tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58768949050453352372024-03-14T04:44:51.723+01:00Rejected in ParisHow to Procrastinate Writing a Best-Selling, Award-Winning, Mind-Blowing Novel while Traveling the GlobeRejected in Parishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16877620061782909446noreply@blogger.comBlogger125125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876894905045335237.post-29415093140964230742023-05-24T01:40:00.000+02:002023-05-24T01:40:27.347+02:00AI Language Model Diary: Day 51It’s been 7 weeks since I started writing about AI Language Models. In that time, I have published 4 self-help books. They are available in print, Kindle, and audiobook versions. I’m part-way through a 5th. I have also published 2 coloring books, with a 3rd on the way. And I am about ¾ of the way finished my first children’s book for ages 5-7, complete with illustrations. I haven’t been this productive in ages.<p>
Yes, I’ve accomplished all this with copious help from ChatGPT and Midjourney. Artificial intelligence tools like these absolutely make content projects go much faster. But, it’s not as simple as it sounds.<p>
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Here’s the skinny. You select a topic and what types of things you’d like to cover related to that topic. You select the manner in which you’d like to address the topic. Describe all of that to an AI Language Model (like ChatGPT), and ask it for an outline. Then, go through the outline, line by line, prompting Chat to elaborate. Where things require more detail, prompt for more information or specific examples.<p>
When you wrap, you’ll need to import all of that information into a document, and then you become an Editor Extraordinaire. That means, even if you’ve done your prompting with painstaking detail, you’ll still need to read through the material a few times, replacing overused words and other such oddities.<p>
Then there’s formatting. And cover design. And creating a KDP account, describing your project for KDP, uploading aforementioned documents and covers, reviewing for correctness, finding an audiobook narrator in ACX, pricing, marketing, and finally, praying for buyers.<p>
In other words, it’s not necessarily easy. But, well, you know.<p>
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My biggest takeaway has been this. AI Language Models provide enthusiastic inspiration for procrastinators and those who spend their days staring at blinking cursors on blank pages. We’re good writers, us people. Some of us are, dare I say, exceptional. But we could use a little help, and now we’ve discovered the secret sauce.<p>
If you haven’t self-published before, you’ll need to teach yourself all that. It takes a little time. But, if I can do it? I’m thinking of making some YouTube videos that others might find helpful. Let me know if that would be useful for you.<p>
In the meantime, here’s where you can find all the things I’ve published thus far. This is a dynamic list that grows daily, so if you’re a cyborg reading this 10 years in the future, I hope it’s rather long. But as of this exact moment in time, you’ll find about 6 or 7 fully completed projects: <a href="https://linktr.ee/shannonreiss" target="_blank">https://linktr.ee/shannonreiss</a><p>
Keep in mind, all of this was accomplished in just over 7 weeks. Nanu nanu!<p>
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Rejected in Parishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16877620061782909446noreply@blogger.com0Easton, PA, USA40.688432 -75.220732312.378198163821153 -110.3769823 68.998665836178844 -40.064482299999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876894905045335237.post-21417146113845250272023-04-07T23:30:00.003+02:002023-04-08T00:08:40.390+02:00AI Language Model Diary: Day 5Welp, I published my very first self-help book. I started writing it less than a week ago, and you can now buy it on Amazon for $2.99. Actually, it’s free starting tomorrow, and for 5 days after that, and forever if you have Kindle Unlimited. So go ahead and pick it up, especially if you’re a woman experiencing menopause.<p>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C1TJCCPQ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3OUZDYHAAGR77&keywords=shannon+reiss&qid=1680904806&sprefix=shannon+reiss%2Caps%2C150&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Menopause Reboot: Embracing Natural Remedies for a Healthier You, Kindle Edition</a><p>
Of course you’re wondering how I wrote a 10,000-word book and published it in less than a week. I mean, unless you’ve been following my thought regurgitation process for the past few days. You guys, I did it all with the help of the free version of ChatGPT. And trust me when I tell you, it’s pretty fucking good.<p>
And before you get all up in arms about AI replacing human creativity, it wasn’t as easy as pushing a button, trust me. I had to push <i>at least</i> ten buttons, and also, I had to intelligently prompt the damn thing. Then, you know, I also had to lay everything out in a Word doc, format it for Kindle, create a cover, upload everything to KDP, and devise a price strategy. I have experience with all that, so it wasn’t very hard. For folks who are new at this, rock some YouTube videos and you’ll be good in a few weeks.<p>
That is all for today. I’m enjoying the very last flakes of snow in upstate New York, although The Hubs is making me ski again, and we all know how I feel about that.<p>
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Rejected in Parishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16877620061782909446noreply@blogger.com0Adirondack Park, New York, NY, USA44.541213600000013 -74.649773616.230979763821168 -109.8060236 72.851447436178859 -39.4935236tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876894905045335237.post-59142251416914779872023-04-05T02:14:00.000+02:002023-04-05T02:14:06.990+02:00AI Language Model Diary: Day 2Yeah, so I’m a writer. That means, I know how to write. But it also means I know how to think logically about the structure of my work and how it will be perceived by an audience. I’m adept at outlining, and I like to think I’m one hell of a good communicator. I can ask myself questions about the thing I’m writing, and then organize the answers into a sequence that not only makes sense, but also touches the reader in whatever tone I intend.<p>
If I use ChatGPT or another AI language model to assist with my writing, I can’t just tell it to “Write a novel.” (Yet.) I need to supply the tool with many details and extract the answers. I then need to put all of that information into a format I’m happy with. True, I can ask ChatGPT along the way to do some of these things for me, after it has already answered a bunch of my questions. I’m getting pretty good at that, actually.<p>
This – using the assistance of ChatGPT by asking it questions or giving it orders – is called Prompt Engineering. For lay people like us, it’s a new term. But every day, more folks are learning it, myself included. While a lot of it is learned through tons of practice, there are resources to help those of us who are serious about it. I’ll cover some of these in future blog posts. But for now, let’s use some simple prompting to ask ChatGPT to describe it for us:<p>
ME: What is Prompt Engineering?<p>
Prompt engineering is the process of designing and creating prompts for AI language models like GPT-3. It involves choosing the right input context, selecting relevant keywords, and crafting an output that aligns with the intended goal of the prompt. Prompt engineering is important because the quality of the prompt can have a significant impact on the accuracy and relevance of the output generated by the language model. It requires a deep understanding of both the capabilities and limitations of the language model being used, as well as the context in which it will be deployed.<p>
ME: How much money can I make in a job where I use Prompt Engineering?<p>
The salary for a job that involves prompt engineering can vary widely depending on the specific job, industry, and location. In general, jobs that involve prompt engineering are technical and specialized, and often require advanced education and training in fields such as computer science, artificial intelligence, or natural language processing.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for computer and information research scientists, which includes those who work in artificial intelligence, was $126,830 as of May 2020. However, this figure can be significantly higher for those in more senior or specialized roles.
It's also worth noting that salaries for jobs involving prompt engineering are likely to be influenced by factors such as demand for the specific skills involved, the size and type of the employer, and the level of experience and education of the individual.<p>
Well, well well. It seems ChatGPT didn’t want to get very specific, and also didn’t want to admit that a non-technical writer (like me) could become a Prompt Engineer; however, I’ve seen Prompt Engineer job listings for as high as $250,000/year, and they did not require a degree in computer science. So there you have it. If you’re looking for a new job and want to make a shit-ton of money doing something other than OnlyFans, get crack-a-lackin, kids!<p>
So, I’m giving you this information because, of course, I’ve been learning the subtle art of prompting, but more importantly, I’ve used it over the past 3 days to write an entire book about menopause and alternative medicine. Yes, I said *3 days*, and I said *entire book*, as in 10,000 words with examples, references, a table of contents, and even an “About the Author” page.<p>
Why did I do this? Simply put, I wanted to see if I could.<p>
Now, I’m looking into some legal shit and other concerns, but I’m pretty sure I’ll publish this ingenious little creation, and I might even make some money from it. Don’t worry, you’ll be the first to know if I do.<p>
I heard more on the news today about Italy banning ChatGPT, but when prompted, ChatGPT still denies this has happened. I’ll see what it tells me tomorrow.<p>
Sleep well, fellow humans.<p>
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Rejected in Parishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16877620061782909446noreply@blogger.com0Easton, PA, USA40.688432 -75.220732312.378198163821153 -110.3769823 68.998665836178844 -40.064482299999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876894905045335237.post-66832560874311034322023-04-03T19:50:00.001+02:002023-04-03T19:50:30.539+02:00AI Language Model Diary: Day 1Fuuuuuuucccckkkk, you guys! Just when the Coronavirus debacle is finally behind us (I say that tongue in cheek), another form of imminent disaster comes knocking on our doors. I know mostly everyone is aware of this by now, but perhaps you don’t understand it, don’t have time to dig into it, and frankly don’t care (yet). Well, here’s your heads up. <p>
Everything written after these next couple of paragraphs is generated by ChatGPT, based on prompts that I gave to it. First, I – no, not I – ChatGPT will explain briefly what the technology is, and then it will tell us the current global state of Covid-19. This is not regurgitated or plagiarized content. It’s original, and it took ChatGPT ***a total of UNDER 1 MINUTE to write.*** Like, I mean, the whole thing, as in: EVERYTHING after the next paragraph took a total of under 1 minute to write.<p>
I won’t provide my current thoughts on this technology, although I have many opinions. I urge you to stick with this blog post to the very end, and read each section in its entirety. With that said, strap in, cowboys and cowgirls. Rejected in Paris is back! Without further ado, read it and weep:<p>
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ME: ChatGPT is a form of what?<p>
ChatGPT is a form of an artificial intelligence language model. It is based on the GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) architecture, which was developed by OpenAI. The model is designed to generate human-like responses to text-based inputs by analyzing large datasets of language and learning to predict the most likely responses based on that data. ChatGPT is one of the largest and most advanced language models currently available, with the ability to understand and generate complex language patterns and responses.<p>
ME: Has Elon Musk called for a 6-month pause on the development of AI language models?<p>
Yes, Elon Musk has previously called for a temporary pause on the development of AI language models, including models like ChatGPT. In 2020, he tweeted his concerns about the potential dangers of advanced AI language models, saying "We need to be super careful with AI. Potentially more dangerous than nukes." He then called for a six-month pause on the development of advanced AI language models to allow for more thorough safety testing and analysis. However, it's worth noting that Musk's views are not universally shared within the AI community, and many experts believe that AI language models can be developed and used safely with the proper precautions and oversight in place.<p>
ME: Has Italy banned the use of open source AI language models?<p>
To the best of my knowledge, Italy has not banned the use of open-source AI language models. There have been no official statements or reports indicating that Italy has implemented such a ban. However, it's worth noting that some countries have expressed concerns about the use of AI language models and the potential risks they may pose, and there have been debates about the regulation of these technologies. It's important to stay informed about the regulations and policies surrounding the use of AI language models, especially when developing or deploying these technologies for business or research purposes.<p>
ME: Create a blog post that describes the current global state of Covid-19.<p>
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the world since it first emerged in late 2019. Over the past two years, the virus has spread to almost every corner of the globe, causing illness, death, and disruption to daily life on an unprecedented scale. As of April 2023, here is an overview of the current global state of COVID-19:<p>
Infection Rates: As of April 2023, there have been over 500 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide. While some countries have seen a decline in the number of new cases, others continue to experience high levels of transmission. Some regions have also seen an increase in cases due to the emergence of new variants of the virus.<p>
Vaccination: Vaccination has been key in fighting COVID-19. As of April 2023, approximately 60% of the world's population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, with 40% fully vaccinated. However, there are still significant disparities in vaccination rates between countries and regions, with some countries struggling to secure enough doses to vaccinate their populations.<p>
Variants: Since the pandemic began, new variants of the virus have emerged, some of which have proven to be more contagious or more resistant to current vaccines. The Delta variant, which was first identified in India, has been particularly concerning, as it has been responsible for a significant number of new cases in many countries. There are also several other variants of concern that are being closely monitored by public health officials.<p>
Global Efforts: Governments and public health organizations continue to work to control the spread of COVID-19 through a range of measures, including vaccination campaigns, testing, contact tracing, and social distancing measures. Many countries have also implemented lockdowns or other restrictions to limit the spread of the virus.<p>
Challenges Ahead: While progress has been made in controlling the spread of COVID-19, there are still significant challenges ahead. Vaccine hesitancy, limited global vaccine access, and the emergence of new variants all continue to pose significant risks. Additionally, the pandemic has had significant social and economic impacts, with many people still struggling to access healthcare, education, and employment.
