My "A year ago" post

[underpants]

I started at a new job in February 10th of last year.

Actually a previously held position so they knew me. They basically recruited me to come back.

My wife was all over this disease starting in January. All of her weighted worst case calculations for the US were spot on by month. I started bringing this up at staff meetings at work. One person in the higher ups was on it. I got a lot of poo pooing about it at our meetings. My boss is a longtime Republican from Florida no less. She brushed back/questioned me a year ago. I kept on it.

Almost exactly a year ago I told a coworker the breaking news that the entire basketball tournament was cancelled. Ohio Gov. DeWine was the catalyst for that. I remember the two of us just standing there looking at each other. His look was “Holy —— this is real”.

St. Patrick’s Day last year we got the call. “We’re bugging out” was the joke. Going home, going virtual. One week later we got the call - one day to get what you need from work. The entire site is shutting down (other than maintenance) get in and get what any THING that you need. Take home your plants.

In meetings I told them “This is going to be way worse than you all think it is” and “The thing that’s going to kill us I hate to say is the cowboy attitude we have in this country. ‘Don’t tell ME what to do!’” I meant that on an individual level certainly not from the very top and I expected that at some point there would be a “do the right thing” course correction or adjustment — that I was wrong about.

We went full staff back today. I got my J&J shot on Saturday so I’m not fully covered until the 27th and even then I’m following the rules. Just this morning at the Zoom staff meeting my boss had a fairly casual attitude about the whole thing. She has made a point of talking about going out to dinner on other calls. I just shook my head this morning.

Luckily our national leadership, I wouldn’t say it’s changed I’d say it now exists.

[Freddie]

1. How do you feel after J & J shot?

Got mine Saturday also. Yesterday tired, headaches, achy. Today almost normal, taking it easy (easy as I can watching my 2 yo granddaughter all day). Hope you are well.

[underpants]

5. No side effects. Played golf yesterday

It hurts in the spot of the shot but that’s it.

[Siwsan]

2. A year ago, my brother was flattened by Covid and I was freaking out.

Testing wasn't readily available and they were urging people who were sick to stay home, if possible. So, he did. He went through about 2 weeks of physical hell. He's fully recovered from the virus, with no real after effects, and now he is fully vaccinated.

So, a year ago I was freaking out for two reasons. He's the last of my immediate family and I just can't go through another loss. And, because he'd been in my house TWICE while he was highly contagious. I either didn't catch it due to having a cold, at the time, and so I had some active coronavirus antibodies, I did catch it but was asymptomatic, or I'm one of those truly fortunate who are immune.

Not being a risk taker, I'm finishing up my immunizations on Thursday (Pfizer).

[underpants]

6. Good to hear at least how it is now.

That must’ve been horrible.

[Zoonart]

3. The US motto: Eff off?

Growing up in New Jersey, I thought this mindset was unique to the Garden State.
Don't tread on me=Don't tell me what to do.

[underpants]

4. Nope. I avoided "American exceptionalism" due to its political reference

I knew this would get us. The fact that it was fostered for division should not be a surprise to me, sadly.