There are now 17,292,496 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the USA. There have been 310,782 deaths from the virus here as well. The US set another record for COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths on Wednesday and again Thursday. More Americans have now died from COVID-19 than the number of all of the US soldiers killed in battle during World War II.
VIRUS NEWS:
‘It never had to be like this’: On the same day the first American received a coronavirus vaccine, the U.S. pandemic death toll surpassed 300,000 in US from COVID-19 under Donald J. Trump.
Dr. Fauci issued a Christmas COVID-19 warning: ‘We have a big problem.’
The White House's coronavirus task force has warned of surging cases in more populated states.
We now have COVID-19 vaccines that are 95% effective, but that doesn’t mean the end of the pandemic is near.
The pandemic will be lasting longer than you thought. Trump administration passed up chance to lock in more Pfizer vaccine doses. The White House reportedly declined “multiple” offers from Pfizer to strike a deal on more vaccines for the second quarter of 2021. So, don't count on getting the vaccine until sometime this summer. Thanks, Trump. (Idiot...) Instead, there will be far more deaths while we continue to wait...
Biden wants 100 million COVID-19 vaccines in 100 days — but Trump just made that really difficult.
Canada just announced it’ll provide the new COVID vaccine to every Canadian who wants it — for free. Canada has ordered more vaccines per capita than any other nation. They’re planning to donate excess supply to impoverished countries.
U.S. was still awaiting vaccine approval as daily national deaths top 3,000--more than we lost on 9/11.
The CDC Director ordered his staff to delete an email from a Health and Human Services official who sought to edit COVID-19 data to help Donald Trump.
The head of White House security lost a foot due to a severe case of COVID-19.
COVID wiped out Trump’s legal team before the electoral college vote.
Oxford and AstraZeneca publish their final-stage vaccine trial results.
COVID-19 may cause long-term erectile dysfunction in men.
A COVID-19 patient had to travel nearly 200 miles to another state for treatment.
Stimulus checks aren't in the bipartisan relief proposal. Here's what Congress is offering instead.
GLOBAL:
There have been 74,958,938 confirmed cases of the virus around the world. There have been 1,662,228 deaths from the virus globally.
Long a holdout from COVID-19 restrictions, Sweden ended its pandemic experiment. The government imposed mandatory measures after failing to contain a new surge in infections. It's getting so bad, Sweden’s COVID workers are quitting in dangerous numbers.
A California restaurant owner claims to have found 'loophole' to remain open during the COVID-19 stay-home order.
Clovis Unified campuses remain open for students.
Museums and art galleries brace for uncertain future after lockdown.
POST-ELECTION:
He is not even president yet, but Biden is already more popular than Trump's ever been.
Slightly more than half of US adults — 54% — now say that they know someone who has been hospitalized or died due to COVID-19, according to a new survey from the Pew Research Center.
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany went on a rant on Fox News: ‘Here’s what’s truthful — Democrats are anti-science.’
COVID wiped out Trump’s legal team before the electoral college vote.
Rudy Giuliani was hospitalized after testing positive for the coronavirus.
Rudy Giuliani tested positive for the coronavirus, and he’s been around a lot of people recently.
If you'll recall, COVID-recovering Trump promised top drugs for all, but he's mainly just helped his friends.
Giuliani says he didn't know that most Americans can't access his VIP coronavirus treatment regimen.
Arizona's state legislature was closed because of Rudy Giuliani's COVID diagnosis and their recent exposure to him. Arizona doesn’t need more COVID-19 drama right now with its hospitals at the brink.
Melania Trump broke a children's hospital's rules by taking her mask off to read to the patients.
Tennessee GOP Representative David Byrd is on a ventilator due to COVID. He previously said he needs a 'miracle.' Byrd and his GOP colleagues didn’t wear masks, hosted large parties, and had declared that the media had “sensationalized” COVID-19.
Representative Joe Wilson tested positive for COVID-19. After his positive diagnosis, the GOP lawmaker deleted a post mocking virus precautions.
Trump's Secretary of the Interior, David Bernhardt, has tested positive for COVID-19.
Health and Human Services secretary, Alex Azar, told his staff that his wife is sick with COVID.
Joe Biden is expected to get the coronavirus vaccination early next week.
Mississippi's governor plans to host holiday parties despite the state’s limit on gatherings.
The first shipments of coronavirus vaccine won't cover even the small number of people designated to be in the first group to be immunized, US states are learning.
FDA advisory committee recommended the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine's authorization and later did authorize Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use.
The White House's chief of staff told the FDA chief that the vaccine had to be authorized by last Friday or he needed to resign.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, stressed that the upcoming COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, adding that African American scientists have been involved in their development.
Oxford and AstraZeneca publish their final-stage vaccine trial results.
The Moderna vaccine was created by January last year. Really. It just needed to go through the testing process to make sure it was safe and effective.
What we know about Moderna's coronavirus vaccine and how it differs from Pfizer's
An FDA panel recommended Moderna's vaccine as the US surpassed 17 million official COVID-19 cases.
Healthcare workers started receiving the approved Pfizer vaccine Monday. Who gets vaccinated for COVID-19 next (and who won't)?
A critical care nurse was the first person in New York and among the first people in the US to get a shot of the coronavirus vaccine authorized by the FDA.
The first nurse to get the COVID-19 vaccine in CA initially didn't want it. Here's what changed her mind.
A doctor learned that she lost her 27th patient to COVID 19 while she was on her way to get the vaccine.
The U.K. gave out the first doses of a COVID-19 vaccine as the world watches. The first recipient was Margaret Keenan, a 91-year-old woman.
William Shakespeare becomes second person to receive approved COVID-19 vaccine.
William Shakespeare becomes second person to receive approved COVID-19 vaccine.
Actor Ian McKellen received the COVID-19 vaccine and says he feels 'euphoric.'
There's a new allergy warning for Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine after UK health workers with allergy history suffered reactions.
Two Alaska health care workers suffered reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine.
The CDC will monitor for Bell’s palsy among Pfizer vaccine recipients, but sees no causal relationship.
The top Veterans Health Administration official said he's concerned about the department's plan for distributing COVID-19 vaccines, telling lawmakers the nation's largest health care system does not currently have an adequate amount for patients and staff.
Anti-Vaccine idiots are now saying that nanoparticles in the vaccines are communicating with computer receivers to keep tabs on you. Fact check: Lipid nanoparticles in a COVID-19 vaccine are there to transport RNA molecules.
Trump derailed his vaccine summit with a lie-filled election rant: ‘We were rewarded with a victory.’
Trump derailed his vaccine summit with a lie-filled election rant: ‘We were rewarded with a victory.’
Republicans invited a discredited vaccine critic to testify before a Senate panel.
After originally announcing they'd be at the front of the line, Trump says he’s nixing plans for early vaccinations at the White House.
Here’s when the COVID vaccine could be available at your neighborhood drugstore or grocery store.
Supply issues are hampering Pfizer from providing additional vaccine faster.
She was demoted, doubted and rejected. Now, her work is the basis of the COVID-19 vaccine.
First came news of a vaccine. Now come the scams.
Dr. Fauci explained how to end the COVID pandemic. The country’s leading expert on infectious diseases shares his thoughts on resolving the current public health crisis and preparing for the next.
Trump admits idiotic 'herd immunity' was his only COVID plan to stop the virus.
A former Trump appointee in Health and Human Services encouraged a herd immunity strategy for COVID-19, internal emails reveal.
COVID-19 may cause long-term erectile dysfunction in men.
A COVID-19 patient had to travel nearly 200 miles to another state for treatment.
Men face 'almost three times the odds' of ICU admission for COVID-19, study says.
COVID-19 can lead to neurological complications, including strokes, seizures and movement disorders, researchers have found. The complications, which go well beyond cognitive impairment, can occur even in moderate cases, according to a new study.