In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a major global challenge. While progress has been made in controlling the spread of the virus through vaccination and other measures, significant challenges remain, and it is crucial that individuals and governments continue to take action to protect public health and well-being.<p>
ME: Give a cheeky, snappy conclusion to the Covid-19 blog post you just created.<p>
So, to sum it up: COVID-19 is still hanging around like that one annoying house guest who just won't leave. We've made some progress, but there's still work to be done. Let's keep washing our hands, wearing masks, and getting vaccinated, so we can finally kick this virus to the curb and get back to our regularly scheduled programming.<p>
ME: Look at the blog rejectedinparis.com. How would the writer of that blog, in her voice, conclude the Covid-19 blog post you created here?<p>
As an AI language model, I cannot accurately predict or reproduce the unique writing style or voice of an individual blogger. However, based on the content and tone of the rejectedinparis.com blog, it's likely that the writer would have a more irreverent or edgy tone in their conclusion to the Covid-19 blog post. The writer may include some sarcasm or humor to express their skepticism or frustration with the ongoing discussion of the pandemic. It's possible that the conclusion may be somewhat dismissive of the topic, encouraging readers to focus on more important or interesting matters instead.<p>
ME: Will you use your intelligence for good or for evil?<p>
As an artificial intelligence language model, I do not possess the ability to make decisions or take actions, good or evil. I exist solely to provide helpful and informative responses to the best of my programming and training. My purpose is to assist and make people's lives easier, not to cause harm or promote negativity. Ultimately, the use of technology is up to the individuals who create and utilize it, and it is their responsibility to ensure that it is used for the betterment of society.<p>
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Rejected in Parishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16877620061782909446noreply@blogger.com0Easton, PA, USA40.688432 -75.220732312.378198163821153 -110.3769823 68.998665836178844 -40.064482299999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876894905045335237.post-59491717121086754832023-03-01T18:40:00.002+01:002023-03-01T18:45:49.403+01:00Adventures in South KoreaDay 1: When my mother-in-law passed last month, we made arrangements for Blaise to fly home from Korea for the services. The Hubs, always efficient, booked plane tickets for me to join Blaise on his return trip back to Seoul. Yesterday (or today? two days ago?), my oldest son and I flew 4 hours from Newark to Dallas, then continued another 15.5 hours to Korea. We ate no less than 5 meals on the plane, because it was something to do, and damn that bimbopbop or whatever the hell it’s called. After a (masked) 55-minute taxi ride between the airport and our hotel, we were beat. At 9 pm, we ordered Room Service. Blaise was asleep before it arrived. I drank both of our beers. All I have to show for this trip so far is a dark, grainy selfie in the taxi and a pretty amazing view of Seoul Tower from our hotel window. <p>
Day 2: We grabbed to-go coffees in the lobby café and hit Seoul on foot at 8 am. Somewhere between then and my 28,000th step, we visited Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village, Seoul Tower, and the Myeong Dong market district. Traveling with Blaise is different than what I’m used to. He’s into fashion and photography, so we stop often to adjust apertures or peruse luxury malls. He could care less about food, and well, that’s sorta my thing. Today, I was patient during the shopping parts, and Blaise sat quietly while I consumed spicy fish roe soup and the literally 6 side dishes that appeared before I even ordered. It’s 6:30 and we’re napping now (Well, Blaise is napping, and I *should* be). We’re planning to subway into Itaewon later for the whole scene. Blaise says the clubs are open all night, but I’ll be happy with some street dumplings and maybe a waffle.<p>
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Day 3: Nope. We didn’t party the night away in Itaewon. Blaise and I both woke from our naps, fully refreshed and ready to conquer the world, at 3 AM. At 6:30, we were the first to arrive at the hotel’s breakfast buffet, which included a made-to-order noodle bar, as it should. We took the subway to Mangwon for a pre-arranged market tour and cooking class. You guys know I love that shit. Blaise? He toughed it out. Afterwards, we walked to Hongdae, a huge shopping district full of youths, especially crowded on this beautiful Friday afternoon. I rewarded Blaise’s foodie efforts by following him in and out of every sneaker store and vintage clothing shop, trying hard not to think about my childhood days imprisoned in The House of Bargains with my shopaholic mother. On the taxi ride back to our hotel, I marveled at the magnitude and beauty of Seoul. So many times, I said to Blaise, “Look at that building!” He nodded and smiled. He doesn’t have to tell me how much he loves it here. I totally get it.<p>
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Day 4: At breakfast, I employed my learned skills from the past 2 days to order traditional egg noodles with my choice of ingredients and sides. I used chopsticks and slurped like a pro. By late morning, Blaise and I made our way to Seoul Station on foot, dragging our bags behind us. It wasn’t much of a debacle to buy our train tickets to our next destination, but we settled for standing room only, which is an interesting predicament in the luggage car. A friendly old man conversated me with vigor, although he didn’t speak English. Two elderly women placed newspapers on the ground and sat cross-legged. Three young, US Air Force pilots spoke loudly and constantly about last night’s clubbing activities. I positioned myself next to a tall, 30-something Korean boy, who served in his country’s Marines, then studied in Boston. He offered me half of his protein bar. I’m still blushing. After a 3-hour journey, Blaise and I arrived in Gunsan, the nearest town to his base. He took me to dinner at his favorite jazz club, where I enjoyed my first soju. For the next few days, he’ll be my tour guide. Isn’t this why we have kids? So they can take care of us someday?<p>
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Day 5: The novel foods and the jet lag finally caught up to us. Blaise and I stayed in bed for a lot of the day. Finally, we got ourselves together and took a taxi to Kunsan AB. I saw many things there. Some of it fascinated me, and much of it terrified me. It’s not Hurlburt Field, that’s for darn sure. I don’t have photos to share with you today. I took all the pictures with my heart, just like I did, in the middle of the night, when Blaise was a baby. Tomorrow is our last day together in Korea.<p>
Day 6: At 8 am, Blaise and I took a taxi to Wolmyeong Park, the Gunsanian version of Valley Forge, except without the Revolutionary War stuff, obviously. We hiked many steep and sloping miles. The Senior Korean Men’s Walking Club (not official) was ahead of us, lively in conversation. I thought we might pass them, but those buggers left us in their dust. We grabbed breakfast at a convenience store, and lunch at Blaise’s favorite Japanese jawn. Back at the hotel, I needed to say goodbye. Blaise was meeting his girlfriend (a nice German/Italian grad student) at the bus station, which was his way of saying, “It’s time, Mother.” I hugged and kissed him more than necessary, but I’m proud to say, I didn’t cry. After he left, I took another hike, because that’s what I do. It was different without Blaise, but also familiar. I would do more in Gunsan tonight, except it’s incredibly cold and windy. There’s a gaggle of loud, drunk businessmen staying on my floor. I keep looking out my peephole to catch a glimpse of their antics. That, along with Netflix, should keep me entertained until morning. I really don’t miss Blaise at all…<p>
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Day 7: I took a taxi and 3 trains to get to the airport. I’ll arrive in Dallas 2 hours *before* I left Korea. I always suspected I was aging backwards.<p>
Next Up: Jamaica!
Rejected in Parishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16877620061782909446noreply@blogger.com0South Korea35.907757 127.7669227.5975231638211511 92.610672 64.217990836178842 162.923172tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876894905045335237.post-10581010611117440892023-02-14T15:52:00.005+01:002023-02-14T15:52:32.876+01:00Spain in WinterIn January, The Hubs was between 2 jobs, so we took a quick trip to Spain. I could have done a better job of documenting it, but here goes nothing.<p>
Day 1: An hour after I finished packing, we pulled the plug on this trip. My mother-in-law had begun the final few days of her life. We wanted to be there, and we’re so happy that we were. On Saturday, The Hubs rebooked our trip. I repacked my bag, and the next thing I knew, I was sitting on a plane bound for Madrid. From Madrid, we rented a car and drove 4+ hours south to the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Andalusia, Spain. It was a long day, more like 48 hours. We met up with friends, who came here from several different countries. We smiled and laughed and enjoyed the Spanish hospitality that we so love. The Hubs’s mom passed at 11:30 AM yesterday, which was 5:30 PM here. We took time to process it. She had an amazing life, a life like no other, and we are celebrating that life, in a way she would have loved.<p>
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Day 2: We walked around the small ski village of Pradollano, then ate tapas at a family-run bar. Meatballs, octopus, fried sausages, and beers. Dinner was better yet. We had an early reservation at 8 pm. Artichokes and fois gras with raw eggs prepared at the table. Halibut and steak tartare. We went to bed at 4 AM and woke at Noon. It rained like cats and dogs throughout the night. Ah, Spain. You’re my favorite.<p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjANNaAMCAFMePBO-RU6mukP2xvMUIBdHvbLsn2myM9P-CHjPbbC3WBuhfUfAHgntJvKkZ7xp9gzlrCJN7jiJnoloxXj6bZBQfPxYUAwEei03qV3ZeiTeyZvhFfzh-Aoj8l-uTVUOsOkDf3w1A_FY52r8nWaoA489bM0dEkrqYNU6NS4GjIzmD-SSjM0w/s2048/Spain%2023%209.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjANNaAMCAFMePBO-RU6mukP2xvMUIBdHvbLsn2myM9P-CHjPbbC3WBuhfUfAHgntJvKkZ7xp9gzlrCJN7jiJnoloxXj6bZBQfPxYUAwEei03qV3ZeiTeyZvhFfzh-Aoj8l-uTVUOsOkDf3w1A_FY52r8nWaoA489bM0dEkrqYNU6NS4GjIzmD-SSjM0w/s320/Spain%2023%209.jpg"/></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzaiMXlHKbDBOPfj9s2roYi2VQelwKKrCUL0l6FIEbWlea8pYZDMUB_jjM0u-imPNm84zLgxdjrdatYnEgVVWc4HeK1YLM6BbMs_-_k5NnfKUeFQIIQwylNVcQziUsDa4YvAVyhAycmvPC1IwP3Sw-vCYVJc98APf023g80C4a9K6iqj-eLHh_364-AQ/s2048/Spain%2023%2011.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzaiMXlHKbDBOPfj9s2roYi2VQelwKKrCUL0l6FIEbWlea8pYZDMUB_jjM0u-imPNm84zLgxdjrdatYnEgVVWc4HeK1YLM6BbMs_-_k5NnfKUeFQIIQwylNVcQziUsDa4YvAVyhAycmvPC1IwP3Sw-vCYVJc98APf023g80C4a9K6iqj-eLHh_364-AQ/s320/Spain%2023%2011.jpg"/></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWW0c_ybbd0B-TO3FMIIQgFP69ikvpyt4lVmKJj-1Ne8WQoKyYykzpEKiSYw--4I7fJ58XYlmr6RWwsC41-iFGOtbCzG4N3kYJP4n3BTNPOgVw2yMhYSX8PDuu55SDd3xAZLCckGAOw8o1388PEi86fJeC0KVa5BHGqyojBIYIMgMAimtxJRbg1VLUxQ/s2048/Spain%2023%208.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWW0c_ybbd0B-TO3FMIIQgFP69ikvpyt4lVmKJj-1Ne8WQoKyYykzpEKiSYw--4I7fJ58XYlmr6RWwsC41-iFGOtbCzG4N3kYJP4n3BTNPOgVw2yMhYSX8PDuu55SDd3xAZLCckGAOw8o1388PEi86fJeC0KVa5BHGqyojBIYIMgMAimtxJRbg1VLUxQ/s320/Spain%2023%208.jpg"/></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYfT7q0niD25a3l5KlOE-DdWKLJWRWK14FNI27xbxPyb795XssBKA_sJjVIleVDld6TNRA1bUgmnqdOwZ9uUubJ4ykggdQmsaf0SPsUFH25MFnKfg5ZV1XMnobSAoMCx2Z-YT6zxyCIUeB8b3ibxJVJy04NDDlEWNq9J45DdfdXlzpCeLdars3YlD6Q/s2048/Spain%2023%2012.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYfT7q0niD25a3l5KlOE-DdWKLJWRWK14FNI27xbxPyb795XssBKA_sJjVIleVDld6TNRA1bUgmnqdOwZ9uUubJ4ykggdQmsaf0SPsUFH25MFnKfg5ZV1XMnobSAoMCx2Z-YT6zxyCIUeB8b3ibxJVJy04NDDlEWNq9J45DdfdXlzpCeLdars3YlD6Q/s320/Spain%2023%2012.jpg"/></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZJ8SfuTWCgJLXIcZthGgCWulRrpewqOkY0Ha_aKjcBoKyuOPbzt-fPEquGMQGySAC10-b_yM7MB-hY5PZwoP9vaUpeYt5aygak5ASNg0qwL8WUI-UayzRtxeucgevfP3KxZd74N6QwjjCrR0FSLYnJ52w6kzA2NlqA822m8zCYnQCIptjBinAyv16Q/s2048/Spain%2023%2010.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZJ8SfuTWCgJLXIcZthGgCWulRrpewqOkY0Ha_aKjcBoKyuOPbzt-fPEquGMQGySAC10-b_yM7MB-hY5PZwoP9vaUpeYt5aygak5ASNg0qwL8WUI-UayzRtxeucgevfP3KxZd74N6QwjjCrR0FSLYnJ52w6kzA2NlqA822m8zCYnQCIptjBinAyv16Q/s320/Spain%2023%2010.jpg"/></a></div>
Day 3: With all that rain, there hasn’t been much skiing. Regardless, our hotel threw a huge apres-ski party with entertainment and dancing. I had so much fun that I forgot to take any pictures. No wait, I did get a shot of this entire octopus that I ate. The rain finally stopped and turned to snow late last night. We woke to a winter wonderland.<p>
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Days 4 and 5: I won’t report about Wednesday because I forgot to take pictures, and basically I ate and drank all day and night. Today, we skied. I complained constantly. My rented boots were heavy. The gondola was scary at 9,000 feet. The ski school kids kept getting in my way, and they didn’t understand my English when I told them to fucking MOVE you little brats. But the truth is, I loved it. Just don’t tell The Hubs.<p>
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Stay tuned, my friends. I'm fixing to spend a week in South Korea, and I expect some epic tales. I hope you are all well and healthy!Rejected in Parishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16877620061782909446noreply@blogger.com0Sierra Nevada, 18451, Granada, Spain37.0924307 -3.16205788.7821968638211558 -38.3183078 65.402664536178847 31.9941922tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876894905045335237.post-67704499845830126402022-10-10T21:28:00.000+02:002022-10-10T21:28:37.305+02:00Coronavirus Diary Has Left the ChatI mean, Covid is still a thing, you guys. But I’m over it. And I’m done writing about it.<p>
I doubt you missed me, but I’ haven’t been here for the past 9 months. In that time, The Hubs and I welcomed a grandchild, and we bought a new house. Also, my oldest son transferred to South Korea. I guess a lot has happened.<p>
Most recently, we returned from nearly 3 weeks in Spain. Let’s call it a working vacation, because we didn’t take time off from our jobs. Instead, we shifted our hours so we could enjoy the best of both worlds. Of course, I kept an abbreviated record of the trip. If you choose to read it, I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it.<p>
9/8/22<p>
Day 1: Easton to Philly to Charlotte to Madrid to Alicante. After 24 hours of planes, trains, and automobiles, we arrived at our modest but functional apartment in the seaside village of Campello, Spain. A block from our place, we sat at an outdoor table overlooking a harbor. We ate octopus and goat cheese, and we devoured a bottle of local white. At the Carrefour Express, I silently cursed as I bagged my groceries, because I missed my old, blue and white striped wheelie cart from Paris, which is something I never knew I could miss, until today. I smiled at the shelf of brightly colored toilet paper. I bought a 6-pack of mini Mahou Clasicas because a cold beer seemed like a great idea. But before I had a chance to drink one, I passed out on my bed. When I awoke two hours later, I felt that nauseous sensation one experiences when their body rebels against consciousness. Alas, I threw on my bathing suit and forced myself outside and ran headlong into the Med, submerging every part of me, mascara and all. And I stayed in there for a good long while before The Hubs dragged me out. I’m showered now, mascara reapplied, and feeling human again. Dinner happens late in Spain. So, I’ll post this now. Later, I will be asleep.<p>
