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Small Talk: The Polygamous Cul-de-Sac


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I got the next-to-last appointment in 4 counties this morning.  I will have an hour's drive, but it is a pretty drive, so I will do it.  Here you make an appointment (instructions say don't show up early), and you are automatically scheduled for the 2nd dose.  The only appointments available now are for the 2nd dose.  So, Wednesday I will take a nice drive and get my first dose.  

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My 95 year old friend got her first shot today, along with 74 other residents in her assisted living/nursing home facility in Florida. 75 out of 80 residents agreed to get the vaccine and all are doing well. She said she didn't even feel the needle. Some of the staff have refused the shot.

My aunt and uncle (mid-80s) got their vaccines this past Tuesday in Queens, NYC. Their son, age 56, accompanied them to their appointment. He wheedled the health care worker into giving him the shot too. He filled out paperwork on site. The facility was set up to serve 100 people at a time but when he and his folks showed up, there were only 20 other vaccine recipients there. It was possibly the first day that particular facility was open (high school auditorium). It may be overbooked now; I don't know.

I've heard that some appointments open up early in the morning for signing up online - for those eligible. I am not in an eligible group. Alas.

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10 hours ago, laurakaye said:

I find it bizarre that the phases differ depending on which state you're in.  Your phase 1b, for instance, looks a whole lot better than the one in my state.

I don't know, I think they added too many people to phase 1b in CT.  They decided to put "front line essential workers" in that group, which include everything from postal workers to "solid wastewater workers" to teachers to essential store workers, like grocery stores and Walmart, to food service workers, to agricultural workers, etc., etc., regardless of age.  They held off adding the seniors between 65 and 74 and those with high risk conditions until later.  I think the original idea was actually to put the seniors and high risk people in phase 1c, but there was a whole lot of backlash from everyone for it.  So they just decided yesterday to put them in the earlier group.  I think something similar is going on in NY because suddenly no one can get an appointment for at least 3 months.  I'm afraid that this will happen here in CT when they open up phase 1b (they're still in 1a).  There will be a rush to make appointments and a lot of seniors and sick people will have to wait for months.  Hopefully things will speed up as more help is sent to us in the near future so maybe it won't go that slowly.  We can only hope.

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I listened to an interview with a vaccine specialist, he is the director of a county health department in Cali IIRC.

He said his arm was good and sore after his shot. He was pleased because this indicates his body recognizes that it was potently invaded. 😉

He said that's why tetanus shots cause sore arms, it's the degree of invasion.

So here's wishing sore arms on all of us and our loved ones.

Edited by suomi
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Betty White, a national treasure, is 99 tomorrow!

She's been feeding two wild ducks who recently adopted her yard. 

I used to love watching her on Password.

Here's a good  reminiscing article with photos and videos. 

https://nypost.com/article/betty-white-best-quotes-moments/

 

Edited by suomi
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4 hours ago, suomi said:

I listened to an interview with a vaccine specialist, he is the director of a county health department in Cali IIRC.

He said his arm was good and sore after his shot. He was pleased because this indicates his body recognizes that it was potently invaded. 😉

He said that's why tetanus shots cause sore arms, it's the degree of invasion.

So here's wishing sore arms on all of us and our loved ones.

That's how I felt after my shingles shot last month. I look forward to my Rona shot! 

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1 hour ago, DakotaJustice said:

That's how I felt after my shingles shot last month. I look forward to my Rona shot! 

Good to know, as I am getting my shingles shot this quarter some time.  I’m 58 and had a “mild” case of shingles about two years ago.  It was HORRIBLE!  I can’t imagine what some poor elderly people go through with a worse case than I had.  My insurance doesn’t cover the shingles shot (assholes), so I’ve done some research and I can get the series at Costco and pay myself.  I think it’s about $150/ shot, x 2.  Even if it was $500 and I had to take out a loan, it would be worth it because I never want to go through that mess again!

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I got the shingles vaccine about 15 years ago.  I heard there's an updated version that's more effective, and I'll ask about that when my turn for the Covid shot comes around.  Mr. X is older and will get his before I do.  I too wish it was nationwide (the criteria) because I'll have to wait and get it third, after the first two groups get theirs.  I'm over 65 with a health condition, but that's not qualification enough for the second round.

😡

3 hours ago, HighlandWarriorGrl said:

Good to know, as I am getting my shingles shot this quarter some time.  I’m 58 and had a “mild” case of shingles about two years ago.  It was HORRIBLE!  I can’t imagine what some poor elderly people go through with a worse case than I had.  My insurance doesn’t cover the shingles shot (assholes), so I’ve done some research and I can get the series at Costco and pay myself.  I think it’s about $150/ shot, x 2.  Even if it was $500 and I had to take out a loan, it would be worth it because I never want to go through that mess again!

