VIRUS NEWS:
Doctors say many young people are suffering coronavirus complications they didn't expect. And it's time to ditch the belief that only older adults or people with pre-existing conditions are at risk of severe COVID-19.
Variants:
A vaccine-busting COVID variant a matter of ‘when, not if’, a World Health Organization expert warns.
What are the Indian, Brazil, South Africa and UK variants?
What we know about India’s ‘double mutant’ COVID-19 variant.
Scientists in Brazil have identified two cases where people were simultaneously infected with two different variants of COVID-19. Co-infection raises the likelihood of recombination admixture that generates more variants.
Here’s what we know about B.1.1.7, the U.S.’s dominant coronavirus strain. The variant appears to be more contagious and deadlier, but is still susceptible to vaccines
A COVID-19 variant in Oregon is spreading faster than in all but one state.
How to stay safe from more contagious coronavirus variants.
Why US coronavirus tracking can’t keep up with concerning variants.
All adults in US are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.
The CDC says that only about 30% of U.S. population is fully vaccinated against coronavirus. States with the highest vaccination rates per 100,000 people include New Mexico, New Jersey and Maine. States with the lowest rates include Mississippi, Alabama and Arkansas.
In the race between COVID-19 vaccines and the virus, hesitancy gives dangerous variants a leg up, an expert says.
Half of US adults have received at least 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine, the CDC says.
Millions are skipping their second doses of COVID vaccines. Nearly 8 percent of those who got initial Pfizer or Moderna shots missed their second doses. State officials want to prevent the numbers from rising.
West Virginia will pay young people $100 to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
'Vacc to Normal': Governor Whitmer has (brilliantly) tied easing of restrictions to Michigan's COVID-19 vaccination rate.
Guilt trips and withholding grandkids: How people convinced loved ones to get a vaccine. “I told him he wouldn’t be invited to our wedding, which we had rescheduled three times,” said one person. “He’s the groom.”
Here's why some are experiencing side effects after 2nd Pfizer or Moderna vaccine shot. Also, "what's the difference between a normal reaction to the vaccine and a reaction that you should be concerned about?"
Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines do not appear to pose serious risk during pregnancy, research shows.
A UCSF doctor says there's 'good evidence' COVID-19 booster shots may not be necessary. "It's important to say public health needs to decide about booster shots, not the heads of these companies making the vaccines," says an infectious disease expert.
Only 2 'breakthrough' infections among hundreds of fully vaccinated people, new study finds.
The COVID-19 vaccine and teens: experts weigh in on the side effects.
Coloradans who have been vaccinated against coronavirus are more than 90% less likely to develop COVID-19.
Unvaccinated people 65 and up hospitalized with COVID nearly 10 times more often.
Unvaccinated people 65 and up hospitalized with COVID nearly 10 times more often.
New York is the latest state to allocate COVID-19 vaccine doses directly to primary care doctors as part of an initiative to reach people who may be reluctant to be inoculated.
Want that job offer? A COVID-19 vaccine is now required — Employers are starting to mandate shots before candidates are hired. It’s a new rule some managers are rolling out for existing employees, too.
Polls find vaccine hesitancy in the White Evangelical community.
An anti-vaxxer bragged to C-SPAN: 'I've got the best doctor in the world and his name is Jesus Christ.'
The CDC and FDA have lifted the pause on using Johmson & Johnson's coronavirus vaccine and have added a safety warning.
The U.S. has more than 9 million doses of Johnson & Johnson's coronavirus vaccine ready to be administered now that federal health agencies have signed off on resuming use of the one-shot vaccine.
What women should know about the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine.
Moderna to boost COVID-19 vaccine production to meet the rising global demand.
The US will likely soon come up against a significant obstacle in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic -- more doses of the vaccines than people who are willing to receive them, according to data that is worrying experts.
The military is seeing a COVID-19 vaccine surplus as usage rate dips.
When will the United States start sharing vaccines? As the pandemic keeps spreading in the rest of the world, it’s time to share the wealth.
Denmark has removed AstraZeneca from its vaccination program.
Narendra Modi fails India's vaccine test — This was India's moment to shine as a vaccine manufacturing powerhouse. It failed the test due to the Modi government's mismanagement
Denmark has removed AstraZeneca from its vaccination program.
Narendra Modi fails India's vaccine test — This was India's moment to shine as a vaccine manufacturing powerhouse. It failed the test due to the Modi government's mismanagement
The CEO of BioNTech is confident the company's COVID vaccine works against the ‘double mutant’ strain identified in India.
Africa could produce a COVID-19 vaccine sooner than you think.
Africa could produce a COVID-19 vaccine sooner than you think.
Can Cuba beat COVID with its homegrown vaccines?
Scientists back Brazil's move to ban import of Russian "Sputnik V" COVID vaccine.
FDA inspectors found "brown residue" and other violations in a plant making the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Masks remain extremely effective indoors, but are they necessary outside?
A new ‘Karen’ sues a Wisconsin school board over mandatory masks because masks are ‘pagan rituals.’
Mask-hating Texas school board candidate rants about being 'a woman of God' after getting kicked out of Nordstrom.
The evidence of COVID-19's airborne transmission is “overwhelming,” say experts.
The CDC issued new outdoor mask guidance for fully vaccinated people.
Politics:
GOP Senator Ron Johnson has been criticizing the ‘big push’ to get everyone vaccinated.
Joe Biden announced a new tax credit to help spur vaccinations.
Bill helps veterans’ families access benefit after coronavirus deaths.
Democrats demand the release of secret vaccine contracts inked under Trump.
Elizabeth Warren and other Democratic senators want to know how US pharmaceutical companies plan to share vaccine technology as COVID-19 devastates India.
Kids and Schools:
Michigan parents tried to pound their way into a school board meeting to demand mask-free classrooms, in a state exploding with variant COVID cases.
Washington health officials worry about increased COVID-19 counts in kids.
The CDC says COVID-19 transmission rates in kids 6-13 years old are now higher than older adults.
With COVID-19 rising in daycares in COVID hot spots, ‘If you can keep your kids home now is the time.’
How you and your kids can avoid COVID-19 at playgrounds.
Dr. Fauci says 'kids of any age' should be able to get vaccinated for the coronavirus by the first quarter of 2022.
In Brazil, an alarmingly high number of babies and children are dying of COVID-19. While government data from Brazil suggest that over 800 children under age 9 have died of COVID-19, an expert estimates that the death toll is nearly three times higher.