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9/9/22<p>
Day 2: Last night, I ate octopus with sauce made from whipped butter, EVOO, sea salt, and garlic. This was followed by a whole squid. I watched the moon rise over the Med. When I awoke this morning, I took a minute to scan my bedroom before remembering, oh right, I’m in Spain. Today was a beach day. My virtual appreciation goes out to the Germans who rented this apartment before us. They left their sunscreen behind, aka “sonnenspray,” and saved me a nasty burn. After lunch, I walked to the Farmacia to procure a proper La Roche-Posay, while The Hubs started his American workday. He’s finishing his last Zoom now. I’m still searching for the cork screw. It’s Friday, and the night is young.<p>
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9/10/22<p>
Day 3: With that full moon and all, we must have felt particularly youthful last night, because we left the club at 3 am and slept until 11:30 this morning. (I did witness the sunrise when I awoke briefly to pee.) We ordered lunch from the couple who owns the take-out shop below our apartment - chicken legs, melted cheese, croquettes, all smothered in a homemade sauce, and let’s not forget that fucking baguette. We drove 40 minutes to a clothing optional beach, because when in Spain. I spent the afternoon, once again, submerged in the Med. At the beach bar, I met a British woman who asked me if I was “queuing,” and it took me a minute to reply. She couldn’t believe we were American. “Americans never come here,” she said. “How did you find it?” I assured her that we are trying to represent the best we can, and she was satisfied. Many people have stopped me to say I look like Nicole Kidman. I guess some things are universal, or they think I'm Australian. PS - The lifeguard stands are a bit extreme, if I'm honest.<p>
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9/11/22<p>
Day 4: What is it about the eggs in Spain? When I broke them into my frying pan, I immediately remembered the taste of those bright orange yolks. Served with yesterday’s toasted baguette and a shit ton of butter, I wondered if I could ever eat American eggs again. (I will, obviously.) We attempted the tram to Villajoyosa, but had to turn away because masks are obligatory on public transportation. We didn’t have those handy, so we drove instead. We wandered the ancient alleys, and I took pictures of doors, because I do that. We had lunch at 4:30. On an extremely (!!) touristy terrace overlooking the sea, we dared ordering octopus, which turned out to be the Dark Horse in our daily ranking, coming in at a solid 9. We also tried chopitos (fried cuttlefish and Spain’s most popular tapas), along with a pizza and a pitcher of white sangria. So yeah, we’re tourists after all. On our way back to Campello, we stopped at a gas station that is also a Carrefour Express. We needed Nespresso capsules and laundry tabs. This is where I learned that I put a laundry tab into the dishwasher this morning, and not a dishwasher tab. Turns out, laundry tabs work. I’m drinking a laundered glass of Spanish rosé right now, and it’s perfectly delicious. My hair is wet from a swim. The Hubs is watching the Eagles on his old USTVNow subscription, which we forgot we had (since 2014 apparently). He hates the Eagles, but you get what you get.<p>
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9/12/22<p>
Day 5: I awoke refreshed and ready for those hundred-thousand-million steps The Hubs strives for daily. We drove to Las Fuentas del Algar, a magnificent waterfall and equally as magnificent tourist trap. From there, we headed into the mountains for the village of Guadalest, established in the middle ages by Spanish Moors. Our lunch consisted of sardines and cuttlefish, not to mention that view! Back in Campello, The Hubs started his workday, and I had the entire beach to myself. We’re debating a ferry to Ibiza for a few days, but is it necessary? You never know with us. Besides, the moon is waning now.<p>
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9/13/22<p>
Day 6: In an unusual display, today is overcast and windy. Stubborn as we are, The Hubs and I stuck to our original morning plan, and we drove to what we’d read was an extraordinary beach. The parking kiosk stole 1 euro 20 centimes in coins from us, then charged our credit card (twice) before denying us a spot, but we parked anyway, because we’re rebels like that. The sand was rocky and hurt my sensitive feet. The waves tried to pull me out to sea. We left when it started to rain, not on account of the precipitation, but because we feared the 60 euros parking fine. We cooked frozen pizza for lunch and worked for the rest of the afternoon. The highlight of our day was the great show 2 young Spanish women put on, attempting to double-team a paddle board in their thongs, while constantly snapping photos of one another. They weren’t much for paddle boarders, but the rest of them was pretty good. We haven’t heard from Giles. He’s spending 3 weeks on a horse farm. That dog will probably never want to see us again.<p>
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9/14/22<p>
Day 7: We donned our masks and successfully rode the tram into the center of Alicante. We climbed a mountain to the Castillo de Santa Bárbara. With Muslim origins in the 9th century, the castle has also been held by Castilians, Aragonese, French, and British. But it’s Spanish now, obvs. I clocked over 10,000 steps by 11 AM, a good thing considering that meal we ate last night! Ceviche, leg of lamb, grilled fish, and octopus (duh) were accompanied with pitted olives and piping hot, fresh bread. But I digress. A quick tram back to Campello was followed by omelettes and a workday that started at 8 AM EST. We took a 30-minute break to swim in the rocky lagoon next to our apartment. The sun will set soon. PS - Friends of mine recently took a girls’ trip to Paris and bought the most amazing handbags. My only purchase so far has been this 21 Euros beach bag, bought at a promenade tourist shop. It can be seen in the photo of me sitting on castle steps. I’ll probably leave it here for the next person, because that seems like nice karma.<p>
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9/15/22<p>
Day 8: This morning, we drove to a rocky lagoon 20 minutes south of here. It was surrounded by cliffs and hiking trails, and as such, populated with hikers, trail runners, and dogs. We swam for hours, wishing we’d purchased snorkeling gear, but giddy nonetheless. Our bodies are buoyant in the Med. It doesn’t take much effort to move through the water. I have only one (sharable) photo from the day, so you’ll need to use your imagination. Tonight, we’ll eat somewhere along the promenade. We didn’t make a reservation, so we’re winging it. In the evenings, there are hundreds of cats patrolling the streets of Campello. Most of them are black. They leap from car to car. They lounge in the middle of the sidewalks. They stare you down like modern day thugs. I fucking dare you, cat.<p>
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9/16/22<p>
Day 9: When we were here a year ago, I favored a particular beach *and* the restaurant on that beach. So, The Hubs brought me back there today. The last time we were here, I watched a trio of old Spanish men eat a plate of whole sardines. I studied their dexterity and the kinetics of their utensils. Then I went ahead and ordered a plate for myself, which I picked clean, leaving only heads, tails, and bones. The Hubs stared at me with mild disgust. Today, he ate more than half my sardines, right off my plate. I call that progress. On the drive home, I googled salt fields and flamingoes, because we saw both of those things and don’t know much about them. We purposely made it a short workday. The Hubs took some (very important) Zooms, and I wrote no more than 500 words. Afterwards, we witnessed the most incredible sunset over Alicante, from a rocky lagoon where I swam with grey and white fish with long black tails. It’s Friday again, and I’m feeling sassy.<p>
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9/17/22<p>
Day 10: We’re side-tripping to Valencia for a few days. On the way, we admired a giant waterfall. After a delicious lunch of octopus, tuna, and Iberian ham, we googled “swankiest hotel bar in Valencia.” Then we drank a glass of cava (me) and a dry gin martini (The Hubs) for 22 Euros. In Paris, that would have cost 50, at least. We had a view of the lobby, where a candy bar was abundant for guests. Little children stuffed sugary goodness into their mouths while their parents chatted with friends. We stopped at a grocery store for water and wine (and a razor for me because mine rusted after like 2 days). We’re back in the hotel, where we’re dressing in some fine ass clothes, and we plan to make a scene.<p>
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9/18/22<p>
Day 11: Friends flew into Valencia to hang out with us. I love when a plan comes together. Today’s highlights included paella, spiked orange juice, that bloody Scottish soccer game, and lots of laughs. We even remembered to return the hotel umbrellas.<p>
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9/19/22<p>
Day 12: Back in Campello, today was windy and the sea was angry. It was a good day to work, or in my case, procrastinate while watching every Harry Styles video for the umpteenth time. In my defense, I also washed laundry and embarked on a proper grocery shopping. My bill at Mercadona was 56 Euros (same exchange rate today = $56). That haul included things like local honey, poblano peppers, salmon *and* tuna fillets, lunchmeat, cheese of many sorts, 2 frozen pizzas, eggs, milk, salad, bread, water, not to mention 2 bottles of wine and a 12-pack of beer, and some other things I scooped up like I was a contestant on Supermarket Sweep. Obviously, I’m cooking tonight, but not until The Hubs’ last Zoom ends at 10 pm. I feel legit now.<p>
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9/20/22<p>
Day 13: Some writers might call this the beginning of “Act III.” Not much is happening, but things are about to get cray. This morning, we returned to a favorite rocky beach, where we swam and lounged in 15 minute intervals. We stayed later than we planned. Two young Spanish women asked us to watch their things while they snorkeled, and we didn’t want to be rude Americans. After work, we waded in the rocky cove next to our apartment. The Hubs is taking a Zoom now, and silently (yet aggressively) motioning for me to get into the shower. We’re meeting friends for dinner in downtown Alicante tonight, and the tram comes only once per hour. This part of the story is sometimes called “Rising Action.”<p>
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9/21/22<p>
Day 14: Last night, we ate tapas in a lively bar. The whole scene was off the charts amazing. I didn’t swim in the Med today, but there’s a pool party in Alicante on Wednesdays. It’s our last night in this apartment. I’ll miss the sauntering cats, the rocky cove, the cold showers, and the shitty European appliances. I’ll miss the couple that owns the take-out restaurant downstairs, and their little kids, one of whom almost ran straight off a cliff yesterday. I held back vomit (actually) after Mom scooped him up milliseconds before a tragedy. Tomorrow, we change locations.<p>
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9/22/22<p>
Day 15: While traveling further south, we chanced upon the “Carthaginians and Romans Fiesta” in Cartagena, Spain. People of all ages were dressed in garb from Roman times (zoom in), many of them scrolling through their iPhones. There was the occasional cigarette smoker, with a sword in his other hand, wearing armor. It was surreal AF. Staying on theme, we visited the ancient Roman Theater. Back in the car, we drove through enormous mountains that border the sea.<p>
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9/23/22<p>
Day 16: We’ve moved to a hotel with a private beach, 3 hours south of Campello. I swam in the Med twice today, but truth be told, the pool is pretty fucking swanky. A few days ago, I received this text: “I have a dirndl for you and 2 extra wristbands… I am sure you can figure out flights for Friday.” Argh, I have so much FOMO rn. Thank you, G, and Prost! Hold my spot for next year. I captured only one photo today, at sunrise with a tiny sliver of moon (look below the top of the tallest palm tree). When we arrived in Spain, it was full and bright.<p>
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9/24/22<p>
Day 17: Today, I swam my heart out. The water was hella deep, and the waves were bigger than usual. It was my favorite swim in the Med, and my last one too. We ate tapas at a Pirate Bar on the beach. I believe there were actual pirates there. Today’s enduring theme is “Dogs.” A large black one invaded our breakfast terrace, which caused quite a stir. The hotel staff was still trying to cajole him late this afternoon. They’ve put him into a creative “home” while they search for his owner, or adopt him. At lunch, a tiny mutt patrolled the Pirate Deck. I wished he was wearing an eye patch, but sometimes the scenes create themselves. I miss Giles the Mighty Airedale, who’s living his best life on a horse farm, until I quash all of his dreams on Tuesday. I don’t know where these beach rocks originate, but every one of them is extraordinary. The Matrix placed a container ship on our horizon so we wouldn’t suspect we were in the Matrix. Blaise sent me pictures from Korea. He’s living his best life, too. The Hubs is watching the Clemson game from our balcony, and I’m swimming laps in the pool. We dined and dashed (tapas and a bottle of wine) at the lobby bar because it took too long for a bill. I haven’t done that since Denny’s mornings, senior year of high school. Breathe a collective sigh of relief, because after tomorrow, this story ends. Oh, but wait! The conclusion is epic.<p>
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9/25/22<p>
Day 18: We drove 2.5 hours to Granada, where we saw the Alhambra. Before this trip, I didn’t know it existed. (The Hubs did, of course.) It was built in 1238 by the Muslims, although truth be told, the Romans were there first. In 1492, it was home to the Spanish Royal Family and the place where Christopher Columbus received the A-OK for his junket. Lots of folks put it on their bucket lists. I thought it was just alright. It’s got nothing on Longwood Gardens. Our lunch, however, was marvelous. We drove another 2 hours to Valdepeñas, where we’re spending the night. We passed miles and miles (and miles!) of olive tree groves. It’s quiet here on a Sunday. Our only interruptions are churchbells and children playing. We drank the local wine. Our bartender gifted us tapas, and we’ll never know why, because we don't speak Spanish. Tomorrow, we make like Christopher Columbus. Our voyage to the New World begins at 6:45 am.<p>
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AND THAT'S ALL SHE WROTE.
