There are now 8,408,340 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the USA. There have been 223,042 deaths from the virus here as well. The US topped 1,000 daily COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday and experts worry the worst of the fall surge is yet to come.
VIRUS NEWS:
VIRUS NEWS:
As the U.S. coronavirus death toll tops 222,000, President Trump has been criticizing the media for constant coverage of crisis.
More than 60,000 new COVID-19 cases were reported across U.S. on Tuesday. On Wednesday, new cases topped 60,000 again. Yesterday, the total was 75,049 cases.
The pandemic is accelerating here in the US with a tremendous jump in cases.
A new study out of Columbia University blames the White House for at least 130,000 ‘avoidable’ COVID 19 deaths.
The pandemic is accelerating here in the US with a tremendous jump in cases.
A new study out of Columbia University blames the White House for at least 130,000 ‘avoidable’ COVID 19 deaths.
‘The darkest part of the pandemic’ is approaching, a public health expert has warned.
As we move indoors with cooler weather, dry air will help the coronavirus spread.
Dr. Fauci says he was “absolutely not” surprised that President Trump got sick with coronavirus after seeing the president at what “turned out to be a super-spreader event” at the White House.
A new outbreak in New Zealand involved port workers who contracted the disease after just three minutes of contact with a sick man.
COVID-19 cases have been tied to Trump's rally campaign events in Minnesota.
COVID-19 cases have been tied to Trump's rally campaign events in Minnesota.
Georgia Representative Vernon Jones went crowd surfing at a Trump rally without a face mask.
At least 42 coronavirus cases have been linked to multiday church event in Maine.
At least two people are dead, four hospitalized and there are at least 68 positive cases of COVID-19 following a week-long event at a church in North Carolina.
COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to rise in several states. Wisconsin is now using an overflow facility as it has gotten so bad there.
A new documentary, secretly filmed throughout the coronavirus outbreak, details Trump's failure with COVID 19. The trailer is below:
A 'building distrust' in public health agencies is 'the elephant in the room,' according to Dr. Anthony Fauci.
More than 1,000 former CDC officials have signed an open letter condemning Trump’s response to COVID 19.
More than 1,000 former CDC officials have signed an open letter condemning Trump’s response to COVID 19.
The pandemic response was a war between teleprompter Trump and Twitter Trump. The latter won.
The White House is looking at cutting COVID funding and newborn screenings in ‘anarchist’ (Democrat) cities.
“I was wrong,” says the Chris Christie, the former governor of New Jersey regarding not wearing a mask at a White House event and in debate prep with Trump—who continues questioning the effectiveness of masks.
“I was wrong,” says the Chris Christie, the former governor of New Jersey regarding not wearing a mask at a White House event and in debate prep with Trump—who continues questioning the effectiveness of masks.
A white woman was caught on video yelling obscenities at a black Starbucks barista over face mask requirements.
Japanese researchers have shown that masks do block the coronavirus, but not perfectly.
The White House apparently told Tennessee that a mask mandate 'must be implemented.'
A woman in her 30s died of COVID-19 while she was on a plane about to take off.
An elderly Dutch woman has become the first known person to die after catching COVID-19 twice, according to experts, raising serious questions about how long immunity and antibodies can last.
An elderly Dutch woman has become the first known person to die after catching COVID-19 twice, according to experts, raising serious questions about how long immunity and antibodies can last.
Active coronavirus cases among Veteran Affairs patients is up more than 70 percent in a month.
Hospital bills for uninsured COVID-19 patients are covered, but no one tells them.
Boston Public Schools is switching to all remote-learning due to rising COVID-19 numbers.
West Michigan schools told the community that they need to mask up for COVID or they'll close down.
36 students and teachers tested positive for COVID-19 in New Jersey, forcing 4 schools to go all-remote.
Texas reports over 2,400 COVID-19 cases in its public schools.
St. Michael’s College in Vermont is going remote after 8 new Covid-19 cases.
After 700 students test positive, a college president resigned.
A coach in Florida, Dan Mullen, was pushing for his school to allow some 90,000 fans to jam into a stadium in Gainesville for a big game against LSU. By Wednesday, the game was postponed due to an outbreak of COVID-19 among the players and coaches. By Saturday, Mullen announced he had COVID-19 himself.
After 700 students test positive, a college president resigned.
A coach in Florida, Dan Mullen, was pushing for his school to allow some 90,000 fans to jam into a stadium in Gainesville for a big game against LSU. By Wednesday, the game was postponed due to an outbreak of COVID-19 among the players and coaches. By Saturday, Mullen announced he had COVID-19 himself.
Despite the White House's plan (ahem) to do nothing to achieve 'herd immunity', take a lesson from Sweden. It hasn't worked there. The Scandinavian country is moving away from its no-lockdown strategy and preparing strict new rules amid rising coronavirus cases.
New studies point to a big drop in COVID-19 death rates in hospitals.
The most advanced trials for coronavirus vaccines cannot tell researchers if the shots will save lives, or even if they'll prevent serious disease, a drug development expert said.
A University of Vermont researcher has said that antibody response to COVID-19 'bodes well' for an eventual vaccine. However, another blood plasma showed no benefit in COVID-19 patients — a finding that could re-energize the debate.
A volunteer in the AstraZeneca coronavirus clinical trial has died. Despite the death, the clinical trials are continuing.
The secretary for the Department of Health and Human Services has promised a coronavirus vaccine before 2021.
Infuriated by the FDA’s defiance in a showdown over standards for authorizing a coronavirus vaccine, health secretary Alex Azar in recent weeks has openly been plotting the ouster of FDA chief Stephen Hahn and has raised the prospect of seeking White House permission to remove him.