A Brazilian teen died from COVID-19 complications after being cleared for and competing in a swimming competition.
University of California and California State University said they intend to require COVID-19 vaccines in the fall.
Healthcare:
The flu has disappeared worldwide during the COVID pandemic. The public health measures that slow the spread of the novel coronavirus work really well on influenza.
Some are dealing with 're-entry anxiety' as COVID restrictions ease, experts say.
Health care and workplaces must adjust for long COVID.
A man in Italy got COVID-19. Then his cancer went into remission. Scientists are researching how to reliably and safely recruit viruses to fight tumors.
Obesity studies highlight severe COVID outcomes, even in young adults.
There was a 100 percent recovery rate for COVID-19 patients treated with Zofin in a small clinical trial.
COVID-Related Health Complications:
Coronavirus might lead to strokes, a major study shows.
Genetic changes could be behind long terms COVID symptoms. Even those with asymptomatic COVID infections could have long-lasting changes in genetic expression which could be behind long-lasting symptoms in recovered patients.
True Stories:
A Norwegian COVID conspiracy theorist who claimed COVID was all a hoax and threw illegal house parties - has died of COVID.
The Biden Administration plans to provide $150 million to boost COVID response in underserved and vulnerable areas.
"Catching COVID-19 after being vaccinated isn’t a myth. It happened to me."
A California woman who is a 3-time cancer survivor also beat COVID-19 after a lengthy hospitalization.
Washington state poker night linked to nearly 100 COVID-19 cases.
EMS officers in New Orleans shared their stories and experiences during the coronavirus pandemic.
Travel:
The State Department plans ‘do not travel’ advisories for 80% of countries due yo COVID.
A body with COVID washed ashore. Now this Pacific island nation isn't taking any chances.
Hawaii to allow vaccinated inter-island travelers to bypass quarantine starting May 11.
US-Canada border travel restrictions extended through May 21, 2021.
What to know about COVID-19 vaccine passports and travel.
Real ID deadline extended again due to COVID-19. Here's what that means for travelers.
Misc:
A New Jersey man has filed a $1 trillion class-action lawsuit against Trump for 'excess deaths of Americans' from COVID.
The Director of National Intelligence gave two primary theories of where COVID-19 transmitted from initially.
MIT study finds you're no safer from COVID indoors at 6 feet or 60 feet.
The risk of surface transmission of COVID-19 is low, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Far more important is airborne transmission — and people who obsessively disinfect surfaces may be doing more harm than good.
Over-the-counter COVID-19 rapid tests were sent to major pharmacies last week.
Younger people are getting sicker from COVID, Washington state hospital leaders say.
One in four COVID-19 deaths last week was in the Americas, says PAHO director.
A Michigan taxidermist may have caught COVID-19 from an infected mink.
You might have given the coronavirus to your cat.
Dr. Fauci said that Republicans are ‘working against’ our COVID-19 efforts.
Vanity Fair published an interesting article with a very memorable headline: 'Jim Jordan trips over his own asshole trying to debate Anthony Fauci.'
A Fox News contributor called for Dr. Fauci to be fired for not talking to Jim Jordan with respect.
A Proud Boy, who was charged with pepper spraying Capitol cops, caught COVID-19 in jail.
Oklahoma is stuck with over a million hydroxychloroquine doses after the Trump-hyped drug proved to be a bust.
A vaccine maker ruined 15 million doses. Its CEO sold $11 million of stock before that was public.
The latest coronavirus surge spills over into the world’s financial markets.
Netflix shares plunge amid fears that the coronavirus boom is over.
The 2021 Oscars were last Sunday. Here are the COVID-19 safety measures that were in place for the ceremony attendees at Union Station.
A trial concert in Barcelona where 5,000 people took rapid COVID-19 tests and crammed into a venue without social distancing did not drive up infections, organizers said, giving hope to the live-music sector.
Get your coronavirus test, join the party: Experimental mass events in the Netherlands draw fire.
Coronavirus strain is a growing threat for horses in Israel.
Here's a list of companies that are providing freebies when you show proof of vaccination.
Right-Wing Virus Craziness/Hypocrisy:
A Christian finance guru runs his company like a 'religious cult' and mocks employees for their COVID-19 concerns.
A Christian finance guru runs his company like a 'religious cult' and mocks employees for their COVID-19 concerns.
Louisiana anti-vaccine pastor explained why he preaches COVID-19 is a lie: 'I'm not a politician. I'm a prophet.'
Two Florida private schools will not employ vaccinated teachers. Director Leila Centner, said they “may be transmitting something from their bodies” that could harm the “reproductive systems, fertility, and normal growth and development in women and children.”
Fox News got a taste of its own medicine: Brett Baier posted a photo of his vaccination shot, and MAGAs went NUTS.
Alaska Airlines banned a Republican senator who refused to wear a mask.
Fox News' Tucker Carlson demands viewers harass people wearing masks outside.
Naomi Wolf has been promoting 'absurd' COVID-19 conspiracy theories — with the help of Fox News.
Naomi Wolf has been promoting 'absurd' COVID-19 conspiracy theories — with the help of Fox News.
Doctor laughs out loud at a GOP official’s tinfoil hat-worthy vaccine question.
Trump, the man responsible for Republican vaccine hesitancy, wonders why he's being asked to promote getting vaccinated, after getting vaccinated secretly himself in January.
Trump has dreamed up some nefarious plot that Pfizer and the FDA are behind the Johnson & Johnson pause.
Rand Paul has a really dumb suggestion for Biden to boost vaccine uptake.
The governor of Tennessee declared that COVID-19 is no longer a health emergency with only 25% of state's residents fully vaccinated.
Trump supporter explicitly says he won't get vaccinated 'because it makes liberals mad.'
A televangelist's guest pushed a zombie conspiracy theory about COVID-19 among other bizarre misinformation from televangelists.
COVID "truther" and has been rocker Ted Nugent was very vocal deny COVID existed and the death toll was more than 500,000 (article posted in my previous blog) announced that he’s very sick with the coronavirus.
GLOBAL:
There have been 150,532,861 confirmed cases of the virus around the world. There have been 3,165,999 deaths from the virus globally.
There have been 150,532,861 confirmed cases of the virus around the world. There have been 3,165,999 deaths from the virus globally.
More than three million people in the world have died of coronavirus. The number of lives lost to the pandemic is almost equal to the population of Kyiv, Ukraine, or Caracas, Venezuela.
