Silicon Investor - COVID-19 How has this impacted your life?

[SI Ron (Crazy Music Man)] Last Sunday Mar 17 marked 4 years since the great lock down due to COVID.

SI Ron (Crazy Music Man) — 3/22/2024 10:02:28 AM

[abuelita] When we lived in tsawwassen we used to go to pt roberts almost daily - our boat ...

abuelita — 10/6/2021 1:06:10 AM

When we lived in tsawwassen we used to go to
pt roberts almost daily - our boat was moored at
the pt roberts marina. It was a great spot and I
am very sad to see the hardships the residents
have had to endure. I remember the days long before
The Marketplace was even built and before Sunday
openings where allowed in BC. Everyone flocked to
Pt roberts for cheap wine, beer and cheese.

[Underexposed] Well, 30 years ago would make the trip like brand new. Nowadays, there is an emp...

Underexposed — 8/31/2021 5:21:35 PM

Well, 30 years ago would make the trip like brand new. Nowadays, there is an emphasis on indigenous culture, you might consider that when you visit.... Down south is interesting, Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump has an interesting museum devoted to the buffalo jump, Fort Macleod is interesting as well as the Remington carriage museum at Cardston is well worth the trip.... then you have Waterton National park

There are lots of places to visit. :)

I have seen most of Canada... even to 50 miles north of the Arctic circle(on a drilling rig north of Tuktoyaktuk ) as an industrial salesman I traveled a lot but I have never been east of Montreal.

UE

[musicfan] On our most recent trip west (1991, lol) we experienced the badlands, hoodoos an...

musicfan — 8/30/2021 1:20:46 PM

On our most recent trip west (1991, lol) we experienced the badlands, hoodoos and dinosaur country. The kids were 6 at the time and absolutely loved the Royal Tyrell Museum. So did we. We'll go back again next time we're in Alberta and will spend more time to see the other things you mentioned.

We absolutely love the Maritimes. If not for covid we'd go in September but I think that it's prudent to wait till next year. Also eager to drive around Gaspe, haven't done that yet. And of course Newfoundland, the only province we haven't visited yet. We're going to be very busy once restrictions are lifted to close to the old normal. Oh yeah, the Alaska Highway is on our bucket list as well.

mf

[Underexposed] I used to like to do a lot of hiking...there are lots of nice trails in Alberta ...

Underexposed — 8/30/2021 10:39:16 AM

I used to like to do a lot of hiking...there are lots of nice trails in Alberta not only in the mountains but also in the badlands.Calgary is right in the middle of the two landscapes...go two hours west or south/north west and you are in mountains....go two hours north east and you are in the badlands...dinosaur country. east and south is bald assed prairie but even there is interesting.There is a park in the south east called Writing-on-Stone provincial park. You drive for hours on table top flat prairie...then all of the sudden the prairie disappears and you come to a sort of canyon on the Milk river. You can go tubing on the river or hiking along the river hoodoos. This was a sacred place for the Blackfoot Indians. It was sort of the internet in the pre-1900's :) There are many many pictographs on the walls which were left by travelers of the day describing events of the time.

My hiking days are over for the most part now unless I recover my legs but I have photos to look back on.

One part of the country I want to see is the Maritimes/Quebec... this is the only part of Canada that I haven't really seen.

UE

[musicfan] They still dive off the cliff there ignoring the warning signs. Not only the pos...

musicfan — 8/29/2021 2:19:42 PM

They still dive off the cliff there ignoring the warning signs. Not only the possibility of hitting a rock but that the water is very cold and could cause shock followed by drowning. Many years ago I donned a diving mask to swim the short distance from shore to the grotto mouth. I'm a very poor swimmer and seeing just how deep the water is there had a lasting effect on me - I never went in the water again, lol. Too cold anyway.

While relaxing inside the Grotto, facing the mouth, my buddy and I had smoked a bit of herb and were almost scared silly when divers appeared behind us. About 60 feet down there's a hole through the rock wall allowing divers to enter the Grotto from Georgian Bay. Memorable hahaha.

Now I feel like going back for another stay after Labour Day :-)

mf

[Underexposed] The Tobermory trail is fantastic and the water is sooooo clear. I remember walki...

Underexposed — 8/29/2021 1:56:46 PM

The Tobermory trail is fantastic and the water is sooooo clear. I remember walking along one section and there were kids jumping off a high cliff into the lake....I thought at the time 'he is committing suicide' ...I could see the rocks just under the surface of the water....hahaha...turned out the rocks were at least 40' below the surface...the water was so clear they appeared to be at the surface.

Yes, I took a slow boat to Flower Pot Island...If I am not mistaken it is on an underwater national or provincial park... it is a diver's Mecca because of the number of ship wrecks around there.

