I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m an RN. You speak the truth. Everyone thinks they are immune. That the rules don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t apply to them. That it won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t happen to them. And then it does. I talk to patients all day. First the virus was \u00e2\u20ac\u0153out there, somewhere.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Then it started creeping into the periphery. You knew someone who knew someone. Then a bit closer. A coworker\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s husband, perhaps. Or a coworker, themselves. And then it hits your family. All of them. Even though they follow the precautions. I can tell by my conversations exactly what is happening with the virus before I even hear it on the news.<\/p>\n
The vaccine can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t come fast enough.<\/p>\n
Kim\u00c2\u00a0McAllister<\/p>\n
_______________________________________<\/p>\n
We’ve been sitting in our house in San Francisco since March, not seeing family in person for the holidays (even though they’re only a few hours away!).\u00c2\u00a0And now it seems like we just did it so everyone else could go about living their normal lives. I get it, life isn’t fair. I signed off social media because it just made me frustrated and angry.<\/p>\n
Greg\u00c2\u00a0Simon<\/p>\n
_______________________________________<\/p>\n
Bob,<\/p>\n
You are NOT alone on this!\u00c2\u00a0 My wife and I had the same basic discussion tonight.\u00c2\u00a0 You hit it on the head, no one thinks it will happen to them, and they\u00c2\u00a0“know their group follows the rules, so we can hang out on New Years, we’re all smart”.\u00c2\u00a0Meanwhile,\u00c2\u00a0 a friend’s relative – who they thought it was ok to spend Thanksgiving with, because you know, they are careful.\u00c2\u00a0 Just passed away from Covid. It is maddening.\u00c2\u00a0 Just tonight I went to pick up dinner at a local restaurant\u00c2\u00a0[PA just reopened limited indoor dining].\u00c2\u00a0 It was a small place, one couple dining in a corner, but as I walked in, there was this guy looking at a menu to order take out, MASKLESS!!\u00c2\u00a0 It was all I could do not to yell at him.\u00c2\u00a0 I just don’t get it.\u00c2\u00a0 I really think we’re doomed.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0Healthy and happiness to you! Peace.<\/p>\n
Chris Goerlitz<\/p>\n
_______________________________________<\/p>\n
Bob, we’re all locked down.\u00c2\u00a0 It just feels that way but as every day passes people closer to us are contracting.\u00c2\u00a0 Even the careful folks.\u00c2\u00a0 A Dr. friend said last year to me, around April, “we’re all gonna get it”.\u00c2\u00a0 The circle is closing in.<\/p>\n
Danny Ostrow<\/p>\n
_______________________________________<\/p>\n
It’s pretty shitty here in SoFla. Though plenty of people still wear masks, distancing etc., plenty do not. And where I am (Boca Raton) is pretty much a Dem stronghold, so wtf? And up the road in Delray Beach, downtown Atlantic Ave is packed with tourists and locals. Oy!<\/p>\n
I remember seeing somewhere (Twitter?), “How American of us to stop taking precautions during a pandemic because we’re bored.” That, plus the criminal lack of leadership (Trump\u00c2\u00a0and Gov. Florida Man) and we are truly fucked.<\/p>\n
But Happy New Year, Bob.<\/p>\n
Richard Pachter<\/p>\n
_______________________________________<\/p>\n
You are not alone.<\/p>\n
We quarantine my friend. We live in Syracuse NY. I just said this same thing to my wife that why is it I feel like our family is the only one playing it safe any more…<\/p>\n
Our county has more positive rates than ever before (like the nation). With that even, her coworkers don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t wear masks in meetings (teacher). I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m fortunate, working remotely. But our kid\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s friends have had sleepovers, go out to dinner, etc. We remain home.<\/p>\n
Sorry to hear of those infusions you go through.<\/p>\n
Just had to share from this side of town.<\/p>\n
Steve Anderko<\/p>\n
_______________________________________<\/p>\n
Every time I go out (which is very little – usually to take the kids to the park) I am shocked by how many people are out and the # cars on the road.<\/p>\n
Right after listening to an interview on NPR about rationing of crowded hospital beds and ambulance rides I saw the videos of the anti-maskers parading around Ralphs and the Century City Mall. \u00c2\u00a0I got so mad and frustrated.<\/p>\n
