Occasionally on my blog I digress from birds and this is one of those times. Mostly.
Yesterday morning I received my first dose of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine. I was very lucky to get the appointment.
I’ll give Salt Lake County credit where credit’s due. After a registration process that was extremely frustrating due to a poorly designed registration website the actual process of vaccination was a piece of cake. Despite hundreds of people having to stand in four different lines at the Mountain America Expo Center the entire process was handled efficiently and quickly. I was vaccinated and out the door in about 20 minutes.
So far at least the only side effect I’ve experienced is a moderately sore right arm. One of the four lines I had to stand in was for registering for the second dose. My second dose appointment is on February 20.
I was amused to see these large stickers on the floor, meant to keep those in line standing at a safe distance from each other. In addition to keeping all of us safe they gave me my morning bird fix and allowed me to interject a minor avian component into today’s blog post.
In case you’re wondering why I was wearing my old Birkenstock sandals (yes, with white socks) on a January morning it’s because of nerve problems in my feet related to my bad back. I haven’t worn real shoes for almost four nears now.
As much as I hate standing in line I was relieved to see so many people there anxious to be vaccinated. A new U.S. Census Bureau poll revealed that 21% of Utahns yet to be vaccinated say they probably or definitely will skip the shots. The ‘reasons’ they gave for not being vaccinated include the following:
- concern about possible side effects
- some plan to wait to see if it is safe
- other people need the vaccination more than they do right now
- don’t trust COVID-19 vaccines
- don’t know if a vaccine will work
- mistrust of the government
- some said they don’t believe they need a vaccine
- others said they don’t like vaccines
And then this morning I woke up to the news that yesterday protesting anti-vaxxers in Los Angeles shut down one of the largest vaccination operations in the country at Dodger Stadium.
Damn, there’s a lot of stupid people out there.
I’ll close with a personal anecdote regarding one of several results of the pandemic that caught me by surprise.
In April of 2020 when Covid-19 was beginning to pick up steam I was afraid I might run out of cash. Normally I’m a cash kinda guy, using my credit card only for gas for my pickup. I used cash for everything else, including groceries. So at the end of April I visited my bank and withdrew $400 in $20 bills that I thought might last me for a few weeks.
But then for reasons that should be obvious at this stage of the game I started paying for virtually everything by credit card. Yesterday I realized I didn’t even know how much cash I had left in my wallet so I counted it.
I had $275 left. In nine months I’d only spent $125 of the original $400. Almost that entire $125 had been spent to wash my pickup at the car wash, the only thing I spend cash for these days. Pre-pandemic I always had so much loose change that I’d keep in a large container that several times each year I’d have to cash it in at my bank. I haven’t done that for what seems like forever.
I realize that most folks weren’t as cash dependent as I used to be but I’ll bet many of my readers have their own stories about unexpected results of the pandemic.
Man, isn’t life full of surprises!
Ron
When I was working at the office in Charlottesville and had to drive over the “Shenandoah mountains” elevation 1800′, I was filling my tank every 3-5 days. Now I’m working from home and a tank is lasting me 3-5 weeks! Haven’t been able to go birding much since I’m just getting over covid. I bird vicariously through you and a few others and have a wonderful assortment come to my suet feeder
Glad you got your first shot! Jon got his too. Like you, he said it went fast and smoothly. Yes, Eric had to get a credit card, he was a cash guy too.
April, I’ve always had a credit card of course, I just wasn’t in the habit of using it except for gas.
Where I live, only healthcare workers and the “elderly” qualify to get the vaccine (and they are having trouble keeping it in stock, which isn’t good for people needing their 2nd dose). So, even though I have pretty bad COPD (i.e, I’m very high risk), since I’m only 64, I don’t qualify. Last I heard, the “regular” folks will have to wait until sometime between April & June to get vaccinated. I haven’t been to the doctor in over a year. They say I have to wear a mask and I can’t breath with one on, so I’ve pretty much opted out of the whole healthcare system, at least for now. The joys of medical care in rural America. 🙁 Glad your first “foray” went well. My mom (age 89) got hers on Thursday and had a similar experience ~ issues getting the appointment (via telephone, not online), but when she did, it was fast and painless.
Karen, here they’ve brought the age limit down to 70 from 75 so that qualified me.
It sounds like you’re caught between a rock and hard place regarding your medical care at the moment. I’m so sorry.
Love the eagle feet! As to the anti-vaxxers in LA – do you really believe they give a rat’s behind about other people’s well-being? Saving other people from the poison? ;No, it’s all about control. But they can at last, by virtue of sheer numbers, make other, presumably reasonable people, do what they say.
“do you really believe they give a rat’s behind about other people’s well-being?”
Not a chance in hell, Sallie.
