My health has taken a turn for the better.

[fred]

Hi folks. It looks like I'll be around a while longer. I'm tracked the source of an allergy that was taking me down and with the help of my new cleaning lady, it's all going to be clear sailing for a while.

I'm off on this beautiful sunny, 13 deg C., day. A little shopping & sun & moderate exercise, should do me good.
Best of Health to all.

[Elizabeth]

That sounds like good news all around, Fred!

Keep up the good fight

[happyheini]

Good news, Fred, especially in these trying times. Enjoy!

[kittykins]

I'm so glad to hear this Fred! What wonderful news!

I've been laid up with a foot injury. I'm feeling a lot better after 3 weeks and am doing well. I'm going to try to not drive for another couple of weeks though, but I am on the mend.

[Elizabeth]

Take care, Kittykins!

[fred]

yes. It was 21 C. here today and I had lots of activity. Rain tomorrow, but plenty of indoor activities to keep me busy.
All the best with that foot Kitty.
Everyone stay healthy.

[kittykins]

Thanks everyone! I'm doing really quite well considering. The specialist said it's like a sprain, but the small fractures are ligaments separating from the bones (sounds gross doesn't it? lol). I was able to get my first vaccine shot yesterday, WHOO HOO, the Moderna. I thought they were SO organized and talk about a well-oiled machine! I was able to wear my 6 1/2 sized boots and with the cane I did extremely well. Some of you may have heard that Dr. Isaac Bogoch, one of Canada's top disease specialists has commended our community for the good job they are doing with lowering their COVID numbers. We dropped 400 active case in something like 3 weeks. They targeted the homeless shelters and jails for vaccinations as that's how it spilled into the community (in addition to the eligible age roll out).

How are others doing with getting vaccinated? I hope you are all in good health. My second shot isn't until mid August, although I know they are hoping to move up the dates. I don't know if I want to fight with that Ontario Portal again, lol. I can see why some seniors are having trouble with it, although many people are more computer savvy.

[fred]

Best to see this on Bill Gates first. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8alro6mjcsU

He's not who you think he is and the Giant Pharma companies are a racket.

Remember China had WouHan infected and contained. Inside was the only "wild" Covid-19 virus in the world. The only thing that could cause a world wide pandemic was if somebody got out and started to spread it. The U.S. and Canada both sent airliners in to "Take their people out." Canada put them up at the Trenton airbase for 2 weeks, and later that was where Canada's first outbreak of Covid-19 was. Within 3 months China had eradicated Covid-19 in Wouhan.
I was practically jumping up and down at the time screaming at anyone who would listen that there should be no break in the quarantine. Now, 3 million deaths later, It should be obvious to all that if we'd let the Chinese handle it, it would have been over long ago.
The U.S. and Canada couldn't have done a worse job if they'd been trying to create a worldwide pandemic.
The levels of incompetence and corruption in the West are beyong understanding.

[kittykins]

I'm about 90% better now with both conditions and am thankfully a very good healer.

I think most of us are tired of the restrictions but we plug on. There's not much one can do, and this too shall pass. We have very few cases in Northwestern Ontario. Here there are 10 active cases per 10,000 and more than 80% of our 60+ aged people have been vaccinated with one shot . So we are in a very different situation than southern Ontario or Manitoba to the west. They have flown 5 people from Winnipeg to our hospital here, and 20 in total to NWO. I want to see my Dad in Manitoba, but will have to hold on for a while yet. I'm just glad he's doing SO well.

[fred]

I'm so glad you're feeling better also, Kitty.
Our 3rd wave has been going through N.S. for about 3 or 4 months not. We peaked at about 274 new cases a day and then it started to come down. I think we had 17 cases yesterday and Kings County is in for some loosening of restrictions tomorrow, so the VON nurse said today. I looks like it might be a nice summer. Lots of intermittent rain & sunshine each week, so the green growing things are very happy. Humming Birds are really active. The male was doing his mating dance a week or two ago. The female was at the feeder today and she doe look like an expectant mother. I think we have just the two so far this year, but something has been depleting the syrup: 2 cups every 6 or 7 days. So there must be more.
I made a pancake this morning and used salt instead of sugar in the mix. Ooooo, it was awful! I'm glad I checked the humming bird syrup before I put it out earlier this morning. It would have been a disaster for them.

[Elizabeth]

We've been very dry here and could use some of your rain, Fred. There have been a few storms but most have missed my part of the city. We even set a record for consecutive days in May with less than 1 mm of rain falling at the Airport - 20 days!!!

As you might guess, I follow events in Nova Scotia very closely, even watching the evening news broadcast most days. I hope that the slow reopening beginning tomorrow will work well after this most recent serious "blip".

Our official stay at home order ends tomorrow but things will not reopen, even slowly, until June 14th with some things having to wait until July.

Enjoy your hummingbirds - I've only seen one visit my feeder on two occasions since I put it out. I keep replacing the syrup every few days but it's not going down

I do have baby robins and baby starlings as well as a baby rabbit who are now joining their parents in visiting my yard. It keeps my feline companion happy watching all the activity.