How will we know if a COVID-19 vaccine is safe? Because scientists will tell us.
The Trump administration announced a deal with CVS and Walgreens to administer the coronavirus vaccine (when it is available) to seniors in long-term care facilities.
How will we know if a COVID-19 vaccine is safe? Because scientists will tell us.
The Trump administration announced a deal with CVS and Walgreens to administer the coronavirus vaccine (when it is available) to seniors in long-term care facilities.
Several states have filed their COVID-19 vaccination plans with the CDC without including plans on how they are going to pay for them.
The coronavirus is likely to become as ‘endemic’ as the flu and a vaccine might not be able to stop it, a top UK scientist says.
All seniors could get a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of January, the Department of Health and Human Services head said.
Until a coronavirus vaccine is ready, pneumonia vaccines may reduce deaths from COVID-19.
The National Institutes of Health has launched an adaptive Phase 3 clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of three immune modulator drugs in hospitalized adults with COVID-19.
The FDA approved Gilead’s Remdesivir as coronavirus treatment yesterday---even though a recent study by the World Health Organization showed the drug is not effective against the virus as previously thought.
Coronavirus test results are getting faster, but are still too slow to help slow the spread of the disease.
Minnesota launched an at-home COVID-19 saliva testing program.
Coronavirus pandemic is causing 'unacceptable' shortages in US drug supplies.
A 14-year-old girl has won $25,000 for a discovery that could provide a potential therapy to COVID-19.
A 14-year-old girl has won $25,000 for a discovery that could provide a potential therapy to COVID-19.
Congratulations to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the 2020 recipient of the Gustav O. Lienhard Award for Advancement of Health Care. (Notice radiologist Dr. Scott Atlas was not the winner...)
Dr. Fauci has confirmed that the White House is controlling when he speaks to the media.
The CDC expands its definition of who is a ‘close contact’ of an individual with COVID-19
The new guidance is likely to have the biggest impact on schools, workplaces and other group settings since more people are likely to be considered at risk.
The CDC also says that there have been nearly 300,000 excess American deaths that have occurred during pandemic.
What are COVID-19's effects on the heart? Here's what we know so far.
The EPA refuses to reduce pollutants that have been linked to coronavirus deaths.
Twitter removed a tweet from Trump’s COVID-19 advisor, Dr. Scott Atlas (radiologist--not virologist) for misleading information about mask use.
The widely panned research papers that claim COVID-19 is a lab-created bioweapon are linked to Steve Bannon.
The GOP-led Senate pushed back on the White House's stimulus talks with Pelosi, signaling that any action will have to wait until after the election. Mitch McConnell admits that he (Not Nancy Pelosi) is blocking a coronavirus bill. Despite this, White House Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows, says coronavirus relief talks have entered a new phase just yesterday.
Trailer park tenants in Colorado say their landlord sent notes implying that a vote for Biden is a vote for increased rent.
A new poll suggests that most voters believe the coronavirus is out of control in the U.S.
New Mexico has seen a 101% surge in hospitalizations due to COVID 19.
Hospitals in Idaho are near capacity and may send new coronavirus patients to Portland or Seattle.
A woman in Utah nearly died in the emergency room when her heart attack took a back seat to so many COVID 19 cases.
Overwhelmed by cases, North Dakota is telling residents with COVID-19 to do their own contact tracing. North Dakotans who recently tested positive have been waiting an average of three days to learn of their diagnosis instead of the usual one day.
United Airlines is trying out a COVID-19 ‘health pass’ in an attempt to kick-start global travel again.
Do masks on flights really cut your risk of catching COVID-19?
In the early days of the pandemic, we furiously scrubbed, afraid we could get sick from the virus lingering on objects and surfaces. What do we know now?
Can supplements really help fight COVID-19? Here’s what we know and don’t know.
After COVID-19, some survivors have been experiencing excessive hair loss.
Down syndrome has been tied to 10 times the risk of COVID-19 death.
Women aged 50-60 are at the greatest risk of ‘long COVID’, experts suggest.
These five factors make it more likely you’ll suffer long-term from the coronavirus.
Trump’s vaccine czar refuses to give up stock in the drug company involved in his government role.
The CDC has reported that the coronavirus is thriving in areas of poverty.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren has asked two financial market regulators to investigate whether the Trump Administration's private February warnings to a conservative think tank about the potential economic harm of the coronavirus pandemic spurred insider trading. For example, Senator Kelly Loeffler sold at least $18 million more in stocks before the coronavirus crash than previously reported.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren has asked two financial market regulators to investigate whether the Trump Administration's private February warnings to a conservative think tank about the potential economic harm of the coronavirus pandemic spurred insider trading. For example, Senator Kelly Loeffler sold at least $18 million more in stocks before the coronavirus crash than previously reported.
Southwest Airlines will no longer be blocking the middle seats starting December 1.
Target is bolstering coronavirus protections for shoppers ahead of holiday season hours. The retail giant has also paid $200 bonuses to thousands of workers on front lines during COVID-19 pandemic.
In an attempt to stay afloat during the pandemic, AMC Theaters are now renting out their theaters for $99.
Halloween is going to look very different during the pandemic.
A traditional New York haunted attraction has become a drive through attraction during the pandemic.
The holidays are coming. Does the COVID-19 pandemic mean you should skip even small family gatherings?
GLOBAL:
There have been 41,705,699 confirmed cases of the virus around the world. There have been 1,137,333 deaths from the virus globally. The actual worldwide figure of Covid-19 cases is likely to be far higher. Here is a look at COVID-19 by the numbers around the world.
