gloomy but efficient

 This is the scenic dumpster area where Kaiser does the Covid testing. There was only one other car and of course I had an appointment yesterday. I had to back out after the swabbing and managed to avoid hitting orange cones and more dumpsters, but all in all, an OK experience. The first of many times here, I fear.

and then I exhaled

 I went back under the big Kaiser tent yesterday for the 2nd Covid-19 Vax. My arm is just a bit tender but no other abnormal issues ~ Dancing Jen said that she got the chills 24 hours after the shot. I can handle that, I'm just so very relieved and I feel grateful and hopeful.

The Happiest Place on Earth

 Forget Disneyland ~ here's the big white Kaiser vaccination tent on Geary Street. Oh, joy. Which arm? Thanks to Dancing Jen who suggested the one I don't sleep on as there can be tenderness, in a good way. Which vaccine? Kaiser chooses and I have the Pfizer, meaning I go back in three weeks for dose #2 and that is already arranged, then and there, appointment made. Everyone smiling under their masks and the nicest bunch of doctors, nurses, vaccinators and people getting shots that you will ever find anywhere. One doctor told me that they normally do 500 arms a day and are planning on 1,000 each day this weekend. All very well organized and yes, I am so grateful. 

not a perfect process

 Kaiser is usually so organized, but not this time. The phone lines were jammed and the sign-up website was useless for a few days as we all begged and clamored to get our shots. But then finally yesterday the log jam ended and we all now have appointments. Mine is for Jan. 29th ~ hooray!

I heart Kaiser

Yesterday I got the flu shot and the needle technician said they are busy early this year with lots of first time vaccine customers. I have zero patience or tolerance for people who do not appreciate the work of doctors and scientists who try to make our lives better. There is one bloated dictator (Trumpolini) who loves that White House balcony that every U.S. president has avoided forever ~ he thinks he knows more than the dedicated medical experts and he is going DOWN on Nov. 3rd. Please. (Cool new heart sculpture in front of Kaiser so of course I wanted a photo for my hundreds of readers.)

letter from my doc

I am more than pleased to be with Kaiser and my doctor is terrific. In
her letter yesterday she sent tips for staying healthy in body and mind.
Kaiser members now get Calm and MyStrength apps for free. Ommmmm.

an eye to the future

This is not me, just in case you thought I managed a huge transformation.
I did, however, have a cataract "procedure" (don't you love that word?)
yesterday at Kaiser and today the patch is off and the vision is blurred,
but it will improve. I suggested to the doc this morning that I could have
used the "relaxation medicine" sooner in the day, but he said that they
were afraid that the patient would change her mind and say, "oh, everything
is just hunkey dorey, I don't need any eye surgery." And it looks like I
don't need the other eye (left) fixed for maybe a year or two. Yippppeeeee!

mum's the word

...and pansy is the semi-colon. I said goodbye to those two glorious
days of summer and planted fall mums on my last day of vaca. I can
see clearly that the back deck fence needs work.

Re-entry yesterday to the working world wasn't too bad, but it
seemed like a long day. Perhaps you've noticed that non-work days
zip by. This is the time of year that I do all the doc checks and it's
my first experience with Kaiser and I am so impressed. If this is
socialized medicine, bring it on! The doc gave me knee exercises
and I have been doing them somewhat religiously.

Freedom is one fine novel, by the way.