[fred]

Nice to hear about the wildlife around your place. I've always felt that it's a good sign when I come to a place and hear birds singing. There's not shortage of that here.
It's getting late for me and I don't have energy to list the birds here, right now.
I should get a few things done here & get some sleep. Have a good weekend everyone.

[kittykins]

Other than probably a food poisoning episode a week ago today, I'm doing well. I learned to never reheat rice. I didn't store it wrong, but one never knows what happens at the restaurant. Chicken Fried Rice is particularly risky. So, lesson learned, even though I've done it many times with no problems. Our COVID cases are very low here with 8 in our city and surrounding townships. There are 7 in district communities and 12 in First Nation that are within the area for our Health Unit. So, we were very disappointed to not get a regional re-opening especially when we are so far removed from the GTA. I know some other communities feel the same way as Ontario is such a diverse province. Our isolation helps us here. I'm glad things are reopening, although I need a haircut. I won't get to Manitoba until Sept. I don't think, as they are in bad shape, although my Dad's community is the best in the province. He's also doing well, and I miss his cooking!

[fred]

Here in N.S. we have our's down to around 10 or 15 new cases per day, and declining. I think we'll be lessening safety precautions soon. That leaves us safe until someone releases a new strain of the virus, or another kind altogether.

[kittykins]

We've moved into Stage 2, so haircuts are available now. We have something like 6 active cases in the whole area, which is a large one. The city here is doing well.

Happy Canada Day everyone. I'm getting together with a friend but it won't be anything fancy this year. The nerve problem in my neck has resurfaced its ugly head...say a prayer for me that it calms down. It's very annoying. I have started accupuncture and will have it again tomorrow.

[fred]

N.S. has 4 new cases on record. None in the Western section where I am. We're loosened up a bit here. Still wearing masks when we go into a store. But I could go biking almost any time without any problem.

[kittykins]

N.S. has 4 new cases on record. None in the Western section where I am. We're loosened up a bit here. Still wearing masks when we go into a store. But I could go biking almost any time without any problem.

That's great Fred. Things are pretty loosened up in my areas too, both NWO and Manitoba. They keep talking about the new wave, but the people I see are just ignoring things like that and going on with their lives. I still wear a mask in stores, although most people are not. Once I'm not living with a senior, and also receive my 2nd booster, I will consider not wearing a mask most of the time in places such as church.

[fred]

We still wear masks here, for the hopsptial today when I went for my blood test, they give me a new one even though I already had one. People hve even stopped scolding those who don't wear one. I'm not sure where to get data about the number of cases. Omcron is often mistaken for a cold, and vice versa. I think that makes it really difficult to get statistics.
I think we'll see a new virus arising in Sept. Just in time for the students to go back to school. Home schooling should be a good alternative. Education is so important in times like these.

[Elizabeth]

Fred - you can find all the latest statistical information for Canada here: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/ ... ction.html

Unfortunately, the requirements for testing and reporting vary from province to province and I'm sure that the actual number of positive cases is higher than what is reported officially.

Many mask mandates have been officially lifted and it is left up to individuals to take their own precautions, for themselves and others. In the meantime, many indicators, such as wastewater results, are rising. We are said to be in a 7th wave with predictions for another in the Fall.

Those who think the pandemic is "over" are mistaken - the new variants of the virus have proven to be increasingly communicable

[kittykins]

As a former educator, I'm not a fan of homeschooling as part of education is interacting with other children your age. It's also very bad for children in abusive homes. Perhaps you were meaning Fred that remote learning might be an option later. It's not the best from an education perspective, but worked fairly well I think earlier in the Pandemic.

Most of our stats are related to how many are in hospital and ICU, as well as new cases identified. I used to check the numbers every day, but now it means less in some ways. At least we know the number of cases that are the most severe.

Yes, that's very true that the Pandemic is not over, and we need to take precautions, but it is unhealthy in some ways for us to be scared all the time. I wear a mask out in public most of the time and plan to get my 4th shot soon.

I'm glad everyone is doing well. Please say a prayer for me as I am dealing with a skin problem, eczema that somehow turned into an infection on my face. I now have anti-biotics and feel much better after taking only 2 of the pills. Still, I have a ways to go. I feel 100% better though and have more energy. The headaches and nausea I was experiencing are going away now too.

[fred]

Glad to hear that Kitty. I'm feeling better than I was a few months ago. I actually sent a spray of flowers to the medical office that I go to and thanked them for all they do.

[kittykins]

Glad to hear that Kitty. I'm feeling better than I was a few months ago. I actually sent a spray of flowers to the medical office that I go to and thanked them for all they do.

That's great Fred. I am doing better too now and am almost completely better. I'm so relieved that I got a good Walk-in doctor. I've had to modify my trip plans though. It's very hot here and I'm just trying to stay out of the sun on the hotter days. I carry an umbrella around and look like Mary Poppins. If I'd done that in the first place, my original infection might not have been so severe. However, when one goes to a funeral, it's easy to be distracted.