A woman in Oklahoma with worsening cold-like symptoms tested negative for COVID-19 three times before receiving a positive test. Now, she wants others to know to not solely rely on test results if they are feeling sick.
The antibody drugs used to treat Trump and others could cut COVID-19 hospitalizations by half, but they’re not being used by the general public.
A Christian radio host is planning a maskless Christmas party for 800 guests.
A biotech conference in Boston led to 245,000 COVID-19 cases across US, genetic fingerprinting shows.
A 104-year-old World War II veteran from Alabama has survived COVID-19.
A Michigan woman gave birth to a healthy baby but died of COVID-19 before she could hold him.
Meet two traveling nurses that are called to action to support hospitals across the country when they are struggling from COVID-19 surges.
'A slap in the face': A hospital in Yuma fired an ER doctor for talking about COVID-19 in Arizona on social media. The doctor has said that healthcare professionals are still not getting the protection they need and that he walks into a 'war zone' every day. .
A doctor who treated some of Houston's sickest Covid-19 patients has died from the virus himself.
A doctor who treated some of Houston's sickest Covid-19 patients has died from the virus himself.
A middle school teacher in Florida died from COVID-19 complications.
8 nuns died of COVID-19 in last week at Wisconsin convent.
An elderly woman in an assisted living facility doesn't know her grandson died from COVID 19.
A 107-year-old Minnesota woman survived COVID-19. It isn't the first pandemic she has lived through. Born in 1913, Tillie Dybing was almost 5 years old when the 1918 flu pandemic hit her family farm in North Dakota, she said.
Married for 30 years, they died together from COVID-19 complications sharing one final embrace — holding each other's hands and the hands of their children.
The newly sworn-in New Hampshire Speaker of the House Dick Hinch died of COVID-19. The Republican had been Speaker for only a week.
Pandemic fatigue is hard. Losing a loved one to COVID-19 is harder.
Pandemic fatigue is hard. Losing a loved one to COVID-19 is harder.
Letters to Santa reveal the toll the pandemic is taking on kids.
Hunger study predicts 168,000 pandemic-linked child deaths worldwide.
Washington is nearing a breakthrough on a desperately needed federal relief package that could keep the fragile economic recovery intact. But Senator Bernie Sanders is furious the bipartisan legislation is not expected to include stimulus checks.
Representative Katie Porter (who is super awesome) 'pulls back the curtain' on McConnell's COVID stimulus sabotage: 'This must be exposed'
Bernie Sanders and five Senate Democrats urge Chuck Schumer to include stimulus checks in the coronavirus relief bill.
The Trump administration doubled down on $600 checks over weekly unemployment benefits.
Rand Paul, a Republican Senator from Kentucky, thinks Americans would be better off without the stimulus bill and wants to give waitressing jobs to COVID survivors instead.
Congressional leaders met for a second session amid a rush to strike a COVID relief and funding deal.
Florida’s GOP governor lied and mislead the public about COVID-19, an explosive new report says.
Here are 13 ways Governor Ron DeSantis botched Florida's coronavirus response.
Agents raid home of the fired Florida data scientist who built the state's COVID-19 dashboard. Florida's Governor DeSantis "sent the Gestapo." Video shows Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents with guns drawn at home of the woman fired over COVID-19 data, but who created her own website and kept posting the data anyway.
Dr. James Phillips, the attending physician at Walter Reed Hospital who criticized Trump for joyriding with Secret Service agents to greet his supporters while COVID-19 infected, got notice that his contract at Walter Reed will not be renewed.
A Florida megapastor claims the COVID-19 vaccine is ‘preparing the structure for the antichrist.’
First lady Melania Trump's office announced the finalization of the White House Tennis Pavilion -- a tone deaf accomplishment to trumpet amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and as the federal government remains locked on providing further economic relief to millions of suffering Americans.
‘Shark Tank’ investor Kevin O’Leary urged Congress to ‘stop funding companies’ and send people money.
There has been widespread outrage as the GOP tries to prevent people on unemployment from also receiving a stimulus check.
Lawmakers close to deal that includes $600 checks, $300 in weekly jobless aid.
A Republican ex-lawmaker warns that $600 aid to workers will turn America into communist China.
The White House paid up to $500 million too much for these ventilators, congressional investigators say. A House panel says “gullible” White House negotiators overpaid for Phillips ventilators, and it has asked the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General to investigate evidence of fraud in the deal.
Here are 13 ways Governor Ron DeSantis botched Florida's coronavirus response.
Ron DeSantis is being sued for withholding the White House report slamming his “inadequate” response to COVID
Governor DeSantis suggested one dose of the Pfizer vaccine may be enough. The government is allocating the vaccination on a per capita basis.
Agents raid home of the fired Florida data scientist who built the state's COVID-19 dashboard. Florida's Governor DeSantis "sent the Gestapo." Video shows Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents with guns drawn at home of the woman fired over COVID-19 data, but who created her own website and kept posting the data anyway.
A Florida COVID-19 whistleblower has said that ‘nothing’ Governor Ron DeSantis has done with the virus has been honest.
How Biden aims to COVID-proof his administration. Avoiding superspreader events, requiring masks and encouraging remote work are all part of the transition's effort to keep its staff safe.
Dr. James Phillips, the attending physician at Walter Reed Hospital who criticized Trump for joyriding with Secret Service agents to greet his supporters while COVID-19 infected, got notice that his contract at Walter Reed will not be renewed.
A Florida megapastor claims the COVID-19 vaccine is ‘preparing the structure for the antichrist.’
An Ohio GOP lawmaker tested COVID-positive twice. That didn’t stop him from going maskless to work.
Congressman Devin Nunes says he has tested positive for antibodies from COVID-19. Nunes said he has never tested positive for the virus itself but realizes he likely had it at some point due to the positive antibody test.
A nightclub in Columbus, Ohio, was temporarily shut down and is accused of public health violations because up to 500 people attended a concert headlined by R&B singer Trey Songz over the weekend, authorities said.
The Oregon Medical Board suspended a doctor's license for refusing to wear mask while treating patients.
Days after vowing to target coronavirus super spreader events, the Los Angeles County sheriff announced 158 arrests tied to an underground party in Palmdale, where officers recovered guns, drugs and a juvenile sex trafficking victim.
Fox News' Laura Ingraham urged viewers to spend Christmas with families despite soaring COVID-19 case numbers around the country.
Parents were charged after renting a party bus for their child's birthday with 60 mask-less kids inside.
A mayor of a small Kansas town resigned after receiving threats for backing a mask mandate.
Former New Jersey GOP Governor Chris Christie says in a new national TV ad that he regrets not wearing a mask while visiting the White House earlier this year, a choice he acknowledges led to him contracting the coronavirus and spending a week in the ICU.
Another anti-masker was recently removed from an airline for refusing to wear a mask:
A Trump-loving televangelist got $4 million in COVID relief bailout and bought himself a private jet.
Joel Osteen and his megachurch took $4.4 million in PPP coronavirus relief funding.
Billionaire Kanye West's Yeezy received a multimillion-dollar PPP loan that otherwise could have gone to struggling small businesses.
Second Lady, Karen "Mother" Pence’s anti-LGBTQ school got $725K in COVID bailout funds.
The pandemic has destroyed friendships and divided families.
Tyson Foods fired some managers following allegations of a COVID-19 betting pool.
A South Carolina man tested positive for COVID after playing Santa at an event the weekend before.
A sick Santa and Mrs. Claus may have exposed 50 Georgia kids to COVID.
The UK Health Service apologized for making Santa desperately ill with COVID-19 in a public service message. (I was more disturbed by the nurse visiting with all of the kid patients and none of them wearing masks at the end.)
