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Good morning everyone on this Friday morning January 1, 2021
Good morning to everyone on the Front Porch on this January 1, 2021!
Ringing in 2021 at San Filippo Neri Hospital in Rome. Credit...Antonio Masiello/Getty Images
A difficult year comes to a muted end
Most places in the world, from a virtually coronavirus-free New Zealand to an Ireland in lockdown, have now greeted the arrival of 2021.
In Auckland, a fireworks show and parties went on as usual. The Chinese city of Wuhan, where the virus first emerged, enjoyed boisterous festivities. But in general, celebrations were muted — or virtual — as the world bade good riddance to a difficult year. In most cities, there were no roaring crowds, no gatherings for fireworks shows and, let’s hope, no strangers kissing at midnight.
Though Madrid eased its curfew for the night from midnight to 1:30 a.m., people were told to stay at home as much as possible, to eat the traditional New Year’s Eve grapes while watching events on TV (and gathering in groups of no more than six). London’s Big Ben, largely silent in recent years as its clock tower underwent renovations, rang 12 times at midnight. And in Paris, the only people roaming the Champs-Élysées were some of the 100,000 police officers deployed around the country to prevent crowds from gathering.
@LaDolceVita … I’m sorry about your doggie Tiger! My friend has a cat with diabetes and when we used to meet for breakfast she’d always say, “I have to go home and shoot the cat.” (insulin) 😸
I’m glad you are not affected by the worst of this country’s weather.
Well…this weather certainly is not my cup of tea/coffee!
I am still snowed and iced in from the storm on Thursday and then…
Had a rude awakening at 7 AM…heater making a clanging noise. My heart started pounding. Just what I need…no heat. (I really can’t tolerate the cold lately. I can see why seniors move south!) Called the company and of course got the night answering person who took my info and said that they’d get back to me. Around 8 AM I got a call and the guy said he’d be over within the hour. He got here about 8:45.
Then he left to get a part and came back. Sure hoped he could fix it as it was getting cool in here. When he left for the part, he had fixed it so that there was heat, but still the clanging. (My head was starting to clang, too!)
He left around 10:45, and my heater is fixed… THANK GOODNESS!!!!!! I was so happy that they were that fast!
Wish I could send some heat and water to the poor folks in Texas.
Then I went out to try to re-shovel the path I made to the street yesterday, but it has since been packed down and iced over, so some areas are just solid ice. I think I may be stuck here until June.
I sure hope that everyone on the porch is safe from bad weather conditions.
Hi there, Peeps!
It was not too bad clearing the snow yesterday, so I was able to run to the Giant for a few groceries this morning. I am pretty sure I won’t be able to make my regular Sunday morning run since ice is predicted Saturday night into Sunday. UGH!
Apparently we are in for more ugly weather…it’s the ice I hate most… three more times before next weekend. As always, I just hope the power holds.
@RosemaryF433825 …that sounds like a good decision about the birdseed. If I did that I’d have every squirrel in the county come along. I envy you with a new kitten! 😻
@MsStretch …our state continues to be in an utter mess with the vaccines. Heard from my medical network that it may be 12 weeks before they will be reaching out to us (and I mean the 65 plussers!) Trickling in like @RosemaryF433825 said.
@Frozenoem ... Yeah, deliveries from companies other than USPS are seemingly on time. Just ordered a bunch of staples from BOXED yesterday, and UPS just dropped it off. That was amazingly fast…paper towels, paper for the printer, Lysol spray, etc!
@LaDolceVita ...sorry to hear about the laryngitis. I hadn’t heard if it is a COVID symptom or not. I used to get it once a year when I was teaching. Haven’t had it since I retired. LOL I must not talk that much now. 😹 It always was a thing on its own…never with a cold or sinus infection with me. I agree with Rosemary.
Not too keen on brandy, Rosemary, but how about a shot of Jim Beam Red Stag black cherry bourbon on the rocks? That is a good one!
Guess I’ll just stick to my Chardonnay later this evening.
You all stay safe and warm now.
Hello, Porch Peeps!
I hope you are all doing/eating/watching something you love today!
Well, we got the ice, but it certainly wasn't as bad as other parts of the country. Ours was just the black ice that made going anywhere a no-no.
I looked out this morning and saw that everything was shiny, so went back to bed instead of getting ready to go to the grocery store.