Walking along that trail I just wanted to sing "Oh Canada" ....so beautiful...except for the poison ivy {sigh}

UE

[musicfan] We love Tobermory and spend a few days there at least once per year, often twice...

musicfan — 8/29/2021 1:37:54 PM

We love Tobermory and spend a few days there at least once per year, often twice. Even went during a moment of freedom last year during the pandemic but the restrictions made it unlike any other time there. We spent a week there, in a motel, in June. Hiked the trail on Flowerpot Island as well as the trails in Cypress Lake National Park and took the Sunset Cruise along the Georgian Bay shoreline among other explorations. You found the right word - Idyllic. Short trips are keeping us semi sane while the pandemic hopefully plays itself out.

Used to be that we wanted one of those huge RV land yachts but no more. A small self drive unit or a smallish pop up trailer will suit now and we'll likely get one or the other next year. Tenting still has an appeal but we'd need to buy everything all over again and at 68 I don't see us doing that anymore. On top of which we need air conditioning during these increasingly hot summers.

Cheers!

[Underexposed] After months of semi-depression I finally see some light ahead. It is all due to...

Underexposed — 8/29/2021 12:54:45 PM

After months of semi-depression I finally see some light ahead. It is all due to that sports medicine clinic physio. GPs are pretty much useless for me. If they will see a former COVID patient , ow long hauler, it is for respiration problems of which their are many. My current GP lives in Lethbridge which is a 2 hour drive from Calgary. It was ok pre-COVID as he made a trip to Calgary at least once per week. He is Russian and there is a significant immigrant community here that he serviced. He is good for prescription renewals but that is it.

I have a line on a decent GP who is not taking new patients yet but the receptionist says my issues would be of interest to him so I am on a waiting list {sigh}

I miss traveling.

Just returned from a most wonderfully relaxing week on Manitoulin Island in an inn built in the late 1800's

When I lived in Toronto about 30 years ago, I took the family on a camping trip to Tobermory and then took the ferry to Manitoulin Island....very idyllic visit at that time.

I would like to travel again but would not tent anymore. I would like a small trailer...Like those "tear drop" trailers. Just a place to sleep for one or two and be off the ground....

That would be next summer if it happens

UE

[musicfan] Hi UE, good to hear from you, it's been a while. After several counseling sessi...

musicfan — 8/27/2021 3:33:32 PM

Hi UE, good to hear from you, it's been a while.

After several counseling sessions with a social worker my mother and I have reconciled both our positions. She's determined to live in her home come what may until she dies and I've come to accept that. She understands that she may end up laying on the floor or in the yard for hours or days and is okay with it. I did my best to try to ensure that wouldn't happen but it is what it is.

She and the counsellor told my wife and I that we need to live our lives and need not be concerned about mother and that we should go on a road trip to unwind so we did. Just returned from a most wonderfully relaxing week on Manitoulin Island in an inn built in the late 1800's ( www.meldrumbayinn.com ) and came back with a new, fresh outlook on life. Que sera, sera.

I've put off any thoughts of more distant travel until at least next year when hopefully we'll finally get the upper hand on covid. Current ongoing restrictions make the traveling experience less that enjoyable in many places. We've always been the go as we please sort and booking times at museums and reserving tables and seats at events, while better than not going, isn't our style. I've always hated having to be somewhere at a specific time. Even work, lol. I swore off schedules and early mornings the day I retired.

I'm glad to hear that you're making progress so keep plugging away. We're doing okay too, everything seems to be in check. Her cancer shows no signs of returning and my embolism is being treated with success. Might be on thinners forever though.

Take care and well grab a beer one of these days.

mf

[Underexposed] Hi MF I had similar problems with my parents when I was in my late teens. I thi...

Underexposed — 8/27/2021 9:46:06 AM

Hi MF

I had similar problems with my parents when I was in my late teens. I think it is common with many young males and their parents.

My father was a labourer in the railway and worked his way up to a foreman eventually. He would have made a good Baptist minister with all his preaching. Actually a lot of it was good stuff and I did listen to his philosophy on debt and saving for something I wanted...rather than buying on credit. Believe it or not I have never had a long term debt beyond one month for a credit card bill. I owned a house but bought it for cash... same thing for cars (as an industrial salesman I got a new car every 2 years for 12 years for free including insurance)

So I did listen to him but shut him out and divorced myself from the family from age 19 - 35. He just lectured about everything and often did not know what he was talking about IMHO..

We made up before he died thank goodness.

I became friends with my dad in the last 15 years of his life. I had issues with my mother too but we never resolved them... she was very defensive about how we were brought up. I think even now about my father but not so much about my mother.

My EX had battles with her mother that were never resolved. Her mother died quickly (she lived in Britain) and it devastated her...it took her years to get over it.

On my fight with my knee problem

My fight continues after 10 weeks of physio. I have had two relapses both occurring after getting my Pfizer vaccine shots... the second relapse was shorter than the first... but it took my 1 week back ...not 3 as in the first shot.

Finally we are getting the upper hand.... I feel some difference in the knee stability but I average one fall every 10 days or so. Most are due to carelessness on my part.... I am lucky I have strong bones... also I know how to fall from martial arts training 45 years ago. I have always drank a lot of milk....even today which I put down to strong bones .

