Boosted :)

We got our covid third dose/booster shots this morning.  :)  Our family doctor's office (back in our old community, a 40-minute drive away) has set up a separate vaccination & testing centre a few doors down from their office/medical clinic, same strip plaza. We were the first ones there, at about 10 to 10, but there was a lineup outside by the time they opened the doors at 10 a.m. One woman arrived and asked if they had any appointments and the nurse told her they were booked solid, but she could talk to the receptionist and see what was available another day. She said they've been operating nine days already, and they've been very busy. They could take nine people at a time -- they had nine tables and chairs set up in a big room in well-spaced rows, and one lady said it reminded her of her school days, lol.  

The nurse asked me what we'd had for our shots before, and I said "AstraZeneca & Moderna." When I booked the appointments online, they asked which vaccine we'd prefer, and I'd said Moderna, since we'd had that for our last vaccine. (We had AstraZeneca for the first.)  But she held up the syringe and said, "This is Pfizer, it's what's we've got. Is that okay?" Oh well, what the heck, I just wanted to get this done. 

So now we've had all three vaccines available in Canada, lol -- talk about mixing & matching...! I'm feeling a bit tired and achy this afternoon, but so far, okay. 

I've very glad we got this done, especially before travelling (although I realize the full protection won't kick in for another week or two). The covid/omicron outlook here is not good right now. The Ontario chief medical officer had a news conference this afternoon saying that if the government doesn't take more public health measures (and if people don't follow them), we could be looking at 10,000 new cases a day by the end of the year. (The highest-ever daily count was 4,800+ back in April.)  Today was 2,421. That's up 88% over last week, highest it's been since May, when we were on the downswing of the third wave. :(   The government did roll back the capacity limits for concerts & sporting events to 50% yesterday, and they're (finally) distributing more free rapid test kits to the public, as well as increasing the numbers of testing & vaccine sites & appointments again.  But restaurants & bars are still being allowed to operate at full capacity --  while at the same time, people are being told to limit contacts and hold only small family gatherings for Christmas. Go figure? 

While we were there, waiting out our 15 minutes between getting the shots and leaving, our family doctor came in. He recognized us (even with masks on!) and came over to say hello. He said he was there to get boosted too. :)  He asked me how I'd been feeling (re: my gallstones). So nice of him to remember. :)  I said to dh when he left, "He's worth the drive back to Old Community."  :)   

This is post #1,999 since I began blogging in October 2007!  -- ONE (1) more to reach 2,000 posts!  

Midweek odds & ends

• Thanks to the one & only Jody Day for bringing this crowdfunding project to my/our attention:  British journalist Kat Brown is editing a collection of essays by 15 writers on their experiences of infertility, childlessness, baby loss and almost motherhood, to be titled "No One Talks About This Stuff."  Follow this link to find out more and how you can support publication!  There are a number of different support levels and rewards, most of which include a copy of the book when published -- and one of the FAQs assures "We deliver to most countries worldwide," so it's possible for those of us outside the U.K. to participate and help out too. Let's do this!  :)  
• The covid/omicron news is increasingly dire, with new case numbers rapidly rising. :(   (Bruce Arthur's column in the Toronto Star on Monday is titled "It feels like March 2020." Eeek.)  Doctors are advising people not to travel internationally, and some aren't giving their blessings to domestic travel either. Of course, this is all unfolding just days before we're scheduled to fly west to spend Christmas with my family (after missing last year's Christmas for the first time in my life). I'm not going to cancel unless we're absolutely forbidden to travel there -- once we get there, we won't be going anywhere other than the grocery store and maybe the dollar store, and we're not planning to spend time with anyone else with the possible exceptions of PND & family (and we may have to rethink that). And we're getting our booster shots tomorrow, and they'll have fully kicked in by the time we have to fly back home, so that will help. But it still sucks. :(  
• SO thankful my family doctor's office is now offering covid vaccinations, including boosters! Getting an appointment was totally painless this time around. SIL has been frantically scouring the internet for appointments since they opened up on Monday (finally found ones at a pharmacy for her & BIL tonight), and I've heard stories about crashing systems, etc. (Same song, second (third??) verse...!)  
• Knocking wood here: my gallstones have not bothered me for several days now. (But I'm getting pretty sick of eating chicken, rice and toast...!) Praying that this continues!! -- especially while I'm at my parents' house. The closest 24-hour emergency room is 20 miles away in an anti-vax hotspot, and it's currently swamped with covid patients. No way I want to be anywhere near there...! 

