Masks Now, Masks Forever?
Jan has been feeling a little under the weather since last night, with a bad headache and a sore throat, and wasn’t feeling much better today. So we just stayed at home until about 3 pm when I picked up a Take Out order from Jason’s Deli.
Jan got a Broccoli-Cheese soup and a Quarter Roasted Turkey Muffuletta, while I got a Southwest Chicken Chili and a Nutty Mixed-Up Salad with Grilled Chicken, Fruit, Green, Blue Cheese Crumbles, and Jalapeno Ranch Dressing.
And with today’s cold, overcast weather, the hot soup really hit the spot.
Hopefully she’ll feel better tomorrow.
A recent New York Times survey of 700 epidemiologists shows a lot of variation in their beliefs about the virus, including a large number who think we’ll never really get back to normal, well, 2019 normal, anyway.
“I expect that wearing a mask will become part of my daily life, moving forward, even after a vaccine is deployed,” said Amy Hobbs, a research associate at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Karin Michels, professor of epidemiology at U.C.L.A., said it would probably be many years until it was safe enough to “return to approximately the lifestyle we had.” She said, “We have to settle to live with the virus.”
“I expect that wearing a mask will become part of my daily life, moving forward, even after a vaccine is deployed,” said Amy Hobbs, a research associate at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
“It’s hard for me to imagine that it will ever go back to our previous ‘normal,’ but I do think that new preventive measures that we’ve had to adopt, like masks, will feel normal in time. In that sense, I’m optimistic that life will settle into a new kind of normal.”
“It is normal now; similar to 2019, never again.”
And this MSN article worries about the vaccine’s side effects being so severe as to take healthcare workers out of service right when they’re needed most.
Vaccines’ Side Effects Risk Sidelining Health Workers While Cases Surge
Well, certainly makes me wan to be at the front of the line for the shot, or shots, as they’re saying now. Or maybe just a like a ‘yearly’ flu shot now.
And now it seems that just because you get the ‘vaccine’ doesn’t necessary mean you won’t be able to transmit the virus to someone else.
Pfizer chairman: We’re not sure if someone can transmit virus after vaccination
It just gets better and better.
This blog recounts the first day of our Christmas-time visit to New York City last December.
December 5, 2019
A New York State of Mind . . .
The day couldn’t not have gone more perfect.
We were up at 3am, our car service guy showed up about 4:15, and we were on our way up to Hobby Airport by about 4:30. Right on schedule. And I didn’t forget my camera or laptop this time.
We got dropped off at the Southwest entrance a little after 5am, and we tagged and checked in our 3 suitcases a few minutes later.
On our way to our gate (why is it that it always seems like our gate is #36, out of 1 to 36.), we were offered a chance to sign up for the CLEAR program, in which, once you’re registered, means you bypass the normal check-in line and pretty much just get waved through. And even better, it was free.
The only real problem was trying to get a good scan of my fingerprints. Due to a lot of scar tissue due to some burns, I don’t really have much in the way of valid fingerprints. The last time this caused me a problem was when I was fingerprinted for our gate guarding security licenses.
And before that, my numerous security clearances for the DOD and NASA. You would think by now that I would be in the system enough that they would know me. I mean surely my scar tissue is pretty distinct.
But luckily for me there was the option of a Biometric Iris Scan, which did work.
One thing nice about this flight is that, unlike our recent European flights, we could check in 2 bags each, not just one. So we had no carrying-on stuff, other than Jan’s large purse and my laptop bag.
One thing nice about this flight is that, unlike our recent European flights, we could check in 2 bags each, not just one. So we had no carrying-on stuff, other than Jan’s large purse and my laptop bag.
The only problem was that our online check-in got screwed up and we ended up boarding in the last group. So by that time there were only center seats left so we couldn’t sit together. But it was a nice smooth flight and we actually got in at 10:50am (9:50CT), 5 minutes early.
Probably because we were doing almost 600 mph.
This was from a phone app called Speedometer.
We had to wait about 15 minutes for our luggage, and while we were doing that, an enterprising Skycap came by and asked us where we were going. I told him that we were going to get a taxi or Uber to a hotel near Times Square.
Now there were signs all over the baggage area that due to the ongoing construction of a new terminal at LaGuardia, you had to take a shuttle bus to a place about 15 minutes away where you could then get a taxi or an Uber. When I mentioned this to him, he said this was not necessary and he could take care of this for us.
Kind of wary of the City Slicker swindling the Country Rubes, I asked how much this would cost and he said he just worked for tips. And since he had his own luggage cart, I didn’t have to rent one for $6, so I told him OK.
So he grabbed our 3 suitcases when they came around the carousel and off we went. Jan, of course, was somewhat suspicious.(make that VERY suspicious) but gamely followed along, knowing at any minute we were going to be ravaged and pillaged.
After about a block we turned a corner and there was a long line of people waiting for one of shuttle buses. Positioned around were electronic signs saying the wait for a taxi or Uber at the other end of the shuttle ride was 55 minutes. And based on the length of the line on this end, it was going to be at least 30 minutes here.
Resigning ourselves to the wait, we started to get in the long line, but he shook his head and motioned us to follow him. And since he was leaving with our luggage, we decided to tag along.
He led us around the outside wall of the covered shuttle waiting area, past several policemen, who nodded to him (made us feel better), and then across the street. There, behind a police barricade, was a line of Yellow Cabs being waved forward, one by one, by another police officer.