The coronavirus is killing his Michigan bowling alley, so he wrote this emotional 'obituary.'
Tom Cruise reportedly scolded his film crew for COVID violations.
Chicago couple canceled their big wedding but used the $5,000 catering deposit to feed people in need.
Guy Fieri raised $21.5 million for unemployed restaurant workers, which means Guy Fieri has done more for unemployed restaurant workers than Congress has in the last 8 months.
Biden will disinfect the White House after Trump moves out.
Check out Alaska Airlines' COVID-19 'Safety Dance.'
How supermarkets are fighting pandemic hoarding 2.0.
My former co-worker Sandy shared the image she found online below:
GLOBAL:
There have been 74,958,938 confirmed cases of the virus around the world. There have been 1,662,228 deaths from the virus globally.
Long a holdout from COVID-19 restrictions, Sweden ended its pandemic experiment. The government imposed mandatory measures after failing to contain a new surge in infections. It's getting so bad, Sweden’s COVID workers are quitting in dangerous numbers.
France's president, Emmanuel Macro, tested positive for COVID-19.
Germany has exceeded 30,000 cases in 24 hours for the first time.
India expects to 'begin vaccination in January.'
New Zealand lifted all COVID restrictions and declared itself virus-free. (If only we'd had a leader...instead of Donald Trump.) The country also announced it will provide the new COVID vaccine to any New Zealander who wants it — free of charge.
New Zealand lifted all COVID restrictions and declared itself virus-free. (If only we'd had a leader...instead of Donald Trump.) The country also announced it will provide the new COVID vaccine to any New Zealander who wants it — free of charge.
Brazil's Ministry of Health has announced its national vaccination rollout plan to counter COVID-19 that is set to start early next year.
STATES:
New Massachussets COVID-19 restrictions take effect. Here's what to know. Massachusetts reported 4,968 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, along with 47 more deaths.
STATES:
New Massachussets COVID-19 restrictions take effect. Here's what to know. Massachusetts reported 4,968 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, along with 47 more deaths.
South Carolina had 2,023 new cases and 39 deaths yesterday.
A White House Coronavirus Task Force report for Florida recommended stricter measures for stopping the virus including mask wearing at all times in public, increased physical distancing by reducing capacity or closing indoor spaces at restaurants and bars and limiting gatherings outside of immediate households. The state reported 13,148 new cases, 3rd-most coronavirus cases ever in single day yesterday.
A White House Coronavirus Task Force report for Florida recommended stricter measures for stopping the virus including mask wearing at all times in public, increased physical distancing by reducing capacity or closing indoor spaces at restaurants and bars and limiting gatherings outside of immediate households. The state reported 13,148 new cases, 3rd-most coronavirus cases ever in single day yesterday.
More than 1,200 Pennsylvania health workers have been vaccinated and the state's health secretary urges Pennsylvanians to stay home for Christmas.
No country is more infectious than the U.S. and no state in the country is more infectious than Tennessee when it comes to COVID-19.
The surge of COVID-19 cases in Mississippi has left no ICU beds available across the state and prompted the need for restrictions.
Minnesota's Governor Tim Walz plans to loosen COVID restrictions on bars, gyms, youth sports.
The surge of COVID-19 cases in Mississippi has left no ICU beds available across the state and prompted the need for restrictions.
Minnesota's Governor Tim Walz plans to loosen COVID restrictions on bars, gyms, youth sports.
New Mexico reported 48 new COVID-19 deaths and 1,702 additional cases on Thursday.
Utah saw a record-high of 30 new COVID-19 deaths and 3,203 cases yesterday.
Nevada now has the highest COVID-19 hospitalization rate per capita in the US. A Reno hospital turned their parking garage into a new wing to treat coronavirus patients.
Nevada now has the highest COVID-19 hospitalization rate per capita in the US. A Reno hospital turned their parking garage into a new wing to treat coronavirus patients.
75 more people died from COVID-19 in Washington state yesterday.
Oregon's governor extended the COVID-19 state of emergency through March 2021. The state reported 21 more COVID-19 deaths and 1,339 new cases yesterday.
Hawaii recorded two additional coronavirus deaths and 142 new infections statewide yesterday.
CALIFORNIA:
California shattered a record with 379 COVID-19 deaths in 24 hours. Wednesday's number of deaths is equivalent to a life lost every four minutes in a 24-hour span.
CALIFORNIA:
California shattered a record with 379 COVID-19 deaths in 24 hours. Wednesday's number of deaths is equivalent to a life lost every four minutes in a 24-hour span.
California sent an emergency phone alert because COVID cases had overwhelmed emergency services and ICUs.
California has been breaking ICU hospitalization records.
California has been breaking ICU hospitalization records.
California activates a 'mass fatality' program as the state sets new virus records.
Governor Newsom says the state has refrigerators and body bags on standby.
Los Angeles is now the worst-hit U.S. metro area for COVID-19 cases.
A top health official in Los Angeles sounded the alarm about the “unprecedented and catastrophic suffering and death” from the incredible surge of COVID 19 there.
Nurses are alarmed at a possible 2-day ICU training program announced by Governor Newsom.
Nurses are alarmed at a possible 2-day ICU training program announced by Governor Newsom.
Two people are dying every hour of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County, a health director says. California reported more than 53,000 new coronavirus cases.
LA County reported 14,418 new COVID cases and 102 deaths yesterday as the pandemic worsens.
Southern California has run out of ICU beds for coronavirus patients.
California shut down the entire Bay Area until January 7 (at least).
San Francisco orders mandatory quarantine for incoming travelers amid COVID-19 surge.
Long Beach passed a resolution giving grocery workers an extra $4 per hour in hazard pay amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
A California restaurant owner claims to have found 'loophole' to remain open during the COVID-19 stay-home order.
Two strip clubs can stay open and set their own COVID rules, a California judge has ruled.
LOCAL:
Last week, Fresno and other counties reached 0% ICU capacity, as COVID cases kept increasing. Yikes! By last Saturday, the entire San Joaquin Valley was hurting for ICU beds.
LOCAL:
'We are at a point of crisis': How local officials are trying to fight a rapidly worsening COVID situation. Beds are scarce and more than 450 healthcare workers at Community Medical Centers are self-isolating after testing positive or being exposed.
Here is a list of available beds throughout the Central Valley.
Available hospital beds and staff are dangerously low in the Central Valley.
A Fresno doctor says that the current spike in COVID-19 hospitalizations is linked to Thanksgiving gatherings.
Valley agencies are preparing for the rising COVID-19 death toll.
Officials are aiming to bring COVID-19 testing to underserved areas.
Fresno's Catholic bishop now backs use of COVID-19 vaccines.
Four Valley locations have been chosen to store, distribute COVID-19 vaccine. In addition to Valley Children's Hospital in Madera, the state has identified Fresno, Tulare, and the Tuolumne County public health departments as locations that can receive, store and distribute the vaccine.
The 1st shipment of COVID-19 vaccine arrived at Valley Children's. The hospital has started to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to hospital healthcare workers.
Kaweah Delta, Sierra View, and various nursing homes will be the first to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in Tulare County. Moderna, another vaccine manufacturer, has committed to ship 5,500 doses to Tulare County hospitals and nursing homes.
Clovis Unified campuses remain open for students.
Central Unified to delay in-person classes until Fresno County is in 'red tier.' The district will now wait until Fresno County moves out of the 'purple tier' to reopen campuses.
Substitute teachers face changing role amid COVID-19.
$9,000 in fines issued to Fresno businesses violating stay-at-home orders.
Fresno restaurant owners urge California to let them reopen or show them data that argues for them to remain closed.
Where to see holiday lights in Fresno and Clovis. The holidays may look a little different this year, but dozens of families in Fresno and Clovis have put in hard work to add bring some holiday cheer to the community.
