Travel plans

I am contemplating travel. If I were to go somewhere, it would be stateside to pay my respects to my friend who passed away earlier this year.

It's not a normal travel goal to have. It is mine, which is normal to me right now.

I can fly to the States. I need to do a COVID-19 test, prove that I have been vaccinated, and take plenty of time to travel.

Part of me is excited. Part of me is not looking forward to the extra overhead associated with travelling during a pandemic.

I haven't decided when I'll head down, but it will be before this year is over. I'm hopeful and optimistic. I'm also overly cautious.

Food perk and a mini socialization session

I picked up a food perk on Monday. It consisted of two fancy, gourmet hot dogs and a free beverage. I also managed to run into two people that I haven't seen in over a year!

It kind of felt like pre-pandemic times chatting with people at a food event. We all have had two vaccination shots. Yesterday marked two weeks since I got my second shot, so I'm officially fully vaccinated.

I have been indulging in a lot of good food before and after my birthday. I can proudly say that I exercised every day during this period, so I don't feel bad about it. I'll get back to my regular eating habits soon.

Sore arm observations and patio dining

What's different after my second vaccination shot is the duration of my sore arm. It's longer.

I've been told that it's a good thing. It doesn't bother me until I touch it.

I'm meeting a friend at a patio for dinner later on today. I haven't been on a patio since last October. I haven't dined out since March of this year, just before our third lockdown had started.

I am so looking forward to patio dining.

Blocking an annoying friend

I have a friend who has been getting on my nerves for the past few months. I have decided to block him on Instagram.

The latest annoyance was my sharing the good news about being fully vaccinated. He went into technicalities after congratulating me that to be fully vaccinated requires the vaccine to be in my body for fourteen days.

I am fully aware of that fact. Why do people need to put a damper on a momentous occasion? I will hit fourteen days. I told him off and then blocked him.

His wife and I get along. It'll be interesting if they compare notes down the road where he can't see any of my posts and she can. I don't care at this stage.

He is the same guy who constantly asks me questions as if it were an interrogation. At least that has stopped that nonsense for now.

Fully vaccinated and I'm okay!

My second shot went well. I got it at 2:58 pm. The process was fast and efficient. I liked sitting there for fifteen minutes afterwards, outside, in the shade, with a cool breeze!

The drive was congested in certain spots of the highway that I was on. It's crazy that there is so much congestion when the weather is better, and more people are out and about.

My side effects after the second shot are similar to my first one. I have a sore arm. Nothing crazy like what I heard from my friends or colleagues. I am lucky. It's also amazing how our bodies handle vaccines differently.

My friend and I texted each other as I sat outside. We are both fully vaccinated. Just that fact made me absorb its significance. It's a great feeling.

I had taken half a day off as vacation time to head over and get my vaccination shot. My manager sent me an e-mail. He was okay if I took the afternoon off as a sick day and saved my vacation time. It was a nice gesture.

Four more workdays to go. The countdown to my real vacation continues!

Today's second shot day and my last week before vacation starts

Later on today, I get my second vaccine shot. I am looking forward to getting it. Here's hoping that all goes well.

It's supposed to rain for most of the day That's unfortunate. Luckily, I have an appointment and won't be waiting outside for hours like folks were doing over the weekend without one.

It's my last workweek before I take two weeks of vacation. Let's get this week over with!

Seeing and chatting with my neighbours on Father's Day weekend

I haven't talked to my neighbours in over a year. I had the nicest chat in front of our houses on Saturday.

I was taking my groceries and takeout from my car onto the steps of my house. The woman next door waved at me. It was nice seeing a human being and chatting with one.

We both didn't have masks on. We were definitely far apart that it was safe being outdoors. Her husband and daughter came out of their house to chat.

I was thrilled to chat and see them again. Her husband has long hair. It was wavy and looked nice.

The daughter got her first vaccine shot earlier in the day. We all have our first shots. I get my second shot on Monday. The husband and wife get their second ones in August.

It bought me great joy that they are doing well. They were going out for a Father's Day dinner. We are allowed to dine out on patios.

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!

Friday and second shot side effects

One more workday to go. Yay!

Friends and colleagues who have received their second vaccination shot seem to have mixed side effects Some experience a sore arm. Others have chills, aches, and fatigue.

I am not sure what will happen with me. In general, my track record seems to be positive after a vaccination shot. It's so unpredictable with the COVID-19 ones that I don't know for sure.

I am also doing a mix of vaccines. We'll see how all that goes.

Rescheduling my second vaccine shots - lots of effort!

I got my first COVID-19 vaccine shot in late April. My second one was scheduled for mid-August. In Canada, the guideline was twelve weeks between shots.

Recently, it was deemed safe to schedule shots eight weeks in advance. I got the first available shot, which was AstraZeneca. It has also been deemed safe to mix vaccines, so I can do Moderna or Pfizer. I also have the choice to get AstraZeneca again.