Love the eagle feet 6 ft. apart! Also have had the same experience you have with poorly designed websites for the vaccination wait line–except no one has contacted me offering an appointment.
Glad you got it! Mayit keep you safe.
I’m actually surprised how FEW people in Utah are not interested in the shot. Perhaps the difficulty getting it is making it seem less like it’s being pushed on people, so they are willing to seek it out. Or maybe just the activity level of the anti-vaccers have made it seem like there are more of them than there are.
Nancy, Utah hit a new record yesterday for number of people vaccinated so maybe you’re right. Hope so but I’m not convinced. The expected stupidity rate of Utahns has never failed to be met yet.
I am so glad that you have got your first dose (and have the second booked). I am glad that they labeled the eagle footprints or I would have taken them for ducks.
Shoes are very rare here too – also for foot/nerve issues. And yes, I prefer cash. I find it easier to keep track of.
EC, for the longest time while I was standing in line I thought those eagle prints were silhouettes of avocets in flight.
Your photo, as always, made me smile. A compatriot! I’ve been wearing sandals with socks for a couple of years now. Except for summertime, i wear wool socks – nice thick ones. My toes and feet are always toasty, unless they get really wet. Wool socks rock is what i tell people when they ask.
Your summation of some people is “on the money”. (A little pun for today.)
And, my husband and i got our shots through the local hospital. We were alerted by a friend that the hospital had posted the notice on their FB page (which we don’t use) “A one-day clinic was open to all people over 65 who have an appointment” We managed to get through the online application process in time to get appointments and we were thrilled. No protesters, no line-jumpers, no problems at the drive-through clinic. Our second shot is set for Feb 13th. We literally feel like we won the lottery, considering Missouri is last in the Union for percentage of people vaccinated.
I hope everyone will have an opportunity to get vaccinated soon. Until then i hope everyone is able to stay safe and healthy.
“Your photo, as always, made me smile. A compatriot! ”
And that made me smile, Nina.
Because of my foot problems I have to wear very loose socks – that means the older the better if there aren’t any holes in them. So my socks look pretty scroungy but they feel good and that’s all I really care about. That and keeping my feet warm(er).
It could be a thing of our generation (more or less)…cash that is. Twice a month I get cash for the ‘cookie jar’. I am a cash and send the check type but now ordering my groceries and picking them up at the drive though, ordering and delivery from Target, order and pick-up from Fleet & Farm is the norm. The jar has excess. If I have to order it now I think twice…do I really need that or I find I can substitute. I’ve never paid in a grocery store with my card before this but using it has been a saving method. It is sad to say I have been in a grocery store once since last February and that was at 5 a.m. to pick out vegetables and a turkey for Thanksgiving. Strange how we adapt. Oh yes our change jar is pretty much like it was last March when we cashed it in.
On the vaccine front ours here was very well organized also and my only side effect was the sore arm for about 24 hours. Anti-vaccers are a group I just don’t understand just as the conspiracy bunch…a sad group.
Kathy, the grocery store is about the only place where I’m among people these days. I go once a week, early in the morning, masked of course. And I’m in and out as fast as possible.
My eye went so fast to the socks & birks 😆 It’s all about the socks Ron 😜
Glad to see your vaccine appointment went well. Medications I take have me concerned about getting it. I’ll find out next week.
I’m a cash and ATM kinda gal ❗️ I have earned enough points on my credit card to get a nice Cuisinart coffeemaker and blow dry❗️
Diana, cash rewards from my credit card were a pleasant surprise when I started using it so often.
Regarding my socks – see my response to Kathleen below.
I’m thrilled to see you got your vaccine! I wish people would do their homework about it and get vaccinated. The fact that it is a political issue just burns me, but that’s a discussion for another time. I’m still a believer in cash. It cracks me up that people use their cards so much and establishments encourage it. The establishments, particularly gas stations, encouraged using cash because they don’t want to pay the processing fees for each card transaction. So they’d drop the price of gas by $.10 or so if you used cash. I don’t see it as much. I see cash as a non-issue. Again, if people did their homework and actually thought about it, they’d realize they were using cash pre-pandemic. It’s still germy and dirty. Yes, a million hands have touched it. So what? Just wash your damn hands! It makes me think that people are a lot more disgusting than I would like to believe. Having said all that, congrats on getting that vaccine! Maybe sometime in 2021 we will be able to visit and break bread like we planned in 2019! 🙂
Lisa, in my opinion making vaccinations a political issue borders on criminal.