With COVID taking a huge bite out of normal holiday traditions, a drive-thru light show at the Fresno fairgrounds may help boost spirits.
Museums and art galleries brace for uncertain future after lockdown.
POST-ELECTION:
He is not even president yet, but Biden is already more popular than Trump's ever been.
All 50 states and DC have now certified their presidential election results.
The Electoral College voted and affirmed Biden's win.
Vice President Mike Pence will head overseas January 6, hours after formally declaring Biden the presidential victor.
Newly surfaced recording reveals ALEC and the GOP election attorneys were working with state legislators to question validity of the election -- MONTHS before it was to occur.
Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton (who is himself under an FBI investigation) filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Supreme Court to invalidate presidential election results in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Wisconsin and Michigan. Seventeen other states joined in the lawsuit.
Ohio's Republican attorney general filed a legal brief opposing the Texas lawsuit. David Yost says the Supreme Court lacks authority to order state legislatures in Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin to appoint electors.
Representative Mike Johnson of Louisiana, a close ally of President Donald Trump, sent an email to every House Republican soliciting signatures for an amicus brief in the longshot Texas lawsuit seeking to invalidate electoral college votes from Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. 106 House Republicans signed on in support of the Trump-backed lawsuit to overturn the election.
GOP Representative Denver Riggleman ripped fellow Republicans, saying COVID is real and the Kraken (Trump's election fraud conspiracy) is not.
A Trump lawyer now says that Canada is part of the conspiracy to take Trump down.
A Republican congressman revealed he's leaving the GOP over disgust with Trump's election fraud claims and how the Republican party responded.
20 states, 2 U.S. territories, and Washington D.C. itself urged the Supreme Court to reject the Texas lawsuit. "By demanding this Court police state interpretation of state law, Texas’s theory of the Electors Clause would reorder the Constitution and undermine our federalist system."
Attorney George Conway reacted to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton seeking to block election results by asking the Supreme Court to take up a lawsuit against Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin arguing that the battleground states exploited the COVID-19 pandemic to justify ignoring federal and state election laws.
Trump asked Ted Cruz to argue the Texas election lawsuit if it reaches Supreme Court.
Kayleigh McEnany revealed the ‘single most important document of 2020’ and once again she’s lying.
GOP Senator Ben Sasse says Ken Paxton filed the Texas election lawsuit because he’s hoping for a Trump pardon.
The Supreme Court dismissed the lawsuit from Texas, essentially shutting down Trump's path through the courts to overturn the election and steal the presidency.
Trump should impeach his Supreme Court judges, Right-Wing commentators are saying.
Ken Paxton says he has a 'Plan B' to overturn the election after the Supreme Court rejection.
Alabama GOP Representative Mo Brooks is planning a January 6th challenge to Electoral College vote.
Federal judges reject the GOP's effort to overturn swing state election results. Judges in Georgia and Michigan dealt severe blows to Republican efforts to decertify President-elect Joe Biden's victory.
'The people have spoken': A federal judge rejected ex-Trump attorney Sidney Powell's Michigan election lawsuit.
Trump pressured Georgia governor in call to help overturn Biden's win in state. (That is highly illegal.)
Trump lashed out at Georgia's Governor Kemp after he refused to call a special session to overturn the election results.
Armed protesters spent nearly an hour outside the home of the Michigan Secretary of State, chanting about conspiracy theories.
MAIL:
I've received a lot of cards over the last two weeks. The first card, though, was not a Christmas card. It was a card from a former co-worker Kati, checking on my health. So very kind of her to do so.
But the Christmas cards have started raining down. Golly, I've gotten so many so far. I've had cards from Brenda, husband Jason, and son Lucas. My friend John in Frazier Park sent a card (and a $100 money order that I just can NOT accept--but thank you!). My former co-worker Laura in Reedley sent me a holiday photo card featuring her husband, Mando and her new baby Gemma. My friend Jenny A. in San Gabriel also sent a card.
I had a card from my friend Kim in Wisconsin. Former co-worker Mike, his wife M'lissa and daughter Emily sent a card. Ricki, in Florence, Oregon, sent a card featuring herself as Tinkerbell over a photo she had taken of the bridge in her town, decorated for Christmas. Erich in San Leandro sent a card. Sheila, who is Ricki's sister, also sent a card that she created herself. Fabulous!
Jen, another former co-worker at the hospital, sent a card with her family. Erica, also from work, sent a photo card of her family. Yvonne, one of the therapists from work, also sent a Christmas card.
Skye made the card from her and Robin in Oregon. Christa from Santa Monica sent a card as did my cousin Michael and his wife Annette in Spokane, WA.
I also had a photo card from Yvette's and Jessica's (they're twins) family, and a card from Mikey and Ray in Iowa. Their card was musical and played "Jingle Bells" over and over and over. (It's still playing as I write this.) A note inside said "Now you know where the never-ending Halloween card came from." Ha!
It has faces on both sides. One side is smiling---the other is frowning.
There was a package from John. There was some candy:
THANK YOU everyone and ho-ho-ho!!!!!
I was surprised to get a letter [in lieu of a Christmas card, I am guessing] from one of the respiratory therapists at the hospital, Frank:
My former co-worker Marie sent this note:
ME:
Not much has been happening with me, aside from repeated trips to therapy or for grocery pick ups. I have gotten all (most?) of my Christmas cards done (and I hope I haven't forgotten any one? I do soooo many every year...).
Continue to the next part HERE.
Trump lashed out at Georgia's Governor Kemp after he refused to call a special session to overturn the election results.
Governor Kemp and Lt. Governor Duncan blocked requests for pro-Trump Republicans to select their own electors in Georgia.
Kayleigh McEnany stooped to new lows on Sean Hannity's show and said that Georgia's Governor Kemp is ‘despicable’ and just like Stacey Abrams.
Melissa Carone, Rudy Giuliani's star witness, says she wasn’t drunk during the hearing, and also claims Obama’s funded the creation of COVID-19. She also said she won't quarantine even though Rudy Giuliani and Jenna Ellis test positive for COVID.
Take Biden’s votes away — then Trump wins, explained Rudy Giuliani, in a Zoom call.
Trump ally Chris Christie blasted the ‘absurdity’ of Trump’s continued litigation.
December 8 was 'Safe Harbor Day.' 'Safe Harbor Day' highlights Trump's election lawsuit failures — and the judiciary's success as states certify who their electoral votes will be cast for.
"Alternate electors" was yet another far-fetched Trump plan to overturn the election that didn't work.
An Idaho official blames the GOP after ‘armed protesters’ threatened her kids, who were at home alone: ‘Take a hard look at what you’ve become.’
Ex-FBI deputy attacks Republicans for language that causes violence and recruits fighters just like ISIS.
A Fox News guest ripped Matt Schlapp and the Trump campaign for continuing to grift from supporters post election with his bogus "Stop the Steal" claims.
Smartmatic—one of two voting machine manufacturers attacked by Trump and his allies (without evidence) for rigging the election—is demanding retractions and delivering legal notices to Fox, Newsmax, and OANN for promoting those baseless lies.
(I wonder if he'll sue for a recount?)
Ex-FBI deputy attacks Republicans for language that causes violence and recruits fighters just like ISIS.
A Fox News guest ripped Matt Schlapp and the Trump campaign for continuing to grift from supporters post election with his bogus "Stop the Steal" claims.
Trump boosts the possibility of declaring the Dominion voting systems a national security threat.
'This is madness': Mitt Romney blasted GOP lawmakers threatening to protest the Electoral College vote.
Rudy Giuliani launched a new conspiracy theory: The election fraud was coordinated by ‘somebody in Washington.’
Georgia election official: Trump's attorneys 'chose to mislead' the public about voter fraud. The Georgia Secretary of State's office continues to speak out against election misinformation.
