Effects of the Pandemic- Lack of Socialization

 17 months during a pandemic is a LONG time for restrictions. But, restrictions are definitely needed. I am glad that we have effective vaccines, but the pushback is causing infection rates to increase with a dangerous mutant variant.  So, isolations and restrictions will have to continue for a much longer time than necessary as folks will not vaccinate and mask.

Lots of folks are rather lonely.  There was a Zoom conference call with my church yesterday with elders / deacons. Our pastor manages excellent meetings. But, yesterday members on the call dominated with non-church discussions. I think folks are just so lonely from being isolated that they forgot they were in a "business" call.  The "idle" discussions ran for 30 minutes.  Unfortunately, I had a commitment that morning and had to do an "Irish Exit". 

Next time I chat with my pastor, I'll mention and revisit the July meeting.  I think I have a great idea. Perhaps birthday clubs and groups can do socializing calls as needed.  Hence, that may limit interference with important church business.  There are many venues for free conference and video calls.

We'll see.  Stay tuned.

This is a photo I snapped of my church many years ago. No idea we would experience a horrible respiratory viral pandemic. My church stopped in-person services in 2020 and immediately started remote / Zoom services.  In June 2021, the metrics indicated in-person services could resume with caution and limited folks.  We are now fully reopened, but with the continued increase in infections, I decided to resume remote attendance.

Chicago Auto Show 2021

 I had a fantastic time yesterday at the Chicago Auto Show! I attend this venue every year, but it was canceled in 2020 due to the nearly arrived pandemic. This year it was a bit smaller, but just as exciting as ever.  They seemed to have implemented good public health safety practices.  I was masked the entire time. I even remained masked as I enjoyed a Connie's pizza and IPA.  I did not go into the driving course lines.  They were just too long and rather risky as safe distancing was not possible.  Folks just have to be smart.

Looking forward to #CAS2022  and @thechicagoautoshow  

Article - Couple Contracted COVID While In Las Vegas

 

Interesting article.  Fully vaccinated folks went to Las Vegas from California.  They did not mask at all while in Las Vegas.  They contracted the full disease.  Here's the article.

Breakthrough COVID

FYI- I was doubled-masked the entire time I was in Las Vegas back in June 2021.  A member in my group taunted me for double-masking.  I banned and kicked her out of my Las Vegas group.

                                                            Everyone Needs to Mask!

Its Now COVID-21

 Awful.  It is now COVID-21. We should have reached herd immunity by now, yet the delta variant continues to evolve and mutate. 

COVID-21

There is no honor system in the US.  Too many vicious evil haters. The "policy" is that ONLY vaccinated folks can unmask. Yet, I have seen so many folks unmasked.... I am sure those are also the unvaccinated fiends.

Back in June 2021, I took my first trip to Las Vegas after 18 long pandemic months.  I was double masked the entire time. Someone in my Las Vegas Facebook group criticized me.  Hench, I am back in Facebook Jail... LOL... I did not even use profanity.  Anyway... I am just very leery about not wearing a mask around unknown "others".

This week after my powerwalk, my very good and kind neighbor said... "Hey, you are vaccinated! You don't need to mask anymore!". The 2 Chicago Police with him told me that I was living in fear.  They were all nice, concerned and compassionate.  But, I'll just keep wearing my mask.  

Also, situations are getting worse.  The vaccination rates have leveled off.  In Chicago and Illinois, the infection rates are increasing among the unvaccinated population.  Things are not good.  I'll keep wearing my mask.

Plus, Pfizer has developed the booster vaccine.  They know exactly what they are doing and Pfizer knows we will need the booster shot in 2022.  CDC and FDA stated, no need for the booster...;. now. But, we all might as well get ready. This pandemic is far from being over.  Sigh...

10K Daily Steps - New Issue

I just love powerwalking! I have been powerwalking for many years. I do outdoor walking, treadmill and Walk Away The Pounds (WATP). 

My daily goal is to achieve 10K steps every day. So, in recent months, I have been going to the lovely recently remodeled track and field to to my walks.  There is now an organized fitness group that is present early before sunrise. Also, powerwalkers are on the track at 4am!  Hence, nowadays, I am able to achieve 10K steps well before 7am!  That is great!  Right??

