Coronavirus

[Randi]

Got my shot! Pfizer-BioNTech.
So far, so good. They were very well organized!

They had me wait 15 minutes to see if there was a bad reaction. At first I wondered if maybe I was feeling a bit odd, but then I got absorbed in my reading and didn't notice any symptoms

[jil]

I had the Oxford-AstraZeneca one (I'm trying to ignore all the reports of countries suspending it's use ). I was a bit achy the first night and by the time the paracetemol had kicked in I was kept awake by wind and rain lashing the windows, so not sure how much of the tiredness the next day was due to the vaccine! Still a little tired and I was going to say my arm is still sore but now I think about it, it's much better

They had me wait 15 minutes to see if there was a bad reaction. At first I wondered if maybe I was feeling a bit odd, but then I got absorbed in my reading and didn't notice any symptoms

I was a bit like that after my flu jab! They weren't doing the wait for 15 mins bit, although they did check several times that I'd never had a severe allergic reaction to anything. They just said don't drive for 15 mins.

[Michael]

I'm glad it went well for you both. I should get mine in April, I think. They're doing the 85+ people now.

[Randi]

Just took a nap!
My arm isn't sore yet, but based on past experience I expect that it will be by tomorrow.

[ggordon]

For me the arm was the worst part. It was sore within a couple of hours and still a little sore the next day. I felt a little dazed within about 15 minutes. That got worse for about an hour and then gradually I felt back to normal, except for a little tired, by evening. I keep reading reports that the second one is usually worse, but for me it wasn't as bad as the first. I've had flu shots that were worse.

I was fortunate to get the Pfizer vaccine, which so far seems to be getting the best reports for efficacy without serious side effects.

[AvastMH]

Congrats all - sounds like it all went reasonably well

[Randi]

P.S. On the way we passed Dippy (Diplodocus carnegii) who is still setting a good example by wearing a mask

[AvastMH]

Wow! He's been faithful to the mask-wearing cause for many, many months

[Randi]

So far, so good...
My arm is just a tiny bit sore where I got the shot.

[AvastMH]

So far, so good...
My arm is just a tiny bit sore where I got the shot.

Glad to hear it

[Michael]

[Randi]

Not even a sore arm any more!
I've had a sorer arm from other shots.

[Michael]

[AvastMH]

Happy days then

[Morgan]

A year ago our local YMCA closed due to the virus; we and the rest of the community took to walking, anywhere. Up and down the block. One of our favorites has been along the beach in Long Beach, CA. In early summer it was a little crowded with people biking, walking, skating, pushing babies and walking dogs. Over time the crowd has shrunk a bit. (Our YMCA called to say they are minimally open again.) We are not yet ready to go indoors, and so today we walked at the water line and enjoyed the fresh air. As of this morning, there were still 4 cruise liners in the Harbor, however. I guess it will be a while before people are walking around the Lido deck.

[Michael]

Our YMCA closed just over a year ago. It was closed for three months, and then opened on a reduced level. Exercise classes were limited to low intensity workouts, with reduced class sizes. No spinning classes, no aerobics. You had to reserve for a time in the weight rooms or to be in a class. They had an app for phones or iPads for reserving a class. For the first six months, classes in the gym were limited to 30 people: before Covid they had 60. Then, in December, they were shut down for three weeks. When they re-opened, classes were reduced to 24 people. On the first day of re-opening, I tried to phone to reserve time in the weight room, but there were so many people calling that the estimated wait time was 30 minutes. I gave up, and I thought I would try the Senior Strength class. I thought it would be pretty lame, but after one class, I was the one who was lame. I decided that the classes were very good for general fitness. They work on strength, balance, mobility and stretching. Each class is one hour long.

On the first day, there were only nine people in the class. The number of people gradually increased, and now the class is always full. Not having a phone, I can't always get in. The reservation time opens 48 hours before the start of the class. That means on Monday, people in the class with phones immediately reserve Wednesday's class. If I can't get into the Senior Strength for 10:00 I can always get into Total Strength at 8:20. (Same days: Mon, Wed and Fri.) Total Strength is much more difficult that Senior Strength, and generally the participants are about 20 years younger than those in the Senior Strength. Because of the mats, we do push-ups, planks and etc in between standing exercises like lunges and squats etc.

For Senior Strength, we have a chair at our stations. (Used for balance exercises and some upper body exercises.) The chairs are placed at least 10 feet from each other. For Total Strength, we have mats, similarly placed. Those classes usually have only about 16 people. You have to wear a mask going in and leaving the gym. Weights are left on your mat or chair at the end of the class, and they are sanitized after we all leave.

It feels very safe. Everyone keeps their distance when lining up outside, and we have to show our id and swear that we're healthy when we go in.

I walk to and from class, about 40 minutes each way.

[AvastMH]

That's an impressive set up Michael, and you use it impressively. If I had to go to the non-seniors I'd be able to keep up - with carrying the sanitizing spray around

[Michael]

After 45 minutes of the Total Strength, I'm just a mass of quivering jello, whimpering...

[Morgan]

I am impressed with the 40 minute walk to and fro!

[Randi]

Trimmed my hair last night. It looks pretty good from the front. I don't know about the back
Trimmed my knuckle a bit in the process, but it is fine today