Kayleigh McEnany urged Georgia's governor to pressure his secretary of state over the election with budget threats.
Lara Trump says Brian Kemp ‘owes’ quid pro quo to president: ‘It would be nice if he reciprocated.’
As lawyers keep pushing evidence-less Trump election challenges, calls for sanctions against them mount.
Demands to suspend Trump’s Twitter account exploded as Trump calls for war, ‘Our country is being stolen, a coup is taking place!'
As President Donald Trump focuses on his post-election legal battles, attorneys general in multiple states are focused on their own post-presidential legal battles that could result in severe consequences for the president and his allies.
Trump and his lawyers could face racketeering charges for trying to steal the election, says a Watergate prosecutor.
27 House Republicans beg Trump to force Barr to appoint a special counsel to investigate election fraud.
Lindsey Graham says Senate Republicans will refuse to seat Joe Biden’s Attorney General pick — if Trump will face a criminal investigation. (This sounds like quid pro quo...and why hasn't he been investigated for election interference in Georgia yet?)
The president has a serious personality disorder.
Does Trump really believe what he says about election fraud?
The naked emperor (Trump) has become a national laughingstock.
Trump held a large rally in Georgia to promote Senators Loeffler and Purdue (but mostly to whine about his election loss). It was one day after the Peach State set a new coronavirus record.
Kelly Loeffler’s firm helped a hedge fund carry out an Enron-like scandal that cost Georgians at least $18 million in extra heating costs.
David Perdue diverted military money to Trump’s wall — while profiting from his own Pentagon bill.
Georgian Republican David Perdue was mocked with an empty podium at the debate he refused to attend.
A devastating photo of Kelly Loeffler emerged with her posing for picture with the Georgia KKK leader.
Newt Gingrich complains that making it easier for Georgia to vote makes it harder for Republicans to win.
Loeffler can’t explain why the Georgia runoff vote won’t be rigged.
Lindsey Graham admits that the GOP is 'screwed' if Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue don't win the Georgia runoff elections.
Trump is pocketing Georgia Senate runoff donations for his PAC, while the GOP candidates themselves don't get a dollar, a new report says.
Early voting changes in Georgia counties are suppressing turnout, advocates warn.
Biden blasted Georgia's GOP senators, saying they 'stood by' as Trump tried to undo state's election results.
President Donald Trump's political appointees are finalizing an array of last-minute federal regulations ahead of Joe Biden's inauguration, including rules that would make it harder to enforce environmental protections, tighten immigration, remove penalties for killing birds, and possibly eliminate food assistance for millions of Americans.
The Trump administration is rushing to approve dozens of eleventh-hour policy changes. Among them: The Justice Department is fast-tracking a rule that could reintroduce firing squads and electrocutions to federal executions.
The case of the missing president.
New records show Trump’s Department of Justice rushed through a no-bid contract for lethal injection drugs, so more prisoners could be executed faster before he leaves office.
Ex-CIA chief of staff tells Republicans, ‘If one political party wants to defeat itself — knock yourself out.’
(Read the headline below carefully... How dumb can they be?)
A Texas GOP boss hinted at secession after the Supreme Court drop-kicked the state's election lawsuit. The party of Lincoln appears to be calling for civil war, noted an aghast Twitter critic.
Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo said that a high-level intelligence source told her that ‘Trump won the election.’ (Again, where is the proof and, is it just me, or does she sound like a cartoon?)
Senator Ron Johnson plans to bring former independent counsel Ken Starr to testify at a controversial hearing on the 2020 elections.
Schumer pressures Biden to bypass Congress to cancel $50,000 in student debt per borrower.
Representatives Kathleen Rice and Ted Lieu have formally called on a Washington court to strip Trump campaign lawyer Joe diGenova of his right to practice law after he called for the execution of former U.S. election security official Chris Krebs.
Ex-White House cyber official Christopher Krebs, who was fired after he said the election was the most secure in American history, is suing the Trump campaign over its attacks on election results.
The Trump Organization is being sued in an “invoice-padding scheme.”
Wisconsin Republicans are blocking $3 million to reimburse counties for Trump’s recount.
Removing Trump is not enough. He must be prosecuted. He has declared total war on American democracy, and for that, he must be brought to justice.
A former federal prosecutor says that Trump must be prosecuted, otherwise you’re declaring a ‘president is a king.’
It’s possible — and necessary — to stop Trump from running in 2024, experts are saying.
The White House asks the staff to transition with ‘professionalism’ despite Trump’s continued election lies.
South Dakota’s John Thune is the highest ranking GOP Senator to confirm Biden’s win.
New Hampshire's GOP leader chairperson has left the Republican party, citing the Texas lawsuit as the "final straw."
Mike Pence will be the person to officially announce that Biden is to be the president of the Unites States.
Canada banned Americans until the day after Joe Biden takes office.
Trump is worried that dishing out 20 pardons might make him look a bit guilty, says report.
A new report details possible recipients of future Trump pardons.
Trump can't protect himself from New York prosecutors with a self-pardon, says the state senator who wrote the law to explicitly stop this from happening.
Kellyanne Conway jumped off of the Trump voter fraud train, say that we need a ‘peaceful transfer of Democracy.’
Kellyanne Conway is reportedly writing a tell-all book and Trump’s inner circle is ‘quaking in their boots.’
These are the probes facing Trump when he leaves office.
The Manhattan District Attorneys office intensified its investigation of Trump. Trump's bankers are now being interviewed.
The Trump Organization must turn over documents to New York's attorney general, a judge ruled.
A former prosecutor has said that Trump's effort to overturn the election is racketeering.
Melania sparked rumors after she and her son Barron appeared to skip out on Thanksgiving with the Trump family.
Melania Trump reportedly 'just wants to go home.'
Melania Trump asked if she’ll get any taxpayer money or staff after leaving the White House and people are not happy.
Meet Donald J. Trump's nightmare, the 15 prosecutors who are going to make it rain criminal indictments and civil suits for Donald and his entire criminal network (which is mostly just his inept children) after January 20th.
New York Attorney General Letitia James says her investigation into the Trump Organization will continue after Trump leaves the White House.
Ivanka Trump has a trademark on corruption. While US farmers went bankrupt, Ivanka kept pocketing new trademarks from the Chinese government.
Ivanka Trump has been grifting her way through her father's presidency. But it's Hunter Biden we want to investigate?
Washington DC's attorney general says Ivanka Trump misrepresented facts in the inaugural spending investigation.
Will Ivanka snitch on her father?
A Senate committee made criminal referrals of Donald Trump Jr., Steve Bannon, Jared Kushner, and two others to federal prosecutors. The Intelligence Committee detailed its concerns in a letter to the U.S. attorney's office in Washington, D.C., in June 2019, an official said.
Lara Trump is leading Republicans in 2022's North Carolina Senate poll.
Don Jr. and Eric were nicknamed ‘Stank’ and ‘Choad’ in high school and the names still fit (and you should see their dorky pictures).
Attorney General Bill Barr is "resigned," leaving a Trump butt-kissing letter of resignation in the process.
Republican Senator Mitt Romney was 'not surprised' Bill Barr 'could no longer associate himself' with Trump election fraud claims.
How Mitch McConnell and the GOP let Trump down gently.
A biographer reveals that Trump was a depraved and vicious bully as a child who threw rocks at babies.
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel urged President Donald Trump to take "appropriate disciplinary action," such as a fine or removal from office, against White House trade adviser Peter Navarro for violating the Hatch Act. (Huh? How many times has Trump violated the Hatch Act?)
Trump talked of 'another four years' during a White House Christmas reception.
Trump told guests at a White House Hanukkah party that 'we're gonna win this election.'
According to one article, Trump voters don't really believe Biden stole the election — but they do want a coup.