India and Japan are wrestling with new COVID waves driven by variants.
Global daily COVID cases are increasing at the fastest rate yet, and India's second wave is a key reason why.
COVID is ravaging India harder than ever, and the situation is only getting worse. About 1 in every 3 cases of COVID-19 recorded each day in the world is now in India, where the rate of new infections is growing faster than in any other nation.
Last week, India reported a one-day global record of 314,000 new COVID cases just in one day.
Experts fear India has more than half a billion COVID cases.
Two to a bed in Delhi hospital as India's COVID crisis spirals.
Two to a bed in Delhi hospital as India's COVID crisis spirals.
Delhi, the capital of India, converted its banquet halls and hotels into COVID treatment facilities.
Official arrogance, hyper-nationalism, populism, an ample dose of bureaucratic incompetence have combined. The state has left India vulnerable to new COVID-19 waves, multiple new mutations, and repeated, livelihood-destroying lockdowns.
India is dealing with a vaccine shortage during a new wave of COVID-19.
Oxygen supplies run low as India grapples with its coronavirus 'storm.'
In India, some of Delhi's hospitals have run out of oxygen supplies.
Several of India's major cities report far larger numbers of cremations and burials than death toll numbers, casting doubt on official totals of COVID-related deaths. Fewer than a quarter of deaths in India are medically certified.
India coronavirus: Round-the-clock mass cremations.
The only real herd immunity is global: Why India’s COVID crisis threatens us all. While vaccine-makers are confident their shots block the current Indian variant, it’s transforming the country into a potential breeding ground for new, more resistant mutations.
Alarm grows in Africa as it watches India’s COVID-19 crisis.
Turkey entered its first national lockdown as COVID-19 cases rise there.
‘We’ve cried ourselves dry’: COVID overwhelms Manila hospitals. Faced with an alarming wave of cases, medical staff have the grim job of deciding life and death for desperate patients.
The majority of Brazil's COVID-19 ICU patients are aged 40 years or younger.
Families mourn as Brazil hits 400,000 COVID deaths.
Brazil's Bolsonaro faces a government probe into his handling of COVID-19.
Chile has one of the worlds’ best vaccination rates. COVID is surging there anyway.
Ecuador announces curfew, curbs as COVID again overwhelms hospitals.
Pfizer began exporting U.S.-made COVID-19 vaccine to Mexico. Mexico’s health ministry said it is receiving 2 million doses from Pfizer this week.
Ontario’s new COVID-19 restrictions have science ‘absolutely upside-down,’ experts say.
COVID-19 appears to have jumped between neighboring rooms in hotel quarantine in Sydney after seven cases of people arriving from different countries were revealed to have the same viral sequence.
An official in Moscow slammed slow vaccinations and lax mask-wearing as coronavirus cases double in Russia.
UK coronavirus contracts raise corruption alarm, a report warns. A probe of nearly 1,000 contracts in response to the crisis found a bias towards politically connected companies.
STATES:
Here’s the timeline for the phase out of COVID-19 restrictions in Massachusetts. Boston is following the state's reopening plan on a mostly delayed schedule. The state reported 1,260 new COVID-19 cases and 16 new deaths yesterday.
STATES:
Here’s the timeline for the phase out of COVID-19 restrictions in Massachusetts. Boston is following the state's reopening plan on a mostly delayed schedule. The state reported 1,260 new COVID-19 cases and 16 new deaths yesterday.
All 6 New Jersey COVID vaccine mega-sites are now offering walk-in shots.
Virginia added 1,187 new coronavirus cases on Thursday.
North Carolina reported 1,985 new COVID-19 cases along with 23 deaths on Thursday.
COVID-19 has been more deadly in Florida than reported, especially in rural counties, a study shows. There were 5,666 new cases and 54 new deaths reported in the state yesterday.
COVID-19 has been more deadly in Florida than reported, especially in rural counties, a study shows. There were 5,666 new cases and 54 new deaths reported in the state yesterday.
Pennsylvania reported 3,322 new coronavirus cases and 50 more deaths yesterday.
1,786 new cases of the virus were reported yesterday in Ohio.
1,786 new cases of the virus were reported yesterday in Ohio.
Kentucky is averaging less than 14,000 new COVID-19 vaccines a day. Yet it added 796 new cases and 12 deaths yesterday.
Washington state has pushed past 400,000 total COVID-19 cases. The state is in a race to get more people vaccinated amid a risk of a phase rollback for more counties. There were 1,720 new COVID-19 cases and 13 new deaths reported yesterday.
Michigan reported and 3,623 new COVID-19 cases, 108 deaths, and 37% of people 16+ fully vaccinated as of yesterday.
Yesterday, Illinois had 3,394 new cases and 38 deaths reported.
Mississippi is lifting all COVID restrictions from its casinos, including the mask mandate.
Minnesotans answer the call to fight the coronavirus surge in India.
Elmore County in Idaho has the first confirmed case of the COVID-19 Brazil variant in the state.
New Mexico reported 7 new deaths and 255 additional COVID-19 cases yesterday.
Health officials are working to increase COVID-19 shots in Las Vegas.
Washington state has pushed past 400,000 total COVID-19 cases. The state is in a race to get more people vaccinated amid a risk of a phase rollback for more counties. There were 1,720 new COVID-19 cases and 13 new deaths reported yesterday.
Oregon reported 928 cases and 1 death yesterday. The governor extended the state emergency for 60 more days.
Californians to start receiving one-time $600 payments as part of state's COVID relief package.
Appointments for 1st dose of COVID-19 vaccine drop by 50% in L.A. County, alarming public health officials.
A Bay Area man developed blood clots after receiving the back-in-use Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
A Bay Area man developed blood clots after receiving the back-in-use Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Riverside County reported just 3 new coronavirus cases and 1 additional death yesterday.
San Luis Obispo County reported 16 new COVID-19 cases yesterday.
San Luis Obispo County reported 16 new COVID-19 cases yesterday.
Orange County reported 43 new cases and 4 new deaths yesterday.
LOCAL:
The Fresno County Supervisor chair called the COVID state of emergency a ‘lovey-dovey’ message by the government. He repealed the local order, ignoring the county health department.
LOCAL:
The Fresno County Supervisor chair called the COVID state of emergency a ‘lovey-dovey’ message by the government. He repealed the local order, ignoring the county health department.
