Coronavirus on a Personal Basis

[AndyinPA]

Best of luck and lots of hugs.

[sugar magnolia]

The rapid test was negative, but I don't have a lot of faith in it. They were very specific about directions since there are apparently 2 options. Each package has either a big TEST 1 or TEST 2 stamped all over everything, and then instructions how to do each. My TEST 1 was actually a TEST 2, so things didn't go exactly as planned. The other grandparents had her for the night last night and are keeping an eye on her.

The 2 tests are not in the same package. They apparently have 2 variations and you get a box with 2 tests of the same variation and the instruction booklet for both, to use the instructions depending on which ones are in the box.

[Volkonski]

Wishing for the best result!

[Foggy]

Off Topic

... my balance beam is a big tree lying on the forest floor ...

Yeah, and I said I'd get a photo ...
.

log.jpg

[Tiredretiredlawyer]

for sugar!!!!

[bill_g]

Off Topic

... my balance beam is a big tree lying on the forest floor ...

Yeah, and I said I'd get a photo ...
.
log.jpg

That looks perfect. Definitely a safe challenge. It restores balance coordination, and improves lower leg strength in a way that is hard to isolate otherwise.

[John Thomas8]

Here's a person observation on Covid, from Bill Ward (drummer for Black Sabbath):

[AndyinPA]

Today we went out and did our second major outing with a crowd since the pandemic started. At the theater two weeks ago where we saw Hamilton, you had to wear a mask, and bring ID and your vax card. At the Pittsburgh Home and Garden Show today, there were no mask or vax requirements. I took a mask, but ended up not wearing it, which I'd say was the case for more than 99 percent of the attendees. It was not packed, and the constant "breeze" felt safe. The ventilation was excellent. This is the biggest home show in the country, covering ten acres of space in the convention center. We have to put in new windows and new siding (the house is 44 years old), so we really needed to be able to talk to a lot of people, so this was a pretty necessary event for us. And it was coming full circle as it was the first thing we canceled when the pandemic started.

Also, today I got my last V-Safe text as it was exactly one year since I got my second Moderna.

[Foggy]

As I noted, before Omicron my county had a bit fewer than 4,000 cases. In January it went up to 54,000.

Now it's down to 2,200, in a county with 1.1 million. My pharmacist stopped wearing a mask. I talk to him, his name is Jeff, good guy, saved me a ton of money on my prescriptions, we're buddies now.

It's basically over here. I'm not wearing a mask in the gym, and I'll probably shower there after weightlifting class this morning. Yes, Dancing with Barbells, I'm back into it now that Omicron is over. Kelly, the Princess of Pain, is my instructor today at 9:30 a.m.

Until the next variant, we're basically back to normal. If I need a fourth vax shot, I'm down with that.

Ol' Wifehorn, as you know, is a superstar health insurance agent, and I am merely the leader of her support team. Numbah One Son is also on the team, he has mad computer skillz. But we decided, long ago, that she would be the lead agent, and all our clients are under her name, so there's no confusion or competition. We both know insurance, but she knows more. If you listened to her on the phone for half an hour, you'd think she'd been doing this her whole life. When we were florists, she was the designer, too also. If you listened to her do a wedding or funeral consultation and looked at her creations, you'd think she'd been doing that her whole life. I was the support leader there as well. We're a team, but in our businesses she's the leader, and born to it. Before we were married, she ran a computer school for kids. She's multi-multi-multi-I-don't-even-know.

Here's what I do know: Don't stand in her way.

So anyway, she's in the Chairman's Circle of our FMO for the second year in a row, so we're going to the fancy schmancy 5 star resort hotel on Kiawah Island south of Charleston SC in May, to celebrate with the other top-producing insurance Earthlings, who are basically OK Earthlings, as far as Earthlings go. We didn't need masks last year, and it looks like we won't need them this year either. Yes, this is the 5 star hotel with the smallest swimming pool of any hotel I ever stayed in, smaller than my living room, and you have to tip the pool guy $5 because he brings you a towel and a water bottle and tells you what lounge chair you can use. You can't carry your own luggage or park your own car, either. That's not how I like to live, but whatevs.