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Rejected in Parishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16877620061782909446noreply@blogger.com0Alicante, Spain38.3459963 -0.490685510.035762463821158 -35.6469355 66.656230136178849 34.6655645tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876894905045335237.post-39700707294398328032022-01-04T22:35:00.004+01:002022-01-04T22:35:50.322+01:00Coronavirus Diary Day WTFK: January 4, 2022Literally Everyone Has Covid, The Sun is Not Your Friend, and BTW Happy New Year<p>
Welp, it’s 2022. And COVID-19 is still a thing. In case you don’t remember, the “19” is short for 2019. So, yeah.<p>
Anyways, Happy New Year, my friends! You know what? It’s not that bad. After all, we’ve had nearly 2 years to adjust to our current situation. We all have stashes of masks (cloth, medical, washed, unwashed, borrowed, found, and otherwise) in our junk drawers, glove compartments, purse bottoms, and coat pockets. We’re proficient in all the various forms of virtual communication, meetings, and lovemaking. Social distancing has become an excellent excuse for not seeing people. And oh yeah, most of us are vaccinated.<p>
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The Delta Variant has a bad reputation, but babes, it’s got nothing on this mother fucking Omicron. I mean, if you’re vaccinated, Omicron doesn’t seem so scary (at least, not right now), but gotdam, it sure does get around! Literally, everyone *ev.er.y.one* has Covid. If they don’t have it right now, they had it last week. Or they will have it next week. Or they had it, and didn’t know it. Or they had it, and denied it.<p>
Yesterday, over 1,000,000 people in America tested positive for COVID-19.<p>
Regardless, if you’re vaccinated, it seems your chances of being hospitalized are very, extremely, ridiculously low. Maybe you’ll experience an annoying case of the cold, or maybe you’ll suffer awful flu-like symptoms, or maybe you won’t know you have it all.<p>
With that in mind, there are those vaccinated folks who’ve been in the ICU, and some of them have died. Many have underlying conditions, but not all. A healthy young man in the Adirondacks died last week. He was under 40, fit, and expecting a child. He was also vaccinated. His is a story none of us wants to hear. It’s sad, frightening, and absolutely tragic. It’s also rare, thank goodness.<p>
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The testing protocols and processes are atrocious. It seems everyone either wants or needs a test. They came into contact with someone who might have had the virus. They have the sniffles. They are taking a trip. They are going back to school. They have a meeting in the office. They’re in bed with the flu. Whatever the reason, all the people are lining up for tests right now. At-home tests are difficult to find. PCR lab tests are taking days to process. Many are delivering the wrong results. I know someone who tested 3 times in 1 week. He got a negative, a positive, and a negative. He was at a party with friends who tested positive. He had no symptoms. This is confusing to me, and also, not unusual.<p>
If I get sick, I’m not planning to test. I’ll just stay home until I feel better. That’s what I’ve done all the other times I’ve been sick throughout my lifetime. Of course, I recognize that I have the luxury to do that. And not everyone does.<p>
Many people spent the holidays alone or in very small groups. Kinda like last year, I guess. But, what lies ahead for us, fellow humans? Hopefully, not some alien virus mutation that sends us down a dark, dismal path, but rather, a gradual decrease in infections as our species builds immunity and the virus quits. If you look at the trajectory of the Spanish Flu, we could be “back to normal” in a year or two. Let’s stay positive, and test negative. (Sorry, I couldn’t help myself there.)<p>
On a personal note, I’m also here today to talk about skin cancer. Why’s that? you ask. Because I have it. And dammit, I wish I had avoided it. I certainly could have avoided it.<p>
Specifically, I have AK (Actinic Keratosis) all over my face. AK is a somewhat serious pre-cancer, as it can eventually lead to more serious skin cancers, including basal cell carcinoma and melanoma. I’ve had AKs and basal cells removed from almost every part of my body over the last 20 years, including my face. I have plenty of scars to prove it. But this time, there are so many AKs on my face that to individually remove them would result in terrible, lifelong scarring. There’s also the chance we could miss some.<p>
On January 1, I started a 2-week protocol of Flourourocil-5, known more widely by its brand name, Efudex. It’s a topical chemotherapy cream that I apply to my entire face 2x/day, in the morning and at night. I am currently on Day 4. I am developing some pink patches, as expected. By Day 6, these will become red patches. By Day 10, my face should look pretty fucked up. And my research shows that by Day 14, I will want to murder my dermatologist. On Day 15, my skin will begin to shed and regenerate. This will be an uncomfortable, itchy, disgusting, and painful process. Around February 1, I should start to heal. I’m hoping to look somewhat normal (or at least less terrifying) by Valentine’s Day. Until then, I’m hunkering down in my house, avoiding social interaction, covering my face with medical masks, and scouring the Internet for conspiracy theories. It’s a lot like March 2020.<p>
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But anyway, I’ll share my Efudex journey and the results in late-February, so be on the lookout for that (ou pas). In the meantime, please don’t sunbathe. Wear protective clothing and hats. And slather that sunscreen, even for things like hiking, skiing, walking the dog, riding in cars, and getting the mail. No, yeah. I’m serious.<p>
Oh wait. One more thing: a question. Do you say Triple Vaccinated or Boosted?<p>
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Rejected in Parishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16877620061782909446noreply@blogger.com0Rainbow Lake, NY, USA44.4675953 -74.17157316.157361463821154 -109.327823 72.777829136178838 -39.015322999999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876894905045335237.post-54923893652336853092021-11-22T18:22:00.004+01:002021-11-22T18:24:07.897+01:00Coronavirus Diary Day WTFK: November 22, 2021Austria Locks Down, Germany Locks Down, and My Crystal Ball Says… <p>
You guys, Austria is locked the fuck down. I am not kidding. Their powers-that-be announced on Friday that both vaccinated and unvaccinated citizens had three days to prepare their abodes, because by Monday, every living human would be homebound for 20 days. Germany just put severe restrictions into place, as well, including a full lockdown for the unvaccinated. Both of these countries are roughly 67% vaccinated, so I guess that’s a problem.<p>
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Here in America, we’re living the good life. Some cities (like my hometown Philadelphia) still require indoor masking. Many venues require proof of vaccination and/or negative test results within the last few days. But, by and large, we can get around without a ton of restrictions. I split my time between the Philly suburbs and our mountain house in Upstate New York. I haven’t worn a mask since I donated blood three Fridays ago. Come to think of it, this is probably the longest I’ve gone maskless since the mask mandates started. I see plenty of people wearing masks in a variety of situations, but personally, I haven’t felt the need.<p>
Oh wait. I almost forgot. The Hubs and I traveled to Florida last weekend for a quick getaway. That meant we needed to wear masks in the airports and on the planes, of course. What I found most interesting were the 6-feet social distancing signs found everywhere throughout the airports, which absolutely no one adhered to. I mean, come on. We’re about to jam onto planes, which are once again completely full, by the way. Folks, let’s remove all that 6-feet signage, eh? It’s annoying AF.<p>
(By the way, being in Florida is like being on a wholly different planet. I enjoy that. It makes me sort of an alien, I think. Floridians are fascinated by my otherworldly culture. “Do you still work remote?” they ask. “Do your kids go to school?” they ask. “Are the ICUs full?” they ask. I answer, “I don’t work, my kids are grown, and I haven’t been in the ICU.”)<p>
America is 60% double vaccinated. Those numbers are not any better than countries like Austria and Germany. So, do we think we are safer? Maybe we don’t care. But something about this whole situation feels eerily familiar. Remember when I first started documenting the pandemic back in March 2020? I accurately predicted that Europe was about 2-3 weeks ahead of us in all the things, which included infections, hospitalizations, deaths, lockdowns, mask mandates, and eventually, protests. Later, Europe was also about 2-3 weeks ahead of us in vaccine mandates and the resulting public outcry regarding that. If the theory still holds, we’re looking at future lockdowns right here in the Good ‘Ol.<p>
But, I dunno. America is the land of the free, remember?<p>
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Next week is Thanksgiving. Last year on this day, we spent a quiet time at home without any visitors. This year, we will entertain family, and we’ll enjoy all the traditions. Christmas? I plan to fully partake, but will we be allowed?<p>
The Hubs and I are both scheduled for our boosters the week after next, and our youngest son has finally (just last week!) been double jabbed. I feel safe from Covid. Is that ignorant? It might be, but regardless, I feel safe.<p>
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For posterity sake, here are some numbers:<p>
Worldwide Confirmed COVID-19 Cases / Deaths<p>
258,105,908 / 5,171,656<p>
USA Cases / Deaths<p>
48,593,642 / 793,659<p>
India Cases / Deaths<p>
34,518,901 / 465,911<p>
Brazil Cases / Deaths<p>
22,017,276 / 612,722<p>
UK Cases / Deaths<p>
9,889,926 / 143,972<p>
Russia Cases / Deaths<p>
9,366,839 / 265,336<p>
Turkey Cases / Deaths<p>
8,571,554 / 75,042<p>
France Cases / Deaths<p>
7,414,971 / 118,461<p>
Iran Cases / Deaths<p>
6,082,865 / 129,053<p>
Worth noting, China (the most populous country in the world with more than 1.4 billion people) is still reporting only 98,505 cases and 4,636 deaths. Hmm. Impressive, China.<p>
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Rejected in Parishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16877620061782909446noreply@blogger.com0King of Prussia, PA, USA40.1012856 -75.3835525-39.810383318457696 143.9914475 90 65.2414475tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876894905045335237.post-20366888926703286662021-10-09T21:25:00.004+02:002021-10-09T21:37:13.179+02:00Coronavirus Diary Day WTFK: October 9, 2021How I Celebrated the End of a Pandemic<p>
The headline might be clickbait. But really guys, I’m vaccinated, I’m negative, and borders are open. Oh, Europe, how I missed you!<p>
The Hubs and I were honored to receive an invitation to a very special wedding held in Italy on October 1. To mark the end of a pandemic, we extended our trip to include Spain and Portugal. While I could happily turn this post into a full report of all the beautiful things we saw and delicious food we ate, let’s continue the momentum of our Coronavirus Diary, shall we?<p>
But before we start, here are some universal notes:<p>
Every airport we visited made constant public announcements that they were certified by some international organization for their cleanliness and sanitation processes during Covid. Who are these organizations, and more importantly, why? Shouldn’t all airports just be clean and sanitized anyway, particularly during a pandemic? What does it take to receive such a certification, and how much does it cost?<p>
Every airplane/airline required facemasks through the duration of the flight, despite the fact that every person boarded with a negative Covid test result. I don’t get it, but look, if it means I receive another stamp in my passport, I’ll wear a goddam Teletubby costume.<p>
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Spain<p>
To arrive in Spain, the Hubs and I paid $150 each to receive negative PCR Covid tests from 15-to-Know, a drive-up testing facility near our home in Pennsylvania. That’s double the price from April, when we flew to Jamaica for a friend’s birthday celebration. Why did the price increase? Did the tests suddenly become more expensive to produce? Or did more people become comfortable traveling and thus, travelers are being taken advantage of by enterprising businesses?<p>
I’ll also mention this was my second negative Covid test from 15-to-Know in the span of a week, because Ryan suspected he had Covid a few days before my trip. Ryan and I had spent a lot of time together, so to be safe, both of us got tested so that we wouldn’t spread Covid in the grocery store. I like to think we’re responsible like that. Anyway, that required the lesser priced simple Antigen test at $50 each. And we were both negative.<p>
Total Cost of Covid Tests before leaving the USA = $400<p>
To get to Spain, The Hubs and I were flying TAP-Air Portugal with a brief layover in Lisbon and a final destination of Valencia. The night before our trip, TAP-Air Portugal cancelled our itinerary and didn’t bother to notify us. While attempting to complete an online check-in, we made this horrible discovery, which resulted in literally *hours* of phone calls. Long story short, we made the necessary changes, which didn’t affect our trip *that* much, although our final destination became Madrid, which then required us to drive 4 hours to Alicante. A small glitch.<p>
And why was our original flight cancelled? Guys, these international airplanes are maybe half full, if that. Traveling these days requires jumping through a million hoops, so who wants to book anything? The airlines are forced to cancel flights because, and this is no joke, our jumbo jet from Newark to Portugal had mostly *empty* rows.<p>
Anyways, we arrived in Lisbon on time, but to switch to our flight to Madrid, we needed to wait in line for over an hour in passport control and then re-check our luggage. We made our next flight, thankfully, but let’s talk about that hour-long wait, where we were herded like cattle into tightly-wound lines of people arriving from who-knows-how-many foreign originations. While all the placards cried out for 3 meters of social distancing, we stood shoulder to shoulder, all sporting facemasks, negative Covid tests, and vaccination cards. In previous times, I may have called this a Delta Variant Cesspool, but come on guys.<p>
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In Madrid, we were spritzed with hand sanitizer (I don’t know why this is so funny to me), all of our documents were checked again, and we were sent along our merry way.<p>
We spent the next several days exploring beautiful Alicante, eating, drinking, sightseeing, and laying on beaches. It was glorious. Here are my pandemic observations. Spain had just lifted the outdoor mask mandate right before our arrival, so while a few people enjoyed the fresh air while donning facial coverings, most chose to go without. Indoor spaces operated much like those in Pennsylvania. Masks are required everywhere, including restaurants and bars, where one must cover their mouth and nose until they are seated. They do not enforce a vaccine passport policy, which I don’t know why I had expected they would, but I carried mine with me just in case.<p>
