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SECOND SHOT RE-ENTRY SHOCK

I don’t care what Dr. Fauci says.  I have received  my second covid-19 shot, and I’m going back out into the world–wearing a mask, of course. However,  this week, when  doing normal stuff,  I realized  that  things aren’t quite the same.    Actually I felt a little bit like Rip Van Winkle, awakening after a very long sleep.  Guess  I’m having a second shot re-entry shock.

Here’s what’s changed:

People at my senior  exercise class look older.   Their hair is mostly gray or white. We were afraid to visit a hair salon (even though Nancy Pelosi did)  Unless you color your hair at home, you had to go natural. . Many may never color their hair again.

Women of all ages  have longer hair.  They’re either letting it grow, or cutting it themselves.  I cut mine for an entire year, and it didn’t look too bad.  But there were piles of hair all over the floor at the beauty shop today. .

My beautician found her biological father this year.  She’s in her 40’s and found him through a DNA test.  Turns out, he lives a block away from her home.  She had seen him, but they had never met.  Her birth was the result of a high school romance.  I wondered why her mother never told her, but it wasn’t my place to probe.

Second shot re-entry shock. Most people will have gained about 12 pounds during the pandemc.
Second shot re-entry shock. Most people will have gained about 12 pounds during the pandemic.

Most everyone has gained some weight.  (Not me, of course—ha). Faces look fuller, pants tighter.  Some lucky people have maintained their weight, but most haven’t.  The average weight gain during the pandemic is about 12 pounds.

Folks are friendlier and more talkative.  It used to be that people were too busy to stop and chat—they were always on their way to somewhere else. But after a year of solitude, most of us are hungry for conversation.  The store clerks, people behind desks, casual acquaintances—everyone you encounter is more relaxed and laid back.

We’ve acquired some new hobbies, or learned new skills. Knitting, sewing, crocheting—all are making a comeback.  My husband and I have discovered the fun of working jigsaw  puzzles together.  Neither of us had done them since we were kids. Puzzles are not just for fun–they’re good for the brain.

When the pandemic is over, we will find  the world  a different place than the one we knew before.  Maybe that’s a good thing.

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POLITICIANS WITH FEET OF CLAY

Before Donald Trump ever ran for office, psychologists had written that all politicians are narcissistic.    That they are  driven by a lust for power, prestige, status and authority.  Supposedly, they run for  office to confirm their sense of superiority to others.  Their feelings of entitlement cause them to lie when necessary, in order to satisfy those needs. I guess all of us are acquainted with politicians who seem to genuinely care about the constituents they serve.  So, I’m not buying into that one-size-fits-all characterization.  But politicians with feet of clay continue to disappoint us.

I’m not a New Yorker (except by birth) so I didn’t pay much attention to what Governor Cuomo was saying and doing at the start of the pandemic last year.  He talked a pretty good game.  The news media suggested he should run for president, because he was handling the covid-19 crisis so well.  Turns out, he wasn’t.  In fact, he was handling it very badly.  Shipped covid-19 patients off to nursing homes, where they infected elderly patients.  All of which resulted in over 1,000 unnecessary deaths.

And now, this last week, Senator Ted Cruz from Texas skipped town, leaving his constituents to suffer and freeze to death during a power outage.  But somebody spotted him on a plane to Cancun, and all hell broke loose.  The media pounced, and rightfully so.

Cruz and Cuomo now have one thing in common—feet of clay.  Although Cuomo’s actions are far more egregious than Cruz’s trip to Mexico, you have to wonder. Why did they not care about the feelings and needs of the people who elected them?

Politicians with feet of clay continue to disappoint us.
Politicians with feet of clay. Cuomo and Cruz disappointed their constituents.

Politicians’ career killing gaffes are nothing new, of course.  Remember Gary Hart, who was thought to be headed for presidential stardom?  Many politicians do stupid things, but they slip under the radar.  Sadly, most of us admire and respect the people we vote for.  We hang on their every word, and believe that they care about us.  But politicians with feet of clay will continue to disappoint us.

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DIRTY WORDS SHOW POOR VOCABULARY

Believe it not, when I was in college, words like hell and damn were considered cusswords. It was  shocking in Gone With The Wind,  when Rhett Butler told Scarlett O’Hara, “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn.” Any  four letter words  referring to the lower body functions were seldom used and never heard in the media.  Ladies didn’t swear–at least not in public.   It was thought that only ignorant, uneducated people incorporated vulgarity into everyday language. That’s all changed now. But  I still believe that over use of dirty words show a poor vocabulary.

Unfortunately, most Netflix shows  set in modern times seem to delight in their characters using f**k in almost every sentence that comes out of their mouths.  It’s gotten really tiresome.  Potty mouthed men and women seem coarse and unappealing.  This was especially true in the series called “The Ranch.”  It wasn’t just one or two characters, it was every single one of them.  Now, it’s happening again in “Dead To Me.” Personally, I find the overuse of these words obnoxious—not only on the screen, but in real life. Which is why the historical series “Bridgerton,” was so refreshing.  .  I’m sure the writers  would have loved having every  female character use lots of  F  words, but they couldn’t.   Only “gutter snipes,” used vulgar  language in  19th century Britain.  It would not have been historically accurate.

