Corona/COVID No One's Immune, Yep I Got It

Antigen test still positive
This was my failed attempt to 
"get out of jail early." It confirms 
that I'd been infected.

Yes, I did get Corona/COVID. 

Thank Gd, since I'm fully vaccinated to the maximum, it has been a relatively mild case. I've already graduated from quarantined to recovering, thank Gd.

I really am grateful that there are only two of us here in the house, and we have space, rooms, bathrooms etc. I can't imagine how those who live under crowded conditions manage to safely keep their distance.

I'm also grateful that the weather has been warm enough to comfortably keep windows open after an intense cold winter. My priority has been to keep my husband healthy. It has been strange staying masked at home, just the two of us.

Besides the awful fatigue and more congestion than I'm used to, I've had a pretty easy case. Fatigue is a problem, since even at my healthiest I don't manage to sleep enough.

I understand that I should be taking it easy for the next few weeks and not to push myself. At my age, that's a lesson for all the time. Recovery is always  harder the older you get.

Again, I thank Gd for my blessings, and this year, like the year my father passed away just a few days before Passover, I'll be doing minimum cleaning. I have to concentrate on the most important thing, the fridge/freezer. Stove top and counters need a cleaning and covering. I'm really glad that I chose the spare room as my first big project, so it was waiting for me when I realized that I was positive with Corona/COVID.

Stay healthy, and always look at the bright side.

Better Mask-Tying Makes Better Protection

 

I'm not exaggerating to say that a very high percentage of those who wear masks as protection against catching of possibly inadvertently infecting someone with COVID corona wear their masks so loosely that they are almost totally useless.

Even those whose noses are covered, sometimes wear their masks very loosely. One weak sneeze and it's gone. There's another problem with loose masks, fog. Yes, since there's no real barrier between one's nose and glasses, for those who wear them, especially in cool weather we find our glasses fogging up.

And using the elastic behind the ears can be be quite problematic. Earrings and even hearing aids can get dislodged and disappear. 

Now that I've joined the hearing aids set, I have to be very careful in how I wear my mask. I now tie the mask with a long shoelace or jersey yarn from my crocheting projects.

I find this the best way to keep my mask on. It's not all that difficult to do. 

Experiment.

Let me know of your successes.

Let's Hear Something Good, Life Under COVID Corona

Watching a class on Zoom

Last night I participated in a wonderful Zoom Family Reunion with lots of cousins from my mother's side. My branch of the clan is the only one in Israel, besides one cousin's granddaughter presently on a year's program. The rest are now spread all over the United States. Not all even live as Jews anymore, but we're all family. This was the second time we've done one of these Zoom Reunions, and considering logistics, finances etc., there's no way so many cousins could ever get together f2f, face-to-face. Zooming is easier.

That's why I decided to write about the "blessings," good things that we are now able to enjoy because of COVID corona. And of course all of these can be continued once it's safer to socialize and travel. I have no doubt that all of us can think of at least one thing that has gotten better. You're all invited to add your 2¢ two cents or more in the comments.

• ZOOM- I had never heard of Zoom before the first COVID Corona lockdown, and now I Zoom daily. All sorts of classes, meetings and reunions are done via Zoom. 
• video calls- Video calls have replaced f2f face to face socializing, too. You can't get as many people/participants on most of the apps, whether telephone, facetime or WhatsApp, but they generally don't need an additional application and can be done on most smartphones.
• no traveling- Now that we're not traveling, my study group and I meet daily, instead of weekly. During this past year, we've learned more than five times the amount of material we could have learned if we had still been learning barely once a week in Jerusalem.
• seeing the world on a screen- There are many people taking virtual tours, instead of packing up, spending a lot of money on flights, hotels etc. Even when they send in a "tip/payment" to the guide, it's a tiny fraction of what real travel costs, and a lot less exhausting.
• attending classes or events that once would have been too far to get to- As this year's Matan program began via Zoom, one woman in the audience happily announced that she had always wanted to attend lectures by the teacher, but distance had made it impossible. Now she's overjoyed to be able to attend without the need to travel.
  
• masks and general health- Many people, including yours truly, have noticed that we've gotten through the winter without the usual colds and flu. Masks and social  distancing have kept us healthy. Not only do they protect against COVID corona, but hospitals and medical authorities are reporting much fewer flu and other winter illnesses. Asians, who've been wearing masks routinely for years, have been proven right. Here in Israel, at least, the price of masks has dropped considerably. 
• less money saved on weddings and entertaining- The cost of weddings and other "event" entertaining had gotten outrageously high. Keeping up with the Cohen's pushed people into spending more than they had. Now that it's forbidden to attend large events, downsizing is the rule. The new added expense is "live streaming," so your guest can attend without paying for their food.

What would you add to my list?

Picture of the Day

MASK TREE

Sign of the times...

Sure better than all those littering the ground.

First Trip Out of Town Since Corona COVID-19 Pandemic

I ate delicious Orange Soup in Piccolino

I must tell you the truth. If I hadn't had a dentist appointment this morning, I never would have left Shiloh. But our dentist is in Jerusalem, and the appointment had been postponed for long enough. Corona COVID-19 Pandemic or not, I masked up and got on the bus.

It took a lot of self-control, but I decided that I wasn't going to confront anybody not wearing a mask. Though I'm debating whether or not to report the bus driver to the authorities. Most of the passengers on the bus wore masks, at least most of the time and other parts of their face. Davka, in Jerusalem the compliance rate of mask wearing was better than in Shiloh, especially on public transportation.

First glimpse of Jerusalem!

Of course I had to take off my mask at the dentist and at Piccolino. The dental staff was suited up in disposable suits looking like characters in a science fiction movie.  Aren't we all?

Besides the bus from Shiloh to Jerusalem and back, I traveled in the lightrail and a couple of other buses. The city seemed a bit less crowded than usual. Restaurants and stores seem to be suffering greatly. There are very few customers.

Before returning home, I bought more of the "jersey" or "t-shirt" yarn to crochet more small rugs, hotplates and potholders. When I had stocked up a few months ago, I was certain that I had a supply that would last me a few years. Zooming has gotten me crocheting a lot, and my family and friends are happy the get the results of my hobby.

The only little "incident" was on the lightrail when a woman began yelling at another one for not having her mask on. A few others joined in taking sides, but I had promised myself not to "make waves." The unmasked woman put her mask on eventually, after she finished her phone call.

May we all be healthy, and may this Corona COVID-19 pandemic end soon, Gd willing.

Helpful reminders to clean and mask at Piccolino.

No-Sew Mask Credit: Adventures in Mama-Land

I'm so glad to have discovered Tzivia's  Literally TWO MINUTE no-sew easy coronavirus mask from an old hankie (video + step-by-step guide).

I followed directions best I could. The only differences were that since my husband's hankies are a bit smaller, I had to fold a bit larger than by thirds, and it felt better to tie slightly differently around my head, probably because my scarf is different. But I'm very happy with the results. I'll probably cut some 100% cotton fabric the right size to have more.

Thanks, Tzivia. I really appreciate the idea and your hard work perfecting this no-sew mask.

PS I used about a meter of jersey yarn I've been crocheting with for potholders and rugs.