TubaOrNotTuba

Despite the rain, we went for a car ride today. My first, in many weeks. All in the name of medical science; the nearest vaccination clinic available was a two hour round trip, plus another hour spent mainly in queues, or sitting quietly. The actual injection took seconds, and I can brag that it hardly hurt at all.

On April first, all jokes aside, I registered online for my first round of vaccinations. Since then, I’ve had two robotic phone calls, as reminders, and I think I might have had an email along the way. Assuming that tomorrow actually comes, my first session should pass “like a hot knife through butter”. After that, there will be a future delay (rumours talk of months; I don’t really know), before the second session. Until then, we continue to require social distancing, masks and a recognition that online shopping is the way of (my) future. Will the vaccine make me invincible? Doubtful. There we have it: a textbook example of delayed gratification. And I no longer care.

How long has it been since I last went to the city? Without counting days, let’s go with construction projects.

If I had one word to give the people at Apple, it would be “incrementalize”. No need to be precise in mmy definition; I’ll use the anecdote to make my point.

MY favourite taster channel on YouTube (“TRY”) went on a deep dig this afternoon. Who dreamed up a comparison of various jelly bean flavours? The packaging, in some cases, had the intrigue thing, but overall there wasn’t much punch to the show. I’ll be back when you do something more interesting: odd beers from the East, for example.

Living in a family comes with obvious advantages. Division of household chores. Partners in conversation. Keeping the bed warmer. Well, I’m not taken to “washing the family laundry”  in public, but I have to draw attention to one member of ours.

At one early point in my advanced academic studies, I tried to learn the basics of musical harmony. The bane of my early mornings, seated in a small classroom, with a piece of notation paper, while someone that actually understood the science was attempting to make it clear and simple. It wasn’t, largely because the mind of an eighteen year old boy is wired to respond to almost anything else. I passed the course. Sufficient to say, my earned credit was used only to complete an academic requirement. I promised to get out of Dodge, in return for that wink and a nod.

How to tell if a story is based on spin or fact? Well, if it doesn’t describe “tires in the mud”, you have to find something to reinforce the tale, I guess. Right now, the news is discussing whether I (meaning you, too) should be adamant about receiving a particular brand of vaccine, or can a mixture actually serve you better. When the health officials postulate that a mix could give you increased immunity (with no other evidence to back this up), could it be that they are simply smoothing the way for a perceived shortage. I don’t know. This is all too new. When I received my last important immunization (probably against polio as I am old), you weren’t given options.

Never underestimate the ability of certain objects to shape-shift. This evening, I was brought in to hep find a particular food container. Something from the Tupperware spectrum. It should have been easy to spit; fairly large, with a ruby red cover, stored in a single cupboard with others of its type. Alas, it was rendered invisible. For two of us, in surfeit. It was only when we had given up hope, and decided to look elsewhere that the container reappeared. Shape-shifting!

How can I keep up with all the excitement? Well, I can blog about it, for a start. Today, we changed the winter tires for the summer tires. Not us, exactly; the local garage. And because we don’t need to go anyplace, the car decided to stay away for the night, and get an oil change done. I warned you. My life is just one little jolt of excitement followed by another.