My dad had shingles in his early 80s and he was miserable. 

4 hours ago, xwordfanatik said:

 I heard there's an updated version that's more effective,

Yep, the Shingrix vaccine for shingles is much improved over the initial version.  It's a two dose version with up to 6 months between them.  I will  warn you that a LOT of people feel like crap, especially after the second one.  I had my first and my arm was sore as the dickens for days. I am waiting for the second one until after my next Covid booster.  My insurance didn't pay for it, either.

I worked a Covid mass vaccination clinic today. It's the first time I have worked an 8 hour day since I retired and I'm beat but it was so worth it. I am proud of our rural district health department for doing such a great job. We had over 400 people scheduled in 5 minutes increments and no one had to wait more than a few minutes.  It's good to put my nursing skills back in use!

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1 hour ago, Cetacean said:

Yep, the Shingrix vaccine for shingles is much improved over the initial version.  It's a two dose version with up to 6 months between them.  I will  warn you that a LOT of people feel like crap, especially after the second one.  I had my first and my arm was sore as the dickens for days. I am waiting for the second one until after my next Covid booster.  My insurance didn't pay for it, either.

I worked a Covid mass vaccination clinic today. It's the first time I have worked an 8 hour day since I retired and I'm beat but it was so worth it. I am proud of our rural district health department for doing such a great job. We had over 400 people scheduled in 5 minutes increments and no one had to wait more than a few minutes.  It's good to put my nursing skills back in use!

I love you!  Are you the former Kohola?  I'm happy to hear that we will get ever closer to that 'herd immunity!'

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2 hours ago, suomi said:

Phil Spector, 80, died in prison, natural causes.

Can't deny his talent (Wall of Sound) but what a monster.

I thought The Wall of Sound was created by audio engineer Owsley "Bear" Stanley specifically for the Grateful Dead's live performances in 1974, but it looks like Spector Sound was a studio/production version a decade earlier.

Edited by deirdra
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The general public was introduced to stereo records (listening with two or more speakers) in the late '50s. Most people then still had mono/monaural sound systems so it took awhile for customers to catch up with what was available to them. Plus you had to upgrade and replace your mono library.

Do we remember that albums had two prices, mono and stereo? (I grew up in record stores, that was our family business).

Radio was the big driver of record sales and most people had dinky mono radios or listened to radio on mono systems. Spector created his wall of sound with radio play in mind.

He used ombinations like six guitars, three pianos, three drum kits, four tambourines, etc plus woodwinds and brass, some with and some without microphones.

His radio sound created intense desire in the record customer, ka-ching. 

Do we remember listening to '60s and '70s albums with headphones, the separation and exchange of voices and instruments in each ear? Stereo! Trippy, man.

Mono recordings don't do that, they don't choose sides or "move." Same sound in both ears.

Brian Wilson said "I look at sound like a painting, you have a balance and the balance is conceived in your mind. You finish the sound, dub it down, and you’ve stamped out a picture of your balance with the mono dubdown. But in stereo, you leave that dubdown to the listener—to his speaker placement and speaker balance. It just doesn't seem complete to me."

When Brian heard the Beatles' Rubber Soul album he said "Oh shit!" and wrote the Pet Sounds album using a modified Spector technique. (Wouldn't It Be Nice and God Only Knows).

McCartney has said that God Only Knows is his favorite song. When John and Paul heard Pet Sounds they said "Oh shit!" and wrote the Sgt. Peppers album.

A whole lot of Beatles experimentation and evolution came from dissecting Spector's ideas.

The beat goes on 

Phil Spector caused people to buy millions and millions of records and the irony is that he hated stereo because the producer lost control. Go small or go home, LOL.

What a shame that he was also a violent and abusive monster.

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5 hours ago, suomi said:

The general public was introduced to stereo records (listening with two or more speakers) in the late '50s. Most people then still had mono/monaural sound systems so it took awhile for customers to catch up with what was available to them. Plus you had to upgrade and replace your mono library.

Do we remember that albums had two prices, mono and stereo? (I grew up in record stores, that was our family business).

I remember, Suomi.  Remember "stereophonic"?  LOL

Some of my earliest memories are of me and my family going to Sam Goody's on Saturdays to buy records.  I remember the little listening booths where they let you take the record out of the jacket and "sample" it before you bought it.  When they stopped doing that I was so disappointed!

