Obits, anyone?

 I don’t know how many people read the obits like I do, but I wonder if they, like I, occasionally see an obit about someone who they knew way back when and feel a need to write a bit in the comments section given to those obits.  This happened to me this morning when I read about one man who I lost touch with when I began my ramblings after leaving high school.  He apparently has been here in Aiken all along, just not somewhere where I would have a chance to gain a reacquaintance.  Unfortunate, but probably quite a few others would join him if I were to see their names in the paper.  I guess personal anonymity is something most of us have whether or not it might be something we might like to change.  My comment to the obit I read follows.

 

“When Al Boni came to town, one of the first things he did, or so I think, was to look up the local Boy Scout organization and offer his services.  At the time, I was an Explorer with Post 121, and because of my dad’s involvement with the scouting program, I met Al and had the chance, along with the other Explorers in my Post, to work with him on one of his projects—putting on a camporee for scouts in the Yamasee district.  I suspect Al taught our district a few things about camporees in general, then, and I know he taught more than a few of us Explorer Scouts quite a bit too.  I appreciate all I learned from Al Boni, and I expect quite a few others in the area could say the same thing.  Thank you, Boni family:  My condolences to you for your loss.  In my book, Al Boni was one great man.”

 

This pretty much says what I might have said on the subject if someone had asked me about it.  What I wonder is, who might I see next?

 

And, who might think the same thing when it is my turn to be written about in a post to our newspaper by one of our local mortuaries.

Any ideas?

Not my poem, but a really great one

 A Visit from St. Nicholas

BY CLEMENT CLARKE MOORE

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds;

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,

Gave a lustre of midday to objects below,

When what to my wondering eyes did appear,

But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny rein-deer,

With a little old driver so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment he must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donner and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;

So up to the housetop the coursers they flew

With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too—

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack.

His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly

That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight—

“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

Here I go again

10:45 PM and here I am.  It seems Morningbrain may come to me most any time these days—not just as it did when I started my posts to this blog quite a few years ago, but, like I said, most any time these days.  Before approaching my friendly laptop, I found myself lying in bed thinking about one thing and another thing and, before I knew it, I realized this was the same situation that used to come to me in the early morning hours.  So, it only made sense for me to get up and try to write just a bit—something I haven’t really done very much of for quite a few months. 

 The only problem is I find those thoughts that prevented me from simply dropping off to sleep seem to have vanished once I began to type.  One helluva note, if I do say so, myself.  What to do now?  Well, guess I’ll try to write something, hopefully something useful (but what?)  Dammit, brain—come on, do what you need to do!  You brought me here when I would really prefer to be in bed. 

 Maybe it’s the light.  (Turning it off is no real problem—there.)  Well, only one problem.  Now I can’t see my keyboard,  not a good thing.  I’ll try something:  A light on the other side of the room may help.  Well, that’s a yes and a no.  Still can’t much see the keyboard, but can see it just a bit.  Guess I’ll have to work on this just a bit.  In the mean time, maybe a bit of thinking about what might have been going around in the noggin might be a useful thing..  Or so I hope. 

 Damn.  Need a little more light.  But not too much.  Guess I’ll just have to work on this a bit and try another time.  In the mean time, now, the bed is calling.  Light back on.  Need to save this, maybe I can make a new post.  Will try, in any case!  Not exactly what I wanted to do, that's for sure

11:15 PM and here I still am.  Not for long, though.  Maybe tomorrow?

Phone scam from phone scum

 I received a phone call this morning, at about 8:10, I believe, and the call was from my good old friend “Dnad” at 877-609-5704 (one of many DNA-ers on my phone list.)  This morning, instead of just ignoring the call, I decided to answer it.  I then hung up after about 5 seconds.  Guess that qualified it as a received call for me, and a made call for the DNA-er.  Which, I suspect, they get to pay for at whatever rate the phone company charges.  A good thing, I suspect, since my DNA list is comprised of phones that our “www.whitepages.com” lists as: “The phone number (877) 609-5704 is registered to Unknown . There is a High Risk this phone number is associated with Fraud or Spam.”  OR, if you get my drift, it is a phone call I’d just as soon not receive at all!  (Which is why it is on my DNA, “Do Not Answer,” list.) 

However, when I answered it, the spammer/or fraud purveyor, did incur an expense which, if enough users were to utilize this system, just might give them expenses that may even outweigh their fraudulent income.  A good idea, no?

Try it, I think you’ll like it! (whitepages.com, I mean—and their “reverse phone” directory.)  You may like it, but the SOB’s at the other end of the line probably will not!

