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Spoonbills and Bald Eagles at Sand Lake!
The other day it was about 60 degrees and the sun shone brilliantly—not a day to stay indoors! We went out to Terry Trueblood Recreation Area and did some bird-watching. Out on a sand bar on Sand Lake, we caught sight of two bald eagles. They seemed to be a mated pair. They actually courted…
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This is National Influenza Vaccination Week!
This is National Influenza Vaccination Week (Dec. 4-8, 2023) and the CDC word is: “National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) is a critical opportunity to remind everyone 6 months and older that there’s still time to protect themselves and their loved ones from flu this flu season by getting their annual flu vaccine if they have…
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Moderate Respiratory Illness Activity in Iowa
The CDC tracks respiratory illness and there is moderate activity in Iowa according the data tracker. The weekly snapshot as of December 1, 2023 shows highlights including: “COVID-19 test positivity (percentage of tests conducted that were positive), emergency department visits, and hospitalizations have increased nationally. A group of Omicron variants (XBB and its sublineages) are the…
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Update on CDC Recommendation for Adult RSV Vaccination
I just checked to see if the Iowa Board of Pharmacy rules had changed about the recommendation that a physician and patient shared decision-making discussion should help clarify whether and why a prescription would be necessary to enable a patient over the age of 60 years to get the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine. I…
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Early Snowbird Gets the Berry
We got our first snowfall that stuck around yesterday. We didn’t have to shovel because it melted off our sidewalk and driveway shortly past noon. On the other hand, the snow drew the birds out for the berries in the trees. Cedar Waxwings and other small birds feasted in the early morning. Whether they got…
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Bucks Throw Down But Does Decide
I caught sight of some buck deer contending for some does out in the clearing behind our house. This is probably what you might call the rut for white tail deer. The bucks do a lot of jousting for access to the does. But clearly, the does decide. We have never caught them mating on…
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The Geezer Remarks on Superfoods
Sena is big on eating healthy, which is a good thing. On the other hand, we don’t necessarily always like the same foods. And there’s the whole issue of what people call superfoods nowadays. Funny, when I was a kid, I used to just refer to superfoods as “yuck!” There are variant spellings. I read…
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Happy 46th Wedding Anniversary!
It was 46 years ago today Sena and I were married at the Little Brown Church in the Vale in Nashua, Iowa. I was a skinny guy with a big afro. She was and is a beautiful bride. We cut the wedding cake together. We fed each other big bites. It was the biggest event…
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University of Iowa Quick Facts About the Flu
The University of Iowa has the latest quick facts about the flu and how to protect yourself. Now you’re in the know!
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Food for Thought
I’m giving a shout-out to a couple of child psychiatrists, one I know only from a blog, The Good Enough Psychiatrist. The other is an assistant professor in the University of Iowa Child Psychiatry Dept. I’ve never met her. Since Jenna gives her name in the About Me section of her blog, I’m going to…