New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern won a second term in landslide election victory, largely based on her amazing response to the coronavirus epidemic. (Hint to President Trump... Never mind. It's far too late.)
Southeast Germany put a coronavirus lockdown on for 2 weeks, the first lockdown in Germany since spring. Germans are panic buying toilet paper and disinfectants as COVID-19 surges again. (Sound familiar?) If Germany's COVID 19 is this out of control, then we in the US are gonna be so screwed in our anti-science GOP states this winter.
France registered more than 40,000 cases over a 24-hour period for the first time yesterday. The country extended its curfew as the COVID second wave surges in Europe.
Ireland is imposing a 6-week national lockdown to try and beat back the virus.
Italy has tightened health safety rules after coronavirus cases surge again. Just one month ago, Italy was the shining example of how masks and aggressive testing work to stave off a second COVID wave. Why have things gone so terribly wrong?
Spain has surpassed one million cases.
The Czech Republic's coronavirus crisis is now so bad that when Prime Minister Andrej Babis stood in front of reporters during a live news conference Wednesday, he did something few leaders often do. He apologized to the people. Five times.
In Canada, anti-mask protesters and conspiracy theorists marched through downtown Vancouver recently. (Good God... Ignorance and Trumpism seem to be reaching across the border.)
STATES:
Ten states reported their highest number of new coronavirus cases last Friday.
STATES:
Ten states reported their highest number of new coronavirus cases last Friday.
Maine reported 42 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday.
Massachusetts health officials have ordered ice rinks to close through November 7, citing COVID-19 concerns. The state reported 30 new COVID-19 deaths, and 986 new cases yesterday.
Connecticut added 434 new cases on Wednesday.
New Jersey's governor, Phil Murphy, is quarantining after being exposed to coronavirus.
New Jersey's governor, Phil Murphy, is quarantining after being exposed to coronavirus.
Virginia was up 1,332 new cases yesterday.
North Carolina's governor has been asking local authorities to step up efforts to slow coronavirus spread.
Florida reported 5,558 new COVID-19 cases yesterday.
Pennsylvania tallied up 1,425 new cases and 29 deaths on Wednesday. Thursday's totals jumped to 2,063 new cases and 30 deaths.
Ohio set a one-day new case record on Wednesday with 2,366 new infections reported.
Governor Jim Justice is providing $25 million to help qualifying West Virginians pay utility bills.
Michigan's total coronavirus cases were up to 150,989 as of Wednesday after adding 1,597 new ones while having 33 new deaths. Governor Whitmer has been urging mask use as the coronavirus cases continue to rise.
Michigan's total coronavirus cases were up to 150,989 as of Wednesday after adding 1,597 new ones while having 33 new deaths. Governor Whitmer has been urging mask use as the coronavirus cases continue to rise.
Wisconsin reported 4,205 coronavirus cases and a record 48 COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday. Nearly 95% of Wisconsin counties have “very high” levels of COVID-19 case activity.
Illinois checked in with an astounding one-day record of 4,942 new cases and 44 deaths yesterday.
There were 20 more deaths and 1,574 new cases in Minnesota reported yesterday.
Colorado reports 346 active COVID 19 outbreaks in the state.
In New Mexico, the coronavirus is burning through Santa Fe businesses as employees are getting sick. The state reported 669 new COVID-19 cases and 3 deaths on Thursday.
Arizona seeing surge in coronavirus cases.
There were 950 new COVID-19 cases and 7 new deaths in Idaho yesterday.
Utah's coronavirus cases were up 1,363 Wednesday, as hospitalizations reached a new record high. The state's number of COVID-19 cases increased by 1,543 on Thursday — another new single-day record for new cases. Six deaths were also reported yesterday.
Washington added more than 700 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday. On Thursday, the state said it has topped 100,000 cases.
Oregon added 331 new cases and 2 additional deaths on Wednesday. Thursday saw 373 new cases and 11 more deaths.
Hawaii had 78 new cases of infection on Wednesday and 14 deaths.
CALIFORNIA:
California has reached 17,000 COVID-19 deaths. California recorded it deadliest day of October yesterday as 130 deaths were tallied. This was the deadliest day for the state since September 29.
California's theme parks will only be permitted to re-open in counties that have reached the least-restrictive (yellow) fourth tier of the state's reopening framework, and even then, capacity will be limited to 25%.
Los Angeles County is easing coronavirus restrictions for breweries, wineries and tattoo parlors.
Orange County leaders have protested the state requirement to lower coronavirus rates in poor neighborhoods.
Alameda County announced new COVID-19 re-openings
Kaweah Delta Hospital has started allowing visitors.
There are higher COVID-19 positivity rates in disadvantaged areas, according to UCSF Fresno.
Tulare County officials urging all residents to get tested for COVID-19.
Clovis Unified aims to open campuses to all students for in-person learning by January.
Merced County schools are finalizing reopening plans.
The Central California Blood Center said it is struggling to fulfill the need for blood amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and as more normal surgeries resume at Valley hospitals.
The Director of National Intelligence says Russia and Iran have interfered with the presidential election.
A man was arrested in Kannapolis, North Carolina with a van full of guns and explosives with plans to carry out an act of terrorism, including trying to assassinate Joe Biden.
Joe Biden won the Town Hall ratings duel with Donald Trump.
Joe Biden won the Town Hall ratings duel with Donald Trump.
Trump and Biden’s final presidential debate has been fact checked.
A poll showed that Biden beat Trump in the final debate last night.
Donald Trump has at least $1 billion in debt, more than twice the amount he suggested. This has many wondering who he is beholden to.