But Omicron is OVER, that's the good news.

[bill_g]

Crocodiles around every corner. This one just don't wanta sit quietly.

[AndyinPA]

I think that's true. I will keep well stocked on masks and always carry one with me now.

[Tiredretiredlawyer]

Watch out for alligators on Kiawah Island, Foggy. They have the right of way everywhere.

[Foggy]

They have to tip the hotel staff to cross the road, but the staff will hold traffic for them.

[Lani]

I think that's true. I will keep well stocked on masks and always carry one with me now.

I agree. The numbers here have gone down, but are higher than in previous drops. And we have no idea when another variant will breakout, but that will happen. Could be worse, could be mild. Who knows... I wish people would wait a little longer before throwing away caution.

On 3/25 masks will no longer be required inside.

[AndyinPA]

In spite of all this, the transportation sector (trains, planes, buses) has lengthened the date for removing masks from this month until sometime in April.


Edited to add a word.

[bill_g]

In spite of all this, the transportation vector (trains, planes, buses) has lengthened the date for removing masks from this month until sometime in April.


Edited to add a word.

fify

[AndyinPA]

In spite of all this, the transportation vector (trains, planes, buses) has lengthened the date for removing masks from this month until sometime in April.


Edited to add a word.

fify

TY.

[bill_g]

Though indoor mask mandates officially lifted yesterday, I still wore mine to Safeway. I was pleased to see all the staff, and at least half the patrons wearing masks. Mrs and I will continue to mask because we've seen the numbers elsewhere. It is just a matter of time before it goes north here as well. We get it. People are tired of this, but we have to tough it out.

[Foggy]

As I've said, before Omicron my county was at almost 4,000 cases.

Went up to 54,000.

Back down to 4,000, I went back to the gym.

Today, 1,309 cases. In a county with 1.1 million people.

It's over, and we stopped wearing masks.

Up here in Montgomery County, Maryland, they have only a million people. And only 809 cases. But everybody is still wearing masks, even outside. I walked 4 miles after arriving, and I couldn't believe it. My dad's senior living place is rigorous about it. Do NOT leave the condo barefaced.

[Estiveo]

My brother, the Yeti, has the 'rona. Mild symptoms, thankfully, but he has closed his shop, told his germy little fencing students to stay home for now, and retreated to his cave.

Estiveoshot_20220323_133611.jpg

[AndyinPA]

Hope he feels better soon.

[Foggy]

In its wisdom, the gubbermint of the Old North State has reconfigured the COVID-19 Dashboard to provide less information. It now uses CDC ratings to show my county as Low, Medium, or High Risk, and at the present time it's Low. But no actual numbers, because numbers, apparently, are hard.

Sigh.

[pipistrelle]

In its wisdom, the gubbermint of the Old North State has reconfigured the COVID-19 Dashboard to provide less information. It now uses CDC ratings to show my county as Low, Medium, or High Risk, and at the present time it's Low. But no actual numbers, because numbers, apparently, are hard.

Sigh.

Numbers are revealing.

[Lani]

I finally got my free government home tests! Neighborhood centers have been distributing them, but there were long lines, and the centers ran out early. This time my neighborhood center advertised that it had a lot of tests, so no one would be turned away. Ted & I headed out during my lunch break, about 45 minutes before the center closed. No lines! And I finally picked up 5 tests.

I thanked the workers and told them that I couldn't get the government test kits because there is no USPS delivery in my neighborhood. Then the workers told me that I get 5 tests for everyone in my home. I said I just live with my dog and pointed to Ted hanging out of the car window watching us. "Is that your dog?" Yes. "What's his name?" Ted. They added Ted & my last name on the distribution list.

[AndyinPA]

I got my first set of government tests after close to two months. I had already decided that they weren't coming when the finally arrived. I ordered the second set a few weeks ago, and it took three days. My son used the first one yesterday, the first time any of the three of us had to have a test. It was negative, so he just has an awful cold.