I just want to tell the lgbt members here (and the lgbt people everywhere) that you are treasures.

You are special and important and loved and I will fight for your right to be who you are and love who you love, as long as I live.

I'm so sorry people are so stupid and judgemental and just evil, and I am crying with you.

(If this is posted on the wrong place - should it be a thread? - I apologize in advance but I just had to say it. )

❤🧡💛💚💙💜 a rainbow of thanks.

What a wonderful surprise. Happy valentine's week, DU!

Source: The Guardian

People hopping over the border to Belgium and Germany to avoid the Dutch lockdown are filling the neighbouring countries' restaurants and shops despite calls for them to "stay away".

Since Mark Rutte, the Dutch prime minister, announced the closure of hospitality and non-essential shops from Sunday, border regions have experienced a rush of visitors.

Read more: https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/21/dutch-border-hoppers-ignore-belgium-and-germanys-stay-away-plea

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First time I've tried to post a link so I hope it's relevant and it works. (I did go to Germany several weeks ago to buy my husband's present but I wouldn't break lockdown to go. )

Astrazeneca. I don't think it's approved in the US. No pain, a little itching at the injection site.

The way it works in the NL: I got a mail telling me I was to get my first shot today and had to log in to a website to get a time to show up at the GP. I imagine that should go smoothly but my log in didn't work and it took me six phone calls to finally sort it all out and get a time. My Dutch is pretty bad. Mostly everyone speaks English but we still managed to create some misunderstandings.

Anyway hordes of people lined up at the doctor's office. Masks were required. Employees directed us to follow the duct taped arrows, 1.5m apart. Got the shot, went to the physical therapy gym to sit for 15 minutes in chairs that were spaced 1.5m apart, left when my time was up.

It was super easy and I've not been in a room with that many people in over a year, so that made me nervous. But it was fine and I'm thrilled to think we may have an end to lockdowns sometime. And maybe I'll see my kids again, I hope!!

I know very little about surviving the cold but I was trying to check on things and found this. Maybe it helps a little.

https://austinenergy.com/ae/outages/during-an-outage

Merci, danke, tack, gracias, THANK YOU for the heart. ❤

I keep reading the lists of what the insurrectionists brought to their attempted coup, or, as they say, "first amendment protest."

I've been to many protests and marches, so here's my equipment list:

Water bottle, breakfast bar or nuts or snack of some kind, antihistamine and epipen because I always carry those, hat, cash for parking garage, ID, cell phone, a sign maybe but they are sometimes banned. If I'm talking to an elected official or hearing a speaker I'm especially interested in I bring something to take notes with.

Due to white privilege I've never carried a toothbrush or lawyer contact info, but I probably will in the future. Milk might be a good idea too.

The police I've seen at protests tend to be polite and bored, not violent, so maybe I'm lucky. Protestors are usually a mix of races so that's not just white privilege.

Things I'd never bring include sledge hammers, weapons, bear mace...

Also, if I ever saw a fellow protestor break a window, trespass, start a fire, attack someone... I'd leave and call 911.

Anyone have a different list?

First time we've voted from oversea. It took a ridiculous amount of time to figure out how, but the ballots are on their way via overnight FedEx. Here's hoping they count.

I'm in the Netherlands. No gatherings over 100 people. People are supposed to work from home as much as possible. Stupid Trump may make it impossible for me to get to my daughter's wedding in the US.

I hope this doesn't count as drama or whining.