At least network television is still adhering to certain standards of decency.  If a nightly news reporter used the F word, they would probably be kicked off the air.  I hope that continues, but nothing in this day and age would surprise me. .

I’m not against the occasional use of cuss words.  Actually, it’s been shown to be therapeutic.  As an example, scientists have  found that people can  relieve pain by swearing.  They’ve proven that swearing, or “the use of taboo language conveying connotative information,” has pain reducing effects. Past research has demonstrated that repeating a swear word helped people tolerate physical pain.   If I stub my toe, I’m liable to scream every single dirty word I’ve ever heard in my life.  And when I’m done, I do feel better.

dirty Words Show Poor Vocabulary
Swearing has been proven to relieve pain, but overuse of dirty words show a  poor vocabulary.

But the truth is, most people aren’t experiencing intense physical pain all day long, every day in the week.  So, if a person does overuse the F word , you have to wonder about their inner pain.  I’d like to feel sorry for them, but the trashy talk doesn’t evoke much sympathy.

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BEWARE OF SUNLIGHT ON THE SNOW

We Hoosiers don’t get a whole lot of snow in the winter.  Consequently, when we do, we aren’t always aware of the dangers of snow  blindness.  Got a hint of it this morning going back and forth to the mailbox.  In 10 inches of snow, it was slow going, even with my sturdy snowshoes.  And yet, the bright sunlight was so cheerful that I didn’t mind the cold.  But when I got back in the house, everything looked green.  I had a temporary case of what the doctors call photokeratitis.    Within minutes, my vision was back to normal.  But if I’d spent the day on the ski slopes, it might not have cleared up so fast.   Beware of sunlight on the snow.

Snow blindness is like a sunburn to the eyes,  caused by exposure of the eyes to ultraviolet rays reflected from snow or ice. It  can happen to people who work or play outside for long hours on bright, sunny days. Snow  burned eyes can sneak up on you. As with sunburned skin, by the time you notice the symptoms of snow blindness, you’ve already been out in the sun too long.

Symptoms include:

  • eye pain,
  • a burning or gritty sensation in the eye,
  • sensitivity to light,
  • blurry vision, and
  • seeing halos around light sources.         :

Fortunately, snow blindness is usually a temporary condition, lasting about 2 days.  Here’s the treatment advised by opthamologists.

  • Apply frequent preservative-free artificial tear lubricants
  • Stay indoors, preferably in a dark room if you are experiencing light sensitivity, and/or wear dark sunglasses
  • Don’t wear contact lenses until the condition has been resolved
  • Apply cold compresses to the eyes
  • Avoid rubbing your eyes
  • Topical anti-inflammatories or antibiotics may be prescribed in severe cases
  • Use OTC oral pain relievers
Beware of sunlight on the snow. Always wear sunglasses when outside on bright, snowy days.
Beware of sunlight on the snow. Snow blindness can be prevented by wearing sunglasses.

Snow blindness can easily be prevented by wearing sunglasses.  Simply wear sunglasses that block 100 percent of the sun’s UV rays whenever you are outdoors during daylight.

 Children  love to play outside in the  the snow, but  most parents don’t think of telling them to wear sunglasses.  According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, ultraviolet light  damage is cumulative over a lifetime.  Children should wear sunglasses to  help to reduce ultra violet related eye diseases in later life.  Having your kids wear sunglasses when the ground is covered with snow is as important as having them wear them on a summer day at the beach..

If you want to prevent snow blindness, dig out those summer sunglasses and wear them outside on bright, snowy days.

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SNOWED-IN PASTA e FAGIOLI SOUP

Getting snowed in often results in some pitiful meals.  Scrambled eggs. Canned soup. Maybe just a bowl of cereal.  But if you open your cupboard, you may find the makings of a  low calorie, tummy-warming  soup.  It’s likely you have some type of canned beans, tomatoes, and chicken broth on the shelf.  You probably have onion and garlic, and pasta shells.   Look in the freezer for a stray chicken drumstick or thigh. Or maybe some sausage or ground beef.  You might have greens in your vegetable bin, too.  Throw them all together with  basil, bay leaf and white wine, and you’ll end up with  snowed-in Pasta e Fagioli Soup

Here’s one  recipe to use as a guide.  But you can substitute , white, black, or kidney  beans.  As for pasta, use small shells, macaroni, tortellini, or whatever you have on hand.  If you have some sausage or ground beef, you can start by cooking half a pound of that along with the onions.   But I prefer chicken.   Greens can be collard, mustard, or spinach .

