21 hours ago, Soapsuds said:

Damn! Working on Christmas? Who's the Grinch?😂😂

Have fun dancing on NYE.😂

HAHAHAHAHAH!!!!! Since my (essential) job is post office adjacent, December (which I hate with the passion of Dark Phoenix) is our busiest time. NO ONE GETS TIME OFF. The owner even worked on his birthday...which was yesterday. 

 

As for my other job...well...technically I got off. But if it is choice between that and NYE to work, I would rather Xmas. And no one was scheduled properly this weekend so since I normally don't have anything to do (see above post office adjacent job) and it's in hospitality I don't mind. 

 

And since I've spent the majority of this month between 6/7 am to 11pm either at work or sleep, yes, I don't mind going out for a well deserved (but safe) dancing. Part of the reason, I am not sure about seeing my coworkers is that the region around where I live (which is where they will be) is not nearly as safe as I would like it to be. Versus where I plan to go which again security does check for vaccination cards.

 

That was something that I liked when I was in NYC for Halloween. They were checking EVERYWHERE I was able to go and God bless them for taking it seriously. 

5 hours ago, Soaplovers said:

Great quote...but everyone I know that has canceled everything for almost 2 years has a poorer quality of life, lower mental health, etc.

Balance is needed.  

THIS.

 

I agree with the quote, but after two years of NOT seriously hurting the stupid people (including a woman who I verbally gathered, dogwalked, and flat out drag in front of EVERYONE AT THE POST OFFICE for daring to not stand 6 feet away from me), I could use a bit of (safe) balance from the idiots. 

@Taoboi, they don't pay you enough!! 👏👏👏👏👏

1 minute ago, amybrickwallace said:

@Taoboi, they don't pay you enough!! 👏👏👏👏👏

Awwww stop!!!

 

That is something that has definitely been on my mind even before Cali started to bring back the indoor mask mandate so...we'll see what the new year brings...

On 12/23/2021 at 1:09 PM, DaytimeFan said:

It is true. We are at the point where the suffering by those who have made the responsible decisions like getting vaccinated, getting boosted, wearing masks, washing hands regularly, and being smart about their social interactions have paid a much higher price than many of those who have not. That is what is so wrong - it is like being in a group project where not everyone pulls their weight - some of the lazy and irresponsible pay little, while some pay with their lives. 

One thing is certain: lower quality of life is a very real thing. 

This road is long and I am hopeful that Omicron may prove to be milder in actual symptoms, which could hasten the end of this hell. I am also hopeful that at home medication treatment will expand. 

But do I think NYE in Times Square moving ahead is a smart decision...No. It is not. 

In the meantime, everyone needs to stay safe and stay well. 

I actually think the ball dropping at NYE not being canceled is a good thing.  We can't keep having things paused, or stopped, for the rest of our lives.

All of us have lived with the flu since the 1918 flu pandemic and lived fulfilling lives in one way or another.

All of us need to accept that Covid isn't going away and we need to start moving forward...slowly, but surely.

From what I've been seeing, one of the the reasons omicron has appeared to be milder is due to vaccination.  

My new city I'm living in (Boston) is phasing in vaccine mandates for indoor establishments.  My only concern is the new mayor hasn't indicated the metrics to determine when that will be removed...same with mask mandates.  Failure to spell that out is one of the reasons for mistrust of those in charge (GOP or Dems).

 

@TaoboiI abandoned that whole 6 feet thing months ago. 

Maybe because I had covid 18+ months ago, and have gotten the 3 booster shots...is why I'm less fearful about Covid then most people I know in real life and on forums.  

One aspect in which the U.S. has been abysmal at, this other countries have generally been better at, by leaps and bounds, something that would have helped, is contact tracing. Had the U.S. at least made a concerted effort, it might have made a difference, particularly in early warning signs to people who were infected but unaware and the death totals might not have been so appallingly high.

Part of living with a virus of this nature is making the necessary modifications, in order to mitigate the worse outcomes and these things, by and large are still not being done. People still fighting (sometimes literally) over not wanting to wear masks. Tests not being accessible enough to all of the people who need/want them.

People screaming about not having kids in school while the number of schools that have proper ventilation systems that make the air safer so virus doesn't linger in the air, infecting people indoors is still very much a major factor.

None of what I am seeing suggests a country prepared to live with this virus, in a way that doesn't lead to tens of thousands of more COVID-19 deaths per month.

What's going on in the hospitals nationwide seems absolutely unsustainable right now. We can only hope the numbers of hospitalizations decline and very soon.

2 hours ago, Soaplovers said:

I actually think the ball dropping at NYE not being canceled is a good thing.  We can't keep having things paused, or stopped, for the rest of our lives.