The treatments are not covered by medicare but I will get about 1/4 - 1/3 of the cost on my taxes next year. I am not suffering financially. I figure I still have 2 - 3 months more to go.

UE

[Neeka] ‘It buys us time’: Inslee sends state funds to keep Point Roberts’ only grocery ...

Neeka — 7/8/2021 4:06:10 PM

‘It buys us time’: Inslee sends state funds to keep Point Roberts’ only grocery store open as border closure continues

UPDATED: Tue., June 29, 2021

The view from Bayview Drive in Point Roberts looks along Centennial Beach and Boundary Bay and over the Canadian border on June 17. (Tyler Tjomsland/The Spokesman-Review) Twitter Facebook Email Reddit
By (509) 416-6260

OLYMPIA – The only grocery store in Point Roberts, Washington, may be able stay open a little longer despite concerns it would close in the next two weeks.

Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday approved $100,000 of state strategic reserve funds to support the Point Roberts International Marketplace, the only grocery store in the small U.S. exclave that’s been isolated from the rest of the country since the pandemic started.

“This action is a small bridge to support the entire community and retain a critical employer,” Inslee said in a statement. “I urge the U.S. and Canadian governments to take rapid and meaningful steps to reopen travel across the U.S.-Canada land border, consistent with public health guidelines.”

Owner Ali Hayton said the state money will help Hayton stay open and continue to provide food to the community that can’t cross the border unless it is deemed essential. She said she was “shocked” when the governor called her Tuesday morning to tell her the news.

But the money will only do so much, she said.

“This is not the fix,” Hayton said. “This is not the answer to all the problems. It buys us time.”

Hayton sent a letter to state, local and Canadian politicians, writing that the store did not have enough money to stay open past July 15.

The town is on a peninsula south of Vancouver and is bordered on three sides by water and the fourth by the Canadian border.

Its economy relies heavily on Canadian summer tourism. The U.S.-Canadian border is closed to nonessential travel until July 21. As the closure continues into its 15th month, many businesses in Point Roberts have lost two summer seasons, which they use to make up for the lack of tourism in the winter, Hayton said.

As she owns the only grocery store in town, she provides the only source of food for its roughly 900 residents.

“The losses were no longer sustainable,” she told The Spokesman-Review. “It shouldn’t be my sole responsibility to suffer these losses.”

Brian Calder, Point Roberts Chamber of Commerce president, said he applauds the governor’s recognition of their situation, but the town still needs Canadians back to survive.

“It’s not about giving us money,” he said. “It’s about giving us customers back.”

Calder, Hayton and other residents have long called for some sort of partial reopening for Point Roberts, allowing permanent residents to leave for essential services and Canadians to come in to check on their summer homes and support local businesses.

Beginning next week, fully vaccinated Canadians can travel into the U.S. and back without facing a two-week quarantine, but Hayton said many may not want to risk it.

Residents have criticized Inslee and Washington’s congressional delegation for not acting sooner to help their town.

“Why did it take this?” Hayton said. “Why did it take me tapping out?”

In a news conference last week, Inslee expressed his frustration in a lack of border reopening, saying he was disappointed that the federal government has not reached an agreement to do so. Because it is up to the U.S. government and the Canadian government, Inslee called himself “a very frustrated governor” who would like to see the border opened immediately to fully vaccinated people.

He said he has done all he has the ability to do, including sending letters to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urging for some flexibility for Point Roberts residents and a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas calling for an immediate reopening of the border.

Inslee is planning to visit Point Roberts on July 9, according to his office.

Laurel Demkovich's reporting for The Spokesman-Review is funded in part by Report for America and by members of the Spokane community. This story can be republished by other organizations for free under a Creative Commons license. For more information on this, please contact our newspaper’s managing editor.

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/jun/29/inslee-sends-state-funds-to-keep-point-roberts-onl/

[kidl] Canadian news coverage: How border restrictions have left a U.S. community stra...

kidl — 7/8/2021 3:14:45 PM

Canadian news coverage:

How border restrictions have left a U.S. community stranded and surrounded by Canada

cbc.ca

[Underexposed] I used to think I had an inner ear problem but now I found out I have several mu...

Underexposed — 6/25/2021 12:06:46 AM

I used to think I had an inner ear problem but now I found out I have several muscles in my knees that are wasted I doubt that was true.

[Underexposed] At any time during your illness, were you put on a treatment scheme that involve...

Underexposed — 6/25/2021 12:03:52 AM

At any time during your illness, were you put on a treatment scheme that involved ivermectin?

No...I don't think so...unless it was in the first couple of weeks in ICU...I don't remember much of that time.

UE

[Siber] Life around here is going to suck a little more now that our only grocery store ...

Siber — 6/24/2021 4:14:57 PM

Life around here is going to suck a little more now that our only grocery store is slated to close July 15th.

latimes.com

[musicfan] Thanks Bob, support from people such as yourself helps a lot. I'll get through t...

musicfan — 6/24/2021 11:31:01 AM

Thanks Bob, support from people such as yourself helps a lot. I'll get through this, as everything else in life, and come out stronger and better for having helped to the best of my ability. And many memories that were never there before because things were never talked about.