Agree it makes no difference to some but I appreciate you voicing your frustrations.<\/p>\n
Stay safe,
\nEric Stern<\/p>\n
_______________________________________<\/p>\n
My wife and I are “in the woods” of eastern interior Maine, surrounded by anti-vaxxers and COVID non-believers and Trump fanatics.\u00c2\u00a0 It ain’t good.\u00c2\u00a0 Meanwhile, a friend from my growing up days has died, here in Maine, and another friend is on 100% oxygen (not a ventilator, at least not yet) in Florida.<\/p>\n
Stay well.\u00c2\u00a0 And be proud that you’re living in the 64th best country on earth…<\/p>\n
Kevin\u00c2\u00a0Ritchie<\/p>\n
_______________________________________<\/p>\n
I have a friend who told me that I couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t get the virus.\u00c2\u00a0 He thinks it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a hoax. Now his son, grandson and wife have gotten it.\u00c2\u00a0 Now the narrative is that no one he knows, seventeen people who\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve had the virus have gotten sick.\u00c2\u00a0 They\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve gotten sick, but have not been hospitalized.<\/p>\n
I know someone in NYC that got COVID and died.<\/p>\n
I spoke with someone today I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been working with in California whose father got COVID and they had to put him on a ventilator.\u00c2\u00a0 His Pop\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s prognosis is not good. They expect him to die. My colleague could hardly keep it together when he told me this.\u00c2\u00a0 He\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s obviously devastated.<\/p>\n
So back to my buddy and his seventeen contacts.\u00c2\u00a0 He\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s still trying to convince me that people won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t get sick.\u00c2\u00a0 I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m not sure what parallel universe he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s occupying. Unbelievable…<\/p>\n
Tim Pringle<\/p>\n
_______________________________________<\/p>\n
I agree with you Bob. We are in another universe. I run for government in my town in NJ. My daughter is a healthcare tech at a hospital and she is bagging dead bodies everyday at 22 years old for $18 an hour. Ridiculous!!! I ran into our newly elected mayor who I was talking about my concerns, and she told me \u00e2\u20ac\u0153What are you worried about, its just a head cold\u00e2\u20ac\u009d, and laughed at me. So sad, because I like this person, but as a Republican, she has been brainwashed like so many. Living in a Republican town, and running for office as a Democrat, and trying to talk common sense in all these people is truly a lost cause.<\/p>\n
Nick DeStefano
\nDemocratic Candidate 2020 & 2018
\nPequannock NJ<\/p>\n
_______________________________________<\/p>\n
Going to the grocery store is like a demolition derby: move fast, don’t bump into anyone and get out safely.<\/p>\n
Same for you?<\/p>\n
Brad Auerbach<\/p>\n
_______________________________________<\/p>\n
I am Bob! And I’m getting really pissed at all those who, because of their willful ignorance, have extended this nightmare on the rest of us. Had the government just paid everyone to stay home, this would be over now! Instead of giving $12 Billion, which they printed out of thin air, to the owner-class, had they given the $8 trillion to pay everyone to stay home, the money would have trickled up to the rich in any case. It would have been less expensive (by orders of magnitude) to do it Bernie’s way.<\/p>\n
But . . .<\/p>\n
I am fucked!<\/p>\n
Kieron K. McKindle<\/p>\n
_______________________________________<\/p>\n
Hello Bob,<\/p>\n
Please don’t be too disheartened. I’m reading from rural France and feel as though only maybe one or two other people have observed lock-down like our household (that is too say, strictly, respecting germ theory!). We’ve been mind-boggled, angst-ridden, stupefied and furious about the general attitude of complacency and slavish obedience to (lifestyles of) convenience despite Covid’s raging – and often indiscriminate – horrors. We are resigned to it now – and just trying to reach a point of compassion – for in the immortal words of filmmaker Deepa Mehta: “people are dumb.”<\/p>\n
Anyway, hope you don’t feel like you are screaming into the void. From a farmhouse in France, we can hear you!<\/p>\n
Stay well and thank you for your work.<\/p>\n
Hannah.<\/p>\n
_______________________________________<\/p>\n
No, I haven\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t been around anyone except my wife and dog since March 11.
