And Tuesday

      The Omicron variant is proceeding pretty much as I expected in Indiana and the U.S., a huge wave of cases driving a less-huge (but still painfully large) wave of hospitalizations that have got health-care facilities right up against the wall.  Indiana's COVID-reporting website had a day's lag as the wave of infections really ramped up, and has been posting data about 16 hours lagged ever since.  I suspect that sharp rise in cases had them double-checking their sources and calculations, especially after our Attorney General all but accused the Governor of fudging the numbers, a few weeks ago.  (Remember the unofficial rule that Republicans -- and they both are -- never spoke ill of one another?  Yeah, that, ash-heap of history and so on.)

      Personally, I have been enduring a painful and, worse, very inconvenient return of "trigger finger" that has my right thumb varying between awkward and useless for grasping.  I have an appointment with the hand doctor tomorrow afternoon -- assuming he (and his nurses) are available.  Surgery is probably out for the time being but maybe they can shoot it with steroid or whatever again.  This cold weather has made for a lot of pain in joints and the left side of my face, which is at least better than not feeling anything at all.

     My desktop computer is acting up again, and this isn't a good time to be buying another. It's not like I'm not well-supplied with laptops and iPads, after all, so this post is being typed on one.

     Good news?  I made dehydrated chicken noodle soup last night, the "Mrs. Grass's" kind that's pretty good, and fixed it up with canned chicken and thin-sliced fresh vegetables.  Carrots, celery and parsnips, sautéed in just a drop of olive oil before adding cold water and soup mix to the pan -- they really add a lot of flavor and texture.