Holger

[robert b furman] Stay strong Holger! When they are gone, you'll miss the sweetness of their love...

robert b furman — 6/24/2021 11:22:48 AM

Stay strong Holger!

When they are gone, you'll miss the sweetness of their love, and it does not return.

Bob

[musicfan] Some parallels there. I left home at 17 due to friction with my father. he thoug...

musicfan — 6/24/2021 11:12:51 AM

Some parallels there. I left home at 17 due to friction with my father. he thought I was a loser and that school was a waste of time (old school all the way) and that I'd come crawling back to beg forgiveness. Went back to visit with a wife and career started at 22. We made up before he died thank goodness.

I just turned 68 and would much prefer to enjoy my golden age rather than spend it caring for my mother. She's generally healthy but can barely walk and needs help dressing and preparing meals. So far toileting and feeding herself aren't an issue but we can both see it coming which is why she finally relented and signed the papers allowing her on waiting lists for care homes. Too late, should have done so 3 or 4 years ago but too stubborn.

Like you though I've reconnected with her and am hearing so many amazing and wonderful and terrible stories from her and my past that I've never heard before. She, as a teenager, lived through the bombings in Hamburg, Germany and is only now opening up about that. must have been absolutely terrifying seeing and hearing all the exploding "stars" in the sky as she refers to it.

She's been ready to die for some time now and would go to a clinic if it were allowed. She never thought she'd live this long and keeps saying that there's no fun left and nothing to look forward to although we do our best to keep her busy and take her out whenever we can. Covid certainly hasn't helped.

Your Freddie Mercury reference is apt and I also like the Who's "hope I die before I get old".

Take care

Holger

[robert b furman] It's not selfish to not want to be burdened. That being said I left home when I...

robert b furman — 6/24/2021 10:04:29 AM

It's not selfish to not want to be burdened.

That being said I left home when I was 18 to go to work with GM in Michigan.

Caring for her the last 8 years of her life allowed me to remeet my mother. Basically a very healthy woman, but struggled as all elderly do, with losing friends, skills, senses, and mobility.

It took me another project which focussed my efforts outside of the house, to avoid getting drawn into the somewhat depressing environment. I had to prop up her attitude daily it seemed.

The truly big benefit that I'll gain form the experience, is I now know what to expect from aging. Hopefully I'll not fall into the pitfalls, as they are somewhat anticipated.

My Dad died 3 days from 85 and wanted to make the next breathe that his body could not do.

My Mom died at 98.5 and had lost hearing sight on bad days, and had mobility issues. She was totally at peace, when I told her she was in hospice. She said "she was ready and had lived a good life", that was my mother greatest and last gift to me!

Like Freddie Mercury sang about, "Who wants to live forever?"

It's a fine line - I think we'll never really know when. Most importantly we must be at peace with the life we've lived whenever it does happen, as it assuredly will.

Keep the faith you are doing God's work. That assuredly always comes around in time!

Bob

[musicfan] In a most selfish way I hope my mother doesn't live as long as yours. She's 88 a...

musicfan — 6/24/2021 9:51:08 AM

In a most selfish way I hope my mother doesn't live as long as yours. She's 88 and has become a full time job for me. I've already done all the things that you listed and have her on a wait list for long term care but that takes years.

[musicfan] I feel for you UE. Keep plugging away my friend, hope you recover as much as pos...

musicfan — 6/24/2021 9:48:23 AM

I feel for you UE. Keep plugging away my friend, hope you recover as much as possible.

[musicfan] Things are finally starting to open up here but my June 30 Bachmann/Cummings sho...

musicfan — 6/24/2021 9:46:53 AM

Things are finally starting to open up here but my June 30 Bachmann/Cummings show has been postponed for the third time with no new date given yet. I just now bought tickets to see Mother Mother in May. A few days ago I bought tix to see Alan Doyle and Buffy Sainte-Marie in November and Bruce Cockburn in April. It's a start at least.

Did our first mini road trip of the year last week. Three days, two nights at the tip of the Bruce where lake Huron and Georgian bay meet. Again, it's a start and looking forward to more.

mf

[Jeffrey S. Mitchell] Just bought two tickets to see (Rock and Roll Hall of Famer) Darlene Love at our...

Jeffrey S. Mitchell — 6/24/2021 7:59:17 AM

Just bought two tickets to see (Rock and Roll Hall of Famer) Darlene Love at our local music venue. They painted boxes on the grass to create "pods", as technically it's still Covid times, but full-scale entertainment is basically back all over the area. You rarely see anyone wearing a mask in a restaurant these days let alone outdoors, but-- we have extremely high vaccination rates here. levittpavilion.com

- Jeff

[Investor2] At any time during your illness, were you put on a treatment scheme that involve...

Investor2 — 6/23/2021 11:40:00 PM

At any time during your illness, were you put on a treatment scheme that involved ivermectin?

