Askye that’s great. Way to go
Oz ,'Storyteller'
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.
Congrats, askye! That’s very impressive
That's so cool, askye! I know you've been working really hard and they value your contributions.
I am so happy for Buffistas and other getting vaccinations (or getting closer to getting appointments to get vaccinations).
Here we started to re-open (not everything, not everywhere, a green-passport system, and masks are mandatory [even if too many people still think that this is a recommendation and not a requirement. I'd like to stab them a bit]). It's been almost three weeks of re-opening at this point, and since the numbers of new cases and deaths keep dropping I'm at a point where I'm trying to convince myself to trust the data even if it still feels too risky to go out and about. So this Thursday I'll meet a friend for lunch outside, get a much needed haircut, and I'm also seriously thinking about going to my yoga studio to practice there (all places allowing people who were vaccinated/had Covid to enter). I still feel uneasy about it (and not sure if I remember how to do these things correctly), but even if I don't trust people's behavior and want to run away from crowds/spaces with lots of people in them, I have to trust the data coming from the Ministry of Health. Right?
We have to decide by Friday if the kids will go back to school in person, 5 days as of March 31, or stay virtual, in a format still pretty vague but I *think* basically livestreaming from the classrooms where their classmates are. I have already flip-flopped on which choice I think is right 25 times. Both kids want to stay remote, but I don't think teenagers necessarily know what's best for them.
Oh hello other me. On the one hand, the CDC seems to think 5 days-a-week in person school is okay with our district's current vaccination rates. And I do want my kids out of the house before they become permanently welded to their desk chairs and forget how to people entirely. But UGGGGHHHHHH why risk anything if we don't have to? The school year only has three months left!
Congrats, askye!
Yay hugs, Steph!
The university where I work was doing relatively well, COVID-wise. Then frats happened. Oh, well. I'm still working from home regardless, but a number of people who were working really hard to keep face to face learning a thing are kinda pissed. Can't blame 'em.
Fuck YES, Ohio is expanding vaccine eligibility to people 40 years or older as of Friday! (Apparently people with cancer will also be eligible as of Friday, and my reaction was "They weren't already eligible? What the FUCK, Ohio?" Our vaccine system is so screwed up.)
Congrats, askye!
Teppy, I was already glad you got pizza and dad-hugs (and that Mr. Risk has been vaccinated). Now you can get the vaccine? Woo hoo!
Flea, Jessica, and any other parents in this situation — I do not envy you. None of your choices are great. Whatever you choose, I know you both will do the best you can for your kids.
But UGGGGHHHHHH why risk anything if we don't have to? The school year only has three months left!
The above is what I keep thinking, when I hear reports on reopening schools by April. I think this year is a wash, even if they go back from April 'til June. Most kids of this generation are going to be six months to a year behind, academically, regardless of whether they return right now or in September. You can't make up 13 months in two. It's both horrible and yet okay, because they're largely in the same boat. "Behind," after all, just pertains to an artificially imposed schedule.
I think, if my kids weren't unduly burdened by depression, anxiety, or learning disabilities (or other serious problems stemming from remote learning), if I had to make this choice, I would keep them home until fall. I don't see them getting that much out of a return to school (that won't be lost over the summer anyhow), this late in the academic year. However, if staying home was too hard on them, and they were less likely to be contract severe Covid, or develop longterm effects from it, I might make another choice.
Admittedly, I'm writing from the perspective of a mother whose child's life was upended, and whose body was permanently damaged, by a chronic disease. Your concerns are going to be different than mine. Some things you can fix, address, or mitigate after the fact. Some things you can't.
It's got to be incredibly difficult to weigh how they're doing, the risks of returning versus remaining, and make that decision. Trust your gut. You know your kids better than anyone.
The university where I work was doing relatively well, COVID-wise. Then frats happened. Oh, well. I'm still working from home regardless, but a number of people who were working really hard to keep face to face learning a thing are kinda pissed. Can't blame 'em.
Calli, I'd be furious. If I were King of the College Forest, I'd bounce them all out on their youthful bottoms. I'm so glad you can work from home.
Ohio is allowing 16 year olds to be vaccinated as of March 29, which could be a big factor in sending Casper (17) back - if she goes it would be April 6 start date. But I think only one if the vaccines is approved for under 18 and I think it’s Pfizer (two doses, less available). Must check. (Edit: this is correct.)
Flea, yes. It's Pfizer (2-shots) which is currently authorized for ages 16 and up
Moderna (2-shots) and the one-shot Johnson & Johnson for 18 and up. I saw something on the news this morning about Moderna testing the vaccine on younger people right now, too (under age 12). [link]