And, of course, if you didn’t know, “SOB’s” stands for “Sweet Ole’ Boy's ” of course.  And, like I said, try it--and, let me know what you think.  If a few thousand of us figure them out, and pass on this information to our friends, having learned how to outwit them, maybe, just maybe, they might look for a real job and stop trying to swindle money from the rest of us!

And that's it, folks!  Thanks!

 

Bing, Dean, and Perry

 

You know, while lying in bed this morning, I started thinking about some of those “great” singers I remembered from my early years (really, I was thinking of our newest 14 year old, and what he probably likes to listen to.)  So, you know what?  I have no idea what nephew Dylan might like to listen to, or even if he listens to anything musical.  I have my suspicions, though, and since he is a musician, tenor sax, or something close to it, maybe a bit of sharing might be in order.

 

It being the Christmas season (for real, finally,) my thoughts began and ended with “White Christmas.”  “I’m dreamin’ of a White Christmas…  (With every Christmas card I write…,”) (Or so it goes.)  And for those oldsters in our midst, I suspect the names “Bing Crosby,” "Dean Martin", and (oh yes,) "Perry Como" just might ring a bell or two here.  Dean, better known to me as part of “Martin and Lewis,” was good.  Perry, of course was good, too!  But in my book, the top of the line was Bing Crosby. 

 

And, in today’s internet world, anyone who might want to see what I mean here is free to take a look, maybe a listen, to these three gentlemen of Yore and come up with their own thinking on the matter.  One movie, “White Christmas,” just may be worth a watch, too, although I suspect only one of my “Big Three” may show up there. 

 

In any case, “Kids,” take a look, and maybe a listen, and see what you might think!

Trump cured? If He, why not We?

OK, everyone, Our President credits one of the premiere medical centers in our country with “curing” his Covid-19 virus infection.  If that is the case, if a “cure” was effected, why are the Covid infections still growing in our country?  A couple of months ago I wrote a column that discussed using we ourselves as a cure opportunity for our country in this battle.  My discussion centered around using blood and/or blood serum from recovered individuals to assist in the recovery of others having difficulties with the virus.  While this is one thing that can and should be used in certain cases, if the Trump cure did not utilize this method, whatever it did use should be provided to all our hospitals to enable others to gain the same benefit this 74 year old man had. 

 

In the mean time, all who can should give blood.  This is one proven method for some to use.  Given whatever his hospital was able to use, maybe, just maybe the ongoing increase in infections we are seeing might be something our medical establishment might be able to combat with the same effectiveness it had with Donald J. Trump—something each and every American deserves!

 

So how about it?  Blood donations are needed, in any case.  And whatever else our President is on should be made available to all else, too.

 

Any questions?

 

Go to the following for added info on how your blood may be used to save lives impacted by this virus just as it may be used for quite a few other problems which may be found, automobile accidents, e.g., are just one reason why our blood is always a needed item that only we, as concerned Americans can supply: 

             https://stephenvgeddes.blogspot.com/2020/07/red-cross-and-covid-19.html

 

And ONE OTHER THING:  If you agree with the above assessment, PLEASE, PASS THIS ARTICLE ON TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW.  Active participation by all Americans just may be what is needed!  And, to get this done, we ALL MUST DO OUR PART!

Engineers, any one?

I can't help it! A friend sent this to me via gmail--no attribution, no knowing its origin--but--want a laugh?  Take a read!

An Engineer dies and goes to Hell. Dissatisfied with the level of comfort, he starts designing and building improvements. After a while, Hell has air conditioning, flush toilets and escalators. The engineer is a pretty popular guy. One day God calls and asks Satan, "So, how's it going down there?" Satan says, "Hey things are going great. We've got air conditioning and flush toilets and escalators, and there's no telling what this engineer is going to come up with next."

 

God is horrified. "What? You've got an engineer? That's a mistake - he should never have gone down there! You know all engineers go to Heaven. Send him up here! "

Satan says, "No way. I like having an engineer on the staff. I'm keeping him."

God says, "Send him back up here or I'll sue.” 

 

 "Yeah, right," Satan laughs, "and where are you going to get a lawyer?"

Yep--given the right circumstances, Engineers are damn fine associates!

Who added that "T"....

Wrote this a few years ago, I think, and don't remember if it was ever published.  Do know how to correct that, though!  Soooo,  Here we go!

Who added that “T?”

 

Who added that “T” to our President’s name?

That’s something we’d all like to know.

It’s surely more descriptive, so many people think

The way it was long, long ago….

 

In times past, it was just plain “Rump”

At least it most likely would have been,

That being the case, the way he is today

Describes well his family way back when.

 

And regardless of who may have added that “T,”

We guess we’d have done it too,

Family matters are just that, and we’ll never know why

But just hope it doesn’t happen to you….