\nNo stores, restaurants, tattoos or bowling.
\nI am fortunate to be able to do this and while not easy, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m happy to be alive.<\/p>\n
Mike Donahue<\/p>\n
_______________________________________<\/p>\n
It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not even about politics it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s about self centered people vs community centered people.<\/p>\n
Problem is everyone who is under 40 is spreading it and traveling either going to Tulum or Miami or Weddings (!!?) or parties or seeing family for Christmas or New Years. People are selfish assholes. They don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t want their grandparent to die but they also don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t want to give up on fun either! We are fucked.<\/p>\n
Jared Shelton<\/p>\n
_______________________________________<\/p>\n
I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m writing to you from Sydney, Australia.<\/p>\n
We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve just been ordered to wear masks on supermarkets etc – for the first time. Until now they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been suggestions.<\/p>\n
This when we only have a few hundred active cases on the entire country with \u00c2\u00a0total casualty numbers being 909.<\/p>\n
We are closed interstate again and we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve got super efficient tracking now. A young asymptotic camper visited half a dozen towns but a tracker located him and was able to warn him right away and he did a right thing.<\/p>\n
Testing numbers are like 30-40 000 a day in Sydney and Melbourne each but we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve had close to 70 000 test days per city.<\/p>\n
As the social distancing still mostly works we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re ok. This is the holiday month and many, many plans have been cancelled as \u00c2\u00a0the state borders closed just before New Year.<\/p>\n
Still people are not really questioning or rebelling against all this. Seems common sense is prevailing over individual freedom right\u00c2\u00a0now.<\/p>\n
My elderly family lives in Finland. This will be most likely the second year in a row we don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t get to see them. But they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re are alive and healthy and so are we here.<\/p>\n
Wishing you and all L.A. people all the best.<\/p>\n
Aku Valta<\/p>\n
_______________________________________<\/p>\n
Bob, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve read your posts for many years and, yes, I do care that your medical condition may make the vaccine ineffective for you. The thing is, we got to this moment in the \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcGREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 by forgetting the admonition to \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcDo Unto Others As You Would Have Them Do Unto You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 which every religion and most belief systems embraces. We are all worried, scared and very tired of being apart from the ones we love. But if I manage not to spread this virus to anyone, I will feel a great sense of peace.
\nMay there be better days ahead for us all!
\nLisa Berryhill Davis
\nNashville<\/p>\n
_______________________________________<\/p>\n
Thank you for expressing the bitterness I am feeling towards my fellow humans better than I ever could. What has happened to compassion? And respect for education? Ignorance is bliss until you die I guess.<\/p>\n
Lynn<\/p>\n
_______________________________________<\/p>\n
My wife and I, and most friends I know here in CT are in total lockdown, masked when we go out on the trip to Stop n Shop or CVS…but it’s getting even scarier, so your take on things is spot on. I occasionally see people (mostly teens and twenty somethings) flouting the rules, too…<\/p>\n
True about what you said…if I had a heart attack tomorrow, could they get me to hospital on time, hurry hurry hurry….oh oh oh oh oh?… (my attempt at a modern day geriatric Ramones tune). Probably not, and if they did, would there be a hospital bed available? Probably not. And unlike you in sunny warm CA, we can’t set up emergency wards in the parking lot this winter. Like the dyslexic rabbi says, “YO!” But do keep sounding the warnings, Cassandra!<\/p>\n
Chip Lovitt<\/p>\n
_______________________________________<\/p>\n
Keep it up. Vermont is playing by the rules. We have hope. Jim<\/p>\n
Jim Eaton<\/p>\n
_______________________________________<\/p>\n
Hey Bob – Samantha and I are 1000% with you. \u00c2\u00a0We stay home – we get instacart and take out and tip very well.<\/p>\n
Still wiping down groceries like crazy people<\/p>\n
Hang in there brother!<\/p>\n
Stay well!<\/p>\n
Bill B<\/p>\n
_______________________________________<\/p>\n
As a husband and parent I look out for me and mine. Sounds like you are doing the same. As for those who aren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t taking care of themselves and those they care about, shame on them. To paraphrase Loren Eiseley, if it should turn out that we have mishandled our own lives, it seems a pity that we should involve others in our departure.<\/p>\n
George Laugelli<\/p>\n
_______________________________________<\/p>\n
I hate to put this on an email, but you and I might be the last two people
\nleft on Earth. I haven’t done anything except go to the store for groceries
\nand feel like I’ve been isolated since 2018. I can’t believe the idiots
\ngoing out for more or to restaurants or shows or trips (TRIPS!) throughout
\n2020.