Our Skycap put our luggage in the trunk, I tipped him (WELL!) , and we were on our way, less than 10 minutes after we got our luggage.
And less than an hour later he was letting us off at the Hotel Riu Plaza-Times Square, about a block and a half off Times Square. And even better, our Uber ride was listed on the app as being about $80, but our taxi ride was only about $60.
Very, very nice.
Checking in, we were told our room was ready, and we ended up with a very nice room on the 25th floor, with an open balcony that we can walk out on, with a great view.
Even better, though we knew our room came with a full breakfast buffet, we were happily surprised that it also came with their full dinner buffet. Which is advertised as being $35 per person if you had to pay for it.
Neat!
Then it was, of course, time for a nap.
About 3pm we made the 2 block walk over to Times Square to check things out, and then headed over to Junior’s Restaurant, just about a half block off Time Square
Jan got their version of the her fav Wedge Salad,
while I got their 10 oz. Steakburger,
which we then split with each other.
This was to leave us room to Jan’s Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake
and my Carrot Cake Cheesecake.
And of course you can’t have Junior’s World-Famous Cheesecake without a nice hot Cappuccino to go along with it. Complete with Rock Candy stirrer.
Especially when it’s 39 degrees outside.
We ate at Junior’s several times when we were here in 2009 and really loved it, so it had to be our first place to eat when we got here again.
By the time we finished it was getting dark here (about 4:30 here in the ET) so we walked back out to Times Square to check out the lights.
One big change we noticed since we were here in 2009 was that Broadway is now open to traffic.
But when we were here in 2009, Broadway was closed to traffic for many blocks in each direction, as you can see here.
One thing new was that every surface is a TV screen, sides of buildings, doorways, and even bus stop enclosures.
It was a little warmer then, since we were here in August. It was about 36 degrees when we sat out for a while this evening.
And of course we had to take the obligatory Times Square selfie.
Getting back to the hotel after about ten minute walk, we checked out the view from the 25th floor at the end of the hallway.
That’s our balcony and room behind the railing on the left.
Thought For The Day:
The Four Stages of Life –
1. You Believe In Santa Claus
2, You Don’t Believe in Santa Claus
3. You ARE Santa Claus.
4. You Look Like Santa Claus
HO! HO! HO!
December 5, 2012
Ducks and a Dynasty . . .
Today was another nice, quiet stay-at-home day. It was overcast and never got out of the 60’s. Just perfect for sitting back with a large mug of hot coffee and enjoying life.
Later in the morning Jan went out to feed the birds, and it’s amazing how quickly the word gets out. Within just a few minutes the ducks show up in a line from their pond about 100 yards. They can’t see the feeder from the pond so the only thing I can figure is that they post a lookout to keep an eye on things. But show up they do.
Pretty soon the feeder area is swarming with birds, and a lot of squawking, chirping, and tweeting commences.
About 6pm Jan and I headed out to meet Chris, Linda, and Piper at the Mario’s Flying Pizza up in Seabrook, one of our regular dining spots.
After a good meal, Jan and I followed them home so I could get their Epson printer installed on their new laptop.
While there I got shot of our beautiful granddaughter Piper. I fondly remember the good ole days when she would pose at the drop of a hat. Now she grew up and got shy.
I guess I’ll just have to repost this photo from a couple of years ago.
When we got home we found that Lowell had sent over a photo of Landon’s visit with Santa Claus.
From the look on his face, I think Santa just told him he’s on Santa’s Naughty List.
While we were up in Marble Falls over Thanksgiving, we stumbled upon Duck Dynasty, a reality program showing on the A&E cable channel, when they were running a show marathon.
It’s the story of the Robertson family, living in Monroe, Louisiana, who, 40 years ago, started a company called Duck Commander, and became millionaires making and selling duck calls.
Yes, duck calls!
The show is hilarious, and these guys who look like rejects from a ZZ Top look-a-like contest, make the show. Although it’s called a Reality Show, the family refers to it as “guided reality”. Every show had a theme and ends with a life lesson, usually centered on the family.
It’s funny, and well worth watching.
But wait, there’s more.
Phil Robertson, the patriarch of the family, and the one who started the company, has another side. He’s a graduate of Louisiana Tech University, and actually has a Masters of Education degree.
And while he was at Louisiana Tech, he played football. And as the 1st string starting quarterback, he was very good. So good in fact that he had an offer from the Washington Redskins.
Even his 2nd string quarterback said Phil had the best arm he’d ever seen. He also said he knew Phil really liked to hunt because he would show at practice with squirrel tails hanging out of his jacket and covered in duck feathers. But since he was obviously a very good shot, no one complained.
But with a year of eligibility remaining Phil decided that as much as he loved football, he loved hunting better. So he gave up football to have more time for hunting, and a few years later started Duck Commander.
And the rest is history.
Oh yeah. The 2nd string quarterback who said Phil Robertson had the best arm he’d ever seen, and who didn’t get much playing time until Phil quit football … that would be Terry Bradshaw, top draft pick in 1970, who played 14 seasons with the Pittsburg Steelers, won 4 Super Bowls, and a spot in the Hall of Fame.
That Terry Bradshaw.
Thought for the Day:
“Political correctness does not legislate tolerance; it only organizes hatred.” – Jacques Barzun