My father had an extensive record collection in every possible style.  He was an avid music fan.  Some of my earliest memories are of him and I dancing to Chubby Checker's "The Twist".  I was 4 years old.  I took some of those old albums from the apartment.

On the Grand Concourse in the Bronx was a record store called "Spinning Disc".  I remember wanting to see what the Billboard Top 100 was every week.  The singles were organized in little cubby holes in number order.  I still have boxes full of singles, some of which were my father's and most of which were mine.

My father waited on line on 8th Street in Greenwich Village the day the Rolling Stones Album "Sticky Fingers" came out.  None of my other friends' parents were cool enough to do that, LOL.  My mother grabbed that thing and wanted to see what was under the zipper, LOL.  I was mortified.  Yeah, my parents weren't prudes.

My father assisted in recording talking book records for the blind then also managed cassette duplication in the early '70s.  I was the only kid in the schoolyard in 10th grade with a portable cassette player.  No one had one yet.  I drew crowds.

I just found those cassette players in one of the closets in the apartment.  I said goodbye to them.  I couldn't take everything.  We did take more records and some reel to reel tapes and tape decks, though.

When I found out the names of the buyers of the apartment I looked them up online just out of curiosity.  The husband had photos of pipe bands on his Instagram.  If he only knew how many records, cassettes and DVDs of pipe bands there were in that apartment.  I only wish I could have kept more.

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2 hours ago, Teafortwo said:

Had a great day today.

Yeah, I hear you, me too, until I found out that CT is not going to schedule people with underlying conditions for the vaccine until March. 😞

People 65-74 are supposed to start scheduling some time in Feb.  My husband doesn't turn 65 until March.  So there we are.  I guess it's not too much longer.  I suppose it doesn't take much to discourage me these days.  I can only hope they are able to ramp up distribution and we get to schedule earlier.

Meanwhile I know people in NY in those categories that have already gotten their first doses.

Edited by Yeah No
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7 hours ago, Yeah No said:

Meanwhile I know people in NY in those categories that have already gotten their first doses.

It's the lopsided, state-run individual programs that make us all crazy.  We need one consistent program, rolling out things all on the same schedule across all states.

As someone who is working mass vaccination clinics, I find that the seniors are having a horrible time.  The rules seem to change daily and they don't understand the registration process or what it means.  Plus so many are not online so they don't sign up that way which is really the best way, at least in our health district, because it captures registration info and saves time at check in.  And if they sign up and don't get called for the next program they try and register again and again which just gums up the works.

I guess we just need to be patient and hope that things will be changing.  I know we only got a partial shipment to cover our clinics this weekend which is why we cannot call people until virtually the last minute and they are mad about that too because they cannot plan far in advance.  And since this is a rural area they have to drive, in many cases, quite a distance or get someone to bring them.  I had a lady yell at me because 5 seniors are riding together and they didn't get identical times to come it.  I assured her we would take them all as soon as they arrived but she was pretty mad about it.  But we go through the queue and they each registered separately and we had no idea they were riding together.  Sigh.

And don't get me started on the lack of vaccine available.  We were counting on the federal reserve to help us move faster and, well, you know....

 

 

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It is incredibly frustrating.  My husband works at a retirement home, he's a carpenter so he is in and out of resident's rooms all the time, passes them in the hallways, etc.  He also has an underlying health issue so according to our rollout, he's in the group that should be getting their vax now.  Last week he simply got in line with some of the residents waiting for their shots (they all know him so it wasn't weird, LOL) and asked the nurse about when she thought he would be able to get his vax.  She said, "well you should've gotten it already but since you're here, let's get it done!"  So at this point he is the only person in his work group to get the shot, just because he asked.  There's no rhyme or reason in some circumstances.

My daughter works in child care and she's up to get it as well.  We have both had zero luck getting her in anywhere at all, and this is both of us trying daily for the past two weeks.

 

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1 hour ago, Cetacean said:

It's the lopsided, state-run individual programs that make us all crazy.  We need one consistent program, rolling out things all on the same schedule across all states.

As someone who is working mass vaccination clinics, I find that the seniors are having a horrible time.  The rules seem to change daily and they don't understand the registration process or what it means.  Plus so many are not online so they don't sign up that way which is really the best way, at least in our health district, because it captures registration info and saves time at check in.  And if they sign up and don't get called for the next program they try and register again and again which just gums up the works.

