Arbitrary Steps

https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/11/us-pediatric-covid-19-cases-continue-climb Are You Kidding Me? We worked all this time to contain this virus and NOW kids are getting sick in record numbers? Holy crap. I was pretty sure we'd get one last huge wave this winter, but it's only November with months to go...and now kids are infected in record numbers? Holy crap. This doesn't bode well for any of us. I'm due to go home for Xmas in a month, partially for xmas and partially to help plan my dad's funeral (that's another sad story...not covid related) All the population had to do was get a shot, but no, they had to make up conspiracy theories and now we are all screwed because of it

 We are fully vaccinated ( I FINALLY managed to get a booster shot  9 days ago), and this year we are hopeful we'll get some trick or treaters. A thought occurred to me though: I am not considered fully vaccinated until 2 weeks later, so I don't think I can answer the door. Regardless I am so excited for all the kids, almost every Halloween celebration was closed down last year, so I'm hopeful this year there will be somewhat of a celebration, while at the same time I worry about kids gathering and spreading Covid. It's a double edged sword...but I think we are hungry for a bit of normalacy. I saw a news report that said liver failure among adults is at epidemic levels because so many people are drinking heavily to cope with pandemic related stress. So many have lost jobs, loved ones, or are just worried and are coping in bad ways. Liver transplants aren't possible when you are a heavy drinker so many of those patients won't make it. This combined with other var...

 Tonight was my 49th birthday...I had 2 gifts to open when normally I'd have around 8, and I'm thilled with 2. We didn't go out to dinner and instead my husband cooked up some crabcakes. Everything has changed day to day and how we celebrate, but the point is that we have adjusted and life and celebration go on as usual. We are a resilient lot...and for my part I am now 49 and fairly happy

 At the start of all of Covid stores were insanely bare as everyone rushed out to stock up, well that's starting again with some added complications. The rush to stock up isn't as bad as the fact that deliveries to stores are backed up from the perfect storm of lack of truck drivers, and goods from overseas not being delivered to ports. I finally had some of my grocery preps pay off though! We were out of milk and I remembered I had shelf stable milk set aside, score! Yesterday I remembered that yes, we are out of Gorgonzola cheese, but we have a huge tub of it in our big freezer. The grocery stores are again having bare shelves, but at least our preparation is paying off

https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/24/business/costco-toilet-paper-limits/index.html  Costco is once again placing limits on purchases of toilet paper, paper towels and cleaning supplies: The Delta variant continues to spread across the globe, sending demand for those items higher. But that's not the only reason why Costco is limiting purchases. The warehouse store is also having trouble finding trucks, drivers and shipping containers to get the items to its stores. "The factors pressuring supply chains and inflation include port delays , container shortages , Covid disruptions, shortages on various components, raw materials and ingredients, labor cost pressures and truck and driver shortages ," said Costco CFO Richard Galanti, speaking to investors after reporting quarterly results Thursday evening. "Various major brands are requesting longer lead times, and in some cases, difficulty in finding drivers and trucks on short notice." Last year, Costco and other r...

 https://www.ktvu.com/news/california-only-state-to-advance-out-of-high-transmission-category-for-covid  https://abc7news.com/california-covid-ca-coronavirus-rate-pandemic/11033019/    California has the lowest COVID-19 case rate in the United States, according to the most recent data from the CDC. "Over 70% of Californians have received at least one dose. Keep it up, California - get vaccinated," the tweet said . According to CDC data, California has about 95 new cases over 7 days per 100,000 people. The U.S. as a whole is at nearly three times the rate of California at about 251 new cases over seven days per 100,000 people. Connecticut has the second lowest case rate at 127, and then Colorado is at 128. "We are not the most vaccinated state," said Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, chair of UCSF's Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, told the San Francisco Chronicle . "But we are also a state that has not completely abandoned the other mitigatio...