\nWe will get through it.
\nBest,
\nEric Alper<\/p>\n
_______________________________________<\/p>\n
The more affirmation I recieve regarding vaccines the better . I shake my head at this one ..https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/11the.meme.show11\/videos\/406960050621477\u00c2\u00a0 an RN with a masters . I can’r wrap my head around it . How do you deal with the nay sayers ?\u00c2\u00a0 BZ<\/p>\n
_______________________________________<\/p>\n
I hope you are feeling ok and had a 2 and half hour session, not a 4 and a half hour session. \u00c2\u00a0I love when you piss in the wind because it is always so close to my pissings into the winds. \u00c2\u00a0I am dumbfounded by the hubris in America. \u00c2\u00a0I am amazed at how confused and overwhelmed with info I am, just to feel more unsure of any decision. \u00c2\u00a0I am glad you say it so when I say it to my pisser in the wind I feel less alone.<\/p>\n
Be safe. \u00c2\u00a0Keep writing. \u00c2\u00a0I hope the vaccine works for you. \u00c2\u00a0I wish I could take you to lunch at the Snug Harbor – oh how old fashioned a lunch date feels now.<\/p>\n
Happy new year!!<\/p>\n
Chris Moore<\/p>\n
_______________________________________<\/p>\n
I am in Lockdown Bob.. \u00c2\u00a0Stick with it!!<\/p>\n
XOXO<\/p>\n
Mardi Silva
\nController
\nLegendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise<\/p>\n
_______________________________________<\/p>\n
Keep with the message. \u00c2\u00a0I just hope the lunatics that don’t believe they will be affected wake up. Twelve year olds have died from it already yikes!!<\/p>\n
Chris Chapin<\/p>\n
_______________________________________<\/p>\n
The whole of Britain is in lockdown Bob. \u00c2\u00a0We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re with you. \u00c2\u00a0It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a global thing.
\nJulia Davis<\/p>\n
_______________________________________<\/p>\n
No Bob you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re not The UK is in total lockdown<\/p>\n
Happy new year<\/p>\n
Nick Stewart<\/p>\n
Founder & CEO.<\/p>\n
Nick Stewart & Associates | Man in the Moon Records.<\/p>\n
_______________________________________<\/p>\n
No, Bob, you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re not.<\/p>\n
I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t leave the house unless I have to go to Trader Joe\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s about once every six weeks because I get to borrow the cart and walk two blocks with cases of water and everything else come to your via Amazon or Amazon fresh.<\/p>\n
I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m in a bubble how about you? I bet you I leave my apartment less than you leave yours …<\/p>\n
– Howard Hughes (Liane Curtis)<\/p>\n
_______________________________________<\/p>\n
I don’t understand the convoluted logic that these people take. A friend posted today that flu cases were drastically down because of COVID preventative measures (they are). His conclusion? Those measures are not working for COVID, and should be stopped. And also, this proves that the case and fatality numbers are “obviously not accurate.” I also don’t understand\u00c2\u00a0his comfort with posting stuff like this publicly.<\/p>\n
Tom Grueskin<\/p>\n
_______________________________________<\/p>\n
Hi Bob, I wish you well! \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0I am a cancer patient (multiple myeloma) living on Vancouver Island….my doctor phoned me last night at 9:30, to ask how I was doing!
\nWe talked about the virus medications ….like you I will not be able to have the shot because of my compromised immune system….he noted that the new drugs were only tested on healthy people to keep the success rate high..and to please the Shareholders!
\nTo my relief all of my cancer treatments and drugs are free, and my prognosis is that I will be in remission for 2-3 years….I am 74.
\nPeople here are generally behaving well so far with cases flattening….