Thanks,

I2

[robert b furman] Hi UE, I cared for my mother her last 8 years. She lived to be 98.5 years old....

robert b furman — 6/23/2021 5:43:17 PM

Hi UE,

I cared for my mother her last 8 years.

She lived to be 98.5 years old.

We went to Mayo clinic and took an senior persons therapy course together.

Her home was a two story house.

They told her she should go down the stairs backwards. So if she fell she would fall forwards up the stairs.

If balance was an issue, they instructed her to go up and down backwards on all fours.

Open your oven from the side, so if your lose balance your fall on the door and not into the heating element.

Have disability handles installed in all showers and at all toilets (which I did).

Just some little things that can save you for being hurt on a fall.

Also for a time period seh would have slow falls.

It turned out the fluid in her ear, which tells your brain your are out of balance was too thick. She was prescribed a small pill that made the fluid in her ears more viscous and was fixed in no time and forever.

Praying for your solid and quick recovery!

Bob

[Underexposed] Ok...weeks passed and I have not had much to say....This does not mean I am cure...

Underexposed — 6/23/2021 12:32:47 AM

Ok...weeks passed and I have not had much to say....This does not mean I am cured of the after effects of COVID....far from it.

Since that vaccination the problems with my knees got worse and worse. GP's have not time for problems they don't understand it seems. Then I had an epiphany. I have wrecked my knees in the past (about 10-12 years ago and I went to a Sports Medicine Clinic then and they cured me in a couple of weeks.

I contacted them 3 weeks ago and they said they would look at my problem. On my first session they identified that muscles on the inside of my left knee had degraded ,,,we did some exercises which I was to do over the next week.

Next week's visit identified another muscle group with problems...If I lay down with my left leg spread about 15 inches from centre I could not even move it to the center at all !!! My right leg in the same configuration.... was no problem, I could do 10 reps of that motion with ease.

Today was my last treatment so far.... I have shown some improvement in the range of motion for each test but it is slow.... so slow. One has to be patient. My Therapist is happy with the improvement though and tells me that rebuilding muscle takes time. I really like this woman...I will miss her for 4 weeks and will be handed off to a new therapist. My current therapist has a gig with the local professional football team (Calgary Stampeders)... It shows the quality of the person treating me so far....Her replacement comes highly recommended.

Does it mean that I don't fall??? Not true though this last week I was fall free... the previous week I fell 3 times.

I have trouble climbing steps... I am fine if I concentrate on what I am doing but once in a while I get over confident and I collapse.... I don't fall in a heartbeat...Imagine a hydraulic arm whose joint is controller by fluid. A piston would increase or lessen the pressure in that joint to move the joint. Now imagine you have a pinhole leak in the lines.... the arm would fail and increasing the pressure just causes the leak to get worse and the arm continues to fail

Well that is how my falling feels,,,I make a stupid move on a step and I slowly collapse to the floor...I cannot stop it but I don't really hurt myself. If I am on a relatively flat surface, I am like a turtle on its back....I am helpless.

This happened to me a week ago. I was in an underground parkade and was walking from one empty parking space to another. A car was pulling into the space I was leaving and I looked over my shoulder as I stepped on a 3" high by 2' wide curb and fell.... There was nothing to use to pull myself up with for 15 feet around me.

The women (middle 50's) hopped out of her car and asked if she could help me up. I smiled and asked her if she could dead-lift 245 lbs....she laughed and said no and rushed off to get another woman to help her....same small size and I did not think each of them could lift 120 lbs...I looked at the second woman and said "I don't think I can trust you :)" The first woman rushed off and found 2 more women to help (No men around). They crowded around me sounding like geese as they discussed what they could do.

I raised my arms like a gymnast's Iron Cross...2 women on each side easily lifted me to my feet. Smiles all around and thanked them for their assistance.

as they walked away I thought to myself...." This is a hell'va way to meet women!!! " :)

I am on my way to recovery now...I like my decision to use this clinic.

UE

[Jeffrey S. Mitchell] ABC NY Eyewitness News video report on the surge of outdoor dining in the NY/NJ/...

Jeffrey S. Mitchell — 5/18/2021 9:41:33 PM

ABC NY Eyewitness News video report on the surge of outdoor dining in the NY/NJ/CT area, featuring scenes from my town: abc7ny.com

- Jeff

[Neeka] The little foibles of human beings. There is maybe a lesson there. If you are no...

Neeka — 5/11/2021 12:00:41 PM

The little foibles of human beings. There is maybe a lesson there. If you are not satisfied with the results you're getting try, try again. I do things that way, and while I'm not always successful, I'm tenacious as heck.

I guess what I'm saying is where there is a will, there is a way.

I read that Canada has their cruise ban on until 2022.

Yeah...............I'd heard that too. Do you have a sense of how Canadians feel about the whole covid restrictions they're experiencing?

[Underexposed] Sciatica is just one type of pain.... using Vicks on any pain seems to work also...

Underexposed — 5/11/2021 4:39:06 AM

Sciatica is just one type of pain.... using Vicks on any pain seems to work also..

