Chazd's (Charles Dowdell's) News Burps

The following is personal advice I received from a trusted colleague (MD). I think it is so well written it belongs here. "Bottom line - this virus isn't going away, but it seems to be getting milder with the newest variant, though more transmissible / contagious. GET VACCINATED and BOOSTED! Even if you still catch the disease you can survive it with mild to moderate symptoms. Continue taking REASONABLE precautions but don't live in fear." New cases--- Have you noticed a lot more testing going on? We have. Angie works next to a drive up testing location. The surge in testing caused our recent vacation fail. More tests means more positives. New deaths--- I am not seeing the need for panic. Why is there a push for panic and making things worse than they are? I have two theories, ask me and I will answer. Certainly, I would like to see more ratios in the stats.

The weather has been nice in Georgia being in the 70s the last week of December. However, the air has been unsettled. Not much flying going on this week. I am working on my annual personal goals. I did good with last year's goals. Better in some areas than others, but the progress is clear. It is becoming harder to decide what is next-- what do I want? Health should always be a priority although it hasn't always been in the past. I took on a project at my church. We are moving the thriftshop to a new building about 1000 feet away. It is a great new space. It is satisfying seeing the project come to completion.

Our 2021 Christmas trip has been scuttled. We had so much preparation for the very complicated trip. It's very disappointing, but we no one is hurt. The biggest factor was our PCR test results were not available when they were promised and no availability of rapid PCR tests. No negative test results --no flying to Egypt. It was also the first time I have been in an accident in an Uber. Again, no one was hurt. It was a very complicated trip. But it was the first link in the chain that was the one that was broken. We were at the Airport when our flight left, but could not board because we were waiting on PCR results. We will try again soon.

Our vacation planning is coming to fruition. We took a year off with Covid-19. But we are moving ahead. Here is the schematic of our current trip plans. Wish us luck. We are going to need it, 11 countries in 14 days. Christmas in a monestary in North Greece.