QAnon crazy and new House Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene admits Republicans voting against Trump resulted in his loss.
Former Representative (and general crazy woman) Michele Bachmann has said that ever since election night, I feel like I’m being ‘abused by Satan.’ She also says her vote was stolen by Satan.
Televangelist Pat Robertson invoked Jesus in the crusade against democracy. Later, Robertson prayed for Biden to be indicted before January 6th.
Right-wing writer Eric Metaxas will emcee a national right-wing prayer rally to overturn the presidential election.
Evangelicals plan to encircle the Supreme Court to make ‘walls of corruption and election fraud to fall down.’
CNN spoke to Trump supporters about election results. See what they had to say.
Trump said that Fox News committed ‘media suicide’ by calling the election for Biden.
Trump supporters berated Fox News reporters.
In a surprise Fox News poll, most US voters don't want Trump to run in 2024 and 42% say he is 'one of the worst presidents' ever.
Arizona's GOP has urged Republicans to ‘give their lives’ to keep Trump in office: ‘Die for something.’
Trump supporters called for an armed uprising after the Supreme Court dealt a fatal blow to the president's election scheme.
A former Houston Police Department Captain was arrested and charged for running a man off the road and pointing a gun at his head in an attempt to prove claims of a massive voter fraud scheme in Harris County.
Steve Schmidt, one of the founders of the Lincoln Project, said about the violence caused by the Proud Boys: “These are Trump’s thugs.”
Enrique Tarrio visited the White House on Saturday, hours before a major pro-Trump rally. How did a Proud Boys leader with a felony record get into the White House?
The Proud Boys went on a rampage through DC, ripping BLM flags and painting ‘F*ck Antifa’ on their butts.
Four people were stabbed and one shot after pro-Trump rallies.
Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones told a crowd of angry pro-Trump protesters in Washington, D.C. on Saturday that President-elect Joe Biden "will be removed one way or another.”
A vile website that was publicly broadcasting private or identifying information about Trump’s enemies has caught the eye of the FBI.
Trump supporters ratchet up dangerous rhetoric after McConnell's floor speech.
Michael Flynn, who pushed for Trump to declare martial law (and needs to go back to jail), says Americans will ‘not allow’ Biden's inauguration.
Ana Navarro, a conservative commentator on ABC’s The View, torched Republicans for defending Donald Trump’s voter fraud scam.
Trump released delusional post-election ads claiming that he won and is pushing for Biden's win to be overturned.
A new Fox poll shows that Trump voters are less likely to vote in future elections.
Donald Trump can't handle the emotions triggered by his defeat.
Trump ranted about getting 'screwed' by the Supreme Court in another Twitter meltdown.
Twitter put limits on Trump's Twitter feed - FINALLY!
Trump's Mar-a-Lago neighbors don't want him to move there. They may be able to stop him, too.
Trump refused to come out of his bedroom and attend a White House Christmas party after his defeat in the Supreme Court.
An historian has said that even with the election being dubbed 'the fraud of the century' doesn't compare to Trump's 2020 attempted election theft.
‘Duped’ Trump supporters will realize they got suckered by ‘mountains of misinformation,’ says a Georgia official.
After more than a month after the election, YouTube is removing videos falsely claiming election fraud.
Republicans strategist Rick Tyler says that Trump has turned the GOP into the party of ‘cowards’ and ‘eunuchs.’
Sidney Powell, the conspiracy theory-ranting attorney who Trump even said was not working for him, expanded the election conspiracy theory by saying 'It may have been the CIA.'
One of Trump's attorneys, Jenna Ellis, was fired as a Colorado prosecutor for making too many mistakes. Ha!
Trump's Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, has been urging the Department of Education staff to ‘be the resistance’ to Joe Biden’s administration.
Lara Trump told Sean Hannity that “we don’t think for one second that Biden is going to be sworn in”
Against Mitch McConnell’s wishes, a Republican Senator-elect from Alabama (looking to make a name for himself, no doubt) plans to challenge the Electoral College.
Republican Representative from Texas, Louie Gohmert, urges Christians to pray that the Supreme Court will throw out the election and let the House decide.
Rush Limbaugh said, “I actually think that we’re trending toward secession. I see more and more people asking what in the world do we have in common with the people who live in, say, New York?”
Fox News’ Geraldo Rivera said that Trump’s not speaking to him right now because of his position on the election being over. (Ahh. I'm crying big tears. Not.)
Karl Rove on Trump: America likes comebacks, not sore losers.
Congress has the next -- and final -- vote in the 2020 election. Here's how it works.
Trump is looking at a 'long shot' challenge in Congress in January.
Trump skipped the Secret Service's Christmas party, insulting the agents attending who risked their lives for him.
President Donald Trump promised he would save the US coal industry. But the industry is struggling through some of its darkest days, plagued by falling demand, bankruptcies and job losses.
Trump shamefully whined that he never got to take a vacation as president, despite golfing constantly and costing taxpayers millions.
Contractors working on Trump's border wall illegally smuggled in armed Mexican guards to protect construction sites, a whistleblower complaint says.
Trump Plaza in Atlantic City is scheduled to implode the week Biden takes office.
Atlantic City plans to auction off a chance to blow up Trump's former casino. The city's mayor says that Trump ‘openly mocked’ Atlantic City and that it plans to donate the money from the auction to charity.
Twitter confirmed that Trump could be banned after the inauguration day for repeated violations.
Trump apparently asked this self-owned question, “How can a country be run by an illegitimate president?”
The Trumps are reportedly preparing to move out of the White House. Another report says that Trump has reportedly been convinced he actually won the election and has told advisers he may not vacate the White House.
Trump is headed to Mar-a-Lago the week before Christmas...and might never return to DC.
Russian media has suggested the Kremlin give Trump asylum to avoid prosecution.
A group of more than 1,500 attorneys is calling on the legal profession’s governing body, the American Bar Association, to investigate the conduct of Rudy Giuliani and other lawyers aiding and abetting Donald Trump’s baseless effort to overturn the results of the presidential election.
Trump’s legal team said they will fight the election results until the very end, ‘January 20th at noon.’
How Hitler conquered Germany. The Nazi propaganda machine exploited ordinary Germans by encouraging them to be co-producers of a false reality. (Doesn't that sound like Trump and his administration?)
Believe it or not, Trump was a finalist for TIME magazine's PERSON OF THE YEAR. He didn't win. I'll bet he blew a gasket when he sees who did:
However, Donald Trump did win the ‘Loser of The Year’ award from Europe’s largest news magazine, DER SPIEGEL.
Trump's biggest betrayal yet could come in the last days of his presidency.
A political obituary for Donald Trump: The effects of his reign will linger. But democracy survived.
CREATIVITY:
Just in time for Christmas, here is a new, holiday-themed Randy Rainbow extravaganza:
Here are a couple of parodies of the "So Long, Farewell" song from THE SOUND OF MUSIC about Trump:
CREATIVITY:
Just in time for Christmas, here is a new, holiday-themed Randy Rainbow extravaganza:
Laurie Lehner is back with another wonderful political parody, also holiday themed:
Here's a Lady GaGa parody about Dr. Fauci:
I'm not a big fan of religious Christmas songs, but here is Puddles Pity Party's newly released take on SILENT NIGHT:
And another (in my opinion, better) religious Christmas song, by Puddles, WHAT CHILD IS THIS?:
Help actor Ryan Reynolds help sick kids this Christmas:
Ryan Reynolds strikes again with this very clever (ad?) bit about Satan looking for a mate using a dating app. (Who he is paired with is brilliant!):
And here's the short, follow-up:
And here is a bizarre-O real commercial from the Philippines (with subtitles) for RC Cola (Watch it until the very end!):
Here is a musical remix of Trump's 46-minute rant about election fraud, "Massive Dump":
Here is another featuring Rudy Giuliani's star witness, Melissa Carone:
"The Grinches of Georgia" brings the Christmas season to politics:
And, of course, there are still political ads:
And here is another parody, "After-Trump Delight":
Finally, the artist known as SHAG (JoSH AGle) shared one last COVID coloring page to celebrate the holidays and bid farewell to the awful mess that has been 2020:
MAIL:
I've received a lot of cards over the last two weeks. The first card, though, was not a Christmas card. It was a card from a former co-worker Kati, checking on my health. So very kind of her to do so.