UE

[musicfan] Hi UE, I've read that most people have mild or no reaction to the first shot bu...

musicfan — 5/11/2021 1:29:59 AM

Hi UE,

I've read that most people have mild or no reaction to the first shot but many do have reactions to the second. I guess I'll find out in August.

No, I've never had sciatica but have friends that do and, well, better them than me I guess 'cause it sounds awful.

On thing I really hated as a kid was having that Vaporub put on me. Still can't stand the smell but I suppose that if it works on pain as you say I'd likely give it a try if needed.

Beers down the road is definitely on the calendar. Not possible to say when yet but it'll happen.

Cheers, MF

[Siber] It all depends on who you get at the border. I had a friend pick it up for me t...

Siber — 5/10/2021 10:21:14 PM

It all depends on who you get at the border. I had a friend pick it up for me the next day and she had no problems. Exact same circumstance, different agent.

Sorry about your cruise. I read that Canada has their cruise ban on until 2022.

[Underexposed] Thanks MF I am much better now. It seems the day after a shot is when the after...

Underexposed — 5/10/2021 8:41:05 PM

Thanks MF

I am much better now. It seems the day after a shot is when the aftereffect if it happens will happen. If it is mild like a mild fever or sore arm...just chill, drink a lot of water rest/sleep and ride it out...it gets better in the next day or so. otherwise get in touch with your doctor.

My problem is overall I just am not getting better...little things keep on creeping up. My feet, which were an issue in my past, are much better now, but my knees to my hips are the issue now.

Have you ever had the pain of sciatica? I was having this often. Voltaren worked a little bit but did not last long. I saw an AD on the internet, describing uses for Vicks VapoRub that most people did not know. It was not for just rubbing on your chest when you had a cold....It said it could resolve body pain.

I had a small blue bottle of the stuff and tried it out....like a miracle the pain went away in 5-10 mins...not only that but worked for about 20 hours. The only side effect was I smelled of Vicks for that time. I could handle that over pain.:-)

Try it!!!.... apparently the pain relief could be due to camphor that absorbs through the skin.

Still thinking beer is still in the works....someday :-)

UE

[Neeka] Hi Underexposed.................no.......sorry...........I just started reading ...

Neeka — 5/10/2021 5:48:05 PM

Hi Underexposed.................no.......sorry...........I just started reading this thread a couple of days ago, and did not start from the beginning, so I had no idea you had contracted COVID.

Very sorry for your trouble and health issues.

The health thread has helped me to understand a couple of my minor health conditions and has prompted me to make some lifestyle changes. I've experienced nothing but good benefits from some of the advise I've found from the articles that are posted there. (I skip through the ones that don't apply, and appreciate the personal testimonials I find there too.)

I was worried about being pre-diabetic and learned a lot about it there. I have managed to bring my A1C levels down from 5.9 to 5.3 and am now more intelligent about managing my diet. Hard stuff giving up certain foods I'm accustomed to eating and I fight urges a lot.

As you're probably aware..........it's a struggle.

I'm in the PNW and have been to AK three times. The cruise I mentioned is a New England cruise/tour out of NY. Seven days on land and seven on the ship. This will be the second time I've had to cancel this trip. We tried going in '19, but I ended up needing a partial knee replacement.

Getting old is a b****.

Take care!

[Neeka] I guess your only option is to have it shipped? I am not counting on that cruis...

Neeka — 5/10/2021 5:34:35 PM

I guess your only option is to have it shipped?

I am not counting on that cruise. In fact I need to cancel it.

[Underexposed] Hi Neeka Thank you for your comment. Wow................that's bad. I had a fa...

Underexposed — 5/10/2021 4:51:29 PM

Hi Neeka

Thank you for your comment.

Wow................that's bad. I had a fairly bad reaction to my second Moderna shot, but nothing like your's. Thankfully I'm in relatively good health, but still the next day I had 101.5 fever for 10 hours, slept a lot and was lethargic but was much better the day after that.

I have talked to several people who have taken the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines and the results are mixed. I think the reaction to the vaccine matches the recipient's exposure to COVID itself. If you read my posts here you will see that I had a rather hard attack which mainly attacked my legs and feet. and sure enough that is what was attacked when I had the shot.

I was worried about my heart but in January I had a series of 4 heart tests and was told that any minor deviations from perfection were the same as to be expected from my age. I had 2 stents put in 3 months before the attack...I was on meds to prevent clots and I believe that is why i did not suffer from clots and I continue to take that medication. I had my eyes checked as well. I went to my eye doctor without telling him my experience until after being told my eyes had not changed since the previous year...he was surprised to hear that I had had COVID.

My experience after being injected is similar to yours in timing...I have never been feverish but the major side effects happened the day after. Yours was fever...mine was attacks to my legs and knees. Like you rest and sleep lessened the attack and on the 3rd day things improved and now 4 days later I am almost back to pre-injection levels...

My legs are still a problem in my life but it is livable. I don't believe it is diabetes related since my foot and toes are actually better than before COVID. During the ICU at the beginning my feet were very swollen and I could not walk on them...they tried 3 drugs before on worked and caused the swelling to go down to normal. My problem these days lie between my knees and hips ...so I think this is a COVID after effect.

