Like most people of my age, I feel a longing for what is lost and cannot be restored. But if the happy pursuits and casual beauty of youth prove ephemeral, something better can endure, and endure until our last moment on earth. And that is the honor we earn and the love we give if at a moment in our lives we sacrifice for something greater than self-interest. – John McCain
Turns out Covid-19, the Trump Virus, is not a hoax. Spent my birthday alone, spent Christmas alone.
Heard the grandkids had a nice time.
There was an uprising of Euro-Americans angry the election didn’t go their way. Stupidity is a virial variant, easily transmitted. Deadly, too. More deaths than Benghazi.
And I am still elbows deep in the last box of archives. It’s a big box.
Found this note from the late 1970s. Appears to have been written by The World’s Slowest Professional Runner when he was feeling sorry for himself.
Whenever there is more than one competition in the area, all the fast guys show up at the same race as you do.
The first time you finish in the Top Ten, the papers will spell your name wrong.
The first time you actually win a race, the papers won’t publish the results.
True story. Eleven months, only the grocery store and various medical facilities. Confess to a single trip to the Dollar Tree for new reading glasses and one visit to Lowe’s last spring for a few garden essentials.
That’s it. No take-out, no drive-thru’s. No nothing.
Dogs, walking, books, garden, it’s a life.
A simple life and I’d like to keep it.
Florida adds 11,500+ coronavirus cases, 163 deaths
Tampa Bay added more than 2,000 coronavirus cases Monday
By Romy Ellenbogen for the Tampa Bay Times
Florida added 11,576 coronavirus cases Monday as the state’s latest surge pushes on.
Since March, 1,488,586 cases of the virus have been identified across Florida. As of Monday, just under 16,000 cases are found per day, according to the weekly average.
Monday, the Florida Department of Health also announced 163 deaths, making the total number of people in Florida dead from the virus 23,424. The weekly death average increased to about 144 people announced dead per day.
Hospitalizations: About 7,650 people in Florida are hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of coronavirus, according to the Agency for Health Care Administration. About 1,600 are hospitalized in the Tampa Bay area.
Statewide, about 22 percent of hospital beds and 19 percent of ICU beds are open. In Tampa Bay, about 20 percent of hospital beds and 15 percent of ICU beds are available. Availability in Pasco is low, with only about 7 percent of ICU beds open.
Cases that resulted in a hospitalization increased by 205 admissions.
Positivity: In Florida, the average weekly positivity rate is about 14 percent, according to Johns Hopkins University. It is one of 48 states that does not meet the World Health Organization recommendation for a positivity rate of 5 percent or below before loosening movement restrictions.
When the positivity rate is too high it indicates there isn’t enough widespread testing to capture mild and asymptomatic cases.
Local numbers: Tampa Bay added 2,367 cases and 43 deaths Monday.
Twenty two deaths were reported out of Hillsborough, 10 were in Citrus, four were in Pasco, there were in Hernando, two were in Manatee, and one was in both Pinellas and Polk.
[A little disappointed nobody could be bothered to proofread this report. Three dead in Hernando County.]
As of the latest count, Hillsborough has 87,511 cases and 1,150 deaths; Pinellas has 51,384 cases and 1,137 deaths; Polk has 42,880 cases and 840 deaths; Manatee has 24,871 cases and 452 deaths; Pasco has 25,224 cases and 414 deaths; Hernando has 8,443 cases and 293 deaths; and Citrus has 7,506 cases and 299 deaths.
How fast is the number of Florida COVID-19 cases growing?
Is Florida’s coronavirus outbreak still growing?
Florida coronavirus cases by age group
Doctors say older people are at a greater risk to developing severe symptoms from COVID-19, which makes Florida especially vulnerable.
Meanwhile, Florida’s governor Ron DeCovidis wants to retain authority over locals’ virus response while delegating the responsibility for vaccinations to the county health departments.
Oddly enough, I do not live in a wealthy, politically-connected community. So, figure I’ll just wait until everybody who thinks they are more important than the rest of us gets their shots.
Sixty-five-year-old guy on the news, claims he’s already had the virus, getting the shot because he hasn’t seen his kids in six months.
I almost punched the television.
Worried my grandkids won’t be able to recognize me.
Miss them so much I have started to watch Young Sheldon re-runs.