Kim had included a Wisconsin lottery ticket in her card. I won $10!!! Whoo hoo! I sent it back to her and told her to keep the money to put towards her long-awaited post-COVID trip to Hawaii.
I had Christmas cards from Della in Washington and Ashley and Sai in Oakland.
My former co-worker Sandy sent me a card, Eric in Costa Mesa sent me a card, and Alan in San Francisco sent me a card.
Cards came Thursday from John (again!) in Frazier Park, Cathy in Alameda, and Gary and his husband Jason in Visalia.
A mystery box arrived at the door. Inside was this note:
Further exploration revealed this nifty glass tiki mug.
But the main gift was wrapped up. It was this cool ornament. Zowie! The heart-shaped outside says "Nurses make everything better" with a picture inside of me before some medical procedure -- kind of hitting the message on two levels. Ha!
Mom sent me a texted photo of my brother's house all decorated for Christmas:
My friend Angel in Colombia sent me a note. I don't usually include parts of notes that deal with my health, but I included Angel's here to showcase his amusing translation. Angel is a hard worker, always juggling multiple jobs. However, one new job gave him a health scare of his own, as he shares:
"Everything is fine," he says. "I started working on a car wash and the conditions weren't very good, so I got a skin infection and scarisis [I don't know--maybe psoriasis?], besides dermatitis and a blood infection. But I'm fine. I'm already undergoing treatment, just that my body itches a lot. I'm already with the treatment now I only get better.
"Everything is fine," he says. "I started working on a car wash and the conditions weren't very good, so I got a skin infection and scarisis [I don't know--maybe psoriasis?], besides dermatitis and a blood infection. But I'm fine. I'm already undergoing treatment, just that my body itches a lot. I'm already with the treatment now I only get better.
"I'm already looking for another job because I never want to work there again. I'm illegal because my passport expired. I am trapped in Colombia and I cannot return to Venezuela, because I could not leave later since I appear on the list of the Venezuelan government as a traitor to the homeland. But it's something that I'll have to think about a lot.
"And how are you? Have you felt good? Have you evolved to treatment? Don't you feel so weak anymore?
"I had to work today as a waiter in a smoked meat restaurant. I'm horrible. I smell like pure firewood or smoked meat. Well, I work in what I can or in any job that comes out. I'm not afraid to work.
"I will spend Christmas with my family."
My former co-worker, Mike's wife M'lissa sent me a note along with their Christmas card to me:
"Thank you so much for your never-ending cheer," she said. "We enjoyed your Christmas card and your kind offer of dinner. I have to apologize as I don't think Mike has been able to respond yet.
"Sadly, Mike's father passed away from COVID several days ago. He was such a special person and his loss is profound. Mike's mother also was COVID positive, but thankfully remained asymptomatic. She was just released from isolation yesterday--or maybe the day before. Time is very jumbled for us this week. "Mike is doing okay. It was heartbreaking that we could not be with his father or mother throughout this time. But we are trying to take one day at a time...and trying to look forward to 2021.
"Mike will be in touch with you when things settle down a bit here. His mom is confused now...not sure how things will go with her living alone for the first time in her life."
Linda in Castro Valley sent some photos she'd found online:
I was surprised to get a letter [in lieu of a Christmas card, I am guessing] from one of the respiratory therapists at the hospital, Frank:
"Well, well, well... I hope you're doing well, all things considered," he said. "The chance to move away from Fresno will definitely help. This valley just attracts all sorts of maladies from asthma to diabetes to valley fever...
"Same ol' stuff... Rehab? Ha! Ha! I laugh at Rehab. Well, not quite. I've had my fill to last a lifetime. It's always going to be my Achilles heel. But I'll do it as long as I'm 'required' (aka forced) to do it.
"I signed up for five labor pool shifts. Who in his right mind would go and do that? But i figure I had the time and a little "extra" money couldn't hurt.
"2021 is going to be way, way better than our lousy 2020."
Not an email or a letter, but my former co-worker Jerry sent me a photo from work. It was PCT [Patient Care Technician] Gina's last day at work [She is apparently going back to school.] and they had a little going away party for her. I was glad Jerry thought to share the photo with me.
Another former co-worker, Erica, sent me this vintage Christmas photo from the unit:
David in Australia sent a short note:
"I'm not sure about vaccine here...January or February," he said. "We did order a lot. At the moment, Australia wide, we have no locally acquired cases. The only active cases are overseas return travelers in quarantine. So, it means Pablo and I get to fly to Perth for Christmas.
"The west has had a hard border closure all year. This week they are allowing Victorians to arrive with a permit, but no 14-day hotel quarantine. We grabbed flights before they shot up by thousands. My whole family is in the west. So, this will be the first opportunity to see them in a year."
Kim, my CNA friend in Wisconsin, sent this quick update:
It looks like the vaccine is coming in a week or two," she said. "I am getting it. I'm a little nervous. I am still staying well. I will keep you updated. I am excited to see some light at the end of a very long tunnel."
My former co-worker Marie sent this note:
"How's it going?," she asked. "Guess what... I'm scheduled to get my COVID vaccine Friday. Actually, since I'm older, I'm at high risk. That's why they started calling the elders first. So far me, maybe Carol? Not too many want the first batch.
"I'm going to have a drink before I get the vaccine. I got sick with the flu shot, so I have a feeling that I will with this one, too."
I also heard from another former co-worker, Melaney:
"I was cleaning the house this morning and was thinking of you," she said. "I was wondering if it was about time for another dose [of IVIG].
"Joe is home for Christmas. And I am off. So, that's nice! We usually go to Oklahoma right after Christmas to see Joe's family, but we cancelled our trip this year due to COVID. So that's a bummer. We won't see his family for a long time. He leaves Feb. 14 for a year."
Mel then responded to my news that two friends are coming for the holidays:
"That will be kind of nice to have friends around for Christmas," she said. "Although you can't go out to eat anywhere. I'm really ready to go to a restaurant again!"
Mikey from Iowa sent a note:
"Things here are about the same," he said. "Still wearing masks, just hoping to not get infected every time we go grocery shopping, or to the bank. I'm glad to hear there is a vaccine available, but for me, it is also a worry. I know it sounds silly, a man of my age, but I am VERY needle phobic. I know I will be taking the vaccine when it is available to me here in the boonies, but until then, I will be stressing about getting the injection. Why can't it just be a pill, or something they spray in your nose? LOL!
"I will be asking my doctor if I can get a prescription for anxiety. Last time I met with him, he said that was a possibility, but I honestly don't think it will do much for me. Maybe it will take the edge off? The choices would be Xanax, or Valium. If only I could block it in my mind somehow. I know it is a small thing considering what others are going through, but I can't help but stress about it until the dreaded day. Who knows, since I will be getting my colonoscopy soon, maybe for the first dose, they can give it to me when I'm in "twilight" , just prior to the colonoscopy? Who knows.
"Not sure if I told you about the fiasco I went through with the power steering reservoir on my SUV, but after working on it in the driveway in the cold for 2 weeks and having no good result, I just re-installed the old one and Boom! Now it works perfectly."
ME:
Not much has been happening with me, aside from repeated trips to therapy or for grocery pick ups. I have gotten all (most?) of my Christmas cards done (and I hope I haven't forgotten any one? I do soooo many every year...).