Here's the new issue... once I return home, if I have no errands... I find myself idle and very bored. UGH!!  That is not good.  

I have to figure out something.  Right now, I am in Facebook Jail.  That may be the reason for my boredom. I have 15 more days left in my Facebook Jail sentence.  I have a lot of catching up to do, so that will surely resolve my issue of being bored. 

In the meantime, I may do a casual walk in the afternoon.  I also will have phone chats with my son and cousin.  Because we are still in a pandemic with the delta variant continuing to evolve, I have to remain in my home. Its just not safe to go out even though I am fully vaccinated.  

I'll figure out sometime for the next days.

Stay tuned!

Complicated Birthday

 I have been extremely careful and cautious about the corona virus even going back to January 2020. I carefully watched the deadly virus evolve. I have been strictly following public health safety guidelines and got fully vaccinated early back in February 2021. I have been in a pandemic bubble for 18 long months.

Everyone who knows me, even on social media, knows I am a staunch supporter of CDC and WHO! I believe the science of public health. 

I have a friend who I strongly challenged about being hesitant about taking the vaccine. But, she finally got the full vaccines... thank goodness. She invited me over to her daughter's home on Juneteenth for a get-together. I baked some nice chocolate cupcakes and brought a bottle of Pinot Noir wine. It was a LONG drive but, I did not plan to stay long as there is a casino in her area.

When I arrived, NO ONE but me was masked.  I was the ONLY person to mention my vaccine status.  Everyone else was mum on the topic.  I was concerned.  So, no way was I going to stay long. Then more folks arrived.  NO ONE was masked!!!  They did not appear to be the type of folks who would vaccinate. I was extremely uncomfortable.  So, I told the daughter I was going to do a quiet "Irish Exit" and I left to go to the casino.   I felt good to get in my car and leave.

The friend called me wanting me to return.  I did not answer the call.  It was getting dark and I had a long drive.  

The next day, she said it was a birthday party for me.  I was surprised.  No one there chatted with me.  So, I had no issue with leaving. Why would I assume it was a party for me????  Furthermore, I am on a diet and I am NOT into parties and I will NOT risk being in the company of others who are not vaccinated within a close indoor venue.

Here's the cake... which did not go to waste.

She called me "rude" for leaving.  I'm thinking... I did not know she planned a party for me.  We now are no longer friends.  Its best to stay safe.  That's life.  Whatever.  She will stay in her bubble.  I will stay in my bubble.    We are from DIFFERENT bubbles.

My Birthday Month in Review - June 2021

 

June 2021 - My Birthday Month in Review

I had a very nice Birthday month!  The City of Chicago and the State of Illinois were doing really great so, pandemic restrictions were lifted and both the City and State reopened! Yippee!!!  Here is a summary of my happenings in June:

Participated and continue to participate in thee (3) fantastic walkathons:

Run Across America - 10K

ABC7- Jim Gibbons Virtual Marathon - 5K

Summer Splash- still in progress until Labor Day with goal of 300K!

Achieved 10K steps every day in June!  

Spent good quality time in Downtown Chicago. Went to the City Farmers' Market in Daley Plaza.

Enjoyed frequent powerwalks to Chicago's Lakefront and walking path.

Wacky birthday... really weird!!!  Will discuss in a different blog.

Took my very first trip back to Fabulous Las Vegas after 18 months in a pandemic cave!  I had a fantastic time!  Good to visit Las Vegas again!

Weight management was okay.  Lots of celebration during June. I gained 0.2 pounds.  Will do better in July.

Things are great with my son.  Very happy for our little small family unit.

I have plenty of photos and will place in a separate blog.

Run Across America Summer Splash

 

I have been in 3 walkathons this year.  Right now I am doing the Run Across America Summer Splash!

This is so exciting. Here is how it works...

My mission: set a goal (50k to 500k, or more) and achieve it by Labor Day. I don't have to complete my distance all at once—I take it at my own pace. 

As of June 28, 2021, I have accomplished 131.3 miles!  Yay me!!!

Chatting with Folks During Vaccination Period

 

I am so thankful that I was able to get my first and second COVID vaccines in February 2021.  Since President Biden took office, I have advocated for the vaccines.  I promote on my Facebook Timeline.