There has been a drop in demand for the COVID-19 vaccines in Fresno County.
How Fresno County vaccine providers are changing their strategies to make vaccine more accessible.
Hundreds drove through to get COVID vaccines at the Porterville fairgrounds.
Last week, Fresno and Kings counties moved into the less-restrictive orange tier. The move now puts four Central California counties in the moderately restrictive tier, which allows for even more businesses to reopen.
Hundreds drove through to get COVID vaccines at the Porterville fairgrounds.
Last week, Fresno and Kings counties moved into the less-restrictive orange tier. The move now puts four Central California counties in the moderately restrictive tier, which allows for even more businesses to reopen.
'It attacked his whole system': Valley mom warns about COVID-related childhood illness after losing son. Valley Children's Hospital officials say they've been seeing an upward trend of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) cases.
A 56-year-old Valley man is finally home after a 4 month-battle with COVID-19.
Clovis Unified middle and high school students are returning to campus for a 4-day week.
A 56-year-old Valley man is finally home after a 4 month-battle with COVID-19.
Clovis Unified middle and high school students are returning to campus for a 4-day week.
Fresno bars are looking to rebound after the pandemic.
CREATIVITY:
Puddles Pity Party recently covered Tom Waits:
CREATIVITY:
Puddles Pity Party recently covered Tom Waits:
Yes, the below video is from 2015. How does it qualify as creativity in the time of the pandemic? Because, until Stephen King reposted this on Twitter recently, I had not seen it. And it has been the funniest thing I have seen since the pandemic started, the most I've laughed since it began. I couldn't NOT include it. Warning, there is some language:
Here is the follow up:(And just so you know, as funny as this is and as MAGA-believable as it is, it's not real. It's a character done by a YouTube comedienne named Libbie Higgins. Hilarious!)And, of course, here are some political ads:
I had a quick text from my friend Barb in Nebraska. She and her husband Norm have been having health issues:
"I'm dealing with really low fever," she said. "I had my surgeries too close together. I've had blood loss. I'm so tired. Norm is doing well. He had two MRIs, both brain and pancreas. No change seen since last time, so we are happy."
Mauro in Italy checked in with an update:
"We're all fine thanks to God," he said. "My mom will vaccinate next month. She's 71. My uncle, 83, done it last week. Some with pfaits (Pfizer?) your USA vaccine...some hastra zenica (AstraZenica?), UK vaccine.
"We finished strict lockdown last week. Now rules are most soft, but we can't pass the regions border. We can run and go to bicycle, but alone. Gyms, cinemas, restaurants, theatres are all still closed."
In reading about the horrible catastrophe the virus is causing in India, I texted my friend Ashley to see how her husband's family is. Sai is from India. Here is her note back:
"We thought they were ok," she said. "But we just got news tonight that his uncle and aunt died of COVID. It just hit home."
I was also concerned about the extended family of my former co-worker, Jaspreet, and texted her. She texted back:
"It is really bad in India," she said. "I don't have many family members in India. Only few family members are there and they got the first dose of the vaccine."
Scott in North Carolina dropped me a note. He and his wife hbave finished up their shots:
"We are doing well," he said. "Just got my second shot yesterday. Had some symptoms during the night, not too bad. Fever, chills, achy and tired, sore arm. Mostly back today. Wife gets second shot Friday and daughter pretty soon. She's up in the SeaTac area now. We're still staying at home mostly, about to gear up for camping season and gardening."
Guillaume (or Bill) checked in from France:
"I'm fine and everyone is fine around me," he said. "Numbers of cases in France are decreasing. Slowly. But we are still under curfew from 6 pm to 7 am. Also, we are supposed to stay home. We are not under a lockdown. We can be outside in a 10km from home circle, just needing to present ID and a proof of where you live actually. Restaurants, theatres, bars, clothes shops are still closed. As are malls larger than 10,000 sq metres. But grocery stores remain open, and bookshops, and record stores too. Tomorrow, I'll go out to buy some comics and it's perfectly legal as long as I wear a mask and sanitize my hands when I enter the shop.
"Schools have been closed for a week and we are now on our two week break before starting another week of home schooling. Then we should be able to go back to school.
"I have not been vaccinated yet. it is supposed to happen. but so far it's not started yet for teachers. Our president told an American journalist that 12 million people had been vaccinated. It's more like 12 million got the first shot. Only 4 million got both shots. People here are dreading some of the vaccines and would rather wait than getting the 'killer' one.
"Here we are so far. As a teacher, I am on the potential next in line list to get vaccinated. But nothings happened so far. So I keep my mask on and my hands clean."
SHIRLEY:
Shirley has been loving spring. The days are sunny and warm. She loves sitting in the sun and exploring the back yard. It's getting warmer, but is not hot yet. (Once it gets hot, she'll be coming to the door and wanting into the air-conditioned comfort of the house.) Now, she's happy to be out 24/7 if I'll let her.
This is actually a good thing, as I would be going on a trip of sorts for just over a week. I would have someone checking on her and feeding on her---but I won't be able to do so myself. (And you know how I worry about my Shirley girly.)
But, as I said, Shirley loves being outside. With the sun recharging her reptilian solar batteries, she's been seemingly disappearing every now and again---just as she seemed to do last year. It's the oddest thing. I'll go look for her and she will be nowhere to be found. I'll look under all of the bushes and shrubs and all of her usual hiding places and she won't be anywhere. And then I'll turn around...and there she is. It's almost like she visits another dimension or something. Erich witnessed this last week. Shirley turned up missing and we both frantically searched and searched. She was no where to be found. A short time later, there she was under a bush that we both know she wasn't under earlier as we had looked there. Magic? Only Shirley knows for sure...
Despite Shirl's seeming to want to be outside as much as possible, last week she slowly walked up to the door to come in. She went to her cardboard condo and went to sleep for the day. it was only about 1:30 in the afternoon.
The other morning she'd stayed inside overnight. She got up and walked to the sliding glass door, apparently wanting out. She got about halfway out, then stopped. She sat there and seemed to contemplate her day's adventures.
Then she turned around and went back to bed in her box for another couple of hours. Ha!
On Friday, the 16th. I had my appointment for a psychological evaluation for Social Security as part of my application for disability. It was at the Seeds of Hope Psychological Center (And why do places like this always have such pathetically cliche names?). I was sooooo tired. The day before had been my birthday. A simple trip to the zoo coupled with my CIDP had totally wiped me out. I was exhausted, but stayed awake to finish my blog and post it just after midnight. I had a hard time falling asleep (as usual). My legs were so achy and sore on top of my insomnia...and I had to get up at 7am for my appointment. I was incredibly tired when I arrived.