Snowed-In pasta e fagoli soup is easy and tummy warming.
Snowed in Pasta e Fagioli Soup. You can make this  with ingredients on hand.

 

Snowed-In Pasta e Fagioli Soup

Ingredients:

1 garlic clove, minced

½ onion, diced

1 tablespoon olive oil

1( 16 oz). can cannellini beans

1 teaspoon dried basil or thyme

1 bay leaf

½ cup white wine

3 cups chicken broth

1 (15 oz)  can diced tomatoes

1 chicken drumstick or thigh

1  cup dried pasta (small shells, macaroni)  or tortellini

1 cup fresh spinach

Directions:

In large pot, saute onion and garlic in oil. Add chicken drumstick,  chicken broth, tomatoes, basil, bay leaf, white wine and cannellini beans.   Cover and simmer for about  40 minutes. Uncover. Remove bay leaf and chicken drumstick. Trim bone and put the meat back in the soup.   Add pasta, and cook until tender.   If the broth gets too thick, add a little water.   Stir in spinach and cook 10 minutes.

Garnish with parmesan cheese, if you have it. .

You may like this recipe so much that you’ll make it again this spring.

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SHOULD A BANK BE YOUR FRIEND?

Why does anyone choose one bank over the other?  In my case, I’ve kept my money in the same bank for almost all of my life.  I think I opened an account there because they were located half a block from my first job. They don’t have good interest or mortgage rates.  And I don’t know any of the tellers or the bank manager. On the other hand,  my husband keeps his money in another  bank, and probably always will, because he knows the manager and  most of the bank tellers by name, and they all know him.   Is that a good reason to choose a bank? Should a bank be your friend?

Should You Be Friends With Your Bank?
Should a bank be your friend? Or should you look for  one that has high ratings for safety and security?

Actually, I enjoy the impersonal nature of my relationship with my bank. It protects my privacy.    Yes, their security measures can be annoying. As an example, I have to show my ID when cashing a check.  My husband doesn’t have to do that, because the tellers all know him.  But his bank has also been known to make minor mistakes with his accounts,  and my bank never has.

When they do make a mistake, he’s very forgiving.  So what if he’s paying for overdraft protection on his checking account, and  they still charge him a fee if they  forget to transfer money from savings?    Yes, they finally get it straightened out when he goes in to complain, but it’s a hassle I’ve never had to deal with.

I guess it all boils down to what you want from a bank. I want efficiency and safety.  He feels safer with people who are friendly and interested in his life. I guess that’s why our city has so many  banks.  Different strokes for different folks.

Should a bank be your friend? For some, it’s important.  But my bank got a five star rating for financial safety & soundness from  Bauer Financial.  and has been  named as one of the best banks in the country by Forbes magazine.  To me, managing money is  what banks are for.

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ARE FACEBOOK & E MAIL OBSOLETE?

Remember the first time you sent an e mail?  It was so exciting to write to a friend or relative via the internet.  No more sitting down with cramped fingers to write a real letter. No purchase of stationary and stamps, or trips to the mailbox.  It was just as exciting to receive an e-mail.  And then there was Facebook.   For some, it became the ultimate form of braggadocio.  Look at my wonderful life! But for most of us, it was a fun way to share photos through cyberspace with family and friends.   But have you noticed what’s happening lately?  Are Facebook & E Mail becoming obsolete?

Are Facebook & E mail Obsolete? They're being used less all the time.
Are Facebook & E Mail Obsolete? More people are texting, and fewer are posting on Facebook.

While I used to look forward to opening my e mail, now I dread it.  Usually, I have at least 50 e mails from people trying to sell me something.  And then there are the political e mails.  For some reason, both the Democrats and Republicans think I might be interested in their causes. Maybe it’s because of my blog. I’m apt to criticize or comment on any male or female politician, regardless of their  party.  But if I criticize a Democrat, the Republicans think I may want to contribute to their campaign, and vice versa. They’re both wasting their time, because I won’t send money over the net to any political candidate.

Why do I keep my e mail account active?  Because for some family and friends, my old e mail address is the only way they know to contact me.  Especially if we haven’t kept in touch.  And there are times when you need it for changing passwords and doing other business.

Most people in my social network seldom use e mail.  They text.  I used to resist texting because it’s difficult to use cell phone keypads with arthritic fingers.  But there’s no longer a choice.  If you can’t text, you’re out of the loop.  Pictures, too, are much easier to send with messaging.

For the past few years, Facebook posts have become annoyingly political.  I like seeing photos  of your kids and the rosebush  in your yard, but I do not want to read  your rants and raves about Trump, Biden, or any politician.  Don’t you think I have sense enough to form my own opinions at this age?  There’s one group I belong to which has posts about growing up in my city.  These are what I would term neutral.  No one can get mad about seeing an old school building or skating rink.  But generally speaking, fewer and fewer people are active on  Facebook.  And those who are, post less frequently. .

Are Facebook and E mail obsolete?  Not quite, but they’re fading fast.