The admiral from the raid that led to the execution of Osama Bin Laden has endorsed Biden.
Rudy Giuliani's daughter breaks with her dad to vote for Biden and explained why on CNN.
Every major Republican to speak out against Trump just days before the election.
Nearly 700 economists, including seven Nobel Prize winners, are warning against the re-election of President Trump, citing what they describe as a "sustained assault" on democracy, a bumbled response to the pandemic and the spread of "dangerous misinformation."
The former Republican National Convention chair, Michael Steele, endorsed Biden for president.
One of Kentucky's largest newspapers has endorsed Mitch McConnell's challenger for the Senate, Amy McGrath.
With the Affordable Health Act (Obamacare) on the chopping block as soon as Amy Coney Barrett is confirmed, an Oklahoma Republican says people don’t need health insurance — they can just use savings accounts.
Trump keeps chipping away at Obamacare with only weeks until the election -- and a Supreme Court hearing.
A former White House chief of staff has told friends that Trump 'is the most flawed person' he's ever met.
Republican senators are increasingly voicing fears that Trump could lose the election, and some are openly fretting that he'll turn GOP candidates into electoral roadkill.
Are Trump's sagging polls dragging down Republican Senators and Representatives polls as well?
Trump joked that he'd 'find a way' to fire Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis if he loses the state in the November election.
A major Supreme Court decision has likely transformed election night with a huge break for Democrats -- but it comes with a chilling warning of how the conservative majority might decide future voting disputes.
Former New York City mayor, Michael Bloomberg's $100 million spending against Trump in Florida is forcing the president to dig deep in the key swing state and enabling the Biden campaign to spend ad dollars elsewhere.
A judge rejected the GOP's attempt to shut down early voting center in Pennsylvania.
A California judge has denied Attorney General Xavier Becerra's request to expedite his lawsuit against the state Republican Party over their bogus, unofficial ballot boxes.
The Minnesota Attorney General said his office is opening an investigation into a Tennessee-based company that has been accused of recruiting armed guards as poll watchers.
A federal court rejected the GOP effort to block an absentee ballot agreement in North Carolina.
A Cleveland company that agreed to print absentee ballots for dozens of counties in Ohio and Pennsylvania is late in getting them to voters. Surprise (Not)! The company is run by Trump supporters.
Authorities are investigating a fire which damaged an official ballot drop box Sunday night in Los Angeles, damaging countless ballots in the process. Firefighters had to use a chainsaw to cut the box open and remove stacks of burned ballots.
The Trump campaign has been videotaping Philadelphia voters while they deposit their ballots in drop boxes, leading Pennsylvania's attorney general to warn that the campaign's actions could amount to illegal voter intimidation.
A new study has found that Texas has the most restrictive voting process in the country.
A 94-year-old woman traveled more than 300 miles each way just so she could vote.
The pandemic didn't deter a 102-year-old woman from casting her vote.
Lawyers say they can't find the parents of 545 migrant children separated from them by the Trump administration.
As late-stage Trumpism slouches toward defeat, it has belatedly dawned on some GOP senators that they may be about to share Donald Trump’s fate.
A Kentucky postal worker was fired after dumping more than 100 absentee ballots.
A Kentucky postal worker was fired after dumping more than 100 absentee ballots.
Ohio has had a record of absentee ballot and in-person voting so far.
Pennsylvania rejected 372,000 ballot applications, which bewilders voters and has strained election staff.
The Supreme Court cleared the way for Alabama to bar curbside voting.
Former National Security Advisor, John Bolton, has said that he believes Trump will not leave the White House graciously if he loses.
Steve Bannon says if Trump loses in 2020 he will immediately announce his run for 2024.
From Sarah Palin to the Freedom Caucus, the Republican strategists that make up The Lincoln Project have explained how, especially since Trump came into office, their party has become unrecognizable to them.
During a speech in Philadelphia, former President Barack Obama delivered a blistering account of his successor's first four years in office, arguing that President Donald Trump has proved he is "incapable of taking the job seriously" and has shown no interest in "helping anybody but himself and his friends." WOW!
Texas, a reliably Republican state, may be about to switch to Blue as Trump continues to lose his lead there.
Trump claims the Bidens are corrupt and he is demanding they release documents about their business activities. (Now that's the pot calling the kettle black...)
More than 50 former senior intelligence officials, including ex-Trump administration officials such as Russ Travers, have signed on to a letter outlining their belief that the Hunter Biden emails saga “has all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.”
Rudy Giuliani says there is only a ‘50/50’ chance that he worked with a ‘Russian spy’ to dig up dirt on Hunter Biden and Ukraine.
Last Saturday, women marched in protest of the president and of the Supreme Court nominee, Amy Coney Barrett.
Trump told rally goers that, if elected, Biden will 'listen to the scientists' if he wins -- like that is a bad thing. Idiot!
Despite the lies the Trump campaign keeps repeating about Biden raising everyone's taxes, if Joe Biden is elected and you earn less than $400,000 a year, this WILL NOT happen.
Latino voters are increasingly confident in Biden on key issues like the coronavirus pandemic, foreign policy and division within the country. They remain negative towards Trump.
Members of the United Steelworkers Union projected ‘Biden-Harris’ on Trump Tower in Chicago.
Trump's campaign is supposedly so broke, he is doing rallies all over because he can't afford TV ads.
Trump says he may leave the country if he loses to Biden. (More likely he will be fleeing to avoid indictments against him).
Fox News made an issue out of the fact that Twitter and Facebook have censored Trump's posts 65 times...and have not censored any of Biden's. (What they don't say is that Trump out and out lied or spread misinformation...)
