Sunday, January 03, 2021

NEW YEAR'S OUTLOOK -- MEMORY MIX-UP

             "The November 3rd election was the most secure in American history."

This is a significant week in the continuing procedural steps following our 2020 Presidential election.

Countdown Dates.....

January 5, 2021:     Georgia runoff election for 2 seats determines U.S. Senate control.

January 6, 2021 at 1 pm:    U.S. Electoral College vote finalized, certified in Congressional joint session -- if truth, law and order prevail.

   ?  ?  ?                     Current Lame Duck President exits the White House

January 20, 2021 at noon:   President Biden is inaugurated.


SO-CAL

The first seasonal snow-covered mountains rising above my city attracted many to travel up the 2-lane road in vehicle lines that took drivers three hours to arrive where sledding was active on Mt. Baldy.  Late afternoon was time to return downhill but several hundred people became stranded overnight in their vehicles on the twisting turning mountain road since it was taking so long,  unable to safely descend back to the valley after sunset, partly because thawed snow had turned to black ice.

Meanwhile, in Southern California we are experiencing the beginning of significantly increased numbers of people testing positive for the coronavirus.  This is attributed primarily to viral spreading as a result of the actions of those who chose to ignore taking safety precautions as recommended by health officials during these recent holidays.  Hospital services here in Los Angeles County are on the verge of being impacted, jeopardizing delivery of patient care for all, coupled with possible staff shortages.

Vaccinations are beginning but at a much slower rate than has been expected.  Continued need to minimize further viral spread will persist in the weeks and months ahead.  


COVID-19 RISK ASSESSMENT

For whatever value it might be,  here's a possible tool for COVID-19 risk assessment that was reported to me  as being useful at microcovid.org. that I found interesting.

My research revealed Berkley Advanced Media Institute featuring this and some other visual reference tools that can be used for COVID-19 risk assessment.  The authors state:         

"As coronavirus case numbers continue to rise across the globe, we take a look at how COVID risk is being visualized.  Calculate your potential risk, see how coronavirus is spread indoors, and the impact of wearing masks."

"In this tool we state our best estimate based on available evidence, even when that evidence is not conclusive" as noted in their disclaimer.

I did use the calculator method to assess my risk of Covid -19 infection meeting with one workman outdoors, both of us masked.  Though I reside in high risk Los Angles County, California, USA, my risk assessment in that situation was low as I had thought it would be.  Perhaps results like this determined prior to an indoor or outdoor interaction with an individual(s), groups in various situations could be helpful.  This could be a tool along with other common sense considerations, including also using our best judgment about whether or not to meet with others, go to various businesses, a grocery store, a religious gathering, enter into other situations.


MEMORY MIX-UP

Losing track of time almost put a fly in the ointment of my planning for my Christmas dinner.  This is nothing new, first occurred to me when my children were young after they started school.  Anytime there would be special school days off for various reasons and my children would be home on a weekday the rest of the week often seemed like we had just had a weekend and my recollection of the actual day was thrown off.  Some of my friends said they had that experience, too, which we would laugh about, feeling relieved to know we weren't really losing our minds.

A work schedule always kept the days, holidays, well in perspective, too, but once I retired, regularly scheduled activities were altered.  There could be consecutive days which sometimes seemed quite alike, one after the other.  For whatever the reasons, apparently the week before Christmas I had it in my mind that holiday was on a Wednesday which was quite a different form of mix-up.  Having completed my Christmas gift ordering and shipping arrangements, my final preparation was to order delivery of the dinner I had decided to treat myself to having.  The order completed, I felt quite pleased with myself, ready for Christmas almost a week ahead of time.  

A few days later, I don't recall what occurred, it suddenly dawned on me that Christmas wasn't until Friday as I finally double-checked the calendar which I should have done sooner.  I was able to reschedule my dinner delivery date for Thursday afternoon instead of Tuesday to save the day.  The moral of this story is that I better reference a calendar more and not depend so much on my memory as I try to do to keep it honed and sharp.  I wonder if others get their days mixed up sometimes depending solely on their memories?  


22 comments:

  1. I do hope that your prediction about Biden inauguration goes off without any hitch. My best wishes for a much better 2021.