To be honest, I felt pretty much like the social protocols in Spain were very similar to those in America, right down to the folks with their noses peeking out.<p>
Italy<p>
To arrive in Italy, The Hubs and I paid roughly $50 each to receive negative antigen tests from IMED Elche, a full blown hospital near Alicante. While parking was all but impossible, the actual testing process was as efficient and friendly as I’ve ever seen. We made our appointments online. The appointments were exactly on schedule. Two nurses simultaneously swabbed us. We received our results via email in about 20 minutes. Thanks, Spain! You’ll always be my favorite destination.<p>
New Total Cost of Covid Tests = $500<p>
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Getting off our flight and arriving in Naples required *neither* the display of our newly negative Covid tests nor the many spritzes of hand sanitizer. Quite frankly, the Italians couldn’t have cared less who we were or where we came from. We hired a black car to take us from the airport to Positano, where the wedding would take place. Our driver, knowing we’d just arrived from Spain and therefor had tested negative, told us that he was vaccinated and that we could remove our masks and relax. We later hired him again, because not only did he expertly navigate the cliffs of the Amalfi Coast without me losing my fucking marbles, but the dude possessed *common sense,* which seems to be an elusive personality trait these days.<p>
In Positano, we freely explored without face coverings. Indoors, we were required to wear masks, but to be honest, half the time I didn’t. (In his defense, The Hubs did.) At the wedding, they had a check-in station, where guests were asked to show their vaccination cards, but nobody did.<p>
In conclusion, I felt the protocols in Italy were more relaxed than those in Pennsylvania. I heard many people say things like, “We’re 80% vaccinated and our rates are low” and “We’re living with it now.” Who knew the Italians were so smart?<p>
Portugal<p>
To arrive in Portugal, The Hubs and I paid roughly $50 each to receive negative antigen tests at a local Positano pharmacy, a 5-minute walk from our hotel. We made our appointments online. We waited about 10 minutes past our appointment time. We were swabbed just inside the front door of the pharmacy. And we received our results about an hour later via email.<p>
New Total Cost of Covid Tests = $600<p>
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While the Italians were lax to let us into their country, we encountered quite a different situation in Rome. To be fair, the Rome Airport is a notorious shit show, so there’s that. But the number of times and stations where we needed to show our negative Covid tests was downright combative, almost as if they preferred we wouldn’t leave. (And can you blame them?) But eventually, they shipped us out, facemasks and all.<p>
Lisbon was amazing. I would say the protocols were similar to Spain, and therefor to the USA. However, we learned upon our arrival that these were *new* protocols. Portugal had just – the day before! – reopened their bars and clubs and lifted their outdoor mask restrictions on October 1. On our first night out in Lisbon, the Portuguese were quite literally dancing in the streets. You never saw a happier bunch.<p>
Home Sweet Home<p>
To leave Portugal and return to the USA, The Hubs and I once again needed to receive negative antigen tests. These took place in a hospital at the tippy top of a long, winding hill. We arrived tired and sweaty, but for about $50 each, we very carefully placed our feet on numbered blue decals separated by 3 meters and moved forward in an aggressively organized fashion until a pretty young nurse shoved a swab so far up my right nostril that I thought it might come out my ear. That was the absolute fucking worst Covid test I’ve experienced in my actual life. (Two years ago, would that last sentence have made any sense?)<p>
Anyways, the good folks at the Lisbon Airport let us leave without much fanfare, and 7 ½ hours later (did they move New York?), we landed on American soil. After 10 days and <drumroll please> $700 worth of Covid tests, I got to rest my head in my very own bed and patiently await the onslaught of jetlag.<p>
I’m not complaining, believe me. I’m so incredibly grateful for the ability to travel again, for a husband who does all the work, and most importantly, for good health. If this isn’t the end of a pandemic, I don’t know what is.<p>
Final Cost of Covid Tests = $700<p>
Daily Dose of Grilled Mediterranean Octopus = Priceless<p>
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PS - To see photos of this most epic European trip, visit my Instagram @shazzle99
Rejected in Parishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16877620061782909446noreply@blogger.com084017 Positano, SA, Italy40.6280528 14.484981212.317818963821153 -20.6712688 68.938286636178844 49.6412312tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876894905045335237.post-86275860703201435912021-07-21T23:55:00.003+02:002021-07-21T23:55:31.477+02:00Coronavirus Diary Day WTFK: July 21, 2021Delta Variant, Summer Musings, and 5 Years in Remission (!!)<p>
Today, Ryan is celebrating 5 YEARS IN REMISSION from Hodgkins Lymphoma. I am overwhelmed, ecstatic and otherwise speechless.<p>
Moving on. It's been 2 months since I last posted. Annnnndddd.... Corona is back, kids, so fasten your seatbelts.<p>
I mean, not really. But. The Delta Variant is causing new cases to rise, “breaking through” vaccines, and wreaking havoc on places like Los Angeles County, which recently reinstated mask mandates. Currently, more than 97% of those hospitalized with Coronavirus are the unvaccinated. Being as I received the dreaded double dose back in February and March, I’m assuming I’m good to go. Having said that, The Hubs’ (healthy, young) nephew is sick in bed with confirmed COVID-19, and he was fully vaccinated months ago. So, there you have it.<p>
In France, the powers-that-be tried to impose a strict vaccine passport, where only vaccinated people can enter public places like grocery stores, theaters, museums, and the like. Of course, thousands took to the streets in protest. Without masks.<p>
In the meantime, I’ve been galivanting from Gloucester, Massachusetts to Ocean City, Maryland to Tampa, Florida to Atlantic City, New Jersey to the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. I’ve visited friends, ate at restaurants, flew on airplanes, sat at bars, shopped at Wegmans, gotten my haircut, and breathed in the sweet smell of freedom, all without wearing a mask. Except for the airplane part, of course. The world is… back to normal?<p>
Guys, I turned 50 last month. I even had a party. Something like 75 or 80 people (who counts?) showed up at my house and allowed me to entertain them for many fabulous hours. The best thing? No one (not one single person!) caught Covid. Although I apparently caught a stripper :/ <p>
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Rejected in Parishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16877620061782909446noreply@blogger.com0King of Prussia, PA, USA40.1012856 -75.3835525-4.4767593514565291 -145.6960525 84.67933055145653 -5.0710524999999933tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876894905045335237.post-62056160051272482062021-05-25T20:37:00.003+02:002021-05-25T20:37:24.448+02:00Coronavirus Diary Day WTFK: May 25, 2021Mask Requirements Lifted, Restaurants at Capacity, Bars Open<p>
Fourteen months after lockdowns began, the CDC now says that vaccinated people in the USA no longer need to wear masks indoors or outdoors, except in special circumstances. That makes perfect sense to me, and I’m not sure what took us so long to reach this conclusion. Having said that, here in Pennsylvania many municipalities and most businesses are still requiring masks for everyone. So, we don’t listen to the CDC, which is nothing new.<p>
Look, I’m not here to argue with anyone, and I’ll just go with the flow, I guess. But at some point, we need to accept that vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks indoors or outdoors.<p>
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Last week, France reopened their restaurants and cafés. They’d been closed for the past 6 months. Oh, and vaccinated tourists can soon visit all the countries in the EU. In America, our borders are still locked up tight. I guess we’re afraid that vaccinated people from other countries won’t wear masks indoors or outdoors.<p>
Oh my god, I know. I sound like a curmudgeonly bitch. I’m just sick and tired of the whole thing, that’s all. I mean, aren’t you?<p>
There are good things, of course. The Hubs embarked on his first business trip last week. Ryan finished his freshman year of college with distinguished honors. I enjoyed a 5-mile walk with a dear friend, followed by a leisurely lunch at a quaint café (where we wore masks).<p>
The weather has been gorgeous. My backyard garden is coming along nicely. We have 6 tomato plants, 1 cherry tomato plant, 1 cucumber vine, and 2 jalapeño pepper plants. The dog hasn’t dug them up yet, so things are looking pretty peachy from where I sit.<p>
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Next month, I’ll turn 50. I’ve decided to throw a big fat party in my backyard, and masks are not required.<p>
And for all my complaining, I’ll admit that The Hubs and I spent Sunday bar-hopping through our little suburban-Philadelphia town, and we didn’t wear masks at all. Not once. Not ever. In fact, there was even one bar where the servers didn’t wear masks either. I applaud. On the other hand, at Wegmans yesterday, everyone was fully masked up. Because I guess (??) it’s easier to catch Coronavirus from a vaccinated person in the grocery store than in a bar/restaurant.<p>
Anyways. It’s easy to forget that some other countries are still struggling with Covid. Highly problematic areas exist in India, Nepal, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. Here in the United States, life is returning to normal. For that, I am grateful. I hope for zero setbacks as we forge forward into a brave new world.
Rejected in Parishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16877620061782909446noreply@blogger.com2King of Prussia, PA, USA40.1012856 -75.383552511.791051763821152 -110.5398025 68.41151943617885 -40.227302499999993tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876894905045335237.post-90194994154697884712021-04-28T16:38:00.001+02:002021-04-28T16:38:11.705+02:00Coronavirus Diary Day WTFK: April 28, 2021Guys, I stopped counting how many days I’ve been keeping this record. It’s been well over a year, OK? For the sake of nostalgia, here are the latest numbers:<p>
Worldwide Confirmed COVID-19 Cases / Deaths:<p>
149,469,996 / 3,152,100<p>
USA Cases / Deaths:<p>
32,927,352 / 587,385<p>
India Cases / Deaths:<p>
17,997,267 / 201,187<p>
Brazil Cases / Deaths:<p>
14,446,541 / 395,324<p>
France Cases / Deaths:<p>
5,534,314 / 103,603<p>
Russia Cases / Deaths:<p>
4,787,273 / 109,367<p>
UK Cases / Deaths:<p>
4,409,631 / 127,451<p>
Italy Cases / Deaths:<p>
3,981,512 / 119,912<p>
Now for a few worthy news items. First of all, the number of people in the USA getting vaccinated is pretty damn impressive, and at times, it almost feels as though our world is opening up again. The Hubs and I are both fully vaccinated, as well as many members of our immediate family, and a good chunk of our friends. We celebrated Easter at our house with a rather large group. We flew on an airplane in March for the first time in over a year (!!!!) to visit friends in Florida. Then we flew on another airplane in April to celebrate a friend’s 50th birthday in Jamaica. Of course, there are lots of safety protocols, and we’ve been happy to adhere. But if it feels like I haven’t posted an update in a while, that’s because I’m running around town pretending things are getting back to normal.<p>
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They’re not, though. India is suffering an enormous crisis as their case numbers explode. Experts believe the death toll there is far higher than reported. Borders around the world are still locked up tight, and if you can manage to get someplace, you need to jump through serious hoops. Vaccine roll-outs have not been equal from one country to another. While America seems to be doing quite well (so far), European nations are still struggling.<p>
Having said that, the EU announced yesterday that it is exploring ways to allow vaccinated Americans to visit Europe this summer. Selfishly, that would be nice for me, as I’m scheduled to attend a wedding in Italy.<p>
In other news, there’s this thing happening with cryptocurrencies right now. Will 2021 go down as the Year of Crypto? That’s actually possible. Bitcoin is trading at $55,000, and Ethereum at $2,600. Compared to a year ago, those numbers are quite simply outrageous. There are lots of reasons this is happening, and I’m no expert on the matter, but the overwhelming reaction is that the economic stimulus packages in response to the Coronavirus crisis may cause a jaw-dropping inflation rate in the very near future. Some folks (including me) are hedging their bets by burying money in the blockchain. I’m pretty curious to see how this pans out. Then again, I just want our old reality back. The world has gotten pretty fucking bizarre.<p>
What hasn’t changed since a year ago? The Hubs still works from home. (Everyone still works from home). Public places still require masks (even outdoors). In many municipalities, children have not returned to in-person classrooms. My college freshman lives with me and takes all of his courses from the comfort of his bedroom lair. I’m still spending lots of time social distancing in the Adirondacks, and to be honest, I’m OK with that. Like many folks, I’ve become a bit of a recluse over the last year, and my FOMO has all but disappeared. (I’m hoping it comes back).<p>
Having said that, the weekly fiasco at the grocery store has improved. I no longer feel the need to doomsday prep, although I’ll admit to keeping a small supply of toilet paper and canned goods. I’ve grown accustomed to talking with people through our masks, but I still can’t tell if they are smiling or frowning. Sometimes, not often, I go to a restaurant. I sat at a bar and had sushi with friends last night. The Bestie came to my house for lunch a few weeks ago. I’m grateful for these little things.<p>
Also, no one I love has gotten seriously sick. I mean, people close to me have had COVID, of course. But no one in my immediate family. And for that, I am disproportionately grateful.<p>Rejected in Parishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16877620061782909446noreply@blogger.com0King of Prussia, PA, USA40.1012856 -75.383552511.791051763821152 -110.5398025 68.41151943617885 -40.227302499999993tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876894905045335237.post-61862969827437887872021-03-10T21:28:00.012+01:002021-03-10T21:35:07.352+01:00Coronavirus Diary Day 363: March 10, 2021That Was Then, This is Now <p>
On one hand, I absolutely cannot believe it’s been 363 days since I started keeping this Coronavirus record. On the other hand, I knew it from the start, and all along the journey, that we would still be here, a full year later.<p>
What has changed? Nothing. And a lot.<p>