This is post #1,998 since I began blogging in October 2007!  -- Two (2) more to reach 2,000 posts -- hopefully by the end of December/2021!  

"Emily Climbs" by L.M. Montgomery (re-read)

My L.M. Montgomery Readathon group on Facebook recently finished our group read & discussion of "Emily Climbs," the second volume in the "Emily" trilogy, which I read and reviewed (here) before we began our discussion in mid-September. (The first volume is "Emily of New Moon," which we read together over the summer -- reviewed here and here;  the third -- which I hope we will also read together in group, eventually -- is "Emily's Quest.")  

This second Emily book follows the continuing adventures of our teenaged heroine during three years of high school in Shrewsbury, boarding with her persnickety Aunt Ruth and developing her talents as a writer. Our group discussions added so much to my appreciation and understanding of Emily, Montgomery and their worlds, covering everything from turn-of-the-century (i.e., early 1900s) fashions and hairstyles to Charlotte Bronte, pie socials and chow dogs (!).  

My original rating of 4 stars on Goodreads remains unchanged. 

Our next Readathon book has not yet been announced. I'm guessing we probably won't start it until after the new year.  

This was Book #56 read to date in 2021 (and Book #2 finished in December), bringing me to 156% (!) of my 2021 Goodreads Reading Challenge goal of 36 books. (I've exceeded my best-ever showing in the Goodreads Challenge since I joined in 2016 -- which was 50 books read in all of 2019.)  I am (for the moment, anyway...!) 22 (!) books ahead of schedule. :)  You can find reviews of all my books read to date in 2021 tagged as "2021 books." 

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This is post #1,997 since I began blogging in October 2007!  -- Three (3) more to reach 2,000 posts -- hopefully by the end of December/2021!  

#MicroblogMondays: More odds & ends & updates

• In case you didn't see my update in the comments section of my most recent post about dh's jury service, dh texted me at 7:45 that night (Wednesday) that he was on his way home. He arrived at about 8:30. Verdict delivered, no overnight stay necessary, no more potential jury duty obligations for another three years. We were both very happy!  :)  
• I finally received the upgraded N95 equivalent masks that I ordered a while back, as recommended by Turia in her comments on this post. (They were somewhat delayed in shipping.)  I tried them on and they are much more comfortable and breathable than the N-95s my BIL got for us that they wear on his construction sites. We are planning to wear then on the plane when we travel this coming weekend, particularly with Omicron and covid case numbers on the upswing (AGAIN).  :(   Canadians, check out the site!  
• A lovely article from the BBC about the growing recognition of the important role that childless women can play in the lives of their nieces, nephews, godchildren and friends' offspring. :)  Sample passage: 

...recognition of these societal changes lags behind; policies, media and traditions still centre around the nuclear family. Sociologists Vanessa May at the University of Manchester, and Kinneret Lahad at the University of Tel Aviv, say this also means the role aunts – and indeed uncles – play in society and families has generally been overlooked in academic research. Socially, the role has been left largely undefined. Unlike the “strict roles and strict expectations” imposed on mothers, there are “no scripts and no baselines” for aunts to follow, says Lahad. So, while the role may vary hugely across cultures, aunts are largely free to define their own familial relationships and responsibilities. 

• You'll see some familiar names & faces (not mine!) featured in this wonderful article on MSNBC (posted on the same day as the BBC article!):  "How I learned to embrace my child-free life after wanting to be a mom for years."  
• (Caveat/vent: why on earth would they run a photo of a pregnant woman with a story about childless-not-by-choice women??  Jess politely pointed this out to them -- and they changed it!  But why would they think it's appropriate in the first place??) 