But, vaccine supplies are now limited, posing a challenge for many. So, I realized that I can no longer call folks because I have been fully vaccinated, but more than likely they have not. It is so important to be careful with communications and phone chats as folks may be a bit resentful. 

I will never ask anyone if they have been fully vaccinated.  I do not want to cause others to feel bad.  I will continue to advocate for vaccinations on my Facebook Timeline.  So, if anyone contact me and bring up the topic, engagement will take place.

I hope things will get better.  Today, many states have opened eligibility to 16 to 64 years with co-morbidities. Also, Johnson & Johnson's one dose vaccine goes under FDA scrutiny tomorrow.   So, with more vaccines becoming available with good quality control, things should start improving soon.

We Can Do This!

Here's an update!  2/25/2021  My aunt called me last night.  I had been wanting to chat with her to follow up.  I listened carefully.  Before we finished chatting, the topic of COVID vaccines came up. She has not yet been vaccinated, but does indeed want to get vaccinated. So, I instant messaged her son, who lives with her, the links where he can register her to get vaccinated.  He acknowledged the link. I hope he follows through. 

I also received a instant message from a cousin. She disclosed she recovered from COVID. She is a bit hesitant about taking the vaccine.  BUT, she will have no choice.  Her employer is currently preparing policy mandating vaccinations.  

COVID Vaccines

 

WOW!  I have been busy! No blog in about 2 months.  2021 has been a challenge from so many perspectives! Now, the big focus in the US is for folks to get vaccinated!!!!  

My timing was perfect! I saw my MD in January 2021 who signed me up for the vaccine.  Within a couple of weeks, the medical center contacted me and I scheduled for the first vaccine in February 2021.  Everything went great from registration to my status following the first dose.  I received the Pfizer vaccine.  I was immediately given an appointment for my 2nd vaccine.

I received my 2nd vaccine yesterday! Once again, everything went great!  I am just so thankful that everything went well for me for both vaccinations!

Here are my vaccination photos...

We can do this!!!!!

Thinking January 2 2021

 

Just quietly thinking things through on this Saturday morning. A lot of things happening.  Sometimes its best to blog instead of talking things through with others. So much stuff happening with the pandemic. Its sensory overload. Good to know about rates, we have to hear about incidents so that folks can make the right decisions in life.

Niece 

I am concerned about my niece. Her mom / my sister passed in 2020.  My niece and I were fairly close as we made arrangements. She would come over for fish fries, have cocktails and chat. But things changed as Fall approached.  I suspected risky behaviors during a pandemic. I told her, if she and her dad were at risk, I could just drop off food.  She said, "Drop off food."  I appreciated the honesty.

We stayed in touch for Thanksgiving.  She came to my car to pick up food trays.  The same approach for Christmas.  BUT, I stopped hearing from her when New Year approached.  Yesterday, she told me she was in Florida and got into a fight with her rotten cousin.  I saw the photos.  I suspected she was there as I saw the photos on Instagram.  No one with mask in a very infected Florida.  I am so disappointed in her for putting her father at risk who she lives with.   They both make poor decisions.

That disappointing disclosure really made me sad. Everyone knows that I am a COVID COP of sorts. I strongly believe and support public safety guidelines.  For her to have flown to Florida to be with a demonic cousin who never masks, just really upset me to no ends. I just have to chalk is up and say... That's Life. What a sad life.  She is an adult and knows better.  I more than likely will never see her again.  I just simply cannot place myself at risk.  

I am so sad.

Work

I am semi-retired, but will fully retire in 2021.  I was not given a contract to teach this month. Its okay.  I am an adjunct so nothing is guaranteed.  The new dean does not like me. Whatever.  The school is lousy and on probation.  

My other job is 6 hours a week... and remote.  I have been extremely successful with every assignment.  But, my boss scolds me beyond my comfort. I don't play that.  She is now trying to micro-manage me.  I won't go into details.  My orientation was lousy.  I meet with boss in a few weeks.  Will give notification that day.  Work out a transition out.  I don't need any stressors from a 6 hour a week gig.

Social Media

I am currently in Facebook Jail.  Need I say more?  LOL!