We're supposed to visit Canada late Sept on a cruise ship but I have a feeling your prime minister it isn't going to let that happen

It still may happen. A lot could positively happen in 4 months. Was it a cruise up to Alaska? I would like to take that cruise one day.

No...I never tried that thread. I see some good posts but also some iffy ones....

Take care
UE

[Siber] >>>visit Canada late Sept on a cruise ship but I have a feeling your prime minis...

Siber — 5/10/2021 4:42:03 PM

>>>visit Canada late Sept on a cruise ship but I have a feeling your prime minister it isn't going to let that happen.<<<

I tried to get into Canada to pick up my prescriptions last week. I was denied entry, threatened with a $3,800 fine if I went forward. I'm Canadian.

[Neeka] Wow................that's bad. I had a fairly bad reaction to my second Moderna ...

Neeka — 5/10/2021 11:57:21 AM

Wow................that's bad. I had a fairly bad reaction to my second Moderna shot, but nothing like your's. Thankfully I'm in relatively good health, but still the next day I had 101.5 fever for 10 hours, slept a lot and was lethargic but was much better the day after that.

We're supposed to visit Canada late Sept on a cruise ship but I have a feeling your prime minister it isn't going to let that happen. Too bad.........covid has really messed up the world. And we decided we're not going to go on an expensive vaca if we're required to wear masks.

I was wondering if you've ever read this thread? It's helped a lot of people with their health issues.

All the best!

Subject 57520

[musicfan] Best wishes and best of luck UE. Don't know what else to say but man, I feel for...

musicfan — 5/10/2021 9:22:14 AM

Best wishes and best of luck UE. Don't know what else to say but man, I feel for you.

MF

Just heard our lockdown is extended to June 2. SOB!

[Underexposed] Well my COVID / COVID after effects have had their birthday 2 weeks ago. It was ...

Underexposed — 5/10/2021 7:01:24 AM

Well my COVID / COVID after effects have had their birthday 2 weeks ago. It was in the last week of April 2020 when I was struck down...you would think I would be over this by now...NOT! In fact I think I have regressed if anything.

I am over the effects of that stupid diabetes medication now... headaches are gone as is the partial paralysis of my fingers...at least the effects of that Ozempic drug.

I know I have been back and forth on the various vaccines available for COVID. Of all of them available I thought the Pfizer one followed by the Meduro (SP?) were the best...and I waited for them to be available in Alberta and that happened a week ago.

Alberta is hot spot for COVID in Canada...Ontario and Quebec have more cases but Alberta is on a rise now and now is a funny lockdown...not funny haha but funny weird. There seems no rhyme or reason as to what they lockdown and what they let go. There is an almost a 50/50 split in the province...the only commonality is that both those sides dislike what the provincial government is doing.

Anyway, I told you about my difficulty trying to get registered for an injection and gave up trying...But I was on my biweekly grocery run at Superstore and I went to the pharmacy to get a refill on my insulin when I saw a notice that the pharmacy was now giving Pfizer vaccine injections. I inquired about availability and found out there was one dose left....SOLD... I filled out a short form and was told to come back in 30 minutes...no problem I still had shopping to do.

I finished my shopping and returned to the pharmacy... 10 mins later I had my shot. It was painless, I waited 15 mins afterward then paid for my insulin and then the groceries and then felt a bit wobbly on my legs and a slight soreness in my arm as I put everything in my car.

My apartment was only a 10min drive away...and I made it to the parking lot with no difficulties. The groceries were not heavy and I had my insulated backpack...I put that on and carried the other 2 bags in one hand...cane in the other. I had difficulty walking... my knees felt like soft putty....I made it to the elevator... without my cane that would have been impossible. I was breathing heavily and had a powerful thirst...

I made it to the apartment got inside and put the bags down by a chair next to the refrigerator. I keep 3 liters of cold water inside and drank one 1 liter bottle non-stop then took another bottle and drank half of that one. I put away the groceries quickly and went straight to bed.

I had a restless sleep and woke at about 6:30 AM. My legs were like jello...with my cane I was able to walk a bit in the apartment..holding onto the walls with the other hand. My arm hurt like hell but I expected that. I sent an email to my GP who lives in Lethbridge and no longer comes to Calgary as before COVID. He told me to relax and not do anything strenuous....Which was all I could anyway.

By the end of the day I felt better...I woke up this morning and felt better... my legs felt much better and I could walk without holding holding onto the walls but still used my cane. My knees seem stronger now thankfully.

It never ends....I don't feel I am improving with time. With these on again/off again lockdowns PLUS this weather!!! (Snow and cold rain) does not get me out of the apartment much.

anyway...I survive {sigh}

UE

[goldworldnet] "The Rifleman" was probably my favorite show of the time period. And Mark's dad...

goldworldnet — 5/7/2021 9:18:16 PM

"The Rifleman" was probably my favorite show of the time period.

