You two carried me through that war. Now I need you to carry me just a little bit further. If you can.

Tracy ,'The Message'


Natter 77: I miss my friends. I miss my enemies. I miss the people I talked to every day.

Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, butt kicking, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.


Shir - Jan 20, 2021 3:36:37 am PST #2561 of 29945
"And that's why God Almighty gave us fire insurance and the public defender".

Great interview, ND.

Israel just announced that general population over 35 can now schedule appointments for Covid shots. I scheduled both appointments, and by March I'll be able to hug other vaccinated people (carefully. I'll still do it with masks) again. I'm with tears of joy in my eyes. Finally, a personal light in the end of the tunnel.


Calli - Jan 20, 2021 3:55:00 am PST #2562 of 29945
I must obey the inscrutable exhortations of my soul—Calvin and Hobbs

That bed jacket would be lovely, especially for a sick person. It looks easy t get on and off, too.

People are having very full lives, both good and bad, and I’ve felt the typing version of tongue tied the past few days. But I’m seeing y’all and empathizing or cheering you on.


Shir - Jan 20, 2021 6:28:06 am PST #2563 of 29945
"And that's why God Almighty gave us fire insurance and the public defender".

Oh, and happy Inauguration Day, Americans. I am very happy for you.

(May it soon happen here too, amen).


lisah - Jan 20, 2021 6:36:39 am PST #2564 of 29945
Punishingly Intricate

That's so exciting, Shir!!!


JenP - Jan 20, 2021 6:46:39 am PST #2565 of 29945

That's wonderful, Shir!

I am looking forward to today. And I still have trepidation because of everything. It's good, and it kind of sucks to have the anxiety chaser.


meara - Jan 20, 2021 7:11:45 am PST #2566 of 29945

Shir I am so very jealous!


DavidS - Jan 20, 2021 7:25:47 am PST #2567 of 29945
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."

JZ hopped out of bed and said, "I'm going to go fire up C-Span!"

And I said, "I think Trump has already left Washington! I think he's already in Mar-A-Lago!"

Also, Jacqueline had a very funny theory about Trump's relationship with the Constitution that she should share with y'all.


Shir - Jan 20, 2021 7:42:24 am PST #2568 of 29945
"And that's why God Almighty gave us fire insurance and the public defender".

It is amazing. There's one HMO provider where the limit is still 40+ and not 35+ (again, all to the general population. Other groups with preexisting conditions have been prioritized and vaccinated earlier). It also depends where do you live - it is better to be in the small towns and not in big cities - people under 30 have been vaccinated there. I think it's because they can better regulate and foresee issues in the supply chain, and the clinics there can call people directly and offer vaccines, if they have enough left.

But still, we are in a bad shape. Large populations will not listen to lockdown instructions, and there's very little enforcement there. The lockdown was just extended - till the end of January - and the hospitals are struggling. And that's just the physical health, not the economy or the mental health aspects. And we've got elections coming up in two months (I'm not optimistic about it).

But for right now, hugging people again is surely a relief.


Jessica - Jan 20, 2021 7:42:34 am PST #2569 of 29945
If I want to become a cloud of bats, does each bat need a separate vaccination?

"I think Trump has already left Washington! I think he's already in Mar-A-Lago!"

The first notification I saw this morning was "President Trump has left the White House for the last time" and it was THE BEST NEWS EVER.


Laura - Jan 20, 2021 7:49:02 am PST #2570 of 29945
Our wings are not tired.

Ugh, he is just a few miles from me now. We love that at noon the local small airports will no longer have to close when he is here. The streets won't be closed. The scores of local sheriffs won't have to be deployed. We can even get in our boat and cruise by Mar-A-Lago if we want. Residents there don't want him either, but apparently Ivanka wants to be the next Senator from Florida. Yuck.

A glorious wonderful day, but yeah chest still tight. I am determined to just feel the joy.