You can find more of this week's #MicroblogMondays posts here. 

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This is post #1,996 since I began blogging in October 2007!  -- Four more to reach 2,000 posts -- hopefully by the end of December/2021!  

"Gerald and Elizabeth" by D.E. Stevenson (re-read)

My D.E. Stevenson online fan group recently completed our chapter-by-chapter reading & discussion of "Gerald and Elizabeth," which I read on my own before we started, back in mid-October. (Original review here.)  

Gerald and Elizabeth (Bess) are half-siblings:  as the story opens, Gerald is returning to England via ocean liner after several years in South Africa, for reasons we soon learn about. In the meantime, Bess has become a famous stage actress, and is being pursued by Sir Walter MacCallum, a wealthy shipbuilder from Glasgow. Walter wants to marry her, but Bess keeps putting him off, despite her longtime desire for a husband and children. Then Gerald travels to Scotland to visit his aging Uncle Gregor, meets Sir Walter, and learns a secret about Bess that will change all of their lives. 

This was one of Stevenson's later novels, first published in 1969. The ambiance, however, is still very 1950s -- as I said in my original review, not a hippie or Beatle in sight, lol.  Unfortunately, some aspects of this book have aged very badly -- for example, a scene in a Glasgow antique shop that prompted a lively discussion within our group over the casually anti-Semitic descriptions of the shopkeeper. As I also said in my original review, I would never tell anyone not to read a book based on a few offensive paragraphs, especially since they are in no way representative of Stevenson's work -- but be forewarned.  

My original rating of 2.5 stars on Goodreads, rounded up to 3, still stands. 

Our next read will be "Charlotte Fairlie," which also goes by the titles "Blow the Wind Southerly" and "The Fair Isle." Gerald's story continues in "House of the Deer" (the last book Stevenson wrote before her death in 1973, published in 1970), which we will be reading after "Charlotte Fairlie," sometime in 2022. 

This was Book #55 read to date in 2021 (and Book #1 finished in December), bringing me to 153% (!) of my 2021 Goodreads Reading Challenge goal of 36 books. (I've exceeded my best-ever showing in the Goodreads Challenge since I joined in 2016 -- which was 50 books read in all of 2019.)  I am (for the moment, anyway...!) 22 (!) books ahead of schedule. :)  You can find reviews of all my books read to date in 2021 tagged as "2021 books." 

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Edited to add:  This is my 200th post in 2021!! and post #1,995 since I began blogging in October 2007!  Five more to reach 2,000 posts -- hopefully by the end of December/2021!  

Alone

I saw dh off just before 8 this morning... I even waved to him from the window as the car came out of the parking garage of our condo building, passed below our unit (I could see him waving back, though the windshield) and then turned the corner and disappeared from my sight. 

(Kleenex was required.)

About 45 minutes later, we exchanged texts (he sitting in the car in the courthouse parking lot) before he had to turn off his phone and leave it in the glove compartment. Cellphones are not allowed in the courthouse while the jury is deliberating. I will not hear from him now until after the jury has delivered its verdict and he is free to go. It could be later today, it could quite likely be tomorrow, or possibly even Friday. He had to bring an overnight bag with him with two days' worth of clothing and toiletries, just in case. 

My gosh, this feels weird. 

I feel a little silly writing this. I know there are plenty of single women out there -- never-married, divorcees, widows -- who live this reality every day. I'm 60 years old (almost 61 -- gulp...). I'm quite capable, and I do enjoy "me alone at home time" -- occasionally. ;)  And BIL & SIL are a phone call and 10-minute drive away, if I really need them. (I also have the phone number for the court services officer, in case of emergency.) 