I will say that, when I started this diary/blog, I never expected the pandemic would last this long or be this bad. (Here? In the US? No way... But look at our current leadership and the way it let things get out of hand as opposed to Australia, New Zealand, or even South Korea which have no active cases and have had very little death.) I was hoping that my family, friends and I would be spared the virus and/or spared knowing anyone with it. My friend Nedra's mom had it and, thank goodness, was okay. But this week I found myself writing two separate sympathy cards for people lost to COVID-19. One was to Mike about his father (that his wife M'lissa wrote about above). The other was to my friend Bert in Hanford, who lost his mother on Sunday. Bert had just lost his father in February (to a problem with his kidneys, not COVID). So, within the space of a year, he has become an orphan. I just can't imagine what he is going through.
On Saturday the 5th, Ricki, Erich, Shookie and I had a Zoom call. Shook was still recovering from her knee surgery (which is healing nicely, she said), so she was laying down.
We had missed Ashley's birthday, so Ricki and I had a Zoom call for her last Sunday. Her husband Sai was also available for the video chat. It was nice to see them.
After less than 6 hours of sleep, it was IVIG time again. This time, there were no issues at all--and my blood pressure behaved. Hooray! It only took a little more than 7 hours to infuse.
Last night, I had an amazing Christmas surprise. My former co-worker Alicia had texted a few days before, saying she wanted to bring over a Christmas card from the staff. That was very nice of her and I got together the card for the department and box of candy I had purchased for them to send back with her. When she arrived though, I was shocked. She pulled me out to the driveway where five other coworkers were waiting, all in various costumes, to sing me Christmas carols. They only got through one (sort of) before giving up, but it was so nice to see them all. I couldn't believe they had done this:
Mandy (third from the left) had her daughter Ayla and an in-law visiting from Turkey with her. Michele (4th) was there. Erica (6th) was there with her daughter, Savannah, Alicia (7th) was dressed as Eeyore. Carla (8th) was there and Alexis (8th) was dressed in an inflatable dinosaur costume.
I tried to get a selfie with them in it, but I couldn't do it.
But after dropping one of the tins on the ground and having it pop open to reveal gift cards in side, I was dumbfounded. OH MY STARS! In addition to the Freakshow wine (Love the name/label), there was a $50 Amazon gift card and a $100 Visa gift card. Golly gee! Why? I was so surprised. The people back at the hospital are just so amazing... I was so close to tears so many times while they were there and right after. Wow... THANK YOU all.
My IVIG treatments will continue later today. Joy... Later in the week, two friends (Erich from San Leandro and Nedra from Los Angeles) are coming to town for Christmas. I didn't ask them to come---they decided to do so on their own. I will be wearing a mask the entire time they are here as my IVIG treatments leave me immuno-compromised for a while. I don't think either has the virus, and Nedra said she was getting a shot as part of a further study of the Pfizer vaccine (although whether she got the vaccine or a placebo she won't know). Interesting. I'm sure we will have a nice time whatever we do.
Last Friday, I had physical therapy again. My physical therapy assistant, Josh, was being transferred to another location--so it was my last day to work with him. I will have four more therapy sessions after my current series of IVIG treatments. While, I am sure the new therapist I'll be working with will be fine, you do build up a relationship and trust with the one you have been working with over a period of time. I had already planned to bring a box of candy to the facility for all of the employees and had a separate, smaller one for Josh. I brought them Friday and gave them out--along with a Christmas card for Josh, thanking him for helping and for sharing about his own experiences. (He had something similar to me, dermatomyositis, and had to undergo similar IVIG treatments.) The pandemic has been weird---since everyone has been masked. At the end of our session, he showed me his face before I left (and asked to see my face as well---O' the horror!). What a weird, new "custom," I'd suppose you'd call it. For weeks, all I've ever seen is his and everyone else's eyes.
Their cat Goldie made an appearance,
As did Ricki's dog, boomer. Her cat Snowflake was also on, but I was not quick enough to get a shot.
On Monday, I had a couple of doctor appointments. I went to the cardiologist's first. I was getting the results of my recent heart monitoring. Yes, my report showed many PVCs (premature ventricular contractions) and skipped beats, but not to the extent they were worried. I had some concerns, though. The monitoring had stopped a few days before my first batch of IVIG. I told them that about the third day in on my treatments, my heart seemed to get extra wonky. Last Friday evening, I was sitting on the couch. A movie was playing on the TV and I was looking at my phone. Suddenly, it was as if my whole field of vision collapsed in on itself and started falling downwards. It freaked me out and I immediately snapped out of it. It was almost like that sensation of falling you sometimes have when you are drifting off to sleep--but this was not that.
With the PVC problem, the nurse practitioner (the doctor was not in that day) thought that it was a problem with my medication and she upped one of them to eliminate or greatly reduce the problem.
She said that if the IVIG bothers me again, that I was to call the office and go on another monitor for one day only.
Finally, with that weird, blacking out-like moment, she said she didn't think it was, but it could have been a mini-stroke. If it happens again, they would order an MRI of my head. It could also be caused by the blockage that was discovered in my heart during the angiogram earlier this year. The doctor opted to treat it with medication instead of doing a full angioplasty. We'll just have to wait and see...but it's kind of scary.
Afterwards, I had my appointment at the hematologist's office. While waiting for my pre-appointment labs, I was in the main waiting room. Off in this unused side office, I spotted all of these wig heads on a desk. They've never been there before that I've noticed. I'm guessing they are samples for oncology patients? How nice, but very sad at the same time.
I wasn't seeing the oncologist that day, I was just going for my regular phlebotomy. Jamie was my nurse that day. Here she is bringing me a cup of water.
I had to get jabbed with the big, ol' needle (see it hanging out of my arm? Ouch!) to drain me.
They take 500 mls each time (which is a fourth of a 2 litre bottle of soda or a bit more than 2 measuring cups). The collection bag is there on the floor. Because I have hemachromotosis (a genetic thing that causes me to retain iron) and polycythemia (the build of red blood cells in the body), it cannot be donated to blood banks. So, I get drained (which is better than having leeches attached, I guess).
My IVIG treatments started up again earlier this week. My regular nurse, Karen couldn't come the first day, so she sent her friend Stephanie in her place.
Things were going smoothly until Stephanie checked my vitals with only a half hour left of the infusion. My blood pressure was super high. She had to call the pharmacist and that led to all sorts of delays. Eventually my blood pressure dropped and we were able to finish the treatment. However, what would have been only 30 minute turned out to be nearly 2 hours more. UGH!
Afterwards, as stupid as it sounds, I had to go and grab a last-minute Christmas gift. While at the store, I noticed people looking at me. I know i am old and ugly and have gotten woefully fat, but... and then I happened to notice my hand on the cart. Oh yes...my IV was flopping about. I must have looked like a shopping obsessed hospital runaway or something. Ha!
Mandy (third from the left) had her daughter Ayla and an in-law visiting from Turkey with her. Michele (4th) was there. Erica (6th) was there with her daughter, Savannah, Alicia (7th) was dressed as Eeyore. Carla (8th) was there and Alexis (8th) was dressed in an inflatable dinosaur costume.
Erica had had her daughter Savannah take the picture, which got good shots of everyone. I look extra fat because they had me standing in front of them as they didn't want to risk getting me sick. But I was completely blown away by it all. It was so unexpected and touching. I couldn't believe it.
I was handed a few gifts when I first opened the door. The wine gift bag was obvious what it was. There were two of what I thought were cookie tins as well.
Have a safe and wonderful Christmas! HO! HO! HO!
Stay SAFE! Stay HEALTHY! Stay ALIVE!
CHEERS!
Stay SAFE! Stay HEALTHY! Stay ALIVE!
CHEERS!
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