My Daily Struggle in the COVID-19 Lockdown

I am glad that more and more people are getting the vaccine. A senior client of mine had just gotten his second shot this week, and he will be fully immune by the middle of March. I have heard that my senior friends and my mother are starting to at least get appointments. On top of this, today's news is that FDA approved a third vaccine--from Johnson & Johnson. This vaccine is a one shot deal; yes, there are no booster shots. Before you celebrate, please keep in mind that this vaccine is only  up to   85% effective. I don't know how this was considered good enough (still better than Astra Zeneca), but I think they should only give this vaccine to young adults in good health. The other two, especially Pfizer, should be given to the older and/or frail populations.  It was announced that the COVID-19 death toll reached 500,000 this week. Is it me, or did the death toll increase by 100,000 people since Biden took office? You tell me. Anyway, I see that only 2 of you ...

  1.        Rights without responsibility are poison. 2.        Pride without responsibility is poison. 3.        The schools will not raise your children. You must. 4.        Discipline is not just a whipping. It is talking, listening, and understanding. 5.        If you don’t discipline your children, don’t cry when they are dead. 6.        Black Live Matter organization does not care about Black lives unless they are taken by cops or Whites. 7.        If you ignore or downplay neighborhood shootings but are only angry about cops and what some Whites do to us , Black lives don’t truly matter to you. 8.        If you are pro-choice, Black lives don’t matter to you. 9.        Rioting and looting for justice creates m...

 Good news! As of Tuesday, February 16, 2021, I am fully vaccinated against COVID-19! Yes, I know that there is still a 5% chance I could get infected, but don't kill my vibe. Allow me some time to luxuriate on this blessing.  More good news: Parler is back online. Yes, I know that there are a few unsavory characters who use Parler, and two bigots who were in a Parler exile group with me on MeWe called me a nigger when I tried redirecting their rude behavior to the group. Still, most of those I have encountered on Parler are decent conservatives and free-thinkers who are tired of being bullied by Big Tech. It seems that the independent company that web-hosts Parler has Russian ties, but so what? It is a shame that an American has to depend on Russia for freedom of speech, but until Big Tech, New York, and Hollywood relieves itself of those who hates the Constitution or the Bill of Rights, so be it. For those who  did not know, Rush Limbaugh, the conservative radio talk sh...

I have a few things to discuss today.  First, as of Tuesday, 2/16/2021, I will be completely vaccinated against COVID-19. Halleluya! (As tomorrow is Transfiguration Sunday, I know I will only liturgically be allowed to use this word for 3 more days. ;-) ) I am glad that, after many hurdles, seniors are now getting their vaccinations. If you have not gotten yours, please do so--for your health and others. It is safe, and it does not alter your DNA as some conspiracy theorists suggest. If you can get Pfizer, great. If not, Moderna is almost as good. Just avoid others--especially Astra Zeneca. It is only about 70% effective, and the company has the reputation of using aborted fetuses.  Second, for those who have not heard, the former president, Donald Trump, was acquitted again. I guess the Democrats in Congress enjoy wasting our time and money. For the record, if you listened to his speech, he did not encourage those rioters to storm the Capitol building. He told them to protest...

So, I went to church today at the local Greek Orthodox church as I said I would. I love the liturgy and all of the icons in the sanctuary. Plus, I am a sucker for domes. Plus, the priest was very nice; since the only Greek I know is "Kyrie eleison," "Chrystos anesti," "Alithos anesti," and "S'agapo,"  he showed me a website I could use to follow along to the liturgy, called "Ages Initiative." It helped me quite a bit, but learning Greek would help me better. For that, I would need to learn a new alphabet. Even so, I love the chanting, the incense, and the blessed bread (not Eucharist) concluding the service. In fact, I saw something spectacular today. When the priest burned incense all over the altar area, which was behind a wall called an iconostasis (like the curtain to the Most Holy Place), the incense made a fog above the altar. When it streamed through the iconostasis, the sun hit it as it spread out and landed on all of our he...

 This is not a special report. I am writing this an evening early because I have a tremendous need to vent. First, I did receive my booster shot on Tuesday, and as of February 16th, I will be fully vaccinated, Halleluya!  Vaccines for those over age 65 are now being offered, but I am hearing that those eligible are not able to make appointments. Perhaps there are first responders and other essential workers who still have not gotten theirs. Perhaps they the supply is not keeping up with the demand. Whatever the reason, be patient. Your time for vaccination is coming. Yes, there are reports that there are new strains of the virus, but the people who inform us of this are some of the same people still encouraging us to get vaccinated, so let's not kill the vaccine in the crib. Besides, a few years ago, they told us that there was a new strain of influenza found that may deem regular vaccines ineffective. Were there unusual outbreaks of influenza that year? I think not. So, if yo...