But as I've written before, it's not that often in 36 years of marriage that we've spent time apart... and even then, it was usually me who was off somewhere -- a solo visit to my parents, a business trip, a girls' weekend away with friends or dh's cousins. If I added it up, I could probably count the number of nights that I've spent alone at home, with dh away from ME, on the fingers of one hand (and I'm probably not exaggerating). 

I told dh last night that hey, at least we've had some practice at this ;) (although it's been a while!).  We both grew up in a world that was not as constantly connected as it is today. It was not unusual -- in fact, it was the NORM not to be in constant contact, not to be able to get hold of people at a moment's notice. 

But that still doesn't make it easy. 

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(I haven't been tracking as closely as I meant to... but after this is published, I will have ONE (1) more posts to go to reach 200 in 2021, and 6 more posts to reach 2,000 since I began blogging in October 2007! :)  Hoping to reach those milestones before the end of December/2021!)

Midweek odds & ends (and questions)

• Dh is still on jury duty, but there is light at the end of the tunnel...! Last night (Monday) when he came home, he told me that both the Crown (prosecution) & defense had finished calling witnesses and would be summarizing their cases the next day (i.e., today)... after which the judge will provide instructions and then the jury will begin its deliberations, likely by Wednesday (tomorrow) afternoon. So, depending on how long it takes the jury to reach its verdict, it *should* all be done before the weekend, as the judge had predicted. (Whew.)
• Once the jury begins deliberations, he has to hand over his cellphone, so we won't be able to contact each other. (Right now, he has to turn it off when he's in the courtroom, but he can use it during breaks.) And if they go into the evening, they will be sequestered in a hotel for the night. He has to pack an overnight bag tonight, just in case. 
• It's not often that we've spent time away from each other during our 36 years of marriage (and even less often that he's been away from me!). If he does have to stay overnight, I feel better knowing that BIL & SIL are nearby if I need anything. 
• "Anything" = the possibility of my gallstones acting up in a major way. :p  I had more discomfort on Sunday night. Not the worst I've felt, by a long shot, but not something I was able to ignore either... (Still felt a bit off yesterday, but much better so far today.) 
• Our family doctor's office called on Monday with my ultrasound results from last week. They confirmed the presence of gallstones. (Surprise!!)  He advises a lower-fat diet and smaller portions to reduce spasms. And if I want to consider surgery to remove the gallbladder, he can provide me with a referral. It's usually just a day surgery, although (like any surgery) it's not without risks & drawbacks. (And I would still have to modify my diet, at least for a while as my body adjusts.) 
• Of course, who wants to spend any time in a hospital right now if they can help it, with covid cases and a new variant on the rise??  I realize I should probably do it, sooner vs later (20 years of dealing with this -- and the past six weeks or so in particular -- is really quite enough... and I know there are risks of infection, etc.), but I'm scheduled to fly home for Christmas in less than two weeks. I can't think about it until the new year. Until then, I'm just going to try to be careful and muddle through as best as I can... 
• Have any of you had gallstones/gallbladder surgery?  Any advice? 
• Since dh's jury duty will likely be done by the end of this week, we booked our covid booster shots for next week!  
• Booster shots for everyone aged 50 or older in our province were recently announced, and will begin on Monday, Dec. 13th. You must have completed your second shot at least 168 days earlier.   
• Our family doctor's office notified us by email late last week that appointments were now available there for all covid vaccines, including boosters, beginning Dec. 13th.  (Our first vaccines were administered at a pharmacy;  the second at a large vaccination centre.) 
• The first day we were eligible for boosters was Thursday, Dec. 16th -- and we took the first available appointments that day. We thought the sooner we get that added protection, the better, especially when we're travelling (and to a covid hotspot area at that...!).  We're scheduled to fly west for Christmas that Saturday (Dec. 18th) -- i.e., approximately 48 hours later. 
• Are we nuts?? -- We figured the booster is a smaller dose, and even with the full dose the previous two times, we only felt crappy for 24-36 hours. The full protection of the booster will have kicked in by the time we return, two weeks later. 
• Have you had a booster shot yet? What was your experience re: side effects (especially compared to the first two rounds)?