And Mark's dad was the coolest guy around.

What kid wouldn't like that?

RIP to a great cast.

* * *

[Canseco] Remember him well, as Mark McCain and his songs. RIP

Canseco — 5/1/2021 2:01:57 AM

[EL KABONG!!!] A bit of sad news... Johnny Crawford, AKA Mark McCain of TV's "The Rifleman" has...

EL KABONG!!! — 4/30/2021 8:59:03 PM

A bit of sad news... Johnny Crawford, AKA Mark McCain of TV's "The Rifleman" has passed away at age 75, from pneumonia and COVID-19, confined while contending with dementia and Alzheimer's... To this day, I still watch old reruns of "The Rifleman" on TV...

msn.com

EK!!!

[Neeka] FYI Subject 53837

Neeka — 4/28/2021 11:43:26 AM

[Siber] I received my second Moderna vaccine yesterday and, other than slight soreness i...

Siber — 4/26/2021 6:26:45 PM

I received my second Moderna vaccine yesterday and, other than slight soreness in the arm, have had no side effects at all. Didn't have any issues after the first one either.

I am still absolutely wearing a mask wherever I go. Not that I can go far.

[Underexposed] Yeah well....Why do they ask for your email address if they won't use it.... I a...

Underexposed — 4/25/2021 10:40:20 PM

Yeah well....Why do they ask for your email address if they won't use it.... I am not going to purchase a cellphone just to satisfy this requirement in a form.

I will go to a walk-in clinic and see what happens... I cannot be the only one without a cellphone.

UE

[Zen Dollar Round] I got my first dose of the Pfizer vaccine on Friday and other than a sore arm, I...

Zen Dollar Round — 4/25/2021 5:02:21 PM

I got my first dose of the Pfizer vaccine on Friday and other than a sore arm, I've had no side other effects. The soreness is almost completely gone today.

My second shot is scheduled for mid May.

I believe the Pfizer vaccine is the "safest" of the big three for side effects, Johnson & Johnson and Moderna being the other two.

But that said, I think the chances for severe side effects are rare. For example, there have been 7 reported cases of blood clots in women in the U.S. for the J&J vaccine, but that's out of 9 million doses. That equates to a .000078% chance of having that issue if my calculations are correct.

My brother-in-law got the Moderna vaccine and the second shot put him out of commission for a day with aches and a slight fever, but he recovered quickly.

Word is that those getting the Pfizer (and perhaps other) vaccine will need a booster shot in the fall, but I'll deal with that when the time comes.

[musicfan] Hi UE, We have to have a cell phone as well. They send a text with your confirm...

musicfan — 4/25/2021 12:15:49 PM

Hi UE,

We have to have a cell phone as well. They send a text with your confirmation number. Got our Pfizer shots on Friday. A bit sore at the injection site, couldn't sleep on that side but the pain was gone by Saturday night so slept better being able to switch sides. I registered for follow up surveys to monitor for side effects. I'll be sent the first survey nine days after the jab.

Apparently it takes a couple of weeks for immunity to build and then we plan on getting together with our best friends who got theirs two weeks ago, somewhere outdoors so we don't bother others too much, and spend the first five minutes hugging. I was never much of a huggy feely kinda guy but after more than a year without I'm ready. Wife doesn't count hahaha. We'll have to wait longer to hug kids and grands though, they haven't been granted the right to vaccinate yet due to their ages.

Still need to distance and put on a mask when in proximity but we do feel safer and are looking forward to the second shot in August. With the feds ordering up another 60 million plus shots for next year and the one after it sure sounds like annual boosters going forward. Maybe all the anti vaxxers will win the Darwin Award and the rest of us can get herd immunity going.

Cheers, MF

[Underexposed] Hi MF you have the same good heart news as I did....congrats Now if only gover...

Underexposed — 4/25/2021 11:14:28 AM

Hi MF

you have the same good heart news as I did....congrats

Now if only governments could get their crap together and anti vaxxers and deniers would stop being so effing selfish society might get on top of this cursed pandemic and we could enjoy our pints.

we in Alberta have a similar problem with Jason Kenny as you do with Ford. He has no plan...he waffles with public opinion and while we are not as polarized as that in the USA...we are getting there.

I don't have my vaccination yet but I am getting there. I tried to register for an appointment on the internet but was stymied because I did not have a cellphone....they ask for a email and telephone number. I have never had a cellphone ... even 15 years ago as a sales manager I refused to get one....I needed some privacy from callers when I was on the road...I trained my staff well to answer most calls and checked in with them several times per day to advise on tough calls.

I don't like the Astra Zeneca vaccine and the is what is generally offered now and I definitely don't want the J&J one.

I will get it soon at a walk in clinic. But from what I read the effects of vaccines on variants are inconclusive and what Indian variant has landed on Canadian shores...and that one seems vicious apparently. Vaccine or not one still has to be very careful I believe.

UE

[musicfan] Looks like a mighty fine venue. OMG I sooo want to take in a live performance.

musicfan — 4/24/2021 1:33:17 AM