\nAll the best Jim Cameron<\/p>\n
_______________________________________<\/p>\n
I’m in San Francisco. My wife and I stay inside, or walk to the store which is half a block away. I do not understand how stupid people are. Especially the stupid fucking Republican cult believers who do all this crazy shit and then end up in the hospital on incubatrors saying they didn’t know or suddenly realize they were wrong. And then their enablers who say we must have sympathy for these people,\u00c2\u00a0because they believed what the president told them. I’ve seen a few of these recently on twitter. I have no sympathy.<\/p>\n
Anyway, stay safe!<\/p>\n
Alex Walsh<\/p>\n
_______________________________________<\/p>\n
No, you are not the only one still in lockdown.\u00c2\u00a0 My husband and I have been home since March.\u00c2\u00a0 We haven’t seen our kids or grandkids, except for one of our daughters and her children over Christmas after they quarantined for 14 days then took Covid tests.\u00c2\u00a0 No guarantee, my doctor said, “you\u00c2\u00a0should” be OK.\u00c2\u00a0 It was like Russian Roulette, luckily we dodged a bullet, but we won’t risk anythink like again until we’re vaccinated, if all goes well. We booked a family vacation in August, fingers crossed it happens.\u00c2\u00a0 I used to look forward to my weekly grocery store trips (masked up and well equipped with hand sanitizer).\u00c2\u00a0 Then when L.A. County started to surge, I moved it to every other week.\u00c2\u00a0 Now with this new “more infectious strain”, I’m considering having groceries delivered.\u00c2\u00a0 It feels like the walls are closing in and it’s 10 months later. Nothing compared to Anne Frank, but, like my mother said, “you can always find someone who had it worse than you, but it doesn’t negate your reality.”<\/p>\n
What you say has much impact and I think it will with the majority of your readers. I care about you and I hope you can take the vaccine. I’m not discounting anything you’ve said because, sadly, it’s true.\u00c2\u00a0 I don’t know what has happened to this great country of ours either.\u00c2\u00a0 Where, when, how did it slip away?<\/p>\n
God take mercy on us while continue to wash our hands, wear our masks and stay home.<\/p>\n
Merlene Travis<\/p>\n
_______________________________________<\/p>\n
Bob – I wanted to reach out, patient to patient. I do a 4 hour infusion every other Tuesday, so I know what you mean. But when people ask me all the time how do I deal with it I tell them this: to me, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s like taking a flight. Now, traveling always sucks but if you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re good at it and prepared, then it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s more tolerable. So here\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a few tips that might help:<\/p>\n
Comfort – My grandkids got me a blow up neck pillow with a nice cover. Really makes a difference. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t get the bead kind, they are never comfortable. The blow-up kind can be set for your own comfort level and when you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re not using it, it folds up very small and easy. As for your feet, look for a slipper\/flip-flop called OOFO. They are amazing. Especially when you get up to walk around.<\/p>\n
Food – I always bring a muffin or a bagel with me and eat before they start. I liken it to sitting on the plane before take-off. Actually takes the edge off a bit. And bring more food for later, even if you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t eat it. I like fruit or pretzels.<\/p>\n
Your Mind – Shut off the world! I do NOT take calls, I do NOT answer emails or texts and I do NOT watch TV. Like you I bring an iPad with 2 things in mind:<\/p>\n
1. I know the Benadryl will hit about 20 minutes after its in and I zone out. I plan \u00e2\u20ac\u01532-fer Tuesdays\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and pick 2 albums by 1 artist and que them up. Put on my bluetooth headphones, maybe some sleep blinders and zone out for 60-90 minutes. Nobody bothers me and when I come out of it, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m over Kansas City and time for a snack.