Donald Trump has threatened a lawsuit after his campaign is held to the same Twitter rules as everyone else. (Golly, if they could just keep from lying and spreading misinformation.... they wouldn't have a problem.)
A Republican in Pennsylvania was arrested after trying to cast a mail-in ballot for his dead mother.
A Trump 'Superfan' told friends. ‘I have a better chance of dying in a car crash than I do from COVID,' died while drunk driving.
Pat Robertson (Who, apparently, is still alive somehow) says that he has been told by God that Trump will win reelection ... and it will bring about the beginning of the End Times. (That would be so 2020 and not surprising at all...)
A woman in Texas gives hilarious tips on waiting in line to vote in a viral TikTok video.
CREATIVITY:
Since the new HALLOWEEN sequel, HALLOWEEN KILLS has been postponed due to the pandemic, just in time for Halloween and to somewhat take its place, comes a HALLOWEEN fan film. The premise is that it is outtakes from the 2018 HALLOWEEN sequel. For a zero budget, it looks pretty good. Check it out, if you'd like a seasonal spook!
I don't know the origin of this. I found it online, though. Clever.
My friend Christa sent this---it's the Corona Dance:
Laurie Lehner strikes again with this new video:
Demi Lovato has released a new song about the president, COMMANDER IN CHIEF:
With election day just around the corner, the tsunami (the blue wave?) of political ads keeps coming!
MAIL:
Beth, my former co-worker (from career No. 1, when I was a teacher), sent a note,. In it, she details how her district is dealing with the virus and working with students:
"Teaching is certainly different," she said. "I never thought I would be teaching like this! In Central Unified, we can work from home or school. About 12 of us are on campus daily. I work from home on Monday, because we are only online for an hour with kids on Monday. We have staff meetings and online trainings often. I go to school Tuesday through Friday.
"They are offering a retirement option to resign from the district for 80% of one year’s salary, as an annuity. If I take it, I would also retire and start getting my CalSTRS. They need a good number of employees to take it (like 70 total from various positions, not just teachers), in order for it to go through. I am going to apply for it (I have been teaching for 23 years). If it doesn’t go through, I will go 2 more years after this. We’ll see.
"This week, our board voted to go back in January, if the COVID numbers are stable. They will revisit in December to review.
"Other than the uncertainty in lifestyle these days, we are good. We're healthy (knock on wood) and happy. Tom’s sister moved back to Fresno a year ago from Baltimore, after their dad passed away at age 89. She lived in my father-in-law’s house in Sanger for a year, but recently bought a house less than 10 minutes from us. It’s nice to have family close by!"
"We are giving parents the choice to continue with online learning or participate in onsite/hybrid learning," she said. "November 3 is the start date for elementary. The district website has information."
Marie is a travel nurse who worked at the hospital with me just before I left. When i last saw her, she was bummed that her cruise to St. Petersburg, Russia had been canceled due to the pandemic. She sent me this text:
"Believe it or not, I am currently in Africa," she said. "Tanzania, to be specific. My friend, who hated traveling, decided to go, too. He's having a blast.
"I have to say it went better then I thought. I was afraid that we were not gonna have a good time because of COVID, but it is great. The flights were only half full. Once they closed the doors on the flight, they allowed people to seat anywhere. We had a whole row to ourselves. The hotels were practically empty, so we got upgraded for free.
"We went to Tanzania after we left Turkey and then Egypt. There were not much restriction in those places as far as COVID is concerned, but it was great. When we finally got here in Tanzania, the government has no restrictions. No masks. No COVID here. I love it. We went to Zanzibar and Arusha as well. They're absolutely beautiful.
"We should be back after the election."
My acquaintance Vito, who lives in Milan, Italy, but is from Argentina, sent me a note. His English is a tad shaky:
"I’m still in Argentina," he said. "Now it’s allowed to travel, but we still have restrictions to many countries. For example we cannot travel as tourists for any country from Europe. The issue is that I cannot travel still, cause I had always be there with a tourist visa, not cause I did want to or tried to apply for a working visa or a resident permit, but because of the requirements don’t offer working visa, as in other countries
"Luckily, we are in spring , so at least.. the weather it’s kinda nicer. Something like the weather makes the difference in such a difficult time we are living. Oh winter it’s bad in Milan, kinda depressing, really, always raining, very humid, grey... I love winter time, but there it isn’t that nice to be honest.
"Unfortunately, the situation isn’t getting better. I’m not sure if we reach the million cases or we are about to. I stopped watching the news. It gives me anxiety.
"I also hope that Trump won’t be elected again, because the US it’s a very important nation. It also set a trend let’s say in other countries, kinda a dictator and someone who does not give a damn about many important issues and just set the boundaries between the US and the rest of the world. You know, there’s a Putin, a Trump, an Erdogan, Bolsonaro, the list keeps growing. Instead of working all together and interested in build something big in terms of global impact, they seem to be more focused on separate each country or nation from the rest, and that doesn’t help at all."
Michael, who lives in Florida, sent me a note:
"All is well in my world," he said. "Life has just about returned to normal here if Florida. I even was able to knock something off my bucket list! I did a four day trip to Key West! It was relaxing and calm. I went snorkeling out in the open ocean to see a reef. I watched beautiful sun rises and sunsets. I had a nice time. I have to admit, the beach close to my house is much more pretty. I truly do live in paradise."
