Not a lot of news here. Yesterday at midday, when I walked home from work, it was 43º F (6º C) and the sky was cloudy and gray. After our recent burst of springlike weather, winter seems to have returned.
The trees are still insisting it's spring, though.
My boss encouraged me to write to my doctor about the Covid-19 vaccine. She wrote hers, and was invited for the vaccine just days later -- and when her husband inquired he also got a shot pretty quickly. Granted, they're both older than me, but not by much.
So I sent an e-mail to my GP's practice and mentioned my age and the fact that I work in a school, and with students coming back on Monday I'd like to get the vaccine sooner rather than later. Someone wrote back and said I am in priority group 9 (which I suppose they're not vaccinating yet) but she would add me to the "reserve list" since I told them I could come in on short notice. I have no idea whether or not that will expedite things, but I guess it's worth a try.
I have a few seedlings sprouting -- foxgloves and one of the corncockles. No sign of life yet from the honesty or the jimson weed.
Your "I could come in at short notice" reminds me, apropos of nothing, of a rather instructive story: Someone phones the doctor's for a non urgent appointment. No available slots today. "But I only live round the corner", she says.
ReplyDeleteNot many people get the "joke" on first reading. It made me smile whilst taking my breath away. I hasten to add, before being misunderstood, that the above "logic", obviously, doesn't apply to you and a vax available at short notice. Am a little surprised that people like you - working with the public and children at that - don't get higher priority. Though level nine isn't too bad. Here we are currently up to level five; vaccinations offered not based on need and urgency but indiscriminately. Even to hermits.
One other thought: It would make sense to vaccinate teaching personnel BEFORE school starts again since some will experience symptoms. Great, isn't it, one week in and you have to sign off sick.
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I'm not too upset with level 9 -- I think we're already on 7 or 8. But yeah, the sooner the better, and if my proximity to the clinic helps that's great! Meanwhile everyone in the school is going to test regularly to try to catch asymptomatic carriers.
Delete"Blooming Trees" - the blogpost title is not quite as enticing as yesterday's title. Do Yanks use the term "blooming" as a mild curse word or term of exasperation as in:-
ReplyDelete"Steve went to the blooming vaccination centre to get his blooming vaccine. He shrieked when the needle went into his blooming arm." ?
I was going to say that we don't really use "blooming" that way in America -- but Mrs. Moon came up with a good example, "blooming idiot." We DO say that, for some reason.
DeleteIt's a lift to see that much blooming. We are so far from bloomable weather. I would think that you would qualify for the vaccine right away. But I have given up the thought that logic is involved in anything to do with Covid. At least here. I know of a woman who is in her late 70s who had to drive over three hours to her vaccination site. I hope they can fit you in before school starts. Now I have to go look up corncockles.
ReplyDeleteI guess there are lots and lots of people who seem like good vaccine candidates! I totally get giving it to older people first, obviously. Here in the UK people just have to go to their doctor's office to get vaccinated -- I think that's true even in rural areas.
DeleteCarlos and I checked into getting ours, but, for this, we're too young.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the burst of Spring; the daffodils are starting to come up in the yard which is always a sign.
Revel in your youth while it lasts! LOL
DeleteI read YP's comment and have been wondering if "blooming" ever has a negative connotation here in the US. I can't think of one. Well, I've heard of people calling someone a "blooming idiot." So I guess. Mostly "blooming" is a nice thing.
ReplyDeleteSeems to me that a whole lot of the people I know who are getting vaccinated are simply available at the right time in the right place. Rather random in some cases. I sure hope you can get yours soon!
As I told YP, I was going to say Americans don't use "blooming" that way -- but "blooming idiot" is a good example of an exception! I wonder why we say that, but don't use it with other nouns?
DeleteI love seeing those blooming trees there. The best signs of spring.
ReplyDeleteI just found out yesterday in a socially distanced conversation with neighbors that my county here has started offering vaccines to my age group (65+) finally. Well by the time I came home and tried to schedule it at the local CVS it was FULLY BOOKED. I'm going to have to keep checking with the OCD part of my nature to get that vaccine. I hope you get your soon too, Steve.
Well at least they've moved on to your age group! Why are you hearing this from neighbors, though? Don't the authorities notify you in some official way?
Deletemy zinnias sprouted so fast they almost jumped right out of the dirt. also the heavenly blue morning glories are over an inch tall. some of our blooming trees won't be blooming this year, caught just at the wrong time by the freezing weather. those in your pictures are magnificent.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your seeds are thriving! We've had another burst of cold, gray weather so mine are a bit confused. Maybe I planted them too early! At least they're inside, though, so there's some protection.
