After hitting the triple digit mark twice a few days ago (isn't October just too late for that where we live?), things have cooled off a bit. The daily highs are now in the 70s or 80s, with nightly lows usually in the 50s or so. That's pretty good weather. Yesterday, the wind really blew, making it feel cooler than what it actually was.
We're keeping close to home, though we still walk regularly. Once or twice, we've even shifted to walking late in the afternoon, though we still prefer walking in the early morning. As it gets cooler, we will change when we walk, and we will probably venture out to the state park more as well as a few other places around town. Variety is nice, you know.
We visited our PCP office on Monday for our annual flu shots. In the past, we've just gotten our shots at our local pharmacy at Market Street, but with things as they are today, we thought it might be better to go to our PCP. This way, we could be sure of getting the exact type of flu shot that our systems require at this time in our lives. And, if something were to happen to us, this information would be in the hospital network. In the past when we've visited our PCP in December, they've always asked if we've had our flu shots. Now they won't need to ask any more. And if we should find ourselves in a situation where we can't respond, all they have to do is look at our in-network information. Donna behaved herself pretty well. She only bit the nurse twice this time. They refused to give her a lollipop, though.
Early voting started on Tuesday. With COVID like it is, we really would have liked to just mail in our ballots. But with the political climate as it is, we just weren't sure that was a smart idea; we do want our votes to be counted. So, after monitoring the situation for a couple of days, we piled in the car and ventured to our local voting place. It took about 1 hour -- give or take a few minutes -- to complete the process. We started on the sidewalk in front of the Edd B Keyes Building in downtown San Angelo. It took about 10 to 15 minutes to get inside. Once inside, the line went directly down one hall, took a 90 degree turn to the left and down another hall, then did a U-turn back to the voting room. Lines and indicators marked off 6 feet intervals.
Once inside the voting room, I noticed that voters were required to use a stylus to access a screen when checking in. Fortunately, disposable gloves were available just inside the door, so Donna and I grabbed one each and slipped them on our right hands. Once our turn arrived, we provided our voter card and ID and completed the check-in process by making appropriate selections on the screen and then signing. Since we chose electronic ballots, we were directed to the voting machines, given our access codes, and then began completing the ballot. A few minutes later, we were back out in the fresh air.
For the most part, social distancing was maintained, though some folks did crowd together from time to time. Masks were required; in fact, I saw a sign indicating zero tolerance. However, we saw one man with no mask. Perhaps he had a medical condition. Whatever his situation, he was visiting with the couple ahead of him and he was doing 90% of the talking, and rather loudly at that. You know, if you aren't going to wear a mask, you should at least keep your mouth closed. Another couple was in the line a little behind us. When we got in the line outside, they were not wearing masks, but once we got inside, they put them on.
All in all, though, it wasn't a bad experience other than standing in line for that long. Since Donna behaved herself for the most part, on our way home we drove through Schlotzsky's for sandwiches. Donna loves the vegetarian sandwich there while I enjoy the ham and cheese. I've loved those sandwiches since the first one I ate while in college so many years ago. I think Donna enjoys them more than I do.
Near the end of the summer, our new COVID cases had dropped nicely, even dipping into the single digits a time or two. A week or so after Labor Day, though, they began rising slowly. Now we seem to be topping out at over 30 a day, and the number of those admitted to the hospital has more than doubled in the past week.
Well, we obviously do not have any discipline. Partying and socializing and ignoring the guidelines is more important than making the sacrifices needed to protect our loved ones, friends, and country. So, at this point, it looks like the only thing that can save us is an effective and approved vaccine.
As always, be safe, be smart, and be considerate of others.
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