Covid update 12/18

 I was diagnosed with Covid on November 20th.  I self-tested Covid free on November 25th and officially clean (through a doctor's office) on November 29th.  Today is December 18th and I am still recovering.

I lost most of my sense of smell while I was positive and I had a lot of nasal congestion.  Thank God I didn't develop a cough or have shortness of breath.  I was told that it can take you a long time to recover from this.  I always had bad sinuses, so I am used to being congested.  To this day, I may not have the runny nose or sneezing, but I am still occasionally stuffy and I am blowing my nose.  I still use my saline solution and I am on Flonase.  

For people reading this who either still don't want the vaccine or refuse to mask up or still doubt this is serious, reportedly, it can take days, weeks or even months for you to fully recover from this if you don't die.

Mask up.  Get the vaccine.  TRY and make space between yourself and others, especially indoors..

BACK IN THE DAY

 Once upon a time, not long ago, people used to smoke cigarettes everywhere.  And when I say everywhere I mean exactly that.  People would light up in the theater, the mall, the restaurant, and even the plane.  Then one day an elected official (I want to say Michael Bloomberg) came up with a law banning smoking indoors.  People (mostly nicotine fiends) had a fit.  It was perfectly reasonable for them to smoke anywhere they pleased and if you didn't like the smoke, then you should be the one to move away.  You would be amazed at the people who felt that way then and still feel that way today.  in any case, the law picked up steam in other states and jurisdictions, and before long it was illegal to smoke in most indoor venues across the country and today you cannot smoke in a movie theater and definitely not on public transportation.  The "rights" nazis complained, but after some time, they got over it.  The same thing has to happen with masks and vaccine mandates.

While we are in the pandemic, New York City has a mask mandate as well as a vaccine mandate.  If you have the vaccine, you do not need to wear a mask indoors and restaurants are required to check your vaccination record in order for you to eat inside the restaurant.  Anti mask wearers and anti-vaxxers of course feel they should be able to do what they want and could care less if you pick up covid from them or anyone else.  They have a right to not wear a mask and "fuck you" if you feel you are not safe.  People have fought bus drivers, store clerks and restaurant owners for asking them to put on a mask.  Consequently, some owners aren't following the law because it is too hard for them.  For me, it is just like the old cigarette law.  For now, offenders will hate it, but in the long run the law will protect lives.

HEADING TO FLORIDA

12/9/2021 

8:30 AM

On AMTRAK on my way to Florida.  I am ON AMTRAK because I was originally supposed to fly via Jetblue today, however, even though I am Covid free, my body is still recovering from having the virus.  I get congested and I am occasionally stuffy and for flying that is a bad combination.  If my sinuses aren’t correct then my ears won’t “pop”.  So, being that I am supposed to be in Florida today (Thursday), I had to get on AMTRAK yesterday, so I could be here.  This is normally not a bother since when I am in Florida I usually go back to New York by AMTRAK.

This trip though so far has been a near disaster.  It was already stressful because it is Florida, one of the leading states in Corona virus and a state led by a governor who is hell bent on ignoring mask and vaccine mandates.  I have absolutely no desire to visit this state or to go anywhere while I am in this state.  

My train is late.  So far it is about two hours late.  We were supposed to arrive in DeLand at 11:30 this morning.  It is 9:45 and we just got to Savannah GA.  It’s looking like we won’t get to DeLand until 2 or 3.

Next, there are people riding who won’t adhere to the mask mandate.  AMTRAK requires that everyone on the train where a mask at all times unless they are actively eating or drinking or if they are under 2 years of age.    There are some idiots who won’t keep their mask on.  One lady in particular keeps her mask off and has talked on her cellphone for most of her ride.  She boarded the train in Philadelphia.  Most of the passengers though have complied with the mandate.  Except for eating my food and a brief phone conversation, I have kept my mask on.  I am not trying to get re-infected.  Human behavior and these variants though are going to keep this pandemic going for decades.

THE AGE OF APATHY

First, the good news:  I OFFICIALLY tested negative for Covid-19 on Monday, November 28.  I did the self-test on the 25th or 26th and tested negative then, but I will treat the test done by the doctor as official.   I am not symptomatic, but I am still recovering, in that, I still have some nasal congestion.  As a person who suffers from bad sinuses, I can tell.  I never really lost my sense of taste, but I lost some sense of smell and that is gradually coming back.  I can smell things more now than I did a week ago.

Now the bad news:  I now have nothing but apathy for people.  I mentioned that while I was recovering I had no choice but to go to the pharmacy and while I was there I stopped at the supermarket.  I had no fever and I definitely masked up and I avoided isles with people.    You would be amazed at the maskless people in the pharmacy and the supermarket. Last night  I went to a Fairway and stopped at a McDonalds.  Fairway had a couple of non-maskers and McDonalds had a few of them.  Now, I have no idea how many of them had the vaccine, but to me, that doesn't matter.  In public masking may be more important than the vaccine, especially being that it is not impoossible for you to have and transmit the virus even with the vax.  In public, you shouldn't be allowed to put others at risk.  And as I have learned it is not impossible to get Covid while fully vaccinated.

So now I am at a point of apathy.  I am listening to the news now for reports of the variants and for information on the vaccines and if I need to get yet another booster, but I am caring less and less for my fellow citizen.  If I read that the person in the hospital did not get the shot, I make it point to not read any further.  Ok, I still care if the person suffering had his or her vaccine.

The omicron variant is already here.  Not just in the United States, but in New York City.   Unlike when Covid initially hit and New York essentially overcame it, I don't see that happening this time around. People are too undisciplined.  Wearing a mask IN PUBLIC is too much for them to do.  This will mean even more infections and more variants.  I am at the point where I feel Covid is a new way of life.  I will be avoiding people and getting Covid vaccinations until I die.