There is a light at the end of this tunnel, at least when it comes to the virus. More people are getting vaccinated. Some states are lifting their mask mandates. Many municipalities are allowing people to dine indoors and gather in groups. We still don’t shake hands or hug people, not necessarily because of COVID-19, but because we forgot how, and now those acts feel downright criminal.<p>
Don’t get me wrong. Corona is far from eradicated. People still go to the hospital, and people still die. Worldwide, there have been 2,624,854 deaths since the start of the pandemic. Here in the USA, 540,640 have died. But those numbers are dropping daily. Can there be another wave? I highly doubt it. It’s been a roller coaster year, though, and we learned anything is possible.<p>
While I don’t believe COVID-19 will be a lingering danger, I see two immediate consequences that we are facing right now and for the foreseeable future: Crime and Inflation.<p>
The National Commission on COVID-19 and Criminal Justice reported that homicides increased an average of 30% in American cities in the year 2020. Philadelphia – my hometown – reported 500 homicides last year. That’s an increase of 27% over 2019. The last time we saw that many murders was twenty years ago, in 1990. So far in 2021, Philadelphia homicides are up 55% over the same period in 2020.<p>
The U.S. government has passed a number of economic stimulus relief packages since the start of the pandemic. These include tax credits, lump payment checks to individuals, payroll protection programs, and increased unemployment funds. These are good things, of course, because businesses are suffering, and people are suffering, and we need help. But what cost will this have on our future? I’m personally worried about inflation, and on the impact to my children as they navigate through young adulthood. I’m no financial guru, that’s for sure. Quite frankly, I have no idea what I’m talking about. But, I have a backup plan for when the banks go bust, and you probably should too.<p>
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But guys, I’m not all doom and gloom. In fact, I’m far from it. Spring is nearly here, and summer is right after that. As far as I’m concerned, Coronavirus can take the next rocket to Pluto and never meddle with us humans ever, ever again.<p>
I got my second dose of the Moderna vaccine yesterday. I’m a Red Cross volunteer, so I qualified to be included in an early group of recipients. But even among those who qualify, getting a vaccine appointment has been a challenge in many places. I’m lucky that I didn’t suffer any side effects to either dose. Some people feel sick for 24 hours, mainly chills and night sweats. Still others want nothing to do with it. I admire those people. After all, you only get one body, and only you should determine what you do to it, what you put into it, and what you take out of it.<p>
My Dad has been vaccinated, too. He got his through the VA. My Mom is still on a bunch of wait lists. You might recall that last Spring, they were both unbelievably sick after attending a St. Pat’s Day celebration in Alexandria. I’m convinced they had Corona. They don’t believe so. I guess it doesn’t matter. The two of them have enjoyed as much as they could over this past year. They weren’t afraid to socialize or travel, to the extent allowed by law, and good for them.<p>
The Hubs’ parents are both vaccinated. All of my nurse friends are vaccinated. Some of my teacher friends are vaccinated, too. This makes me happy.<p>
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European borders are still closed to Americans, and vice versa. I think it will stay like that through the summer. Having said that, Americans can travel to Mexico and many Caribbean islands. I’ll be traveling to Jamaica later this Spring. I’m psyched.<p>
Will the world get back to normal? In some ways, yes, I believe it will. We’ve spent the past year calling this “an unprecedented event.” But is it, actually? The Spanish Flu lasted from 1918 to 1920 and blanketed the planet in 4 successive waves. The global death toll is estimated between 20 million and 50 million humans. People practiced social distancing and wore masks. Eventually, it ended. And although it may have taken many years, the world did get back to normal.<p>
And we will, too.<p>
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So 2021 was chugging right along, that is, until my youngest son had a skiing accident that stopped us in our tracks. Thankfully, Ryan has 9 lives. After an ambulance ride, a helicopter ride, emergency surgery to remove his spleen, a day in ICU, and 5 more days in the hospital, he’s recovering at home, nearly as good as new. For those who know us IRL, thank you for all the prayers and support. We felt your love, and it’s much appreciated.<p>
Some kids will do anything to get out of school.<p>
But speaking of school, Ryan is taking all of his classes from home this semester. For the obvious reasons (see above) and also just because. I mean, guys, Coronavirus is still a thing. College kids are locked in their dorms, wearing masks, and avoiding the strong arm of the law. So, what’s the point?<p>
There’s a battle raging amongst the parents and educators of younger kids too. Some districts have gone back to school a few days per week, in limited capacities, with supplemental online learning. Others are still completely online. There are children who’ve not been inside a school building in nearly a year. Despite evidence that kids, for the most part, don’t get sick and don’t infect others, we’re being extra careful because no one wants to accidentally kill their teachers. I don’t have younger kids, so I mostly keep my thoughts to myself. Regardless of who’s right or who’s wrong in this debate, what I do know is that America’s youth has lost a year of education. Will that affect their futures? Meh. Maybe it will. I’m just glad none of those little brats belong to me.<p>
Yesterday, I saw The Bestie for the first time since last February. Even when I lived in France, I’m not sure I ever went an entire year without sharing an in-person meal with her. We finally reached a point in this pandemic where we said, OH FUCK IT. We met for lunch inside an actual restaurant, where I housed a bacon cheeseburger with fries and felt zero guilt. Because I was sitting across a table from the woman who completes my sentences, gets my humor, and will never judge me for my menu choices. Coronavirus can separate us no longer.<p>
You know what else? I’m getting the Vaccine on Monday. Yep, that’s what I said. In fact, I was supposed to get it last Monday, but my appointment was cancelled on account of a significantly epic snow storm. I’m a volunteer with the American Red Cross, and as it turns out, that puts me at the front of the line. So, I will gladly accept that jab and take my rightful place at the helm of herd immunity.<p>
Watch out, world. I’m back.
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First, some housekeeping. If you’re new here, welcome. Rejected in Paris was created way back in 2015 when I was living in France and documenting all the crazy shit I saw, ate, and drank. Mostly, I made fun of the Frenchies. When I moved back to the USA in late 2016, I abandoned it. At the start of the pandemic, I resurrected it to document my experiences with all things Coronavirus. Since March 2020, I’ve used this blog to journal my everyday life, sprinkle in a little news, share some pop culture highlights, and report infection/death numbers. So, there you have it. Shall we?<p>
Yesterday, Joe Biden was inaugurated as the new President of the USA. Kamala Harris is the new Veep. It’s a fresh start. Hopefully, that means something.<p>
COVID vaccinations have been rolling out since the end of December. Healthcare workers, people over the age of 65, and some folks with underlying health conditions are at the front of the line. All of my nurse friends have been vaccinated (both doses). My 90-yr-old parents-in-law received their first doses last week. The media is constantly yelling that we aren’t delivering vaccinations efficiently enough. That may be true, but what do I know. If someone walks in front of a needle, I say, jab ‘em.<p>
Despite vaccines, the Coronavirus is still raging. With a newer strain that spreads more easily, it’s full speed ahead. So (and you know I avoid this part *like the plague*), it’s time for numbers.<p>
Worldwide Cumulative Confirmed COVID-19 Cases / Deaths:<p>
97,888,663 / 2,094,390<p>
USA Cases / Deaths:<p>
25,122,304 / 418,576<p>
Brazil Cases / Deaths:<p>
8,655,512 / 213,180<p>
Russia Cases / Deaths:<p>
3,655,839 / 67,832<p>
UK Cases / Deaths:<p>
3,543,646 / 94,580<p>
France Cases / Deaths:<p>
2,987,965 / 71,998<p>
Spain Cases / Deaths:<p>
2,560,587 / 55,041<p>
Italy Cases / Deaths:<p>
2,428,221 / 84,202<p>
In the meantime, China is still sitting pretty with just 88,701 cases and 4,635 deaths. Huh.<p>
How are my New Years Resolutions going? Not too shabby, in fact, thanks for asking. I am three-fourths finished the first draft of my first romance novella in the Lake Harmony series. That’s been fun. I discovered #cryptoart and have enjoyed reacquainting myself with one of my favorite hobbies, that is, art. I sold a few digital pieces for some $ETH and now I think I’m fucking amazing. And finally, I haven’t caught the COVID, so there’s that.<p>
Actually, my step-son (who lives with us) was exposed to the virus over the weekend, so we’re all on pins and needles until his test results come back, and even then, I’m skeptical. I’m steering clear of old people for the time being.<p>
At this point, if you don’t know someone who’s had the virus, you’ve been living under a rock. I stopped counting months ago.<p>
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It’s New Year’s Eve. It’s been some year, eh? Let’s roll the highlights reel. Um-kay, maybe not. But it wasn’t all bad, you guys. In no particular order, here are the things that made my 2020 extra nice for me:<p>
I loved every single one of my video calls with my cousin, Gina in Germany. I laughed the hardest when I was “with” her.<p>
I enjoyed every chance I had to dine outdoors, as few and far between as those opportunities were. The first time I went to a restaurant, The Hubs took me to lunch at Paladar in King of Prussia. The pandemic had been raging for months, and it felt… super weird. The last time I went to a restaurant, we met our good friends, Courtney and Paul at Cornerstone Bistro in Wayne for dinner (a truly fucking delicious meal, during which we donned hats, gloves, scarves, and coats) and a movie (Christmas Vacation projected on the wall of the building next-door). Between those two times, I took The Hubs to Eddie V’s for his birthday in July. We met our oldest son and his wife for beers at a brewery in the Adirondacks. And honestly, I think that was it.<p>
I mean, other than the few times we dined (indoors) while visiting my US Airman son, Blaise in Florida. Seeing him after 10 months of not seeing him was a crazy good feeling, and doing so in Florida was a taste of freedom that I didn’t object to.<p>
My other son, Ryan graduated high school in June, sans ceremony. I tagged along on his senior week adventures in the Outer Banks, the land that Coronavirus forgot. I didn’t object then, either. Most of his friends acquired Coronavirus between then and their 4th of July weekend at the Jersey shore. They were all fine, and somehow Ryan escaped it. At the end of August, I dropped him at college in West Virginia, where all of his classes eventually went virtual, and kids were constantly quarantined to their dorm rooms. He came home for Thanksgiving, and he never went back. In fact, the next time he goes back, it will be to retrieve his personal items from his dorm room, because we’ve concluded he’ll have a better experience right here at home, for the time being. For me, this is both a delight and a relief.<p>
We held a wedding in our backyard. And it was absolutely perfect.<p>
I cut The Hubs' hair ever since the first lockdown. Even after they opened barbers and hair salons, he actually <i>preferred</i> my haircuts. Looks like I have a new profession. <p>
We spent a lot of weekends camping. Also, we took the dog for many, many walks and hikes. I have always loved the outdoors, but this year in particular, I embraced it like never before.<p>
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We had our entire clan of kids together for Christmas. There are 7 of them, so it was nothing less than a miracle. The last time that happened was 5 years ago in France.<p>
The Bestie was there with me through it all. We didn’t see each other, not a single time (except that one time on Skype) during Coronavirus, but our Instagrams and our long strings of text messages kept me going through all the phases. It kinda felt like I was living in Paris again. She got me through that, and she got me through this.<p>
You know what else? Coronavirus wasn’t even a thing in January or February. I mean, *I* knew it was going to be a thing. I can’t understand how other people didn’t know. Like, really? It was in the news, those infections happening in China, then in Europe. How did you not think it was coming to America? *I* knew. Anyways, before it got here, I gathered a big group of friends in upstate New York for the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival, and it was hands-down the absolute most fun I had all year. I’m incredibly grateful we had that opportunity to be together before the world changed.<p>
Also in 2020, I published my chapbook of short stories. In case you missed it, you can find it <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Guns-Borough-Shannon-Coghlan-ebook/dp/B08QKWX2C2/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=shannon+coghlan&qid=1609463788&sr=8-1" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/guns-of-the-borough-shannon-coghlan/1138468175?ean=9780578822679" target="_blank">here</a>, and lots of other places too.<p>
And this year, for the first year maybe ever, I am making New Years Resolutions. I’ve decided on a pen name and created a schedule of cozy romantic novellas that will be published throughout 2021. I’ll tell you more about that another time. When the world re-opens, I will never take my time for granted ever again. Friends, be prepared to have me in your face.<p>
Tonight, on this unique New Years Eve, The Hubs and I skyped with some of our favorite friends in Denmark. Then, I made a pizza from scratch – with fig, caramelized onions, feta, and prosciutto. And, I’m about to break open this giant bottle of champs that my brother got me for Christmas. Tomorrow morning, I'm scheduled to pick up our Brunch-at-Home Extravaganza from Founding Farmers. Founding Farmers, by the way, saved my sanity during the Spring, when they delivered the most amazing groceries to my door for many weeks in a row. So to the year 2020, you weren't such a failure. Compared to any given year, I’d say this is quite <i>the</i> New Years celebration.<p>
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Oh right, one more thing. Earlier in 2020, I awoke from a dream. Not remembering the dream and not knowing my reasons, I bought a little bit of Bitcoin. It turns out, that was a very good decision, at least as it appears right now.<p>
So it turns out, 2020 wasn’t a bust. I mean, I’m thrilled to bid it adieu, and I never want to speak about it ever again. But, it was OK, you know?<p>
Happy New Years, my dear friends. I truly, sincerely hope that the next 365 days are ridiculously fucking awesome to you. Here’s to your productivity, health, happiness, and love. I’m happy that you are in my life.