My former nursing school classmate, Mark, who lives in Sonora, California, sent a nice chatty email:
"Much has happened around here," he said. "I'm currently at an inn in Redwood City tonight with my dad asleep in the bed behind me. He's had some arrhythmias of late and goes into both A-fib or A-flutter intermittently. He's here to get an ablation in the morning. I'll be heading home (after hitting Costco on the way) afterwards and then picking him back up on Tuesday afternoon. My sis is staying with my mom (who also has had numerous health issues), while we get through the procedure. She recently fell and hit her head, resulting in a small subdural hematoma that hospitalized her recently as well, but has been on the mends of late.
"Chad is actually doing well, albeit, becoming weaker and falling a lot more. But we've been able to take him to Monterey and Yosemite of late. We've stopped going to church due to his immuno-compromised situation and, after about 13-14 years, I've quit the Elder board due to the situation. Actually, it has been a nice reprieve and nice to have the burden off my shoulders.
"Both our eldest son, Brandon, and our youngest son, Jesse, ended up living with us for . . . well .. . too many months, during COVID, while they figured out their careers. Louise and I finally told them they needed to go before the flu/COVID wave hit in October, as they were affecting Chad's exposure with everywhere they went. We got both of them out of the house around the end of August. Nice. Love the boys, but at their ages, it wasn't really the best of conditions to have so many adults in the house. Much pressure on Louise with already having to take care of Chad 24/7. Both of them still are in the Sonora area for now, with Jesse, our youngest still working at Starbucks, but applying to the hospital for a radiology transporter recently, and Brandon. our oldest, looking at a new career (previous high-end waiter) in a couple of different paths of late.
"Our third son, Jeremy, the ER travel nurse, left us around the end of January and started to travel the world when COVID hit. He ended up traveling to New Zealand and Thailand and got locked into the Bali area when the shutdowns hit. He's been hitting the islands around there ever since and can live so cheaply there. With all the vacationers not being around, he's made out like a bandit, scuba diving, surfing and playing beach volleyball, for a ridiculously low price, that he sees no reason to come back 'til maybe next year sometime. Crazy!
"Work continues to be good and I still enjoy the department I work in and the team/family I hang with there. I've been an RN for 7 years now and I've hit the midway point as I'll retire in 7 more years. I turn 60 in December and Louise had a nice 60th herself back in August. I took the week off and tried to do or take her somewhere special every day that week.
"So, when COVID is somewhat subdued, keep in mind we have a nice guest room now that the boys are gone and we'd be more than happy to host you anytime you want to hit the Motherlode/Gold Country, my friend! There are some good breweries around and some great sites. Louise and I are excellent host, if I say so myself!"
My former co-worker, Mike, sent me a Halloween/movie poster postcard:
I'm not sure if his comment about walking was geared towards the card (THE CREATURE WALKS AMONG US) or my current physical condition...
SHIRLEY:
Shirley has enjoyed a few sunny days of late. I haven't put her out every day. She didn't go out Friday as the gardener was coming. She did go out Saturday though, and stayed out for four or five hours. She hung out in the mud from the morning sprinklers and drank from a mud puddle. She walked back to the garbage cans and hung out there for a while, too.
I tried to get her to eat, but just turned her nose up at her plate every time I moved it near her. She will be hibernating very soon and I really am concerned she hasn't eaten that much over the past summer. But, as she does, by the end of her excursion, she came to the sliding glass door and wanted in for the night.
I let Shirley sleep on Sunday. On Monday, I had appointments all day, so she didn't go out again. She did go out Tuesday and she explored more of the backyard, before coming in. She didn't eat, though. I think I'll only put her out a few more times before I'll let her go to sleep for the season. The days have been warm and she has enjoyed her outside time---but she'd rather not be going out, I think.
ME:
Erich had stayed after my lumbar puncture (spinal tap) I'd had on Tuesday. He had heard about the heat wave they were having in the Bay Area, where he lives. Since they have no air conditioning there, he decided to hang out at my air conditioned place through the weekend---which was great, because we got to have some fun times. Last Friday seemed like it would be fun. It was a trip to the drive in movies in Madera.
We were off to see a seasonally spooky double feature; the original HALLOWEEN and HALLOWEEN 4.
...or pizza was ready. Hooray!
And...what? Cocktails? How did that happen? Ha! Um... Let's just say they were "imported." Ha!
Just before the movie started, a car pulled up right in front of us...and put the rear door up--obscurring our view of the screen somewhat. Swell. Then this big pickup pulled up beside us, backing in. The passengers (a couple of chatty girls) got out to sit in the bed of the truck--and talked all during the movie! A train went by at least twice and all during the first movie, you could hear the racing (drowning out the movie) at the nearby Madera Speedway. Geez! Cars would come and go--with their headlights on. The girls in the truck decided to sit in the cab about halfway through the movie--and turned the truck around to do so (with headlights on). It was just miserable.
In addition to bills, political fliers and the usual junk mail, there was a small manila envelope. It was from Forever Gifts in Irvine, CA. Hmm. I hadn't ordered anything...
Inside was a plain, unmarked envelope. Inside of that, was a Halloween card.
The card read "Happy Halloween Shawn"--but there was no signature and nothing else in the envelope to give me any clue as to who had sent it. Hmm. I saw that the car was musical. Erich was already asleep and I didn't want to wake him...so, in my boxer briefs and T-shirt, I went out to the front porch once again, closing the door behind me. I pressed the button. This long, muffled (but LOUD) song started playing. I couldn't understand the words that well, but the song sounded like a knock-off of something from A NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS. I just hoped it didn't wake anyone or that no one would pass by and see me in my undies.
The song finally ended...but then it just started over! Oh my stars! After it ended again, it started over a third time. I pushed the button frantically, trying to get it to shut off. It just played on and on and on.
