Vaccines have been freely available here for all people 16+ for over three weeks now. So my university just announced that it is planning to resume physical classes and activities (with masks and such) from early April. I think they might be too optimistic because it'll be right after Purim and Passover and if we've learned anything by now is that some people will travel to be with their friends and families no matter what, and there is still no vaccine for children. But I'm mostly stunned to think of gaining back some normalcy (whatever that word means now) so soon. I thought maybe this summer, if we're very lucky.

This is a very weird feeling. I haven't seen my class non-virtually for over a year (the plague started here in the middle of a semester break).

(I'm getting the second dose next week).

I'm encouraged on the vaccine front with so many additional doses apparently in the queue. Not fond of my arm deciding 9 days after my shot to get all rashy and sore, but whatever. I really miss people being able to gather and look forward to that day.

Happy Valentines Day to all who are into it. Today would have been my dad's 100th birthday. My very first Valentine and what the day will always mean to me. I'm sorry the day is fraught for so many because it has been a day of celebration all my life. My plans are reorganizing my kitchen cabinets and DH is working with a stucco guy on the house exterior because we know how to celebrate around here.

Laura, my parents got married on Feb. 14th, 1950, so it's always been a sweet day to me. My dad was able to schedule leave from the Navy then, so that's the weekend that worked for the wedding. They hadn't been shooting for Valentine's Day, but what are you gonna do? Very cute. Then my mom up and moved to Morocco with him, because that's where he was stationed! So began their international journey. Though, the part where they had family in tow was because of Dupont, not the Navy.

We are low key on the day here, but we did schedule a three day cabin in the woods for Tue-Thu, so we're pretending like it was a whole Valentine's Day plan (it wasn't). I might make a homemade card, though. I can't wait for a change of scenery, dear lord.

My son Bobby ended up proposing on maybe the 12th because he didn't want to do it on Valentine's day, and Tate's birthday is the 17th, so he wanted it a different day. She posted a cute picture of my grandson I need to share.

Laura have you already heard about covid arm?

Thankfully a coworker circulated that article a few days after our first dose, because week two I started noticing that welt at my injection side and probably would have been concerned if I didn't already know that it was NBD. I also have continued having occasional feelings like a mild muscle spasm at the injection site (i'm sure it's related) so I'm planning on getting dose 2 in the other arm. Ya know, to even things up ;P

I'm thinking about venturing out today in snow boots and full gear to visit with my pod/extended family a mile away. What is usually a pleasant stroll will probably be rather a trek (especially the return home since it'll probably be sleeting again) but I have decent snow boots with wee little spikes that are pretty dang good on ice. Not as good as skis, but I don't have access to those.

Or I might stay home and make some more progress on some eggs. Because I have a bunch in progress and it would be nice to finish something.

Thanks, erin_obscure. DH researched when I started complaining about the itch. I had heard about it, but since it had been over a week I was still surprised. Good idea on doing the other arm to be evened out.

I just found out that NY State has added Being Fat (BMI of 30+) to the listsof comorbidities that qualify you for Covid vaccines! Time to start checking daily for available appointments!

Are they already at that stage, Jess? Dang. (Ours is two stages form now, after “essential workers over 50”, and you’d have to have two comorbidities not just one)

I do not have snow boots, nor spikes. I only need them like once every other year. But I wish I had some right now

Discounts on movie tickets and being able to get jabbed are a couple of the rare advantages of being over 65. Woot! Take victories where I can.

I don't regret quitting smoking, but it does pinch a little to see it on the list of things that might move you up the vaccine list.