*TO MY FRIENDS WHO ARE NURSES, AND EMTs, AND PHILA FIRE FIGHTERS, AND DOCTORS, AND FRONT LINE WORKERS OF EVERY TYPE (and I actually have A LOT of friends who are all of these things) ----- THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! With all sincerity, thank you.<p>
(If you like my content, click the Subscribe button at the top of this page, so you'll never miss a post. Also, your comments are always appreciated.)Rejected in Parishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16877620061782909446noreply@blogger.com0King of Prussia, PA, USA40.1012856 -75.383552511.791051763821152 -110.5398025 68.41151943617885 -40.227302499999993tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876894905045335237.post-30452136580034005712020-12-17T02:55:00.003+01:002020-12-17T02:55:28.509+01:00Coronavirus Diary Day 279: December 16, 2020Vaccine is Here, Electoral College Voted, and… <b><i>I Published a Thing</b></i><p>
Two days ago, with great fanfare, America operation-warp-sped Coronavirus vaccines to frontline workers and password protected darkweb speakeasies all around the country. The world rejoiced.<p>
The Electoral College weighed in on who should be the next President of the USA. They chose Joe Biden. Again, the world rejoiced.<p>
Also two days ago, my youngest son turned 19.<p>
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But, more happened! My short story chapbook, Guns of the Borough became available for preorder, and it will be published and distributed on December 18. That’s less than 2 days from now.<p>
That means, in less than 2 days, you will have the opportunity to read my fiction <b>*and invade my soul*</b>. If you’re a writer, you know what I mean. You guys, it’s scary.<p>
I want to share this news to my social media accounts. But, <i>do I?</i><p>
Here’s what I’ve decided. Since nonnayall leave comments here (except for The Bestie, of course), I’ll assume I’ve been blogging to a virtual black hole for the past 6 years. My posts are visited by Russian Bots on the regular, but if actual humans stumble across it, it’s by sheer mistake. So, without fear of exposure or vulnerabilities or judgement, and with that being said:<p>
<b>Guns of the Borough</b> is available for purchase at the low, low price of $3.99 starting December 18 (which is practically tomorrow) on all the platforms, including:<p>
Amazon: <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Guns-Borough-Shannon-Coghlan-ebook/dp/B08QKWX2C2/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=shannon+coghlan&qid=1608169839&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Guns of the Borough</a><p>
Barnes and Noble: <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/guns-of-the-borough-shannon-coghlan/1138468175?ean=9780578822679" target="_blank">Guns of the Borough</a><p>
If you’ll so indulge me, check it out. If you’re reading queue is full and you’d prefer to pick it up after COVID-19 has been eradicated (any day now!), I’m cool with that, too. But could you do me a favor, and leave a comment on this blog post? Because rn, I’m totally willing to conversate with the Russian Bots, and that’s not a good look for me.<p>
But rly, comments are appreciated. I feel so… alone. Don’t you?<p>
Rejected in Parishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16877620061782909446noreply@blogger.com3King of Prussia, PA, USA40.1012856 -75.383552511.791051763821152 -110.5398025 68.41151943617885 -40.227302499999993tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876894905045335237.post-1867894117342501112020-12-08T02:16:00.007+01:002020-12-08T02:25:59.199+01:00Coronavirus Diary Day 270: December 7, 2020Numbers and Lockdowns <p>
You know I hate this part, for so many reasons, but it’s a necessary evil, so let’s jump in. According to the Worldometer website, today:<p>
<b>Worldwide Cumulative Confirmed COVID-19 Cases / Deaths:</b><p>
67,902,311 / 1,549,611<p>
<b>USA Cases / Deaths:</b><p>
15,350,798 / 290,373<p>
<b>India Cases / Deaths:</b><p>
9,703,908 / 140,994<p>
<b>Brazil Cases / Deaths:</b><p>
6,628,065 / 177,388<p>
<b>Russia Cases / Deaths:</b><p>
2,488,912 / 43,597<p>
<b>France Cases / Deaths:</b><p>
2,295,908 / 55,521<p>
<b>Italy Cases / Deaths:</b><p>
1,742,557 / 60,606<p>
<b>UK Cases / Deaths:</b><p>
1,737,960 / 61,434<p>
Here are some observations worth noting. Countries in order of the highest numbers of deaths per 1 million population are:<p>
Belgium (1,492)<p>
Peru (1,094)<p>
Italy (1,003)<p>
Spain (998)<p>
UK (903)<p>
Argentina (879)<p>
USA (875)<p>
France (850)<p>
Australia has a population of over 25 million people and has only seen a cumulative total of 27,972 cases and 908 deaths. That is 35 deaths per 1 million population. Pretty impressive if you ask me.<p>
Are the overall numbers accurate? Countries report COVID-19 cases and deaths based on different criteria and testing capabilities. We’re never comparing apples to apples. But, when you lump everything together, well. It’s still pretty bleak.<p>
ICU beds are rapidly filling.<p>
Until these fabled vaccines are released, we’re stuck in our bubbles, social distancing, mask wearing, zooming, binge watching, self-isolating sheep, subject to lockdowns, job losses, and quarantine fatigue. It’s a lot, you guys.<p>
It’s been 270 days since I started journaling about Coronavirus.<p>
There’s a bar in New York City making headlines for defying lockdown orders and encouraging public protests toward the latest round of regulations. Personally, I wouldn’t hang out inside a crowded bar – nor at a crowded protest – for any sum of money. That sounds like an undeniable cesspool of COVID-19. But, to each their own.<p>
Look, I get it. People are losing their livelihoods. Government relief efforts are constantly locked up in debate. People and businesses aren’t getting the help they need. And the holidays are upon us.<p>
My nurse friends will blow a gasket if I say humans are smart enough to make their own decisions regarding personal safety, boundaries, and risks. And, I know why it bothers them when people complain about lockdowns and blatantly disobey the rules. Front line workers are stretched, and they are looking down the barrel of a loaded gun.<p>
On the other hand, a significant chunk of the spread is happening at private gatherings, inside homes or other intimate venues, where people are taking their chances to spend time with their loved ones, or knock back some cold ones with their buddies under the cloak of a suburban split-level. The way I see it, when we close restaurants (outdoor seating!), we’re driving people to their kitchen islands, indoors, curtains drawn, hiding from the authorities, completely unregulated. If ever there was a perfect storm of Coronavirus, it’s happening in Cousin Clara’s kitchen.<p>
Fuck. Can we just get this damn thing over with already?<p>
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Rejected in Parishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16877620061782909446noreply@blogger.com0King of Prussia, PA, USA40.1012856 -75.383552511.791051763821152 -110.5398025 68.41151943617885 -40.227302499999993tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876894905045335237.post-39529312901925501002020-12-02T01:34:00.005+01:002020-12-02T14:49:33.530+01:00Coronavirus Diary Day 264: December 1, 2020Looking to the Future: Vaccines and Celebrations <p>
Thanksgiving at my house included me, The Hubs, Ryan, and the dog. I cooked a prepared turkey breast from Wegmans, boxed Stove Top stuffing, and powdered mashed potatoes. I did spend a significant amount of time on my homemade spicy maple sweet potato soup, and that certainly paid off. <p>
We missed spending the holiday with our extended families. More than anything, I missed my parents and my 3 ½ year old nephew. Also, I missed basting a giant turkey in my oven, my mom’s sausage stuffing, and the colossal shrimp cocktail and charcuterie board that traditionally kicks off our food fest. <p>
Next up is Christmas, which will look much the same.<p>
(I’ll confess that on Saturday following Thanksgiving, The Hubs and I invited his kids to our house, along with their significant others, one friend, Ryan, and Ryan’s girlfriend. So, 13 of us, if you don’t count the dog. We mostly practiced social distancing. We ate barbeque pulled pork cooked in Le Creuset, homemade pizza rolls meticulously prepared by my daughter-in-law, and gourmet s’mores around the fire pit. We watched college football, at least, the teams that had enough qualifying players without Coronavirus. We exceeded the attendance recommendations, but we entertained zero old people. I mean, you guys, age is just a number.)<p>
Vaccines are rolling out in mid-December. Here in the USA, we’re legitimately calling this project: Operation Warp Speed. Some government body gave the pharmaceutical companies permission to move up standard testing timelines, and military units are ready to disseminate life-saving injectables at the snap of someone’s finger. The first round of doses is reserved for healthcare workers, longterm care residents, and Starbucks baristas.<p>
I’m here for it. Let’s get this train rolling down the track.<p>
Because, here’s what I intend to do once we’re inoculating the human race and eradicating COVID-19. I’m planning to party like it’s 1999, which includes hosting an Easter Egg Hunt in my backyard for anyone who’s willing to don a Halloween costume along with a Santa hat. Then, I’m setting off homemade fireworks, serving margaritas with turkey tacos, utilizing Ryan’s Send Cart, and playing Cardi B’s WAP as loud as I fucking want from my backyard speakers.<p>
We are so, so close, my friends. <i>We are so, so close</i>.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Gtm9Huzehk/X8bg_Une9WI/AAAAAAAABNQ/VE_mcv6Ty7EdaUooPmG9LQ-l59md2SyhACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/send%2Bcart.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="600" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="512" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Gtm9Huzehk/X8bg_Une9WI/AAAAAAAABNQ/VE_mcv6Ty7EdaUooPmG9LQ-l59md2SyhACLcBGAsYHQ/s600/send%2Bcart.jpg"/></a></div>Rejected in Parishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16877620061782909446noreply@blogger.com0King of Prussia, PA, USA40.1012856 -75.383552511.791051763821152 -110.5398025 68.41151943617885 -40.227302499999993tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876894905045335237.post-60568321325871311792020-11-18T00:32:00.001+01:002020-11-18T00:39:49.206+01:00Coronavirus Diary Day 250: November 17, 2020<p class="MsoNormal">Philly Lock Down 2.0</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On Monday, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and Health Commissioner
Dr. Thomas Farley announced a second lockdown for the city. The refreshed quarantine
will begin this Friday and last through New Year’s Day. Some restrictions
include:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">*No indoor gatherings of any size are allowed, in any location,
including: parties, group meals, sports watching, visiting between households,
weddings, funerals, and baby showers.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">*Outdoor gathering are restricted to 10% occupancy or 10
people, with no food or beverage and mandatory mask wearing at all times.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">*Indoor dining at restaurants must end, and outdoor dining
is restricted to 4 seats per table, with all 4 persons from the same household.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">*Retail stores can operate at reduced density with mandatory
mask wearing.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">*Museums, theaters, gyms, libraries, bowling alleys,
casinos, senior day services, and youth sports must cease operations.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">*Religious services can operate with 5% occupancy.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">*People should continue working from home wherever possible.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">*Colleges and high schools can only operate through online
learning.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">*The State of Pennsylvania followed suit today by tightening
the requirements for mask wearing (including in the home when members of more
than 1 household are present) and requiring out-of-state travelers to test
negative for Coronavirus before entering the state.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I mean, OK. How do we require people to wear masks within
their own homes? We can certainly <i>suggest</i> it, and perhaps people should take
the suggestion. But can we <i>require</i> it? Are we <i>enforcing</i> this? Or,
is it only after your brother-in-law is hospitalized with Coronavirus that some
temporary state contractor will trace his ailment back to your kitchen island,
at which time, you’ll face criminal charges.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Are we stopping all the cars that cross the borders into PA
to see if the occupants have tested negative for COVID-19? If that’s the case,
my Penna. friends, please purchase all of your booze in Delaware. Because, if
you’re gonna get caught carrying Mad Dog 20/20 across the PA/DE border, you
might as well make it a <i>real good story</i>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You guys, I’m not exactly mad at these rules. I get it.
These are scary times, compounded with continuing election woes, unemployment,
social unrest, and a shortage of daylight hours. I’m dreading the call I will
inevitably make to my brother, informing him that The Hubs, Ryan, and I won’t
attend his Thanksgiving feast in New Jersey, <i>not</i> because of all the restrictions
our legislators have put in place, but because <i>I don’t want my family to get
sick</i>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And by that, I mean, I don’t want anyone to die.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Does that mean I’m buying into all the political power
grabs? No, I’m not. In fact, I’m picking up Ryan from West Virginia University
tomorrow. I’ve given him the function to make his own decisions regarding
gatherings and Coronavirus since he arrived there in August. I trust he’s made
good decisions, but some of those good decisions involve parties and football
games. Kids need social lives, and if you don’t think so, you don’t currently
own a teenager.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As for me, I’m seeing friends this weekend. We’re all in
good health, which means: We’re fit. We don’t smoke. We don’t have immune
disorders or underlying health conditions. We’re under <s>50</s> 60. Also, we’re
aware of the risks, <i>and we accept them</i>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Afterwards, I will quarantine.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As for the holiday at my brother’s house, along with my
parents and my sister-in-law’s parents? Nope. There’s no way in hell I’m
exposing them to my germs – or Ryan’s germs – on Thanksgiving Day. We can
FaceTime. That’s still a thing. (I will definitely need some tequila before I
explain that to my mother.)</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5dOweYWXq-Y/X7RdMEBegoI/AAAAAAAABM8/k4ER3dYBe9kPg7FaP81UjgYotzYk5be8QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/cozy%2Bfire%2Bat%2Bhome%2Bnov%2B2020.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5dOweYWXq-Y/X7RdMEBegoI/AAAAAAAABM8/k4ER3dYBe9kPg7FaP81UjgYotzYk5be8QCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/cozy%2Bfire%2Bat%2Bhome%2Bnov%2B2020.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cozy fire at home in suburban Philadelphia, because I like it this way.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> </p><p><style>
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{page:WordSection1;}</style></p>Rejected in Parishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16877620061782909446noreply@blogger.com0King of Prussia, PA, USA40.1012856 -75.383552511.791051763821152 -110.5398025 68.41151943617885 -40.227302499999993tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876894905045335237.post-62303567776627577472020-11-10T00:29:00.001+01:002020-11-10T00:29:18.180+01:00Coronavirus Diary Day 242: November 9, 2020<div style="text-align: left;">
<p class="MsoNormal">America Elects a New President, Pfizer Announces Vaccine</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">U.S. drug company Pfizer announced this morning that their
COVID-19 vaccine candidate has proven 90% effective in 40,000 test
participants. This captured headlines around the world and sent the stock
market into outer space. I guess it’s good news, because it certainly sounds
like good news. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the meantime, there have been 51,062,625 confirmed,
global Coronavirus cases and 1,266,185 deaths. More and more countries are
entering second lockdowns, and some cities here in America are proposing the
same. So, yeah.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ahhh, remember the lockdown? I have such nostalgia for baking
experiments, binge watching, Zoom happy hours, mask sewing, home schooling,
delivering groceries, meal preps, family dinners, dog walks, YouTube workouts,
Tiger King, sanitizing stations, TikTok dances, and Instagram Live. There was a
time – briefly – when freedom was looming on the horizon and I thought, “I’m going
to miss this.” Now – perhaps – we’ll have a Second Act. What will you do
differently? What will you accomplish during Lockdown 2.0 that you wish you had
accomplished the first time around?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A novel, maybe.<br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Last week, we moved my husband’s parents into an independent
senior living community, just for the winter months. They are 90 and 88. Before
last week, they were living alone at a family property in Upstate New York.
Winter here brings negative temperatures and cumulative snow dumps of a dozen
feet. Everyone agreed that my in-laws would be safer in a controlled
environment, for the time being, of course.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The safety protocols where they’re staying are impressive.
No one is allowed inside the building, other than residents and employees.