P.S. There are a lot of “ignorant” folks out there – shutting down the site “should” result in arrest and jail time particularly if vaccine was lost as a result. Amazing the amount of misinformation out there regarding it….😖
Glad you got your 1st vaccination! Brother in WA got his this week also as did a cousin who had to be REALLY persistant after discovering one could not be vaccinated if one had another vaccine less than 14 days prior. She had – pneumonia. You’d think they’d tell folks that when they’re yipping at everyone to get that and flu…… 😳 Understand icing the site helps. Some folks can only wear white socks tho colored have improved over time as far as not messing with feet. Whatever works! VA has contacted us and Joe has both doses scheduled a month apart – Moderna. I’m on a list in Chouteau Co. They also will schedule both doses when you’re scheduled.
We also keep a certain amount of cash on hand – never know. 😉 I’ve mainly used cards – handling the “filthy lucre” not seeming wise right now.
Judy, I’m glad to hear that both you and Joe are on track to get ‘poked’. The sooner the better.
The best result of the pandemic has been the relief it gave to the nature. No over trafic, no over disturbance by the noise, no over polution : the good sensation to be back around the middle of the 20th siecle. But, because there’s always a but, without the aboundance of the birds, the mammals, the trees, the butterflies and so on. At the same time, I feel lucky to have lived in a great time for our blue planet, but I’m worried about what will be left for my grandaughters. In the meantime, I take photographs and I write some articles for her to know what it was. And I use my credit card for everything I buy. I’m happy for you regarding the vaccination. Have a great one!
Laval, In many ways I’m not seeing any “relief” to nature as a result of the virus. In fact in many situations it seems to be just the opposite – it seems like everyone in the whole wild world is out camping, hiking etc as a way of getting out of the house so it’s crowded everywhere out there..
Campgrounds are always full, trails are usually crawling with people and even birding areas are jam-packed with humanity. My RV dealer says that since the pandemic started his business (sales, rentals, repairs and parts) has nearly tripled.
Great post Ron, and thank you for encouraging the vaccine. I am battling COVID now, despite masking and distancing and avoiding all unnecessary interactions. It is not something I wish on anyone, and even a mild to moderate case is not a joke for anyone considered “senior.” The more people who get vaccinated, the sooner we can get some type of control. Thank you for your blog.
I’m very sorry you got the virus, Carol. I wish you the very best.
Birks are timeless; however the white socks are not! Light grey hiking socks are the fashion accessory for Birks. Buy online from REI 🙂
We too have marveled how long cash stays in our wallets. Use my Amex and Debit card for everything now – it’s weird. Just rolled up the last jar of coins $280 going in the bank account. Stay safe!
Am thinking you can rock these: https://www.rei.com/product/169483/darn-tough-captain-stripe-micro-crew-light-cushion-socks-mens
🙂
Kathleen, I’ve never been a clothes horse so I’m not going to start now. I have a hard enough time fighting the girls off as it is… 🙂
If the birds don’t care what color my socks are neither do I.
Besides, $21 for a single pair of socks! Not gonna happen.
Interesting post Ron. I have not yet gotten the vaccine, but I will eventually. I get my gas at Costco so I use my Costco Visa for that. I am trying to think if I have used cash at all during this long period of time. We have never gone out to eat, and have never gotten takeout either. My wife does almost all the shopping. I have been out to hardware stores etc, but nowhere else that I can think of other than my four times a week hiking and seeking photo ops.
Oh, I remember now my only cash experience and it was funny. I needed cash for Christmas presents for grandchildren. I called the bank to have them set aside new money for me as I do every year. They said that due to the Covid they would not have new money this year. I said ok and then set up an appointment to come to get the cash via the drive through. The bank itself is closed to customers except for certain appointments. When I got to the drive through the bank manager came to the window to take care of me and I laughingly explained that I had no idea how to proceed because in my 15 years with my bank I had never used the drive through. She coached me through it and we had quite a few laughs getting this almost 83 year old guy through the process.
Everett, I hadn’t used the drive thru at my current bank until the pandemic hit either. But I’d used them in previous banks so it wasn’t a big deal.
At first glance I thought those Eagle footprints were flying ducks.
You’ve got a bunch of “avian components” in the post: a bird on your vaccination record and bunches of Bald Eagles on the bills.
I would have gotten vaccinated by now but it appears here in Washington they require a $10,000 donation to a hospital to cut in line.
Birkenstocks? Are those legal in Utah?
$125 to wash the truck? Call me next time and I’ll come over with my bucket and sponge.
Lyle, it costs me $8 each time I wash my pickup. So I must have washed it about 15 times in 9 months. I’m afraid you wouldn’t get rich washing my truck.
Those don’t look like eagle footprints to me although I have never seen any. Did that disconnect make you smile?
It sure did, Pam. At first I thought those tracks were some kind of shorebird silhouette.
Congratulations Ron, on getting vaccinated. Like you, my preference was for cash, but in our contactless world, it’s not as useful. Stay well.
Gail, it’ll be interesting to see if I go back to cash after the pandemic, if there ever is an “after the pandemic”.