Tried again to get an online appointment for the vaccine, but that was a waste of time. They gave out hundreds of appointments at 8:30, but I wasn't one of them. Oh, well. I swear around here you have to know someone to get a vaccination. Friends in the next county are getting their second one Tuesday. I know he worked for some medical group and therefor had an "in"!
And so I will wait.
Enjoy your day. Stay safe. Drink coffee. Take a nap.
25* and cloudy with a heat wave before Arctic chill and snow (I’ll take even 8” at this stage) for Monday.
Finally made it out to civilization (kinda). Time for Haven’s strawberry dipped.
Enjoy your day.
Froze
Oh what fun it is to play and walk in the snow! ☃
NOT!
@RosemaryF433825 Our governor here in Illinois has instructed that no vaccines are to be held back. I haven't heard anything about the states being numbered at all either. That's interesting! I just keep checking my county health web site so that I can get signed up for my 2nd shot which should be around the 22nd. More snow last night but the sun is shining again this morning. However, the temps are still in the single digits with minus degrees of windchill. It is winter though so just keep being happy that I wake up every morning to see another day. Everyone stay safe and warm. 
Good Afternoon Porch Peeps!
@Frozenoem…my GS cookies arrived on Monday after a couple days of delay. They don’t sound like they are broken. Haven’t opened any yet. Plan to have a treat on Valentine’s Day…which box to open???? Big decision.
@MsStretch …I definitely will take whichever vaccine is available. Besides pre-registering on the county’s website, I have now (hopefully) submitted forms for 2 pharmacies. Of course nothing is guaranteed, but I’m figuring the more lists I’m on, the better. Some places who are supposed to have the vaccines, have deactivated their online forms and are saying NOT to call the pharmacy. I understand that as they have regular pharmacy business to conduct.
My friends who are now at their Myrtle Beach house are scheduled to get their vaccines today. Waiting to hear if they did.
@RosemaryF433825 …good grief. Please be careful when venturing out in this snow. I still have about 10 inches against the door in my family room and my back door.
We got more snow on Sunday which meant my grocery trip was put off until yesterday. I wouldn’t have even been able to get out of the driveway yesterday if some guy from up the street hadn’t given everyone’s’ driveway a little help with his snow blower Sunday night. I asked if I could pay him and he said, no, he loves to do this. I need to find out his address so I can at least send a gift card. He certainly needs to pay for gas!
I need to get bloodwork done, so hoping I can go tomorrow morning before the next storm arrives. Looks like there will be more this weekend and into next week.
You all take care!
Hello to those here on the Front Porch this morning! Have a good First Thursday Morning of February 2021! Sitting here watching the freezing rain appear on the windows. The snowfall will start about 11:00 Am. Looking at another 5" of new wet snow by 8:00PM. Schools are all closing and roads will be a mess as it will be very cold for several days.
Good Friday morning Porch Peeps!
Woke to snow again, but an hour later the sun came out and has been shining brightly ever since. This should melt some of it. Yesterday I worked hard to get enough snow from the end of the driveway so I could finally get out this AM and get to the bank, Fresh Market, and of course, Starbucks! I did sleep well last night!
We got a few notices and an admonishment from our county about the vaccine:
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — The national vaccine shortage continues to severely impact Montgomery County, as the wait line for those eligible to receive doses in the 1A priority group has drastically grown.
There are now 139,926 residents pre-registered and waiting for doses, officials said. At the current rate that doses are being received, and the rate at which this line is being processed, it could take up to 12 weeks for residents to hear back about scheduling their appointment following their pre-registration.
Montgomery County residents are being asked to not share their COVID-19 vaccine appointment registration links with friends and family, or on social media, when they receive them via email from the county.
County Commissioner Dr. Valerie Arkoosh on Wednesday pleaded with residents to keep the link to themselves, telling them it isn't moral or ethical when people have been waiting their turn to receive the vaccine if they are not eligible for Phase 1A.
"If you receive an appointment link, that link is only meant for you based on your eligibility and whether it is your first or second dose. People are taking these links and posting them on social media and this creates the opportunity for people to jump the line and people who are not eligible to register," Arkoosh said.
"I am just asking people to be honest and not jump the line. If you didn't get the link from the county then you should not have the link," Arkoosh concluded.
I'll play by the rules and wait my turn.
@Frozenoem ...my GS cookies are supposed to be delivered tomorrow by Fed Ex. I'll let you know if I get cookies or crumbs! 😸
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