I guess we just need to be patient and hope that things will be changing.  I know we only got a partial shipment to cover our clinics this weekend which is why we cannot call people until virtually the last minute and they are mad about that too because they cannot plan far in advance.  And since this is a rural area they have to drive, in many cases, quite a distance or get someone to bring them.  I had a lady yell at me because 5 seniors are riding together and they didn't get identical times to come it.  I assured her we would take them all as soon as they arrived but she was pretty mad about it.  But we go through the queue and they each registered separately and we had no idea they were riding together.  Sigh.

And don't get me started on the lack of vaccine available.  We were counting on the federal reserve to help us move faster and, well, you know....

Thanks for your understanding, Cetacean, this is exactly how I'm seeing it.  Unfortunately when I posted about this on another thread here devoted to the virus I got told that maybe other groups should go before seniors and those with high risk conditions.  I complained that CT was considering putting front line essential workers of all ages ahead of seniors - a lot ahead compared with NY and FL.  Thankfully the state flip flopped but has ultimately decided to prioritize the elderly and high risk people.  It only makes me appreciate you and everyone on this thread all the more.  

Edited by Yeah No
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6 hours ago, Cetacean said:

And don't get me started on the lack of vaccine available.  We were counting on the federal reserve to help us move faster and, well, you know....

 

True.  It's not so much the locations available, but the vaccines.  Now they are cycling back through those who need the 2nd dose.  My mom has been calling around trying to find a location to get one.  Not even her doctors office knows where they can call to get one.  Every doctor should have at least a number their patients can call.  She will possibly have to go to another county to get one.

I called around and emailed yesterday, without success.  Mr. X and I are both 65+ with health problem(s) and we're ready and willing, but our state, and particularly our county, is behind a lot of others.  Patience may be a virtue, but it's running thin as of late.  No one seems to have any info or answers for us.  It would at least be nice if we could make appointments.  I'm overdue for lab work at the doctors, but I hope to hold off until I can get at least my first shot.  Sigh...

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2 hours ago, Pickleinthemiddle said:

Not even her doctors office knows where they can call to get one.  Every doctor should have at least a number their patients can call. 

It is my understanding that doctor offices are the LAST on the list to receive vaccines, at least according to my doc.  First are public health departments and some pharmacy chains.  That is the case in MI at this time.

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I was able to get my first dose yesterday.  We have Walgreens pharmacies here, and because I have a loyal card. they sent me an email Tuesday saying that they had limited quantities available.  I replied immediately and got a spot for the next morning.  I immediately called my friend, but she had trouble logging on.  She kept at it, and her husband got an appointment yesterday, also.  Turns out they post the schedule in the morning for the following day, and take it down when the slots are full.  Another local pharmacy chain is doing the same thing.  If it hadn't been for having my loyalty card I may not have known about the availability.  Based on my experience, you might what to make sure you have a loyalty card at all the pharmacies near you.  You have to act fast! 

I heard a discussion today about an oral vaccine that looks promising and that may be available in a few months.  

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Have some happy news to share, I got the job I interviewed for last week. It’s within a totally different division of my company, so it’s like starting a new job but I can keep my seniority. Even better, I can get away from my crappy boss and department. I’ve been unhappy at work so long, it’s hard to imagine liking a job. Heck, if I don’t hate it I’ll be satisfied. For everyone job hunting, I’ve got my fingers crossed for you!  

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6 hours ago, Cetacean said:

That's the key and online is the best way.  But so many seniors either don't do anything online or don't have relatives to help. I have signed up two of my neighbors.

Thank you for helping your neighbors!

35 minutes ago, Kbo said:

Have some happy news to share, I got the job I interviewed for last week. It’s within a totally different division of my company, so it’s like starting a new job but I can keep my seniority. Even better, I can get away from my crappy boss and department. I’ve been unhappy at work so long, it’s hard to imagine liking a job. Heck, if I don’t hate it I’ll be satisfied. For everyone job hunting, I’ve got my fingers crossed for you!  

Congratulations and good luck!

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8 hours ago, xwordfanatik said:

I called around and emailed yesterday, without success.  Mr. X and I are both 65+ with health problem(s) and we're ready and willing, but our state, and particularly our county, is behind a lot of others.  Patience may be a virtue, but it's running thin as of late.  No one seems to have any info or answers for us.  It would at least be nice if we could make appointments.  I'm overdue for lab work at the doctors, but I hope to hold off until I can get at least my first shot.  Sigh...

I hear you.  I am putting some routine exam stuff off for the same reasons.  I still haven't been to the dentist in over a year.  I got my mammogram last summer so at least I'm good with that.  I just heard Dr. Fauci tonight say that the vaccine rollout should be ramping up really soon with Federal help.  I am trying to remain optimistic.