\n2. Twilight Zone – I download 3-4 episodes at all times on the iPad. Skip the intro and they run 23 minutes. Perfect way to kill a little time until seats and tray tables up.<\/p>\n
Peeing – Ask to get the hydration a little bit before and then the rest after. Not only will you pee less, but the after-flush is like that hot towel they bring you just before you land. Very refreshing and really hydrates you. Then you can pee after they unhook you and you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re in the “terminal”.<\/p>\n
And don’t forget to tip your bartenders and waitresses – I bring 2 dozen Dunkin Doughnuts with me each time for the nurses and staff. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s the littlest thing in the world to do but they love it. And after all, Nurses Rule.<\/p>\n
Hang in there. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s always good to vent. But keep looking at the horizon, never your feet.<\/p>\n
Be well and stay safe. All the best, Michael Reinert<\/p>\n
_______________________________________<\/p>\n
Hello Bob; long time reader here, first time caller.<\/p>\n
I had a thought and Yyou might know how to make it happen:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Last March\/April, the DOD made a big deal about deploying the Navy Hospital Ship \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Mercy\u00e2\u20ac\u009d to LA and a sister ship (Comfort) to NYC.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 As far as I can recall, neither got much use. The intent was not to house Covid patients (not a feasible idea due to the close quarters on a Navy ship) but to treat seriously ill and injured non-Covid patients, thereby alleviating some pressure on the medical infrastructure.\u00c2\u00a0 Like people with heart attacks, or cancer.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It would seem that now the LA health care community could really benefit from a redeployment.<\/p>\n
Assist hospitals with non Covid patients; and 3.) boost the community\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s spirits, particularly for all the beleaguered healthcare workers.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
How can we best communicate with the federal government or the military that we need help now?\u00c2\u00a0 If they were willing to do so last Spring, I think everyone agrees that it would be even more helpful now.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0Can we implore LA Mayor Garcetti to ask that Mercy redeploy to LA?<\/p>\n
I’m not in LA, but as an older guy with several pre-existing conditions, I am fearful of going into any hospital now, even here in Riverside County.<\/p>\n
Bill Knopf<\/p>\n
Indio, CA<\/p>\n
_______________________________________<\/p>\n
This made me laugh, in a good way, you talking about trying to pass the time during your shots and anxieties about being in public. \u00c2\u00a0The rest of the screed I agree with completely, tho it sets my blood a-boilin\u00e2\u20ac\u2122. People are lazy, stupid and entitled, especially in America, and especially certain groups of Americans. \u00c2\u00a0And I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know which is worse, the virus itself or the infection of jingoism and ignorance you mention.<\/p>\n
I saw someone post on social media yesterday a meme with an image of people being herded into trains by the Nazis with the caption \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Just do what you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re told, everything will be alright.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00c2\u00a0I can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t even fathom the ignorance and entitlement that would embolden a white male wasp to compare himself to victims of the Holocaust for having to wear masks and take small safety precautions for the health of others.<\/p>\n
I also can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t understand why it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s taking so long to administer the vaccines. \u00c2\u00a0What IS the hold up?<\/p>\n
You, you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re not pissing in the wind, at least you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re doing your homework and taking the time to share your story and some knowledge and that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s appreciated. \u00c2\u00a0Thanks Bob, and stay healthy!<\/p>\n
Geronimo Son<\/p>\n
_______________________________________<\/p>\n
Thanks for sharing your your medical issues and your conundrum. I hope the Rituxan doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t negate the COVID Vaccine.<\/p>\n
But I have another question..WTF IS GOING ON IN LA COUNTY???<\/p>\n
I grew up in Lakewood, went to art school in Pasadena, lived downtown 35 years ago, then in Hollywood before moving to New York where there are skyscrapers, subways, buses and most people don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have cars. Real human density.<\/p>\n
We figured out a way to slow the progress of the pandemic.<\/p>\n
I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m curious as to your opinion of what is going on in LA in regards to the pandemic???<\/p>\n
While it would appear that everyone must be deeply tongue kissing each other for hours in between orgies, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m pretty sure that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not the case. I get that much of LA is dense (yes literally and figuratively) as is much of this country (70 million morons voted for the worst manager ever), but it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s warm, I remember all the 75 degree Christmas\u00e2\u20ac\u2122.<\/p>\n
Please let us know why you think LA is exploding with cases. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m not shitting you, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a goddamn mystery from 3000 miles away.<\/p>\n