I walked in at two minutes before my scheduled time with the tremendous stack of paperwork that had been sent to me beforehand filled out. The receptionist guy handed me yet another form to fill out--which I did.
He commented that he was surprised I had arrived two minutes early. He said most people arrive 5 or 10 minutes late. Sometimes, if they are more than 15 minutes late, they end up calling them. I had looked up where the place was ahead of time, but I still got a bit lost. All of the buildings in the complex this office was in looked the same. I told him that. It was only after we had finished our conversation, the new form had been collected, and I had been surfing my phone a bit that I realized why he was so interested in my arriving on time. About ten minutes after my arrival, I heard the door in the room behind me (the door on the extreme left in the photo below) open and someone come in. The doctor had arrived--late!
The doctor was an odd bird. She hadn't been a doctor all that long, I later learned. Everything with her was hyper-exaggerated...almost as if she were nervous about something and overcompensating. There was construction going on in the room behind us and she was really apologetic about that--and kept reacting to every little sound and noise. I just tuned it out.
She started off by filling out yet another form, but asking me for the answers as we went. "Do you know what today's date is?" I told her, and said the only reason I knew was because the day before had been my birthday. Then she asked what my birthday was...which I told her including my birth year. I then saw her trying to do a subtraction problem between this year and my birth year to figure out my age. I just told her, "56."
"Thank you," she said.
Whatever...
I had been kind of freaked about the appointment in the days leading up to it, wondering what sort of weird things she would be asking me---especially since the intake forms I had filled out had asked a multitude of questions, many of them very personal and probing, that I thought had nothing to do with my disability. Instead, once we were settled in our respective spots, she presented me with a battery of psychological tests. Each getting harder and harder as we went along.
One series of tests included these blocks that were solid colors (red and white) on opposite sides and diagonally split colors on other sides. I had to arrange them into more and more complicated patterns. That was fine, but having to have my arms up on the table was killing me. My arms were cramping like crazy.
There were all sorts of tests. There were word associations, math questions, shape associations and sequencing, there various tests involving numbers (repeating sequences, repeating sequences in reverse, repeating sequences by lowest to highest, etc.). I was doing well on it all, I was pretty sure.
There was one test that involved identifying historical people, with questions like "Who was president during the American Civil War?" or "Who was Martin Luther King Jr.?" At one point she got a bit flummoxed.
"Who was Saca...Sacaguh..." She couldn't pronounce the name of the person on the test.
"Sacagawea?," I asked. "She was a Native American woman who helped Lewis and Clark."
When we were well into the vocabulary test, she asked me if anyone had ever told me I had a high IQ before. I sort of fumbled. I was flattered, but I did not know what to say. Then she said that she usually worked with mentally challenged patients, people with autism and Down's syndrome, etc. That sort of deflated me. I guess compared to that, any reasonable IQ would seem high.
At one point, she spilled her coffee on the desk and on herself. I had been in the middle of a test and said it was okay to clean it up. No, no... She wanted me to continue. I finished the one test, thinking we would pause before the next in the series---but she pushed on until that entire series was completed.
She finally went out to get some paper towels and to ask her receptionist guy if he could get her some more pants (!?!). I dabbed up the spill on the table with some Kleenex that were sitting there (wondering why she hadn't even done that much on her own earlier).
Once the mess was cleaned up and the rest of the tests were completed, we talked as she finally looked through my paperwork. She came to the conclusion that my problems were medical, not psychological. Well, DUH!
Curiously though, she asked me about my career in between teaching and nursing. I thought that was sort of a casually dropped trap. I don't even recall mentioning teaching to her. That middle career, being a writer for the newspaper, was what Social Security told me to go back and do when they declined my initial application. Was she somehow aware of this?
I told her I had worked for the newspaper, and was truthful in telling her that the job at the newspaper had been my favorite and the most fun and interesting...but that there was no way that I could do it now. It wasn't just sitting at a desk for 8 hours typing away. It was research, interviewing people, going places and experiencing things---all of which I couldn't possibly do now. I told her how much my arms had hurt just doing the block exercise. Typing kills me, too, after a while. (Yet another reason I am ending the blog.) Hopefully she takes what I said about my inability to work as a newspaper writer to heart and includes it in her report to Social Security.
I was stuck in that psych test for 2 1/2 hours. I was so mentally (and still physically) exhausted afterwards, I just went home and went back to sleep for several hours.
Early last week around 12:30 a.m., Erich was in his room sleeping and I was in my office getting a jump on this blog post. I heard a faint knocking at the front door. What the...? My phone buzzed, letting me know that my security camera had gone off. I took a look. It was my crazy, alcoholic neighbor from the corner. I didn't go to the door, because I know what she wanted. She wanted me to take her to the liquor store and buy her some booze.
A few years back, not long after I moved back into this house after many years living elsewhere, she came to the door again. It was 10 or 11 p.m. or so. The only reason I responded was because she was sobbing hysterically, saying her son was dead, he son was dead. I didn't know what had happened. Had he died at her house? Was he at the hospital? Maybe he was laying in the She wanted me to take her somewhere. I thought it must be the hospital, but no. It was the liquor store again. And yes, she expected me to buy her a bottle. I just wanted to be done with her. She was still blubbering about her son. (If she really had a son, I have no idea.) I got her whatever bottle she wanted and took her home again. She has come by a few times since then. The last time was when Erich was here around Christmas, I believe. I've told her no through the door every time--and still she shows up on occasion, like she's going to sucker me again. Ain't happening.
Shookie's birthday is coming up, so we were planning a little fully-vaccinated mini-shindig with Shook, Vye, Erich and I for last Saturday. Erich and I wanted to get the Shookster some sort of birthday bauble...but finding something would take some work. Both Shookie and Vye are hard to buy for. However, when the right thing jumps out at you, you know it. As we did at Christmas, we decided to hit the antique stores in Old Town Clovis. Should we get her something tacky, like these ceramic roosters? Nope...
How about a funky bracelet? Mmm...uh-uh.