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11 hours ago, Kbo said:

Have some happy news to share, I got the job I interviewed for last week. It’s within a totally different division of my company, so it’s like starting a new job but I can keep my seniority. Even better, I can get away from my crappy boss and department. I’ve been unhappy at work so long, it’s hard to imagine liking a job. Heck, if I don’t hate it I’ll be satisfied. For everyone job hunting, I’ve got my fingers crossed for you!  

Great to hear!  I'm sorry to say I worked (and retired from) a crappy job I hated, but now they have to pay me to stay away!😊

Senority is important, and it's very nice you kept it.  Here's hoping you'll like your new job! 

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10 hours ago, Yeah No said:

I hear you.  I am putting some routine exam stuff off for the same reasons.  I still haven't been to the dentist in over a year.  I got my mammogram last summer so at least I'm good with that.  I just heard Dr. Fauci tonight say that the vaccine rollout should be ramping up really soon with Federal help.  I am trying to remain optimistic.

I finally got on a waiting list at my Drs. clinic.  No appointment yet, but I'll try to be optimistic, too.

I skipped my dental cleaning last year, and my eye exam too.  I hope by Fall to be vaccinated and catch up on those appointments.  I did have a colonoscopy in December (family history of colon cancer.)  It worked out fine, luckily.

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Hi my dear COLS! It’s been a minute since I’ve been here. 

Slowly catching up around the forums and what I’ve missed for the last half a year! I’ve been busy with a new business (real business - not like a Brown style pyramid scheme ‘business’ 😉) and that on top of my regular job, plus family life, just left things chaotic at that half of the year, but hoping now I’ve got more free time to pop on and snark, just in time for new season! 🤗 I will definitely try and be a bit more present here from now on. 

Crossing my fingers some kind Americans continue to load the new episodes on YouTube for those overseas to keep up, (as our season in Australia will air on TLC here at least 2 months behind America and you may all be snarked out by the time I watch them in on TV), but so looking forward to the hilarious recaps from our clever community here anyway. 

So glad to hear America is getting the vaccine rollout happening now, I’ve been watching the news with high cases and political unrest the past year, and thinking of you all. 

Here in Australia and New Zealand (where I am a citizen and spend a good deal of time) we’ve been lucky enough to have been spared the worst of Covid, with strict lockdowns and good contact tracing happening early, we have basically no community transmission now, just handfuls of cases from overseas flights which are detected in mandatory hotel quarantine (all travellers do this for 2 weeks anyway after arriving to protect the masses). 

Anyway looking forward to more snarking with you all soon x

 

congrats @Kbo!

Edited by Sofa Sloth
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Listening to Tim Conway Jr on KFI tonight talking about this docu-podcast with correspondent Steve Gregory. Tim lives in Burbank and when a friend texted him about the crash around 10am he opened his front door and the fog was so bad he couldn't see the house across the street. Everyone in SoCal knew how bad the fog was that morning, the LAPD had grounded all of its flights. Hearing the air traffic control chatter is eerie. If anyone is interested:

KFI-AM 640 says the documentary will chronicle how the crash was covered by the media in real-time. 

The 2-hour documentary will broadcast Sunday, January 24, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on KFI-AM 640 and will be syndicated across iHeartMedia’s 24/7 News radio affiliates. The limited 8-episode companion podcast will also debut on January 24 and be distributed by the iHeartPodcast Network and can be heard on iHeartRadio and everywhere podcasts are available.

https://www.nbclosangeles.com/entertainment/new-radio-documentary-explores-the-death-and-life-of-kobe-bryant/2506070/

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1 hour ago, Gramto6 said:

I got a message yesterday that I am eligible for my Covid vaccine, Just have to sign up. I am still worried about the anaphylaxis issue . I see my dr Monday and will discuss it with him before I decide.

Looking forward to hearing what your doctor thinks. I experienced anaphylaxis once and was sure I was dying. 

Edited by suomi
typo
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11 hours ago, suomi said:

Looking forward to hearing what your doctor thinks. I experienced anaphylaxis once and was sure I was dying. 

Me too, from Advil.  Turns out I have an allergy to salicylates, which includes aspirin.  I read that the ingredient in the vaccines suspected of causing the allergic reactions is polyethylene glycol, which is actually a common ingredient in cosmetics and some over the counter medications, like laxatives and even my own bottle of Extra Strength Tylenol.  That and given that the current rate of anaphylaxis from the vaccine has been 1 in 11 million shots so far, I'm not too worried.

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