I think your audience wants to hear this, we read your honest take on so many other topics.<\/p>\n
Thanks – Darryl Estrine<\/p>\n
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You are correct…LA is the epicenter for Covid 19 today.<\/p>\n
If LA county was a state, and with 10M people it would be a good size state, it has the most deaths of any state except TX in the last week, and TX is 4 times its size…actually LA would be the worst state for deaths per capita at 1.8 deaths in the last 7 days, next being Kansas at 1.7.<\/p>\n
It looks like hospitalizations for CV-19, which is the most reliable statistic, shows CA might be hitting its peak, but that may be because they are running out of room.\u00c2\u00a0 If this is a peak then the next two weeks will be the worst for deaths and hopefully we will see a decline the second half of this month.\u00c2\u00a0 As this flu moves quickly with seasonality, LA could be all clear within a couple of months.<\/p>\n
Good point about the new vaccines, based upon new technology they may work better for someone like you than the traditional ones, like the one most recently approved in the UK that has been in development for 10 years (the baseline vaccine).\u00c2\u00a0 That’s the one I’m waiting for…I have great hope for the new technology used to develop the new vaccines and the promise it holds to\u00c2\u00a0treat more diseases in\u00c2\u00a0the future, but I’ll go with the tried and true for now.<\/p>\n
Stay Safe!<\/p>\n
Ed Kelly<\/p>\n
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I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m with you Bob. Not quarantined because I work outside the home, but I have incredibly minimal interactions with anyone outside my family, and never maskless outside the home. I simply love my entire family too much to play the risky game with this. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m germ averse as it is, and think most people are super careless and gross (pre pandemic) so winter always made me freak out. Now? I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m so pro mask – I intend to keep wearing mine during cold and flu season, long after this vaccine has done its job. No doubt covid will flare up just like the flu so maybe we should change the name of the viral season… I always admired eastern cultures who would mask as a courtesy when the bugs are being passed around. Common sense but hey.<\/p>\n
I frame this situation to my 6 year old like this: all of us at some point are called on by our country to do hard things for the good of others. Grandma and grandpa did it, my grandma and grandpa did it, and now we are doing it too. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s our duty to look out for everyone around us, and sticking together as a family and wearing our masks, and visiting folks on the iPad is the best way to do that right now. A super long and wonky way to learn compassion and selflessness, but that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s the lesson to teach.<\/p>\n
My kids are bored, my wife wants me to take her on a date, and my parents miss us. But we are healthy, we can still stand each other and I rest easier knowing we haven\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t contributed to the spread and are trying to be a small part of the solution. We are pretending to be bears hibernating for the winter, eating lots of cookies and continuing to learn to love being together more than being apart.<\/p>\n
Wish you well Bob, I look forward to your writing and have for a decade. Stay safe and healthy and we will all see this on the other side. My wife reminds me that a better tomorrow often requires a lot of nasty struggle first. We are in the throes now, we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve gotta believe (and behave) as if a better future is ahead.<\/p>\n
Eli Chastain<\/p>\n
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Your words are hitting some of us.\u00c2\u00a0 I don’t want anything to do with COVID-19.\u00c2\u00a0 I don’t have a medical condition that puts me in a severe red zone if I contract this thing, but I also like being able to taste my dinner and, oh yeah, breathe and survive.\u00c2\u00a0 I can’t believe the Tweets that I read from the LA Times talking about 2020 holiday travel numbers setting records.\u00c2\u00a0 People are fucking maniacs and I’m tired of people not giving a shit about the citizens around them.\u00c2\u00a0 Was it SO important to have an in-person holiday dinner that risking health to get there was worth it? That’s nuts.<\/p>\n
I stay home for work and generally stay home 90% of the time.\u00c2\u00a0 The 10% that I leave is to get groceries or bathroom items.\u00c2\u00a0 That’s it.<\/p>\n
I don’t have COVID.\u00c2\u00a0 I’ve been tested.\u00c2\u00a0 I don’t want to get it.\u00c2\u00a0 And if I had it, I don’t want to give it to people.<\/p>\n
We’re greedy, narcissistic, selfish human beings in America because we’ve been told time and time again how great it is here.\u00c2\u00a0 That’s all bull shit.\u00c2\u00a0 Our health insurance situation is shit.\u00c2\u00a0 Education is expensive and out of reach without MASSIVE debt.\u00c2\u00a0 LIVING is expensive.\u00c2\u00a0 Everything is being peddled for profit by some suit in a highrise. I’m tired, man.<\/p>\n
I knew we’d be in trouble when it was being said that it was going to take a communal effort to get this thing in control.\u00c2\u00a0 In all honesty, I don’t trust my fellow citizens on that level.\u00c2\u00a0 I kinda know the American life score and it’s sad but so very true.<\/p>\n
Best to you with your health on all levels.\u00c2\u00a0 I’m in this thing with you to keep up my end of the bargain.<\/p>\n
David Moorhead<\/p>\n
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Man! It sounds like you really have to go through it with the drip process, \u00c2\u00a0and very often too. Six month increments is a ritual I bet. For the grace of God there go I. I just have to see my 2 Cancer docs once a year. I know I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m lucky.