My grandfather, grandmother, and dad are buried here. My mother will be buried with my dad. Beside her, there are spaces for my brother and my nephew. I'll probably end up planted here as well. My space is nearest the road, to the left of my grandfather. The cemetery workers were out mowing the lawn while I was there. The headstones were covered with grass and dead pine needles. Since I have trouble bending over, I used my foot to try and wipe them off...although there was still a lot of debris left on them. I tried.
Erich has been here since my birthday on the 15th. The other day we went grocery shopping. He was planning on making spaghetti one night and he plopped a package of Impossible hamburger into the cart. Impossible is a completely plant-based product. He had cooked with it a few times and was curious as to how it would work in spaghetti sauce. I had tried it once at Burger King in their Impossible Whopper and had also tried the similarly meatless Beyond Burger at Carl's Jr. For me, the thrill is that it is fake meat, but we'd see how it tasted.
The spaghetti sauce came out good. It didn't taste quite like real hamburger, but it was fine. The sodium content, just as it was with the burgers, was higher than I'd like--but it was okay in the portion I had. The best part about having fake meat for dinner was that no animal had to die so we could eat. Not that I eat that much meat, but I really should eat less if possible.
Shookie and Vye were due at 4 pm. My house, as usual, was a disaster area. But with Erich's help, we had Shookie's gifts wrapped, snacks and cocktails prepared, and had the place picked up and ready to go-go by the time they arrived.
Vye's guy, Brian, had brought them. He was still bringing in Vye's packages by the time Vye had said hello to everyone and grabbed a coctail (a classic tiki pina colada).
We had a special birthday crown for Shook.
Brian didn't stay, but it was absolutely wonderful to see Shook and Vye again. We are all vaccinated, so there were hugs and no masks required. Oh my stars! I had forgotten they had noses and mouths!
Vye had surprises for us. She gave us each a different Tony's Chocolonely. Erich's was a dark chocolate. Shookie got one with caramel. Mine is a white chocolate bar with raspberry popping candy inside! Zowie! How pop-periffically marvelous! THANK YOU, Vye!
After sipping cocktails and munching on munchies (crackers and dip, assorted nuts, chips and dip, and tacquitos) while enjoying great conversation, we moseyed outside for presents. Shookie's birthday was coming up (It was the 28th) and mine had recently passed (the 15th). So, golly! There were groovy gifts for both Shookie and I. Vye gave Shook and night time, light up bocce ball set. Groovy!
She also gave her a cool ceramic baking pan for her soon-to-be new house.
Her second present from Erich and I was a crazy purse.
Early the next morning, Erich and I got ready for our trip to Washington. THANK YOU again for watching Shirley, Vye! You're a lifesaver. (But, ooooo... I was still going to miss my Shirl.)
The room was spacious and there was even a fireplace in the corner that was the sole source of heat--but we didn't need it. (Not shown.)
There was even a little patio in the back where we ate our complimentary breakfast burritos the next day.
For dinner, we planned to eat at a place called Season's Green...which turned out to part of the hotel. And it was closed. (The website said it was open until 10...but apparently not on Sundays.) Where else was there to eat? We were directed to a Mexican restaurant down the road. it was closed, but they agreed to make us something to go, thank goodness.
I just ordered a taco and enchilada combo, as I wanted to hurry and get out of their hair. Erich ordered a salad with shrimp. The enchilada was good. the taco...eh. But I was glad they served us. it was very nice of them.
The next morning, we went to pick up our breakfast from the hotel's restaurant, Season's Green. It was nice looking, but the burrito was not so fab. Oh well.
It had been a nice hotel though. I had slept well--amazingly.
The tacos were okay, but instead of taco sauce, I was given a small bowl of barbecue sauce...which I didn't realize until after I had poured it on all four tacos. No, I didn't send them back. I realized that our folly at the farmers market had eaten into our time. Eeek! We needed to eat and get a move on--and we still needed to get gas.
After getting gas, we raced to get to Port Townsend as soon as we could. Our ferry was leaving at 5:15. We would have to be there at least 15 minutes early, more if possible as there could be long lines.
Throughout our lazy, first morning, I checked on Shirley. She seemed to be okay. I was amazed out how wet the backyard still was 24 hours after the water had been shut off and also how small the fish-eyed lens makes her look.
Still later in the morning, I spotted her near the fence.
After the car was unloaded, Erich and I had lunch with my mom at this little Italian place called Ciao's. Afterwards, he and I went downtown. We went to this little gift store, where Erich bought some fudge. Then we went next door and got some ice cream, which we ate across the street at a picnic table near the pier.
Coupeville is a sleepy little town, but it is quaint and I love being near the water. It may seem that time stands still there and nothing ever changes, but that is not so. We spotted a new two or three-story building going in on Front Street (which runs along the waterfront) and just the day before our arrival, my favorite restaurant, Currents (formerly Christopher's) had a fire in its kitchen while closed. No one was hurt and they plan to reopen when they can, but... Drat! No fondue this trip.
Vye took her some apples and lettuce and refreshed her water. THANK YOU, VYE!!!
Also that morning, I had gotten an email flyer (aka junkmail) from the artist Shag. Shag is a fave and he often adds tiki elements to his work, but he is kind of pricey. Prints of his paintings go for $599 to $999 and up. This particular flyer had a new Shag piece, CURSE OF THE LAVA GOD. This piece is the fourth in a series that will eventually include a total of five. It looks very much like one of those boxed Halloween costume sets in a cardboard box from the late 60's/early 70's with the cellophane window through which you could see the mask inside. Only this box and mask are much larger. In addition, they are one of the more affordable Shag pieces, running only about $129 each.
(Psst! I might add a little postscript to this blog---just to wrap up this trip to Washington and to share the adventures on our way home... and to see how Shirley faired while we were away. Plus, I have another round of IVIG treatments coming up and another visit to the neurologist--who'll hopefully have some news or alternative treatment plans as I am just getting no better. Virus news? Mail? Maybe... We'll see. But I make no promises... Stay tuned and see!)
I occasionally get email for someone with my same first initial and same last name. When that happens, I usually reply to the sender and try to get them to correct their error. Last Friday, it happened again. Only this time, instead of a notice about church services or a receipt for some purchase, it was from a funeral home and contained a death certificate for this person's husband.
I replied to the funeral home and told them of their error. I looked at the death certificate and saw the wife's middle initial and wondered if adding it to my email address would give me hers. I sent off this note:
"Hello. Is this S###? I'm sorry to bother you, but my name is Shawn and from time to time I get email for you. I just got a death certificate sent to me. Pardon me for looking, but I saw your middle initial (if this is you) and thought that might be where the confusion comes in with the email addresses. I replied to the funeral home, telling them they had the wrong email address. If this is you, I am sorry for your loss and would be happy to forward the email on to you."
