I think they've gotten better at formulating the flu vaccines. The first couple I had back in the 80s laid me out with a mild flu for 2-3 days. Having had the Hong Kong flu that didn't last that much longer, I saw no difference in getting the vaccine or not getting the vaccine. These days, about all I get is a tender arm and that's it. More than an acceptable trade off.

Steph, I'm just getting mine now due to the two courses of prednisone and then that virus I had a couple of weeks ago. But the word is it may be going around for another couple of months, so I figured better late than never.

Hmmm. I should probably do that, too. Somehow I always think that once the holidays are over, flu risk is gone. I know, I know, it makes no sense if I stop to think about it.

I was at the doctor on monday and could have gotten a shot but he was like, eh, kind of too late in the season for it.

I get the flu shot every year and am very grateful for it when most of the kids are laid out with it and I remain healthy. Getting flu-like symptoms from the shot is nothing compared to missing the actual flu.

so I just kept thinking, "Come on, herd immunity!"

I tend not to trust the herd. Plus a lot of holiday travel and being around mini petri dishes.

That and having had Tussie come to visit, I try and avoid what I can.

I got my flu shot in the fall and then had flu like symptoms and a good fever for a few days missing all of my Columbus weekend plans. But hopefully it will protect me from getting sick during the winter.

And speaking of winter, I am not leaving the house again until March at the earliest. If by some chance someone convinces me out of the house before then, I am certainly not driving.

so I just kept thinking, "Come on, herd immunity!"

I tend not to trust the herd.

Me neither, but since I wasn't allowed to get a shot, I kept trying to convince myself that the herd would get my back.

I kept trying to convince myself that the herd would get my back.

Well, *I* had your back.

I'm admittedly hit and miss on the flu shots - some years I do it, and others I don't. Last year I caught the evol swine flu from hell in early October, before the vax was available, and I was utterly flattened for a solid month between the flu and the bronchitis that inevitably followed. SERIOUS motherfucker that made me very, very glad that I'm in good health otherwise, because I can't even imagine having to fight that shit on top of something else.

This year, I haven't so much as caught a cold, which makes me suspect I caught the H1N1 super-immunity lottery, but I'm afraid to jinx it.

I'm feeling too jittery to sleep. Not sure what that's about. I should probably turn off the computer and read something, to calm down my brain a bit.