"The November 3rd election was the most secure in American history."
Winter has finally arrived here in Southern California. What that means where I live at the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains is, we're finally receiving some rain, but unfortunately not much so far. Our outdoor temperature is cold but not below freezing. The mountains above us are expected to receive snow. This weather may actually persist for a week or two.
Life already seems a bit more sane with our new U.S. President in the White House coupled with the administration he is forming. We now have a President who actually believes in his oath of office, is dedicated to protecting our constitution.
Our new President expects all government appointees and employees allegiance to be to our constitution unlike the personal demands of the person he replaced who betrayed his oath and the American people. Our new President promises truth which will be refreshing after the four years of all the lies to which we were subjected from our former leader.
Lots of unfinished business remains including achieving accountability from those who violated our U.S. Constitution while falsely claiming to be patriots defending democracy. Of course, any thinking person recognizes their violent overt and covert actions demonstrated they were in fact destroying democracy. Rooting out those destructive forces attempting to take autocratic control of our government will take time requiring also that we continue to guard against any others like them in the future.
I am heart-brokenly angered that we citizens must necessarily confront home-grown terrorists on our own shores -- that we are now required to take such action to preserve our democratic republic's freedoms. Still, that is our responsibility as our forebearers cautioned: "...if you can keep it."
I like the idea describing our nation's situation expressed by the young poet, Amanda Gorman at the Presidential inauguration. Our nation is young, we are in the process of growing which includes making and learning from mistakes. We are:
"A Nation that isn't broken, simply unfinished."
Covid-19 Vaccinations
A young family member on the east coast has been engaged in administering the vaccine. She also reports recently receiving her second Pfizer injection, experienced only some slight swelling and soreness at her arm's shot site.
Vaccinations against Corvid-19 continue here in Los Angeles County but not without considerable problems for those attempting to make a required reservation. Initially the reservation website system crashed but, hopefully, will now continue to be operative.
Complicating matters has been officials reports of receiving limited vaccine but only learning from one week to the next how much they'll actually receive. Obviously, how do they plan in advance each week how many reservations can be accepted under such circumstances?
Now that it has been revealed the previous federal administration did not hold back vaccine for later release as they had said, there is concern L.A. County may not have an adequate amount to provide the second injection when it is due for some recipients. Remains to be seen if that issue will develop or how it will be addressed.
What about Pfizer shipping fewer Covid-19 vials to the U.S. after language changes on the order when "extra" serum was discovered in the vials? Some pharmacists report having difficulty extracting that "extra" amount.
I'm considering here in L.A. County that there seem to be a number of issues surrounding possible vaccine availability, distribution, coupled with the rush of people seeking the vaccination as they invite more groups of people and open an increasing number of drive-thru locations providing the injections.
One large drive-thru at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds has opened near me. Years ago my husband and I went there a couple years when they offered the annual flu shot, which proved to be a very efficient process.
I've decided to bide my time for now, deferring getting the vaccination rather than getting caught up in the current milieu of people and issues. I'm sure many individuals are much more in need of the Covid-19 protection than I am as they need to work, risk having to encounter lots of people in their business and day-to-day lives.
Maybe the next vaccine will be approved for use before long. The most recent one mentioned is from Johnson & Johnson and is one injection. The clinical trial results will be released soon which will be of interest in terms of the efficacy percentage and side effects. Of course, we do not choose the vaccine we want to take and accept whatever is being distributed at the time wherever we live.
Meanwhile, I will simply continue practicing the precautions as I have been including staying at home more than I would have in the past -- a while longer certainly, but that won't be a great inconvenience for me.
What about you?