I was surprised to get this reply:
"Hi! Thank you so much. Yes, I am the S### that should have been contacted. I lost my husband, T###, on April 6th. Can you please forward that email to me. I wonder if we are related somehow?"
Here is part of the death certificate (without revealing any private information):
Again, she replied:
"Actually I live in Memphis Tennessee. My husband T### was from Sikeston, Missouri. His grandparents were from Oklahoma, too, I believe. Where do you live?"
I sent this reply back to her:
"I just forwarded the email from the funeral home. I heard from them as well, saying they realized their mistake.
"I am truly sorry to hear about your husband. I've known you were out there for years because of the occasional wrong email address. I'm just sorry that it was your husband's passing that finally enabled me to reach you.
"I have no idea if we are related (by marriage, of course) or not. I recently had my DNA tested (ancestry.com) and I can see my family progression from Europe to the states and across the country. I know (on my paternal side) my great grandparents were from Oklahoma and were in New Mexico for a while. That's it as far as my family knowledge goes.
"Ironically, my maternal grandmother (her maiden name was Foreman or Forman) was from Missouri, which I believe is where you are.
"Anyway, I am sorry again for your loss. Your husband was four years younger than me. I also was a teacher for a number of years. Such a tragedy."
Again, she replied:
"Actually I live in Memphis Tennessee. My husband T### was from Sikeston, Missouri. His grandparents were from Oklahoma, too, I believe. Where do you live?"
I replied to her, told her bit about myself...and she never responded. Ha! Oh well...
Even though my move to Washington isn't until October sometime, I've been packing and trying to go through stuff. I've made several donations at thrift stores, sent a bunch of movie posters off to an auction house, and intend to start posting more of my crap on eBay eventually. When the move actually happens, most of it will go in a moving van and taken to Washington by movers.
I'll be coming up later (after my October treatments). I'll be driving my car and taking Shirley along with me. (Hopefully she will be hibernating by then.) But will I be able to drive all that way with my C.I.D.P.? I decided that, before it gets too hot (and before my condition possibly gets worse), I would make a trial run to see how I do. Of course, since I'm going up there, I might as well take a load of my crap...er, exquisite objects d'art. I packed up my tiki mug collection (so the movers won't have a chance of breaking it) and loaded up the car. I got 14 boxes into my car along with all of the pieces for my little tiki bar placed into the back seat's foot well.
Erich will be going with me (thank goodness--I'm so freaked I'll get exhausted in the middle of nowhere and need help driving), and there is just enough room for our suitcases. The trip was planned for now as it is the only period where I had a decent chunk of time without a doctor appointment or treatment lined up. It's now or never, baby! So off we went.
On Saturday morning, even though Vye and Shookie were due that afternoon for a little shindig, I had signed up to attend a Zoom meeting with the Seattle chaper of the GBS/CIDP Foundation's meeting. It was all about surviving lockdown and the isolation that goes with it, I have no problem with it and it was a total waste of time for me.
Also on Saturday, the next door neighbors camper reappeared. UGH!
She then opened the first of the presents from Erich and myself...a very cool old Jim Beam bourbon decanter. It was not I DREAM OF JEANNIE-shaped at all, but it still looked like a genie would live in it.
Here's a closer look at Shookie's swag.
Vye, ever thoughtful and practical, got me some packing materials for my move made from 100% recycled materials. Very cool.
I love bad movies. One of the best (worst?) is VALLEY OF THE DOLLS. It's a hilarious camp fest. Vye got me a book, DOLLS! DOLLS! DOLLS!, all about the movie. Zowie!
She even got me a pillow with my favorite line from the movie. Ha! THANK YOU, Vye! Love it.
During the party, I went to check on Shirley. She was asleep already. While checking on her, I noticed little Shirley footprints in the mud.
Back at the party, it was time for the cake.
All too soon, it was time for the ladies to leave. Happy birthday, Shookie and thank you for the tiki idol necklace. Vye, you out did yourself. Thank you so much!!!
Our goal was to be on the road by 9 that morning. We actually got out early. We decided to hit Starbucks for coffee on the way out of town. One of my former co-workers, Mandy, had given me a digital Starbucks card for my birthday. I had no idea they existed, so I wanted to use it--at least, start to use it--before I misplaced it or forget I have it.
Rain had been predicted the day we left...which made me even more nervous about leaving Shirley. Tortoises can get deathly ill if caught in the rain or sprinklers. I tried to turn the sprinklers off in the backyard before leaving. It might mean the yard gets a tad dry, but I had to be careful for Shirley.
We did not encounter rain on the trip until we stopped in Sacramento briefly to see his brother. The rain started as we were leaving, but let up soon after. When we wanted to stop for lunch in Redding, we were hit with a downpour, of course. We got soaked running in and out of the Panda Express there. The restaurant was still not allowing people to eat inside, so we ate our meals in the car. The rain had me concerned about Shirley. I remembered my home security system can take photos, so I had the camera take pictures...and found her by her igloo on the far side of the house. There was a long puddle of water near her. It looked like it had rained and the water had run down from the roof. But Shirley looked okay.
We drove and drove and drove. Finally, we stopped for the night in Cottage Grove, Oregon at the Village Green hotel. The Village Green was recommended by Erich's cousin, and it was a very nice.
I dialed in on Shirley again. She was still in her house, thank goodness, as the side yard was soaked. It must have really rained there, we thought. But Shirley seemed high and dry in her house.
As we drove on, I got a call. It was my next door neighbor, the one with the trailer. She was calling to inform me that my sprinklers were on and had flooded their side yard and water was running down into the streets. Oh no! I instantly guessed that in my attempt to shut off the sprinklers in the back, I had somehow set them to run non-stop. Had they been running all night? Poor Shirley. It hadn't rained...it had just been the sprinklers. I explained to the neighbor that I was not home. Could she just have her husband turn the water off, please? They did that, thank goodness. I was just worried about Shirley.