Holding it against my body and covering the other side with my hands, I made my way back in the house and into the garage. I set the card down on my car. My thought was to let it play out until the battery died. I'm sure it was audible from the street, but Erich couldn't hear in his room down the hall.
By the next morning, it had stopped playing. I showed Erich and told him the story. Sure that the battery was dead, I pushed the button...and the damned thing started playing again! ARGH! Back into the garage it went. Ha!
Thank you, whoever sent it. I suspect it was my former co-worker, Mike. He is known for sending things anonymously. I wonder if he knew this card was "broken" and played incessantly? That would explain so much... Ha!
There was an old Independent Order of Odd Fellows building there. I wondered if it was being used as a residence. There is a satellite dish on the overhang and lost of assorted things under it.
Right at the entrance to town (from the freeway) was this old gas station that is now a gift shop. It would have been interesting to check out, but it was closed.
Back on the road, it was just a short jaunt to Minkler...which is even smaller than Centerville. The only business that I had been aware of in Minkler is the quasi-famous (although I am not sure why) Minkler Cash Store. I had to stop.
It looked right out of another era...but it, too, was closed. Drat!
On the far side of the store was this strange site. There was a patio-like area with a barber chair and an old adobe shack with a blue door that had "Red Worms" written on it.
A previous Minkler town sign (Do they still issue them for this little hamlet? Population 30? Jinkies!) was on display in the window.
The place was decked out in every way imaginable, clearly hungry for customers and trying to lure them in however possible.
I snapped a picture of the store hours for future reference.
Of course, I had to snap a shot of the Halloween display in one window.
Back in the car and headed for Reedley, just a little way from Minkler, we passed the Blossom Trail Fruit Stand. It was still open...in mid-October? We decided to investigate just in case they had any fruit worth buying as the season was more or less over.
We were amazed to see peaches and pears. Erich bought some of each. Are they any good? They are in a bag ripening still, so I have no idea,
We did stop at Reedley Beach--the river banks of the Kings River.
There is a huge parking lot and apparently the "beach" is very popular. Even with the pandemic and it being mid-October, there were a surprising amount of people there.
Not far from Reedley, we zipped through the tiny burg of Parlier, which I had also never been to before.
Erich was heading home on Monday. He knew I had been itching to go on another day trip, so he decided to go with me on an exploration of some small towns not too far away. We got a late start, but it was still kind of fun.
Before Highway 180 went through, I remember that whenever we drove to Kings Canyon or Sequoia National Park, we had driven through this little town with an old downtown that was basically abandoned and boarded up. With 180 bypassing big chunks of the old route, I hadn't seen these places in decades. Erich wanted to visit Reedley (a small town nearby that I had--GASP!--never been to before). Centerville and Minkler, two likely suspects for the small towns I remembered, were on the way.
We turned off of the freeway at the Centerville exit and...zowie! It was a tiny place. We headed in the direction of Minkler, thinking we could drive through like we used to be able to. Nope. About a block into Centerville, the road dead ended.
I flipped a U and headed back towards the town. I took a few photos--but since Erich was with me, I didn't really get to explore much. This house looked interesting. Abandoned? If so, I'd have loved to explore it...
We finally rolled into Reedley. The downtown was cute---but everything was closed. Golly, the sidewalks really do roll up on Sundays in small towns. We drove around. Erich led us to a Buddhist temple. It wasn't very exciting looking. He knew about it because his friend Rick's mother's funeral had been there.
On the way home, I had a surprise in store for Erich. Back in the day before the 180 cut it off, you used to have to pass right by this old school house that had been turned into a fancy restaurant. In all of the years I lived here, I had never been to it. After checking to make sure it was open (and still existed), i led us there for a late afternoon lunch/early dinner. He had never been there either.
The restaurant's website says that the existing school structure was built in 1921 (on the site of another schoolhouse that was built in 1890). The website also says that the restaurant opened in 2012. That may be the current version with the current owners, but I know it has been a restaurant (at least off and on) since the 1970s--at the very least.
The main dining room is in the school's old auditorium/cafeteria (above). There is still a small stage at the end of the room. I had a full bladder, so I took off to find the bathroom.
An old water fountain was near the bathroom. I'm not sure if the handles and faucets were removed because of the pandemic or if they have always been missing. I remember water fountains like this from when I was a kid.
An old pot-bellied stove (original?) and several vintage school desks are used for decoration.
In a trophy case, several restaurant awards are on display.
Had I known about the patio dining sooner, I might have opted for it. It would be safer out there with the virus situation.
However, since it was both Erich's and my first visit to the place, eating outside would not have given us the full experience.
Although we originally had planned to just go into the bar and have a drink--that had not been allowed, due to the COVID 19 restrictions. We could eat in the bar if we wished, but we couldn't just drink.
We decided to just eat in the main dining room---but I still managed to get a photo of the bar.
Having a restaurant in an old school house is a novel idea and I liked how they kept the feel of it being a school--at least in the dining room.
However, its reputation as a fancy place was diminished by the plain tables and chairs.
We were seated in a row of booths along the west wall. When I returned from the bathroom, my cocktail had arrived. (I had the Summer Camp. I don't recall what Erich's drink was called...)
Unfortunately, we arrived just after 4 pm. The lunch menu goes until 4. Dinner goes from 4 onward, so we were forced to have dinner entrees (at dinner menu prices).
We started off with simple mixed green salads. Dinner followed that with "Dean's List' meatloaf.
I opted for the Braised Duck Stroganoff. The food was very tasty (albeit overly salty), but the portions were rather small for the prices. Still--I could see why the restaurant had a reputation with local foodies.
As we were leaving, i tried to get a shot of the booths---but sunlight coming through the windows defeated me.
