Couch 226--CCXXVI Couch

I agree. If someone doesn't want it, then they are not my problem.

I can see your point, although I'm not sure how you'd know the difference unless you know the person and their background. I know somebody who had Guillain-Barré syndrome after a flu shot and was told to never get another vaccination. He still has to exist in the world. I'll be curious to see how the public health advice evolves. Maybe we'll get to herd immunity and a low enough level of circulating virus that masks won't be as necessary.

I could definitely see myself being much more comfortable using a mask in the future if I'm feeling a little ill and not sure if it's contagious or what. It's surprisingly how easily mask wearing became normal to me in the last year.

Bah, I have a UTI. Does anyone else get sort of dizzy and crappy feeling when they have one? I’ve never had a simple UTI before, but I had pyelonephritis a few years ago and felt like absolute crap on toast.

And I had to wait an entire hour at the pharmacy for the stupid antibiotics.

If I don’t know someone, odds are I am not going to be around them long enough or close enough to them to infect them or them me. And yes, I am conscientious enough to stay home or wear a mask when sick. Now that my school has discovered Zoom teaching, there will be no sick days anymore. I’ll respect local ordinances to wear a mask.

I sympathize with your acquaintance, but I also live in a world where a disability limits me, and ultimately I have to be responsible for it. No one is going around thinking, “oh, what if ATAT can’t hear?” I have to do that for me. I’m sorry that your acquaintance also has to do that, but life wasn’t fair to either of us.

I mean, masks make my life a lot harder disability-wise, don’t forget.

And like I said I am not inclined to be shamed about this, no matter what anyone thinks. Blame me for the next pandemic, but there is something to be said for living again.

ETA: chihiro—yup, exactly that with a UTI.

I think the mask thing will go away before some people are comfortable. It already is going away.
I see it like everything else - one weighs the risks and goes on. One can always wear a mask and a face shield if it makes them feel safer. I would wear one around someone with an immune situation or meet outside at a distance. I am not going to live in fear or wear a mask unless there is some ordinance about it or some other compelling reason other than fear from those who sit around being afraid all the time for some reason or other.
I think there will be more places that do away with masks than require them sooner rather than later. Most of the places in the state where I live don't require or enforce masks except in the two larger cities the state has.

I respect people who are done with masks, because they can be annoying and problematic for some. My hope is though that people who choose to wear masks in public after this won't be shamed or ridiculed. I tend to get everything that goes around (including COVID) so I may choose to wear masks in the future, especially around flu season.

I finally decided to sign up for our state's vaccine database. I qualify in my state currently, but didn't have any luck finding any availability in my (metro) area. I've joked with friends and my T that I'm being peer pressured into it. There are worse things to be pressured into.

And chihiro, I've had my fair share of UTIs, bladder, and kidney infections. They are some of the worst pain I've ever had.

My husband is on his 60th day in the hospital on oxygen, unable to walk.

Phone problem is solved i found her on messenger after i unblocked her

This party planning is ****. My daughters friends mother who has agreed to have it her place has just said any time is fine. I am not a party person, i am very much a daytime person and come 9 pm i am looking to go to bed and i want parties to end as soon as they begin if it were up to me i would say 11am to 1 pm but i know all the parties my daughter has gone to have been late nighters. Arrgghh!

Plus i have never planned an adult party

Morning couchies! I am awake, showered, dressed & ready for work and eating breakfast that I just cooked, an hour before I have to start work. And it's not even because of insomnia for once. I just got a good night's sleep and woke up refreshed at 4am. How odd is that? haha.

I hope everyone has a good day/night! Hugs to those who want.

I'm feeling a lot better about everything this morning too. Like anything else that's difficult, it just took some time to work through and accept. I really need to learn to be more patient with myself.

Glad you're feeling better about things, Artie!

On a whim, I purchased an electric lunch box. I am have a lot of fun playing with this thing.
I didn't even know such a thing existed until a couple of months ago.

What's an electric lunch box?

Oooo never heard of this either. Maybe it has a special code that only lets it open for the owner.

Sending you guys love.

Maybe you could shorten it a bit still and who ever wanted to stay longer could have that option.

Glad you're feeling better artie.

How many rolls did you have in that order?!?

My Fairy washing up liquid was like it. Lasted more than a year before I even finished one bottle of it.

I got it to use in my little camper.

This is the brand I have. They are tiny but cook enough for one or two people.

Getting my first shot of the vaccine in 90 minutes. Nervous... My seasonal allergies are really bothering me today (definitely allergies, not COVID, as my eyes are burning, just like they do every spring). But I don't want to take allergy meds before the shot, because I've read they could mask symptoms of an allergic reaction. On the plus side, the place where I'm getting it is only a couple blocks from our county's hospital, so if I have a bad reaction, I won't have far to go. Also only a few blocks from Dr. T's office--wish he could go with me! Though I do know the pharmacy tech who will be working (an acquaintance, unrelated to her job), but she's not administering the shot. She saw me in the schedule and messaged me "See you tomorrow!"

Fun fact: H worked at this grocery store as a teen as what he called a "cart-pusher," the person taking carts from the parking lot back into the store. Not-so-fun fact--working there is how he met his close friend who passed away 8 years ago.

Oh, that's really neat.

What part of the vaccine makes you nervous?
I was very annoyed at the lack of efficiency the university had in giving them out. I wonder if the second shot will be any better. I was shocked at how awful my university was at doing them from an in and out perspective. The places I took friends to get them (before I was eligible) were a lot more efficient, even at another large university in my state.

Partly the tiny risk of anaphylaxis--I am allergic to a few drugs but have not had an anaphylactic reaction to any of them. But also other side effects. I tend to react to vaccines, like I had chills and a fever for hours after getting my last tetanus shot. Which was bad because I got the shot in the morning, then had to go into work. It was a new job, so I wasn't allowed any sort of sick leave, even something unpaid, so I was sitting at my desk shaking for hours.

I also have emetophobia (fear of vomiting), so I worry it will cause nausea. And I have work to finish today, so I'm concerned I won't be able to focus/function. Though I'm sure I could get an extension on my projects if I'm having side effects (benefits to being a generally good/reliable contractor).

ETA: I'm getting a 2-dose vaccine (Pfizer, I think? That's what my friend said they have) and I've heard the side effects are more common after the second shot vs. the first.