We had made reservations for the 5:15 ferry from Port Townsend to Coupeville. From the time we left Cottage Grove, we figured we had about an hour of wiggle room for lunch and getting gas. We stopped in Olympia and drove to the waterfront. There was a farmers market area that we got out to explore. Everything was closed. We looked about but didn't find much in the area. We got back in the car to look for a place to eat. Erich found a Vietnamese place he wanted to try. We found the address, but it was an Indian restaurant, not Vietnamese. We didn't want that, but decided to check out a restaurant on the corner. It was called Cascadia Cafe and it looked interesting. They had vegetarian and vegan menus as well as regular food, too. Erich had pasta and I had vegetarian mini tacos with fake taco meat. 
We kept checking the Google Maps thing to see how far we were and how much time we had. Traffic was heavy through Tacoma and along the route we traveled west of there. Once we finally got across the super-long Hood Canal Bridge, and passed this one car on a steep hill, we were doing good and making great time...until we got behind a slow school bus. OH MY STARS! We were hopelessly stuck for the longest time...and just when we got free of it, a big rig got in our way and slowed us down some more. UGH! Despite these obstacles and a few speed traps Google Maps warned us about along the way, we made it to the ferry with time to spare (but not much...).
The crossing was uneventful, I did notice COVID precautions in place. Masks were required, of course. The snack bar was closed and every other set of seats and tables had been removed.
I checked on Shirley. Was she okay? Yes, there she was behind her igloo.
A little later we checked, and she was safely inside her dog house, sleeping away.
We arrived at Mom's place. It was only about 6:15 or so, but we were beat.
Mom has been working on her house forever---always getting sidetracked away from it with other projects. She's spent most of her years in the smaller cottage behind the main house, but is starting to transition herself to the big house, with the intention of making the little two-bedroom, one-bath house a rental. Mom was going to have us stay in the little house this trip.
The next morning, after a good night's sleep (two nights in a row? What is up with that?), I again checked in on Shirley. She was still asleep in her igloo
That afternoon, we went over to "my" house--the house I'll be moving to in October--to unload my tiki mug collection in the lone downstairs room that I plan to turn into a tiki bar. Mom had received a package for me containing a pair of colored light-changing puffer fish lamps. Every good tiki bar has at least one puffer fish lamp and I was excited to get mine. However, even though I had not come into the picture until these two fish were already caught and killed, I can not help but feel intense guilt over this purchase. I mean these poor fish died so I could have some decor in my tiki bar...that is awful.
As we finished up the last spoonfuls of ice cream, I peeked in on Shirley again. She was already back in her igloo for the night.
On Wednesday morning, I tried to catch Shirley on my cameras. She was no where to be seen. Vye had already planned on going over and checking on her. Vye is all kinds of awesome, because by the time she got there, Mom, Erich and I were all kinds of worried because we couldn't see/find her with the cameras. Vye found her though.
I had gotten the second and third releases already. (The first one eluded me. I never knew I had missed it until I saw the second one.) Only 200 are created for each design. So, I pounced on it and ordered it as soon as I had seen the ad. Sure enough, by late afternoon on the first day of it being on sale, the CURSE OF THE LAVA GOD was sold out.
Mom wanted me to watch for the sunset, which she says have been spectacular lately. I waited, but there was too much cloud cover. Instead of turning spectacular hues of red, pink, and purple, the sky just proceeded to get darker and darker. No sunset. However, as I
watched and waited, I noticed another amazing view from her backyard of the snow-covered Olympic Mountains in the distance, rising through a layer of clouds. It may be hard to make out in the photo, but it was just stunning.
Yesterday, Erich and I drove down to Langley. The weather was perfect and we did some shopping and had a bit of lunch.
Mom had asked us to pick up these small, canned cocktails made with coffee, horchata, and vodka. They are only available on the island in Langley at The Star Store, which is this awesome grocery, liquor and clothing store. She gave me $60, which I thought wasexcessive, but whatever. We got to the store and found the cans. They were $3.50 each. Zowie! I grabbed four 4-packs, which would be $56, and went up to the register. The total was $89.95!!! Huh? Alcohol is heavily taxed in Washington. In fact, there was an initial $22.56 tax charged and then an additional $11.45. That's a walloping 60% tax! No wonder Mom asked me to bring her two big bottles of Costco's Kirkland vodka, which are only $19.99 each. Crazy!
While Erich was in one shop, I started feeling tired and told him I was going to look for a place to sit down at this small park nearby. The park has a whale sculpture and bell with a sign over it that reads "Spy a whale, ring the bell," I thought I'd take a picture of it before finding a place to sit, when these two women came running up from the beach and one of them rang the bell excitedly. I thought she was just ringing it to be obnoxious. Then a dad with two small kids came walking down the sidewalk and one of the kids rang the bell. A passerby asked the father if they'd seen a whale. They had, down by the view of the sound by the pizza parlor.
I went back to the shop Erich was in and told him about the sighting. We walked down to the lookout near the pizza joint, but, alas, no whales were visible for us to see. Oh, whale...er, well.
Back at Mom's place, again I waited for a magnificent sunset...
Once again, the sunset didn't happen. I took this photo and manipulated it to make it look as if the sunset was amazing. It wasn't. Maybe tonight or tomorrow it will be. As with the whales, we missed out again. Such is my luck...
And that's it. I'm closing down the blog. There are many reasons why I should continue it, especially seeing how disastrously the virus has flared up again in India, Europe and South America. However, I am choosing to be optimistic. Almost everyone I know (at least in the states) has been vaccinated. That's a huge comfort. I also need to move on with my life. My move is going to be a physically draining experience for me. There is so much to do beforehand. I don't have the time to spend on the blog like I did at this time last year. And really, putting the blog together takes its toll on me, Having my arms constantly hovering over the keyboard causes them to cramp up something awful, Sitting gets to be excruciating after a while. Sitting at the computer also makes my back and legs hurt something fierce. I hurt everywhere from the neck down with my C.I.D.P. and working on the blog only aggravates the pain.
Just because I am ending this blog, I know the pandemic is not over. In fact, it is far from over. So I will keep masking up, keep washing my hands, and stay socially distant from others.
As I close out this last entry, I am thinking back to the very FIRST entry, when all of this chaos, horror, and confusion started. Despite all of the deaths, all of the misinformation (and disinformation), and weird way the Republican party has chosen to deny science and make the virus precautions political, I think we are headed in the right direction--FINALLY!
Thank you for reading and enduring this crisis with me.
Stay SAFE! Stay HEALTHY! Stay ALIVE!
CHEERS!
Thank you for reading and enduring this crisis with me.
Stay SAFE! Stay HEALTHY! Stay ALIVE!
CHEERS!
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