What I learned today

[retired jerry]

Sorry, I don't mean to start any war, I thought maybe that rule didn't apply to this topic

[Martell]

Same, but I'll keep it out of here too. Anyone want to talk about gun control? (just kidding)

[Grannyhiker]

Re the H1N1 vaccine: My son-in-law-the-ER-physician and, of course, his wife, my-daughter-the veterinarian insist I get the H1N1 vaccine because of being regularly exposed to elementary-school students, one of the most vulnerable groups (from four different school systems, too). For me, it's a matter of protecting the children in my class! I'll pay for the shot if Kaiser won't give it to me. The partial immunity of us older folks supposedly comes from the 1957 "Asian flu" pandemic, and I never got sick then. I did get mighty sick in the 1968-69 pandemic, though--I could hardly crawl out of bed for a week. That one, though, supposedly doesn't give immunity to the current virus. Because of the change to only one dose needed for immunity, there will be plenty of vaccine for everyone.

Nothing like having both a physician and a veterinarian in my family--everything's covered! I also have three computer geek sons--plus a grandson who just graduated from college as a programmer (my first grandchild to graduate, because his older sister is still messing around changing majors--she is just like I was!). Plus one of my computer geek sons has a law degree, although he found returning to his former career as a computer security specialist more profitable and actually less stressful. I can get more advice than I know what to do with!

I also find it interesting that my two sons with electrical engineering degrees--one with a master's--have both ended up in the computer software field instead. While the Seattle son's switch was over 9 years ago, the Ohio son's switch is very recent--he retired from the Air Force last spring. There are not a lot of electrical engineering jobs available in Ohio these days!

[Stevefromdodge]

Sorry Dan and Jerry, the post that I was over-reacting to wasn't yours.

[BaileyBoy]

I learned that I can read something that I find irritating and inappropriate for a hikers forum and restrain myself from making one of my caustic comments.

I also learned I'm with Steve on both of his comments so hopefully our learning lessons will improve from here on.

Skip

[ErinL]

I also learned something about H1N1 today. Namely, that I think I already got it. An infectious diseases doctor that works for our clinic came in today to answer some questions about the virus and the vaccine. He says that he thinks H1N1 will replace our former seasonal flu for the next 15 or 20 years. It's just a matter of getting the herd immunity up to scratch. After that, there shouldn't be as many cases and missed work/school in subsequent years. He says that there have been no reported cases, so far, of the "old" seasonal flu. I had a flu the first week of October. Looks like I'm all set! (I will still get the vaccine just in case I didn't really have H1N1, since I work in a doctor's office. Boo.)