The AH Coffee Shop and Reading Room 09

[MrPixel]

Yeah, that's one of the hallmarks of the slice of our generation - most of us managed to avoid biggies like polio thanks to Dr. Salk, but your cook's list was considered the normal burden of growing up. I had mumps while on a family road trip - California to Virginia and back. That was loads of fun... for my parents, I guess. I barely remember any of it.

 

[Duleigh]

I got something while on a family camping trip in Maine, all of us passed it around, fever, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting... I ended up with a psychological food aversion to fried clams. I used to love them, I still enjoy the taste but now 55 years later psychologically I can't touch them. I'll try one and enjoy the flavor but my brain starts screaming "SPIT IT OUT!"

 

[NotWise]

I decided to skip the; lawn mowing this morning and just work the weed trimmer around yard and vegetable garden. The weed trimmer had a different idea. I hadn't charged it since last fall, and it gave out about half way through the vegetable garden. So I mowed.

Odd thing, but I had Camille Saint-Saëns' Danse Macabre running through my head the whole time. It isn't entirely gone even now.

 

[MrPixel]

I'll try one and enjoy the flavor but my brain starts screaming "SPIT IT OUT!"

That's me and vodka.

 

[NotWise]

Ugh. Feel good soon, DM. Pharmacist asked me the other day if I was interested in the vaccine for it. I passed, already having done the research to learn that I should figure on being sick for three days after. I may come to regret it.

I had the shot(s) a couple years ago and didn't react to them at all--but I rarely have a reaction to shots beyond the injection site soreness. It was TxRad's experience with shingles that convinced me that the shots were totally worth it.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

I had the shot(s) a couple years ago and didn't react to them at all--but I rarely have a reaction to shots beyond the injection site soreness. It was TxRad's experience with shingles that convinced me that the shots were totally worth it.

I’ve had a mild case. The doctor told me it was a mild case and that it probably would much worse had I not already had the vaccination. I guess the shots aren’t a 100% shield against getting shingles, but if what I had was mild, I don’t even want to think about a bad one. Very glad I got jabbed.

 

[dmallord]

Ugh. Feel good soon, DM. Pharmacist asked me the other day if I was interested in the vaccine for it. I passed, already having done the research to learn that I should figure on being sick for three days after. I may come to regret it.



Ha. The weird thing about shingles is that the contagion risk is contact gives you chicken pox (if you hadn't already had it) and not shingles. Shingles comes later. Strange virus.

Fourth day of this, now. The nickle-sized blisters go around my beltloop area, front to back. I cannot sit back in a chair or lay down on my back. It feels like ice pick stabs every time I move, stand up or try to sit and lean back. My skin is fiery to the touch.

I'm a semi-nudist at this point! The pain is bad.

The strange thing is that the TV has had a 'rash' of commercials about getting the vaccination for it. I was considering getting it when I picked up my next meds at the pharmacy - now it's a bit too late.

The doctor gave me a 13-day regimen of some pills, ibuprofen, and staying away from kids for the duration of the pills. The kids part is easy - none around for miles.

It doesn't seem like just three days of pain - who knows how long? Hopefully, not thirteen days!

Thanks all. The 'good' outcome - I can perch on the edge of a chair and peck at my first gay category lit story.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Partly-Baked Idea WRT shingles. The virus causing it is indeed the same one that causes chickenpox. Anybody who has had chickenpox has the virus lingering in their bodies, often for decades, unless and until it erupts as shingles. I get the impression that it’s mostly us ‘mature’ folk getting shingles. Virtually every child got chickenpox back then, so presumably all us older types carry it.

An effective chickenpox vaccine was introduced in 1995 and most parents these days get their kids jabbed. My biology knowledge is pretty thin after all these years, but might this not mean that the proportion of people carrying the virus will steadily fall as the geezer crowd dies off? Might this not be reflected in a parallel decline in shingles cases? Anybody in that field reading?

 

[MrPixel]

Not a virologist nor do I play one on TV, but we have a problem in the US with an emerging anti-vax cohort. Parents are refusing to vaccinate their children based on conspiracy disinformation from social media. Current brouhaha is over measles. So maybe shingles will fade but not go away completely due to the estimated 8-10% unvaxxed in some populations.

 

[tenyari]

I've started a new pot of my Barundi coffee.

Best coffees in the world come from Rwanda and Barundi. There's a unique geography to the hills in those countries as well as being saddled around Lake Tanganyika and Lake Kivu - both high land semi brackish lakes - that does something to the soil.

 

[Seadog777]

Best coffees in the world come from Rwanda and Barundi. There's a unique geography to the hills in those countries as well as being saddled around Lake Tanganyika and Lake Kivu - both high land semi brackish lakes - that does something to the soil.

I honestly do not know much about the geography of those particular African countries.
I just know the coffee is rather expensive, but very strong and damn good.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

Partly-Baked Idea WRT shingles. The virus causing it is indeed the same one that causes chickenpox. Anybody who has had chickenpox has the virus lingering in their bodies, often for decades, unless and until it erupts as shingles. I get the impression that it’s mostly us ‘mature’ folk getting shingles. Virtually every child got chickenpox back then, so presumably all us older types carry it.