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  2. I keep a calendar right beside my desk; so did know when it and New Years were happening but it still felt strange to me. Those two weeks didn't feel right and maybe won't until we get back to 'natural' weeks.

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    1. I have calendars nearby and on computer, too, i just hadn't bothered to look at them.

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  3. Oh, I am at a terrible loss these days as to what day of the week it is. Rick is off, not only due to the holidays, but also because he is waiting to start a new job. Until he gets back on his regular schedule, I'll be lost.

    I just saw a report on the national news that because of masks and increased handwashing, social distancing, and less interactions, flu is down 98%, and the common cold is as well. Some of us who are intelligent and proactive are learning a valuable lesson about infection and viruses in general.

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    1. Good to know so we can be more proactive..

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  4. Happy that you got your holiday meal re-scheduled correctly, Joared.

    Keeping a calendar was never a strong point for me. I missed two final exams, my first semester of college in 1955, because of my inability to keep it straight. Thirty years later, I missed an interview with my 2nd-level manager on a new job - simply forgetting (at the last minute) that it was scheduled. Those are just examples that come to mind.

    For some reason, at some point in 2020, my mind quit telling me, upon awaking, "Today is...(Monday, Tuesday, or whatever)"

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    1. Those were significant day losses. Now seems often it doesn't really matter what day it is.

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  5. I laughed with you on this. I HAVE to have a daytimer and a calendar or I live in the void of meaningless days without name. I put in wee tasks or who to write to (snail mail) or knitting projects. To give the week a bit of meaning.

    Good luck on what threatens to be civil war down your way. Terrible times compounded by the pandemic. Let's hope Joe gets a grip on it all. I fear for his life.

    XO
    WWW

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    1. Sounds like you have days under control. Yes, we continue to face major issues preserving our democracy and it wont be over any time soon. I, too, am apprehensive about the increased violence having been encouraged by this lame duck president these 4 years.

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  6. I laughed at your comments about 'time loss' or time confusion. There were a few times last year when I wasn't sure which week it was, let alone which day. Even though I'm still working, I work by the weather, so there isn't any set schedule. It leads to a little extra confusion. I'm more than ready to get back to work tomorrow; the week is supposed to be pleasant all the way through, so I'll have a chance to resettle a bit.

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    1. Maybe you will be straightened out on days and weeks for this new year.

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  7. Can't wait for the lame duck to limp out of the white house and have high hopes for Georgia.
    Know what you mean about those mix up days. I now keep checking each morning to see where in the week I am and where I need to be. You suppose we could use a secretary?

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  8. Oh gosh, often one of my first thoughts when I wake up, before I open my eyes even, is, ‘what day is it?’ I still work full time, so it does matter as to whether I get to try to go back to sleep or not. Generally though, I am old enough that I can’t go back to sleep and I end up getting up.

    We had take out for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve both. Delicious.

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    1. When I worked keeping up with the days of the week did become more important so i can appreciate your experience.

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  9. I've certainly been getting my days mixed up. Most recently, I kept thinking I'd visited a dear friend this past Sunday, but it had really been this past Monday. As we're only at 'hump day' now, I'm a bit flabbergasted at my inability to recall recent dates. I think we are calling this sort of thing 'Covid brain'. :)

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    1. Covid brain is a good excuse, except I haven't had the virus as far as I know, or since I've never been tested, maybe I have and just didn't know it.

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  10. The storming of the Capitol building yesterday was quite extraordinary. Trump gives a whole new meaning to the term "a bad loser". He'll still be saying the election was fraudulent and he was actually the winner in a decade's time. But I was amazed at the total lack of security at the Capitol during such a vital debate.

    Incidentally, Jenny and I toured the Capitol building a few years back while we were in Washington.

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    1. Clearly an exploration of security, or lack of, at our Capitol yesterday needs to occur. I believe it will be under President-elect Biden’s nominee as Attorney General, Merrick Garland. I’m glad you were able to tour the Capitol building so any news coverage of what occurred there would have first hand significance given your remembered familiarity of that Washington D.C. experience.

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  11. I started losing track of time as soon as I retired. One day became pretty much the same as another and every weekend was a long weekend. I highly recommend this state of mind!

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    1. I do find it pleasant to have few scheduled appointments and obligations so I can do as I please, even do nothing if i’m so inclined on any given day.

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