All of us have lived with the flu since the 1918 flu pandemic and lived fulfilling lives in one way or another.

All of us need to accept that Covid isn't going away and we need to start moving forward...slowly, but surely.

From what I've been seeing, one of the the reasons omicron has appeared to be milder is due to vaccination.  

My new city I'm living in (Boston) is phasing in vaccine mandates for indoor establishments.  My only concern is the new mayor hasn't indicated the metrics to determine when that will be removed...same with mask mandates.  Failure to spell that out is one of the reasons for mistrust of those in charge (GOP or Dems).

 

@TaoboiI abandoned that whole 6 feet thing months ago. 

Maybe because I had covid 18+ months ago, and have gotten the 3 booster shots...is why I'm less fearful about Covid then most people I know in real life and on forums.  

I would rather err on the side of caution than to be in a hospital bed. Speaking as a vax and boosted as well, I expect a bit of common sense. If one does not have sense, one gets to deal with the consequences. 

 

Again, whether we get through this or not is depended on if people can not only think about themselves, but other people to SOME extent as well. 

 

Now THAT (you had it already and 3 booster shots) I can understand. Sadly, people cannot read minds.

 

1 hour ago, DramatistDreamer said:

One aspect in which the U.S. has been abysmal at, this other countries have generally been better at, by leaps and bounds, something that would have helped, is contact tracing. Had the U.S. at least made a concerted effort, it might have made a difference, particularly in early warning signs to people who were infected but unaware and the death totals might not have been so appallingly high.

Part of living with a virus of this nature is making the necessary modifications, in order to mitigate the worse outcomes and these things, by and large are still not being done. People still fighting (sometimes literally) over not wanting to wear masks. Tests not being accessible enough to all of the people who need/want them.

People screaming about not having kids in school while the number of schools that have proper ventilation systems that make the air safer so virus doesn't linger in the air, infecting people indoors is still very much a major factor.

None of what I am seeing suggests a country prepared to live with this virus, in a way that doesn't lead to tens of thousands of more COVID-19 deaths per month.

What's going on in the hospitals nationwide seems absolutely unsustainable right now. We can only hope the numbers of hospitalizations decline and very soon.

From what I see in my jobs, just being around town, and talking to friends and family in other places, I agree with. I still felt for the few days I was there, that Manhattan did a more thorough job to stay on top of people masking, v cards, etc. than what I'm seeing here in San Diego now. 

Since I come from a huge family we're dropping off gifts and not staying. I sure miss the family gatherings though... Playing games for Christmas prizes...all the food...fun...laughter.

We had xmas dinner with total of 7 people all vaxxed. Some Boosted but yeah not doing bIG things. I do wonder how NYE at Times Square will fall out

 

  

 

 

   

If we survive this pandemic, it is despite a good percentage of the population.  I spent 9 hours volunteering at a nursing home Christmas Day.  My job was letting visitors in and giving antigen tests to the people who are visiting their loved ones. There was no one else on the front end, so just me and the nurses/CNAs. Not even a manager on duty. It was a complete comedy as I ran around the place like a chicken with its head cut off, but I digress.

This one couple hands me a package and leaves, which they are allowed to do without a test or screening. The nurses don't have time to deal with sort of thing, so I ran it back to that resident's "neighborhood". The charge nurse isn't at the desk, no surprise, so I leave the package at the nurses station.  About an hour later she comes out to tell me those people had covid ( I assume the resident told her) . They brought a package to their elderly mother at a NURSING HOME WHILE THEY KNEW THEY HAD AN ACTIVE CASE OF COVID!! The nurse told me she wanted to burn the package, but we were probably ok. The amount of stupid I encountered last weekend could fill pages.

 

There's learning to live with the virus, and then there's "learning to live with the virus".

I still can't wrap my head around there being about 15,000 new cases of covid in NYC yesterday and only 38 in Tokyo.

— Crystal Marie Fleming (@alwaystheself) December 28, 2021

24 hours later: 28,000 new cases in New York City. 39 in Tokyo.

— Crystal Marie Fleming (@alwaystheself) December 29, 2021

 

(Meanwhile Europe is sticking with 10-day quarantine)

Edited December 29, 20213 yr by janea4old

When facts come out like this, makes me listen less to doomsday people.

If you're boosted, you'll be fine to go out.  If you've recovered from a case of Covid, you shouldn't be afraid to go out.

I miss the good old days when the mantra was 'face your fears'...and 'step out of your comfort zone'.

 

https://www.yahoo.com/news/omicron-cannot-escape-t-cells-202413250.html

The filled hospitals and exhausted hospital workers would like to have a word.