When my kids were still getting many of their childhood immunizations I asked the pediatrician when they got the smallpox vaccine. He laughed - maybe didn't catch himself soon enough and it sounded somewhat patronizing - and said they hadn't given those for years. Smallpox is gone. But those with smallpox vaccines may have had some protection from monkeypox. It isn't a lifetime protection, though.

Today's trip to the gym was two months from the date of knee surgery and I did a full hour on the recumbent bike like I used to. My route home meandered through town and stopped at DSW to buy good socks for xmas stocking stuffers. I bought clearance socks and had a $10 off coupon, so feel like I did well there. (My daughter wears a large shoe size and when I can find nice looking men's socks I get them for her.)