's another book buddy.
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Book Buddy apparently grew out his beard over the pandemic, then finally got around to shaving it in time for a doctor's appointment. It was down to his navel. He showed us pictures. He looked like a giant Dwarf from the Lord of the Rings, complete with bald head.

Breaking Bad: You should have braided it.
Book Buddy: Way ahead of you - I did.

At lunch I took a brief walk around the air train station. Got myself a drink and a kind energy bar. While I was up there - it's up several flights of steps, and kind of overlooks the tracks - I saw this huge suite case that appeared to be abandoned up on deck over looking the tracks and connecting the train station to the air train station. It was sitting there by itself, and looked full. Also on the stairs leading down to the lobby far below - was a woman curled up sleeping on one of the ledges.
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**

Spoke to mother today, and I'm worried about both my parents. My mother is not a good advocate. And I'm not sure how to help. Every time I've tried to advocate for my parents - they've shut me down. She needs to be a better advocate for my Dad, who is in a nursing home - and has a UTI, which still hasn't been treated. They asked her today - how he reacted to Pencillin.

Mother: I don't know why they asked this. Usually they use anti-biotics. Why do you need pencillin? Anyhow they asked what the side-effects were - did he just break out...etc.
Me: And?
Mother: The last time he pencillin his face swelled up.

I told her to get her primary care doctor involved - whom she's paying quite a bit for - outside of medicare. They pay their doctor a kind of extra fee for more attention to care. I don't understand it exactly. The doctor who visits the nursing homes in the area - isn't very good apparently. But the nursing home that my father currently is in - is among the best in the area.

Mother keeps beating herself up for not being able to continue taking care of my Dad at home. But honestly, even if she was well, I don't see how it could have continued. She's not in the best of shape herself, even before the fractured hip - she was struggling with him. I am terrified her hip isn't going to heal. Please send warm thoughts and prayers her way for her appointment on Tuesday, if you can. That's when the trauma specialist looks at her fracture and determines what can be done, if anything.

***

Crazy Workplace informed us that there was a heat advisory in effect today and tomorrow - along with an air advisory. But there would be no schedule changes or changes regarding work outdoors or indoors. My heart goes out to the poor souls who had to work outside today and tomorrow. Although there was a breeze in Queens and Brooklyn - so it wasn't quite that bad, and the humidity wasn't quite as bad as the previous days. Still felt steamy, but not quite as bad as usual.

***

Covid

Per the Governor's email...things are holding steady in NY, but the Delta Variant is now the predominant one in the state.

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BYT told me that she knew a 14 year old who had lost both parents to COVID this year, and was living with his grandparents.

I'm grateful I don't know of anyone who is in this situation. Also, the NY Times briefings tell me that if you are fully vaccinated - you don't have to worry about Long COVID, and you are protected against the variants. This is reassuring. The Northeast and upper Midwest who have high vaccination rates, are actually showing a decrease in cases. The states with the outbreaks or increase in cases are those with the lowest vaccination rates.

The US sent Haiti its first series of vaccinations - 500,000 doses. It's also sent the FBI to help Haiti investigate the assassination, since meetings were held in Florida, and American citizens were involved. The US is helping Haiti.

***

I want to go to the movie theater and see Black Widow, but am uncertain about it. The whole idea makes me twitchy. I'm sure its fine. But still - twitchy. I may just wait and watch on my big-screen tv. But watching superhero action flicks in a movie theater is a rare treat. (If you are into that sort of thing, of course. And I am.)

I think I've rambled long enough for tonight. Thanks for reading.