I had my first Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine this month. As far as I can tell, I had no side effects other that a sore shoulder for 4 days. It felt about as sore as after getting a flu shot (or getting knuckle punched in the 6th grade). I hope when I get the second shot that I don’t get the “flu like” symptoms of fever, chills, aches etc.
I was surprised at how relieved I felt after getting the vaccine. It feels like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. I can see the light at the end of the lockdown tunnel.
I have made a conscious decision to trust that the vaccine will be effective. I have avoided digging into the stories of dangerous vaccines from history, new variants, questions about efficacy, big pharmaceutical conspiracies etc.
The swimming pool has gotten much busier in the past month. I recognize a lot of the oldsters from pre-Covid days have returned plus many new people. I suspect it is because they have all been vaccinated and now feel safe to return.
There are also swim lessons, kid’s swim practices and adult swim teams once again. That concerns me as the pool is crowded with possible disease spreaders (kids are little petri dishes of germs). But if the vaccines are effective and widespread, then perhaps Covid will stop being a pandemic and won’t cause another lockdown.
It’s been a long year of social isolation. I’m ready for the pandemic theater of masking, temperature checks, closed facilities, extra cleaning, lockdowns and tracking to end.
I have been eating full on carnivore for several months now. I’m leaner and more muscular than I’ve ever been. I am maintaining my old high school weight of ~136 lbs but with significantly more muscle and leanness everywhere.
I occasionally fantasize about cheese, pizza, chocolate, peanuts and ice cream. But every time I have given in to eating any of these in the past year, I suffered. I didn’t think I had an allergy or intolerance to any of these foods but since going keto then carnivore, I have logged a clear correlation between eating these and the following:
- Weight gain
- Bloating
- Cramps
- Digestive Issues
- Letheragy the next day
- Slowed Metabolism
- Poor sleep
- Joint Pain
- Mucous/Sinus issues
- Water retention / Swelling in Hands
- Acid Reflux
So for now, I am avoiding al of these foods. I have made several attempts to reintroduce cheese into my diet because I love it. It still tastes fantastic. But I always pay a price for the next day or two after eating. I demand a lot physically from my body so it’s a price I’m usually unwilling to pay.
Winter seemed particularly long, gray, rainy and dismal this year. I’m grateful we never had snow or ice storms. But weeks of overcast skies, 30 degree rainy days and little sunshine have worn me out.
I’ve even thought about moving back to Florida during the coldest and most dreadful dark winter nights. But man, I don’t want to move again. I love my neighborhood, this area and my home. Florida has too many downsides. I would be a snowbird for the winter though if I had the money.
Spring begins today. We’ve had a few days in the past two weeks where it was sunny and above 50 in the afternoon. I’m so ready for spring and summer I can taste it. I want to open the windows, bake in the sun, stop wearing gloves and put away my winter coat.
I haven’t painted in months. Drumming, walking the dog, swimming and working out consume most of my waking hours. After dinner I”m usually spent and too tired to think of washing out brushes outside in sub-40 degree temperatures. Maybe I’ll pick up painting again in a few weeks as it stays warmer and the sun is out later in the evening.
I spend a lot of time in my head. I’m reading regularly and listening to a lot of podcasts searching for intellectual stimulation. It’s been hit and miss.
The Hits: I’ve been reading about history – Rome, Greece, Medieval Europe, WWII. It’s been fascinating to learn things I never knew and to draw comparisons and similarities between then and today.
The Misses: Almost anything that is current and written about politics, culture or business . It seems like there is little quality control, a lot of regurgitated fluff and unsubstantiated arguments.
Many podcasts and books are clearly being run to make a quick buck. The content is abysmal and quickly turns me off. I suppose that’s not surprising since it is simply continuing the copycatting that has been prevalent in TV, Movies and Literature as long as I can remember.
That’s all for now. Happy Spring!