\nI\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m still staying in. I cheat to buy a bottle every other week. All else is online and drive up load my trunk please. Mail and work from home on computer. I am lucky.
\nThe distractions of football and soon to be baseball are welcome. Music still #1 but no shows. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve not tried an online show yet. It can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be the same.
\nBought gas 3 times since March. One time was for lawn mower.
\nHad a nice garden but that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s over now.
\nI\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m up for doing it all again to stay safe. I know I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m lucky.
\nKeep the faith.<\/p>\n
Chuck Thatcher<\/p>\n
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I’m with you, both still in lockdown and being treated with Rituxan (though for Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis). When I had my infusions last month, my doctor (the one overseeing the Rituxan infusions that is) advised that the Covid vaccine would likely still be generally effective, but not as effective as it is for the general population… so who knows, at least for now. \u00c2\u00a0In any case, good luck and stay safe!<\/p>\n
Dave Pierfy
\nWright Entertainment Gro<\/p>\n
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My Uncle has taken Rituxan treatments for almost a year, to deal with a neurological\/neuropathy issue.<\/p>\n
He now has COVID, and has been in the hospital since Christmas, with no sign of leaving in the foreseeable future. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a virtual lock that those Rituxan treatments destroyed his immune system, and not allowing his body to develop antibodies to fight the virus.<\/p>\n
They\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve given him Convalescent Plasma treatments – where they infuse him with the blood donated by people with the antibodies – and it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not working. He just can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t produce antibodies even when they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re fed into him. Thanks, likely, to Rituxan.<\/p>\n
He has good and bad days, mostly bad. Ventilator might be on the horizon, though he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s staving that off so far.<\/p>\n
Food for thought.<\/p>\n
Stay healthy and safe.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u201dRob Maurer<\/p>\n
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Bob, during a virtual Dr appointment today I asked my doctor how will I know when I am eligible for the vaccine, who will tell me and how will I be told. She paused for a moment and literally said… \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I have no idea, we haven\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t been told anything.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Michael Brandvold<\/p>\n
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I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been on lockdown since
\nMarch 10.<\/p>\n
If we could only get the media to shut the fuck up and focus on the population and promoting living-a life.
\nStop selling, spinning, more,more, more…<\/p>\n
STOP THE egomaniacal opinions,
\nwe might have a chance if WE all remember<\/p>\n
We are all HUMAN
\nall made from the same material
\nStop the identity BS
\nFOR soon no one will identify
\nwe all will b gone.<\/p>\n
U treat the vaccines like a touring show and WW2.
\nU commandeer all the refrigerated trucks, thousands of the trucks.
\nFEDEX UPS WTF?
\nvaccines should go to places like dodger stadium, the new billion dollar temple to football in Inglewood and all those other wastelands of parking lots.
\nIn smaller towns, smaller venues.<\/p>\n
HELLO LIVE NATION!<\/p>\n
Then Take all the out of work production managers\/ crews\/ that have made rock n roll WORK
\nto make this happen.
\nOVERNITE!<\/p>\n
I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m so disappointed in our country.
\nEspecially how money only matters.<\/p>\n
StayWell and safe.<\/p>\n
Marc Brickman<\/p>\n
<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m an RN. You speak the truth. Everyone thinks they are immune. That the rules don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t apply to them. That it won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t happen to them. And then it does. I talk to patients all day. First the virus was \u00e2\u20ac\u0153out there, somewhere.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Then it started creeping into the periphery. You knew someone who knew someone. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1,17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16985","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-life","category-politics"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p96vPs-4pX","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16985","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16985"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16985\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16986,"href":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16985\/revisions\/16986"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16985"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16985"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16985"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}