The problem is the Ontario Health site to schedule a second shot. After numerous attempts and rejections on Monday, I got an appointment for July 10 in Orillia. To put that distance into perspective, it's roughly 80 km from where I live, which would take over an hour to drive over there on a couple of highways.

Yesterday, I decided to see if I could get something sooner. I got July 6 in Alliston, which is slightly closer to me than Orillia.

The folks at Vaccine Hunters Canada are awesome. I saw a post that said that a clinic in Brampton had Moderna shots and there were no regional restrictions. Brampton is roughly 54 km or a 35-minute drive from where I live.

I now have an appointment for my second shot next Monday. I am taking a half day off. I feel relieved. It has been an effort to get to this stage.

Vaccine and patios

Businesses are slowly reopening. We are able to dine on patios. It's optimistic.

I was supposed to meet a friend on Saturday to have a bite to eat on a patio. She ended up getting her second vaccine shot on Friday and ended up feeling sick. So, I offered to cancel our reservation.

My friend got sick after her first shot. It doesn't surprise me that she got sick after her second one.

The woman at the restaurant was great. She was pleased that I took the time to do the cancellation.

I just learned that our province has made a timing change for the second vaccine. My second appointment was twelve months after my first one. It's now reduced to eight, which means that I can get my second shot at the end of this month.

It's cool. I'll need to wait to see how to reschedule my second shot.

Vaccine and an early meeting

On Monday afternoon, my friend shared the news with me that she got her COVID-19 vaccine. I was so happy for her. It lifted her spirits up.

I was thrilled that she reached out to me. We had talked about my experience last week when she asked me how I felt after getting my shot.

It was great news to the start of the workweek.

I'm off to bed soon. I have a 7 am meeting that occurs every five months. It's that four-hour meeting that it way too long.

COVID-19 is scary

Last weekend, I placed a food order for pickup this Saturday. I just found out that a supplier that this business works with has team members that got infected with COVID-19. Ugh! I hope that those affected will be okay.

Canada is ramping up its vaccine supply. Every adult is expected to get one shot by the end of June. It's a good sign.

The business has found a new supplier, so I'll be proceeding with my food order. COVID-19 is so scary. I can't wait for the day when we kick it to the curb.

Got my first vaccine shot!

I am thankful for getting my first COVID-19 vaccine shot on Friday. Everything went well.

The clinic was at a hockey arena. I haven't stepped foot into one for over a year. It was nice.

Everyone at this arena was helpful, kind, and wonderful. The medical doctor who administered my vaccine shot was so great, explaining what will happen and what symptoms I could feel afterwards. I

 have no soreness in my arm right now. I did have a dull, mild headache. It has since disappeared.

It was a well-organized clinic. My second shot is in August. I took half a day off to get the shot on Friday and will take the other half day then. It's not like I have places to go with my vacation days, so I'm okay taking time off to relax, even if it's getting a vaccination and driving for an hour to get to the clinic.

First vaccine shot today

I am getting my first vaccine shot in a few hours. I have to travel to the opposite side of the region in which I reside. I don't mind the drive, but it'll take me an hour getting over there. 

I decided to take the afternoon off as half a vacation day. My second shot happens in August.

I am happy that I got an appointment.

Shopping thoughts

I have been more nostalgic and reflective as of late than I typically am. I had a talk with a friend who is in the same boat. She blames it on the pandemic.

My region will have many restrictions eased as of Monday. It has been in lockdown for over two months. Yesterday, I went into a different part of the province where stores were open again. I didn't have any inclination to visit them.

It is one change that I have noticed since this pandemic started. I don't have a desire to go shopping and browse. I like curbside pickup. I look at what I want online, pay either online or at the store, and pick up my order. Done!

I simply get groceries and items at the drugstore. I also get takeout.

I haven't been to major stores, such as Walmart and Costco, since this pandemic started. I don't feel comfortable in them.

Maybe the urge to visit major malls and large stores will come back once we are all vaccinated. Right now, visiting them isn't a priority. 

Vaccines and dating criteria

I had my doctor's appointment yesterday. My blood and urine reports were good.

I was asked whether I got my diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine recently. I said that I haven't had it since I was a kid.

Apparently, you are supposed to get it every ten years. Who knew? I got mine done. It's better safe than sorry.

I also got a leaflet from my doctor on the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Apparently, it's open to any adult who is sexually active where I live.

My guy and I talked about our health and partners that we've had when we first started dating.

"I have only had sex with one other person in my life," he admitted.
"Same here," I replied.
"That's good. We won't get any weird viruses," he stated.
"So, that's how you choose who you want to date. Attractive? Yes. No sexually transmitted diseases? Good. I'm horny. Let's go!"

He's sweet. I'm glad that we have been together, and we have been healthy and happy every since.