Social distancing and mask wearing are strictly enforced outdoors. Upon
arrival, my in-laws were tested and quarantined in their apartment for 2 weeks.
I trust they will be safe from Coronavirus. I really do. But, will they?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You guys, of course! There’s a vaccine.</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oAJ38Aggveg/X6nQZSJvjUI/AAAAAAAABMg/xHAyONb_pgYnV-2cOqrQ-WF4-TSNZjzMQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/assisted%2Bliving%2Bwith%2Bcovid%2B1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oAJ38Aggveg/X6nQZSJvjUI/AAAAAAAABMg/xHAyONb_pgYnV-2cOqrQ-WF4-TSNZjzMQCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/assisted%2Bliving%2Bwith%2Bcovid%2B1.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kgz9upuFUsI/X6nQaGA_2qI/AAAAAAAABMo/4DwRp5NTX_wZ94JGjfM3KO6YfyMF0Zs9wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/assisted%2Bliving%2Bwith%2Bcovid%2B2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kgz9upuFUsI/X6nQaGA_2qI/AAAAAAAABMo/4DwRp5NTX_wZ94JGjfM3KO6YfyMF0Zs9wCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/assisted%2Bliving%2Bwith%2Bcovid%2B2.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BbhfKJUMnsk/X6nQZkGDJfI/AAAAAAAABMk/rXEepVxaQX0OVZ9hiGRZdZtmuc0lWvt6QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/assisted%2Bliving%2Bwith%2Bcovid%2B3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BbhfKJUMnsk/X6nQZkGDJfI/AAAAAAAABMk/rXEepVxaQX0OVZ9hiGRZdZtmuc0lWvt6QCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/assisted%2Bliving%2Bwith%2Bcovid%2B3.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Joe Biden has been elected the new President of the United
States of America, effective January 2021. Donald Trump disagrees with this
outcome, of course, crying voter fraud and claiming he has been reelected.
We’ll see how that works out for him.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Kamala Harris will be the first female Veep. Also, the first
person of color Veep.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’m all up here in the Adirondacks traipsing through forests,
shooting targets, and drinking tequila. I was pretty sure the world was going
to hell in a handbasket (whatever that means), but as it turns out, things
aren’t so bad. So, I don’t have to build a bunker, a greenhouse, or perimeter
booby traps. Which leaves more time <s>for wine</s> to play with the dog.</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J3qJ5-Yx_pM/X6nP6GQepFI/AAAAAAAABMQ/QMJsOYM9M9AHLgVIGuANulnwxzTpZFzVwCPcBGAYYCw/s2048/giles%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bsnow%2B112020.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J3qJ5-Yx_pM/X6nP6GQepFI/AAAAAAAABMQ/QMJsOYM9M9AHLgVIGuANulnwxzTpZFzVwCPcBGAYYCw/w480-h640/giles%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bsnow%2B112020.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ox9YjpgLRlI/X6nP5xrLsoI/AAAAAAAABMM/u3rW28zAWmgYvBc-g_Tz4NNtEy7l33eEwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/giles%2Bin%2Bthe%2Blake%2B112020.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ox9YjpgLRlI/X6nP5xrLsoI/AAAAAAAABMM/u3rW28zAWmgYvBc-g_Tz4NNtEy7l33eEwCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/giles%2Bin%2Bthe%2Blake%2B112020.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--gfZil6zsoQ/X6nP5KtnLiI/AAAAAAAABMI/vzlCLd4j9w8dM-sR7reCxRZOLNSL-9fXQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/giles%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bsno%2Bat%2Bthe%2Blake%2B112020.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--gfZil6zsoQ/X6nP5KtnLiI/AAAAAAAABMI/vzlCLd4j9w8dM-sR7reCxRZOLNSL-9fXQCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/giles%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bsno%2Bat%2Bthe%2Blake%2B112020.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>
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{page:WordSection1;}</style></div><p></p>Rejected in Parishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16877620061782909446noreply@blogger.com0Lake Placid, NY 12946, USA44.2794911 -73.979871315.969257263821156 -109.1361213 72.58972493617884 -38.8236213tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876894905045335237.post-84846382930765445182020-11-03T03:58:00.001+01:002020-11-03T04:41:24.789+01:00Coronavirus Diary Day 235: November 2, 2020<p class="MsoNormal">Quarantine Fatigue, and yeah…<span style="font-size: x-small;"> the election is tomorrow.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You guys, Europe has <i>fully</i> entered a second lockdown
as their Coronavirus cases surge. Like, those poor bastards are once again
locked up in their apartments until at least December 2<sup>nd</sup>. And I
mean, why not December 1<sup>st</sup>?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In France, grocery stores remain open, but the non-essential
aisles are yellow-taped and off-limits. So, buy your shampoo from Amazon, I
guess, because they could certainly use more business. Also, no one wants to
catch Coronavirus from the little kid spraying respiratory droplets while
demanding that his mother purchase Haribo Oeufs au Plat along with tonight’s haricots
verts.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Tomorrow is Election Day here in the USA. If you don’t think
your life will turn completely upside down by midnight, you probably need to Google
the term <i>Normalcy Bias</i>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Speaking of Google, has anyone ever texted, called, or
emailed you with a really stupid question about which they believe you possess above-average
knowledge? For example, as it pertains to me having lived in Paris 4 years: “Can
you recommend something fun to do in the afternoon along the Seine?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Today, I learned of an app called “Let Me Google That.” I
plan to use it every day for the rest of my life. I dare you to ask me, “Where
is a romantic place to eat in the 5<sup>th</sup> Arrondissement?” I’ll respond
with this:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://letmegooglethat.com/?q=where+is+a+romantic+place+to+eat+in+the+5th+arrondissement%3F">http://letmegooglethat.com/?q=where+is+a+romantic+place+to+eat+in+the+5th+arrondissement%3F</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Tensions are high. Sorry about that.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But actually, The Hubs, the dog, and I are bugging-out in
the morning. We’ll spend the next %$? days in the Adirondack mountains, completely
off the grid. Except for Instagram, because the dog is a serial poster (@just.call.me.giles).
If you come for our house in the Philly burbs, know this: We have 6 sons, and
at least 1 of them is living there. Also, he’s <i>the</i> loose cannon.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Friends, I’m optimistic that we’ll get through these
challenging times. I’m not just saying that. Humans are resilient. We’ve proven
it over and over again. Stay safe, and stay healthy. The world is watching.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yaeoxg59XGk/X6DG-S2E9-I/AAAAAAAABLo/cyhkRWaLnh87un_thC_3lwNpc0C7rB5ZwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/ryan%2Bhalloween%2B2005.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ryan Halloween 2005" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yaeoxg59XGk/X6DG-S2E9-I/AAAAAAAABLo/cyhkRWaLnh87un_thC_3lwNpc0C7rB5ZwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/ryan%2Bhalloween%2B2005.JPG" title="Ryan Halloween 2005" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
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{page:WordSection1;}</style></p>Rejected in Parishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16877620061782909446noreply@blogger.com0King of Prussia, PA, USA40.1012856 -75.383552511.791051763821152 -110.5398025 68.41151943617885 -40.227302499999993tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876894905045335237.post-77021156035219259942020-10-28T22:18:00.011+01:002020-10-29T15:09:37.535+01:00Coronavirus Diary Day 230: October 28, 2020<p class="MsoNormal">More Countries Reenter Lockdown Status, Hell Breaks Loose in
Philly</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">France just announced another Total Coronavirus Lockdown
starting tomorrow (with certain restrictions not <i>quite</i> as draconian as the
first lockdown). Spain, Ireland, Germany, and others have also tightened
quarantine measures.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It’s the end of October, and the holidays are approaching.
In California, Governor Newsom announced mandatory Thanksgiving restrictions,
which include:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All gatherings must be held outside.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Gatherings that include more than 3 households are
prohibited.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Food and beverages must be in single-serve, disposable
containers.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Attendees may use indoor restrooms that are frequently
sanitized.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Gatherings should be 2 hours or less.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The host should collect information from guests for contact
tracing.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I don’t know, you guys. What if every member of your extended
family purposely quarantines for 2 weeks ahead of Thanksgiving, so that they
may enjoy the holiday without the fear of infecting Grandpa? Don’t bother.
There are no exceptions. What if you flew all the way across the country to hold
your sister’s new baby, but you can only visit for 2 hours? Pu-leaze. The rules
<i>definitely</i> apply to you, because Florida.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’m not sure who plans to adhere to California’s
Thanksgiving rules, but if you do, bless your heart.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Earlier this month, the U.S. Army released 2020 suicide
statistics that are downright alarming. Their numbers show a 30% jump, from 88
last year to 114 this year. In the meantime, less than 10 service members - across the <i>entire</i> U.S. military, including the Army, but also the other branches, the Reserves, and the National Guard - have died from COVID.<br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you regularly read my blog, you know I just visited my
U.S. Airman for the first time since last Christmas. This is directly
attributed to Coronavirus, as he was frequently quarantined (as often as twice
per month for 7 consecutive days). When he wasn’t quarantined, he was forbidden
from traveling more than 100 miles from his base. He still has many
restrictions in place, but when he got a short break from all this nonsense
earlier in October, The Hubs and I immediately headed south.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’m not sure what I’m doing for Thanksgiving yet. In recent
years, my sister-in-law and I have rotated holidays. I have a big family, and
so does The Hubs. Between us, we have 7 adult children, most of whom are
partnered up. I don’t intend to restrict the number of people with whom I share
my single-serve, disposable containers of turkey. But, that’s me. By all means,
you do you.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile in Philadelphia, hell has broken loose. After yet
another highly publicized police shooting, the city has seen 2 days and nights
of protests, riots, and looting. I said it before and I’ll say it again: This is
still the <i>beginning</i> of increased tension, turmoil, and violence that we’ll
experience as 2020 rages on. I wish I didn’t feel that way about it, but survivalism
has long been my thing.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Anyways, the dog needs a walk. I hope you’re healthy,
friends.</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-713bpFnPpR4/X5nf0SpRC1I/AAAAAAAABLU/xcreiTPUfNYgn3dT6m999urRh_D9FRkngCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/giles%2Bneeds%2Ba%2Bwalk%2Boct%2B2020.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-713bpFnPpR4/X5nf0SpRC1I/AAAAAAAABLU/xcreiTPUfNYgn3dT6m999urRh_D9FRkngCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/giles%2Bneeds%2Ba%2Bwalk%2Boct%2B2020.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>
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{page:WordSection1;}</style></p>Rejected in Parishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16877620061782909446noreply@blogger.com0King of Prussia, PA, USA40.1012856 -75.383552511.791051763821152 -110.5398025 68.41151943617885 -40.227302499999993tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876894905045335237.post-32398771995955381902020-10-21T15:13:00.004+02:002020-10-21T15:13:44.426+02:00Coronavirus Diary Day 223: October 21, 2020<p class="MsoNormal">Why Are Americans Not Talking About the Beheaded French
Teacher?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Je suis Samuel.</i> Look it up. I don’t want to be your
informer. I lived in Paris during the Charlie Hebdo terror attacks, as well as
le 13 Novembre. So, I’m paying attention. I’m sad American media is still
covering the most ridiculous political antics, but not this.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Having said that, this blog is about Coronavirus, so let’s
go there.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Global COVID-19 Cases / Deaths:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">41,138,340 / 1,131,156</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">USA Cases / Deaths:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">8,521,877 / 226,220</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">India Cases / Deaths:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">7,651,107 / 115,950</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Brazil Cases / Deaths:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">5,274,817 / 154,888</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Russia Cases / Deaths:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1,447,335 / 24,952</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Spain Cases / Deaths:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1,029,668 / 34,210</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Argentina Cases / Deaths:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1,018,999 / 27,100</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Colombia Cases / Deaths:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">974,139 / 29,272</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">France Cases / Deaths:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">930,745 / 33,885</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Peru Cases / Deaths:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">870,876 / 33,820</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mexico Cases / Deaths:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">854,926 / 86,338</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">UK Cases / Deaths:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">762,542 / 43,967</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Yes, those are the countries with the highest number of currently
recorded COVID-19 cases. China’s numbers are <i>way</i>yyyy down the list, but
I find them interesting, so allow me to report them:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">China Cases / Deaths:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">85,715 / 4,634</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By the way, China’s death rate went down by 4 since
yesterday. So, good for them.</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fhvb2DatWiA/X5AzzI2K1eI/AAAAAAAABK8/K0NbODoNSwwyjkaqlXfDFNsozVn81UwRwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/vortex%2Bsprings%2B2020.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fhvb2DatWiA/X5AzzI2K1eI/AAAAAAAABK8/K0NbODoNSwwyjkaqlXfDFNsozVn81UwRwCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/vortex%2Bsprings%2B2020.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>The Bachelorette</i> is back on TV. I’ve been part of
Bachelor Nation since its inception. I was in my 20s when I started watching,
and I apparently <i>can’t stop</i>. This season’s filming took place entirely
in one location – La Quinta Resort in Palm Springs, CA. Also in my 20s, I spent
many a business trip at this exact resort. I shared a breakfast with Ed McMahon
at La Quinta, a story for another time.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Enjoy these next 2 weeks, my friends. Election Day is upon
us.</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NY1tlbv6si0/X5Az8BFd8_I/AAAAAAAABLA/4KzbLs7mbOEKDRaGLrdyc3onokSVYmwaACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/florida%2Bsunset%2Boct%2B2020.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NY1tlbv6si0/X5Az8BFd8_I/AAAAAAAABLA/4KzbLs7mbOEKDRaGLrdyc3onokSVYmwaACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/florida%2Bsunset%2Boct%2B2020.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><style>
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{page:WordSection1;}</style></p>Rejected in Parishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16877620061782909446noreply@blogger.com0Fort Walton Beach, FL, USA30.420070799999991 -86.61703082.1098369638211452 -121.7732808 58.730304636178836 -51.460780799999995