The start of the shortest, darkest, coldest days of the year.

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Tuesday US COVID News

"At least 2,604 new coronavirus deaths and 183,831 new cases were reported in the United States on Dec. 1." New York Times

"Health care workers are overwhelmed by record COVID hospitalizations" CBS News

"On Tuesday, 98,691 Covid-19 patients were hospitalized. This is the highest number of Covid-19 hospitalizations the nation has ever experienced. Today’s count is a more than 60% increase from peaks in the spring and summer." CNN

“As US sees new high for Covid-19 hospitalizations, states are preparing for vaccine rollouts” CNN
However at this time, our state has no plans yet.

“A Kansas City sports bar has filed a lawsuit seeking a restraining order against the city and Jackson County over the tightened COVID-19 restrictions. As a result, Mayor Lucas answered ‘We'll continue to have orders that keep the people of Kansas City and our region safe. I stand by that. I stand by the recommendations that we receive from our health director and other health directors.” KMBC News

News from Yesterday: "Scott Atlas, President Trump’s pandemic adviser, resigned Monday after becoming widely disliked. He was the only medical adviser the president met with regularly for several months. (Analysis: Atlas will forever be the face of surrender to the coronavirus.) " Washington Post

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Somehow, we all need to hang on until a safe & effective vaccine is in the arms of Americans and life can then return to the old normal.

Meanwhile, I’ve discovered that it is easier to keep one’s stress level down during these difficult times if you are able to accept & maintain stricter “Safer at Home” practices. With very few & minimal COVID exposures – plus strictly following all the health guidelines - you won’t have to worry as much as those who take greater risks that could cause serious harm to them and/or others. Staying healthy – and also keeping our friends & loved ones healthy – are the two main things that make all the sacrifices of “Stay at Home Isolation” doable.

Like everyone else, I long to have my old life back. But to assure that I have another 35 or 40 or more years ahead of me, I can continue to hang on like we’ve been doing since mid March. As much as I miss my freedom, I consider ourselves among the lucky ones. We’re healthy, our extended family, our closest friends are healthy, and we don’t have to worry about food insecurity.

There is so much loss, so much insecurity, and so sadness out there… Fortunately, really bad things haven't – knock on wood - touched us directly. So my complaints about maintaining “safer-at-home” status are few.

Luckily, December has Christmas - with its lights and music and happy remembrances from the past - to keep spirits lifted (even if stuck at home) when things in the outside world are bleak. However, January and February will admittedly be more difficult Winter months to get through in “Stay-at-Home Isolation.” But we’ll manage if we have to.

As for my photography today, I find it interesting how the new Canon R6 selects these extremely high ISO's when set to Auto ISO. Had I done a manual set (as I usually do), I wouldn't have chosen such a high ISO. However, this is my "test" phase of trying different things. I want to see what the camera can do. This will give me something to do over the Winter months.

BTW, I don’t expect most to understand the image I posted above.
I posted it for me alone.