DeleteI got my second vaccine late last night. No reactions this time. I hope you are able to get one soon. Those trees looks fantastic. A sure sign of spring.
ReplyDeleteYay! It must feel great to be all done!
DeleteGood luck with your vaccine. Our second shot was delayed 3 days, apparently because of shortage, but has been rescheduled for Sunday. Love your blooming trees shots.
ReplyDeleteWell I'm glad your second shot is coming soon!
DeleteThe Pacific NW is in the same temperate zone as London though you have less cold, less rainfall and tend to experience springtime earlier. Your blossoms are well ahead of ours. Keep making noise about your vaccine! I would think that since you work in a school you would be first in line. Here, it takes persistence and a bit of creativity ( exaggeration of condition).
ReplyDeleteWell, I also want to respect the line, though. (Very British of me.) I recognize there are people in greater need than I am, though I DO wonder if a 62-year-old who works at home alone should get it before a 54-year-old school librarian who's around hundreds of kids every day. Who's at more risk? Who's more likely to pass this thing along?
DeleteSince you work with kids , I hope you get a shot.
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed!
DeleteBeautiful trees! Would you get an earlier vaccine date if you mention that your husband has an autoimmune disease? It is a reason to move up in line here.
ReplyDeleteI think thatmay well get you moved up a friend who is 50 has had his as his partner is clinically vulnerable
DeleteThat's a good question -- I didn't mention Dave's condition. But he's already had a shot, so I assumed as long as he was vaccinated, they wouldn't be worried about me.
DeleteThat's a good idea, mentioning that you could come in quickly. I'm sure they have people who don't show up or who change appointments without letting them know. I just got my first Pfizer shot today. So far, so good.
ReplyDeleteThat was my hope, that if someone didn't turn up they could shoot me a text and I could come in.
DeleteI am blessed to have the great doctors that I have. I didn't have to struggle to get an appointment. They sent me a text to call and set my appointment and 3 days later I was getting my first vaccine. I have also had my second vaccine. I feel a bit safer now but there's no way I am thinking I can't catch covid again. It's probably will not put you in the hospital or cause death. I took all my childhood vaccines and still had measles, mumps, etc, but never had to be hospitalized.
ReplyDeleteThe cold killed all my potted plants, yard and fruit trees. My plants were covered but it was extremely cold for Texas and covering didn't do any good. I get sick looking at my dead limp plants. My saga palms cost too much and if they don't come back they will not be replaced. I also had the huge cactus on each side of my driveway that is very limp now. I just have to wait to see what is going to return when it get warmer. It's still cold mornings and warm in the afternoon.
I forget to tell you our no good Governor have open Texas 100%. I heard several more states are doing the same thing. They are playing politics and playing with people lives just because President Biden asked everyone to wear a mask for so many days. 100 I think but not sure. I will be doing the same think.....practicing safety. Our mayor is very angry.
DeleteI'm sorry to hear about your plants. I remember when I lived in Florida how devastating a hard freeze could be. It's tough when you're growing plants that are tropical or subtropical and they suddenly get hit by freezing weather. I'm not sure what to expect from your cactus or your sago palms, but a lot of smaller plants might come up from the root.
DeleteI love the way the blossom seems to come out all on one day. It has been brightening my journeys to work this week. I hope you get your jab soon!
ReplyDeleteSome trees still haven't flowered -- it seems like we get waves of blooming trees, depending on the species. I don't see much sign of life from the crabapples yet. Something to look forward to!
DeleteSpring... The snow is melting off shockingly quickly here. Today driving, it may have been wishful thinking, but it did see that I saw hints of green on the trees.
ReplyDeleteWoo hoo! Reason to celebrate!
DeleteGood luck with the vaccine. I am getting my second dose tomorrow. We return to in-person learning on Tuesday, with some students opting to stay virtual. So I will be teaching to a class on the computer and a students IN the class. I cannot wait until June.
ReplyDeleteOur school has told kids they MUST return to the classroom, partly to spare teachers from trying to teach virtually AND in person. That's hard to do.
DeleteIt's going to be hard. The district tried it in November, and it wasn't successful. So here we go again!
DeleteThose flowering trees are just gorgeous! Enjoy your Spring blossoms, hugs, Edna B.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photographs, beautiful trees. I love your London views. Re the vaccine, I dont understand how teachers and people working in schools can be so far down the priority list. In NYC school people were in the first group to get vaccinated, along with health care workers, first responders, and other essential workers. We are now down to underlying conditions, but Biden announced yesterday that everyone will be able to be vaccinated by May.
ReplyDelete