When we arrived back at home, I spied a package leaning against the front door. On Sunday? It was from Amazon...
Like the Halloween card, there was no indication as to who had sent it. Inside I found a small box containing The Screaming Goat. W-h-a-a-a-t????
Inside of the little box, there was a small book and a goat figurine---that literally screams when you push the base.
When I go to these appointments and actually see the doctor (sometimes I just have labs and a phlebotomy), the appointments run about three l-o-n-g hours. UGH! This was one of those days...
After four vials of blood removed at Valley Children's, I had four more vials removed at the hematologist's for labs there---and then my big phlebotomy of 500 mls drained out of me. Blah!
When I got home, there was yet another package waiting for me. This one was from my friend Sue in Agoura, California. Oh my STARS!!
Zowie! I was utterly amazed! And Sue actually made these--WOW!!! There is such great detail. They are carved into the backs of these big erasers, but they look so perfect and manufactured. My jaw was just hanging open when I saw them. So incredibly uber cool and so amazingly thoughtful.
Wow! Wow! WOW!!!! Thank you so much, Sue. That was so incredibly sweet of you. You are sooooo talented. THANK YOU!!!!!!!
The procedure was painful. Apparently there is a the painful way to do it and a not-so-painful way, but my insurance would only cover the painful way---so I got poked with very sharp needles all up and down my leg repeatedly. I got cleaned and bandaged up and was about to head out the door, when I started bleeding all over. They had to unwrap me to stop the bleeding.
Although not jam-packed with antiques, there are little touches here and there to remind you of the restaurant's former schoolhouse origins, such as this old cabinet at the end of the hall.
Along the hallway wall, the plans for the school are framed and hanging.
From the hallway, I noticed that there is outside dining available.
The building is V-shaped. One wing has the auditorium/dining room/kitchen. The other wing has the bar and restrooms. Apparently it had only been a two-room school house back in the day. And--is that an old card catalogue doubling as a reception desk? Clever.
This short (15 second) video shows the goat in all-out screaming action! Ha!
I am guessing my friend Scott sent this, but I am not sure. He has a shocking goat fetish (at least, that is what we say). My friend Christa was my second guess, but she called Wednesday night and denied sending it (or the Halloween card). That leaves Scott as the prime suspect. Hee hee. Thank you, Scott (or whoever sent it). It's a HOOT!
On Monday, I got up very early. I had labs to get drawn for the neurologist. Even though I am no longer employed at Valley Children's Hospital, I had elected for their COBRA insurance, which requires me to get my lab work done there--even though I am an adult. I went as early as possible to avoid seeing anyone I might know...
After the labs were drawn, I drove near to where my department was. Even though I didn't want to see anyone, I still miss my coworkers. As I had extra time on the way to the hospital, I stopped by Krispy Kreme and bought two dozen of their Halloween-themed monster donuts for my old unit.
I called and got someone named Nina that I didn't know. She is a new HUC (Health Unit Coordinator or department secretary) apparently. I asked which PCTs were working. She named people I knew and I asked her to send one out. She said she would come out herself. She came to the car and I handed her the donuts. A couple of my old coworkers took pictures of themselves enjoying their treats. It was super seeing their faces again. Here they are:
After leaving the hospital, I had an appointment at my hematologist's office.
Within the envelope was this letter:
There was also the package:
I only got to enjoy my fab-o-rama rubber stamps for a brief moment, as I had yet another doctor appointment. This time, I had to go to the cardiologist's office.
A few years back, the first neurologist I went to could not find anything wrong with me. He determined my problem must have something to do with my veins. So, he sent me to a venous specialist. That doctor told me my problems stemmed from the valves in my great saphenous vein not closing correctly. I bought into it--why not? I was convinced it was the answer I was looking for. Yeah, it wasn't. That doctor did a procedure that ablated the vein in my right leg. It did nothing to help with my problem...and only created a new problem. Afterwards, my right foot started swelling up like it never had before. The cardiologist---through ultrasound--discovered that the venous doctor had only ablated the vein in the top half of my leg---and not the lower section. The vein was continually filling but had nowhere to go, and thus was causing the swelling. On Monday, the cardiologist was going to correct the situation.
I was put in an exam room, told to take off everything from the waist down and given a pair of ill-fitting paper pants to wear. That was fine except the room had a large window that overlooked a very busy Herndon Avenue while I was working my big ol' but into those stupid shorts. Ha!
I also asked the cardiologist about my probable diagnosis (at least it is the one the neurologist has kept mentioning) of Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy. I wanted to know if it would possibly affect my heart. For weeks now, my heart has been skipping beats or having moments when it beat to its own weird rhythm. I've also found myself short of breath doing the simplest of things.
He wanted to know about my biopsy, my lumbar puncture and who my neurologist was. He said that people who develop CIDP and do get short of breath often have to have pacemakers put in if treatment doesn't help them. Yikes! I have to return for a follow up appointment on October 28th (the day after I see my neurologist for my official/final diagnosis and treatment plan) and he wants to discuss it further then.
Hopefully Trump and Devin Nunes are voted OUT!!!
I planned to go home and go to bed right afterwards, but decided to drop off my ballot first. Not wanting to risk it in the mail and knowing their were bogus ballot collection boxes that had been set up around town by the GOP, I decided to take to the local elections board downtown.
It was early when I arrived. I knew the place wouldn't be open yet, but I also knew they'd have a drop box available---one that was safe, secure and legit.
And...voila! It was that simple. I VOTED!
Stay SAFE! Stay HEALTHY! Stay ALIVE!
CHEERS!
CHEERS!
Continue to the next part HERE.
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