Gator Pam

Blessed Ostara to those in the Northern Hemisphere. Merry Mabon to those in the Southern Hemisphere.

Happy Purim!

May I just express how touched I am by folks on the Eastside of King County? Especially the community of Bellevue School District's Odle Middle School? Washington State dropped the indoor mask mandate on Saturday, and we have been instructed to not request of others to mask up around those of us who may be immunocompromised or otherwise concerned for their personal health. When I left work last week, the Office Manager and I decided I would try to do the job from the currently unused Office Manager's office, as we had no idea how many people were going to go without masks starting today. But, when I showed up this morning, I asked if anyone had noticed if masks were being worn or not. Every person working in the office had masks on. All of the administration and staff I had contact with had masks on. Just about 90% of the students I had contact with had masks on. And just about every parent or guardian of a student who came in to the office today had masks on. I felt entirety comfortable working in my usual spot in the office, without the urge to shield myself further than the plexiglass and the double masking I have already been doing. How long this will continue I don't know. But for now, I am hugely relieved.

Rabbit! Rabbit!! Rabbit!!!

Seriously, everyone. This. If you are a fan of singer/songwriters, stop whatever you're doing and give this a listen.

I may be reading this wrong, but by putting Kmart and Target in the same sentence regarding the percentage drop, is the article saying they are linked at the corporate level somehow? If so, maybe Target is what accounts for the revenue of $4.9 billion?

Mystery codes sent out for today. Does anyone have a 40% off they're not using?

May their memory be a blessing.

ugh, ugh, ugh. I knew this antibodies treatment consisted of two shots, but I thought they would be in the arm...

Heard back from both my care team and scheduler. Antibodies injections scheduled for Thursday. Supposedly no reaction is expected, but they do want me to stick around for an hour after. I wasn't told I needed to be driven by anyone else, though.

I received an interesting phone call from a scheduler at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance today. Apparently eligible patients have been entered in to a lottery to receive the Evushield antibody therapy treatment, and my name was drawn. She was calling to schedule an appointment. Problem is, until then I had never heard of the program, and told them so. I didn't turn down an appointment, but I didn't book one, either. I asked them to talk with my two care teams, and have someone talk with me about the treatment. After we disconnected, I then did some research and learned that this is a treatment offered under an FDA EUA, that there is limited amounts, and as I stated above, appointments are only offered via a lottery. So... Did I throw away my chance at getting this treatment by asking them to have someone explain it to me? Is it a treatment I should pursue? Or at this point should I "sour grapes" it and say it is so experimental I'm better off missing out anyway?

I'm on the reduced rate for those on EBT for Prime. Has there been any mention of those rates increasing? I barely get any value out of Prime anyway; I belong mostly for access to gold box deals, etc.

That sounds amazing!

Actually, I guess they'll work until September 9th, 9090, nu?

Happy Happy to your grandson! I'm also looking forward to 2/22/22. But, no full on Palindrome Day again like February 2nd, 2020 until March 03, 3030. Which I guess will be the last?

Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous Year of the Tiger!

Rabbit. Rabbit! Rabbit!!

Shot #4 Booster #2

My son Beorn, now 28 years old but still on the spectrum, will only sleep on flannel sheets, even though he lives in Florida. He claims everything else is too stiff or rough, no matter how soft I can get them. I can only imagine he would go in to full hibernation if I were to spring for a fleece blanket...

Oh. My. Stars... The density of the King Cake works very well with my cuppa joe this morning.

Since it is Carnival season, I decided to try making a low carb King Cake for my birthday. I didn't put a charm/baby in it, but it was a fun experiment. Freshly rolled and just starting to rise. Well, bah. The top came off when I removed the towel after the rise. Fresh out of the oven. A bit brown, but I think that's the cinnamon "sugar" since the top layer came off. The base icing. The colored allulose. The inside. I was hoping for a lighter texture, and to be able to see the cinnamon swirls. Ah, well. My piece. It's a bit dense. But it's tasty.

Questions for friends in healthcare. I received an email last night from Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, where my doctors for breast cancer and leukemia are located, saying immunocompromised patients should now get four shots: if Pfizer the first two should be three weeks apart from each other, the third 28 days later, and now a fourth 5 months later. It sounds as though the third is now supposed to be a full dose, rather than a booster. I had followed the previous advice of two full doses three weeks apart and a booster five months later, with the booster being last August. I'm coming up on five months since the booster. Do I need to get a full dose to adjust for the dosage and timing of the third dose not currently meeting the timeline? Should I consider the mix and match approach and get Moderna, since the previous three were all Pfizer? And, has anyone else heard that immunocompromised patients should get a fourth dose? I know Israel has been doing such, but this is the first I heard, here. I don't even know if fourth doses are being offered anywhere, yet.

Ack, a day late. I hope those who observe the Orthodox calendar had a Joyous Little Christmas/Three Kings Day/Epiphany yesterday. May those reveling in Carnival and Mardi Gras let the good times roll!