An effective chickenpox vaccine was introduced in 1995 and most parents these days get their kids jabbed. My biology knowledge is pretty thin after all these years, but might this not mean that the proportion of people carrying the virus will steadily fall as the geezer crowd dies off? Might this not be reflected in a parallel decline in shingles cases? Anybody in that field reading?

One reason the NHS didn't offer chickenpox vaccine for children was that they were concerned it might increase the numbers of people getting shingles. I'm not sure if they offer it even now - I decided I'd pay if the kids hadn't had it by age 5, but they did. Chicken pox doesn't exist in some parts of the world (or didn't), so I got it after all my school friends from SE Asia went down with it. I was 16 and it was horrible for weeks.

Now there's a shingles vaccine that prevents reactivation of the virus, having more people exposed to CP (via vaccine or live virus) and having that immune response capability, is less important. I think everyone over 75 and also 70 and 71 year olds have had the shingles vaccine offered now. IIRC younger people can get shingles but it tends to be less bad than if you're over 70. A colleague of mine got it - he was always a hypochondriac so we laughed a bit when he said he needed the doctor, then felt bad when he was off for a week with shingles. But by the standards of shingles, he escaped lightly.

 

[NotWise]

Everyone I've heard describe their encounter with shingles has been glad they had a mild case. I wonder, who gets the normal and severe cases?

We have a cold front coming through. The wind is howling and the dust is swirling. We left for our Easter celebration a little abruptly before the wind started, and I forgot to bring my tender, house-grown amaryllis in from the patio where I had them out to harden.

They're in pretty sad shape now.

 

[Duleigh]

My biology knowledge is pretty thin after all these years, but might this not mean that the proportion of people carrying the virus will steadily fall as the geezer crowd dies off?

Nope. We have yet to stop any virus. The common cold is a Corona virus, has the rates of colds dropped any in any decade? Nope. The vaccine does not kill the virus, it merely teaches your immune systems to deal with it once you get it.

I wonder, who gets the normal and severe cases?

People who do commercials for Shingles vaccines.

Once again the annual discussion before Easter Dinner at the Duleigh house ends unanswered. "Are Deviled Eggs appropriate for a Christian celebration?" The debate continues.

My story All Aboard Andi's Dream Chapter 7 is in pending status for the 8th straight day, no relief in sight. I hope my characters have plenty of rations and bottled water to wait this one out. Requests for help sent to TPTB go unanswered.

 

[NotWise]

Once again the annual discussion before Easter Dinner at the Duleigh house ends unanswered. "Are Deviled Eggs appropriate for a Christian celebration?" The debate continues.

Our conversation over dinner may have been less repetitive--but the deviled eggs were good.

The host (my daughter's father-in-law) was second to my left. He's a Pastor for a small Protestant church. The woman on my immediate left is a childhood friend of my son-in-law. She was there with three children and no husband. He's deployed in Poland. She's a devout and conservative Roman Catholic. My wife's BFF was on my immediate right. She's a country girl/vet tech/dog breeder, and a less-conservative Roman Catholic. My agnostic wife was to her right.

We only talked about religion to compare different Christian Easter schedules. Aside from that, it was about kids and farm animals, which the women believed have a lot in common.

 

[TxRad]

Moanday, Moanday. The Midnight coffee is ready.

Wouldn't ya just know it. My pain pills are making me sick to my stomach.

Now for be and we'll see how tomorrow go. Chemo orientation at noon. That should be fun.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Best wishes and prayers, Tex!

 

[Smuttyandfun]

Good luck with your treatments, Tex. Wishing you well.

 

[orangecurious]

All the best, Tex

Meanwhile, coffee and waffles are GO! Plus, i have opened the Cloudberry Jam to go with them

 

[Duleigh]

Chemo orientation at noon. That should be fun.

I wish there was something I could do for you other than pray and wish this wasn't happening. You go and show 'em how it's done Texas style Tx!

 

[AloneTooLong]

ATL - the saddest thing about such issues is the relative triviality of the whole thing. I've seen sisters estranged over a cheap set of dishes. Hope yours settles soon and as painlessly as possible.

when this is resolved I will paste a small but detailed example of these folks 'ideas'!!

 

[Duleigh]

Evening coffee is on, and I'll put on the kettle for tea
Very odd day today, headache all day long but I'm trying to write through it

 

[TxRad]

I'll trade you a headache for a back ache.

Okay, time for bed.

 

[_Lynn_]

I'll trade you a headache for a back ache.

Okay, time for bed.

I have a headache, backache, and a sore hip from the injection I had Monday. All that's probably why I'm awake so early.

I hope you get some decent sleep.

 

[Duleigh]

I have a headache, backache, and a sore hip from the injection I had Monday. All that's probably why I'm awake so early.

I hope you get some decent sleep.

Buncha old folks sitting around talking about their ailments - WE MADE IT!

Coffee is ready! Come and get it! I also have the kettle on to boil
Breakfast was the biggest orange I have ever seen in my life and it was good, sweet, juicy, and just a bit of tart to make it memorable.