 

So, Rump or Trump, whatever he is now

We all must indeed put aside,

And like it or not, “Mr. President’s” what we’ve got,

Just be happy we don’t have to bow!

 

Still, who added that “T” to our President’s name?

That’s something we’d all like to know.

It’s surely more descriptive, so many people think

The way it was long, long ago….

 

 

 

HEH, Heh, heh!

© Stephen V. Geddes  2017?  (whatever)

 

And one more thing, again….

 

If you haven’t thought of this before, how about the difference between that 22 year old and 29 year old mind?  7 years is a good bit, to some people, but just how much is it?  Well, if you had asked my wife that question, right after she and I tied the knot, I expect she might have said, “yes, there is a difference, but usually it really isn’t all that much.”  Then, as life goes on (kids, pets, whatever) the difference all but disappears until, guess what, there you go, again, with no kids, no pets, and, again, guess what…that difference is a whole lot less.

 

And now, for wife and me, we find 77 and 70 to provide much less difference than that initial 7 years did way back when.  We still walk into a room and think, “just why did I come in here?”  The difference?  Well, today, that happens a lot more often than it did when we first met.  And it might take just a bit longer (or should I say a lot longer?) to remember just why you walked into that room.  Anyhow, the tale here might be to return to when you were 10 and your sister was 3.  Any difference?  You betcha!

 

So, is there a problem here?  Well, only if you let it be.  Knowing there is a problem and one that will continue to grow for both of you as time wears on, you will be on the right track.  And, if little things, say the possibility of Alzheimer’s, comes to your mind, you might just put that out of it.  What is there to do, anyway?  To the doc, maybe, and what does that get you?  Well, take it from me, pohdner, other than bills you wish you didn’t have and answers that are like those bills, not much.

 

Like it?  Well, there is an alternative—but most of us would say no thankee to that alternative.  In any case, I hope that will be your thinking when you, too, get here.  Just ask your wife.  (Preferably, ask her “early in the mornin’ about the break of day.”)  Then make a return to that folk song and remember, it’s the Lord you should be asking, since it is that very Lord who has the answer, the only answer you might find that has real meaning, and, thank you PP&M for your take on that..

 

“Help me find a way, to that promised land, (This lonely body, needs a helping hand,) I asked the Lord, won’t you please, help me find a way!”

 

Alcohol causing you a problem?

 One thing that's in that "Deux" blog that I probably should point out here is found as:  https://stephenvgeddes2.blogspot.com/2019/12/next-time-what-say-ye.html .  And, if you might have the least problem with my one-time favorite beverage class, you just might want to take a look there.  It's my AA story, and it does bring up a few good points that any drinker (or anyone who is worried about a family member or friend who just might have a problem with drink) might want to consider.  

In any case, that's something I wanted to mention.  One man's misery could save another or, at least, give him or her something to think about.  

C'est ca!  (That's all!)  

Steve

And one more thing...

It’s interesting—I awoke, as often I do, fairly early today.  Still, I didn’t think this was one of my usual “morningbrain” incidents, maybe because it began around 5:00 instead of the more usual earlier hour that is my norm.  Early enough, I guess (though.) 

 

It seems my daily routine may be contributing to my sleeplessness incidents.  I tend to drink a lot during my days (coffee, tea, today, thank you, libations of the past were more of the “adult” variety until I realized this was just not to be for me, beginning, maybe, ten years ago, which drinking led to my current alcoholic abstinence, which abstinence is not only a personal desire, but a medical necessity) and this drinking today leaves me with an overabundance of internalized water which seems to insist on “getting out” overnight, usually with a number of half-conscious trips to the bathroom.  Not a real problem for me, so long as I don’t try to waken, just the way I am.  

 

This morning, though, I’ve noticed something new.  It seems like every little sound is vying for my attention—something I’ve not had any problem with before, but something that may be useful, maybe even a bit endearing, considering Beethoven’s deafness was supposedly psychological in nature as opposed to being organic, something that absolutely could not be overcome.  Am I like Beethoven here?  The Great Beethoven?  Wow—I’ll certainly take that explanation, if at all possible!  And, maybe I won’t have to wear those $800 “hearing aids” forever if that is the case (I don’t like them.  Can’t scratch my ears when they itch.) 

 

IN ANY CASE, today’s job is to try to define my house as it was.  As anyone might tell you, I am not particularly shy with a camera, and have even, in the past, thought I should document my home should the unthinkable happen.  Can’t remember if I ever did this, though.  Spent a couple of hours last night going through this laptop (trusty ole’ Hp) copying everything that might apply.  Wondering if I may have made a CD with the house on in while using my former laptop?  (This just occurred to me—it’s been several years since the former went “keys up” on me.)  Will stop the writing here to look up the case of CD’s I saved early in the current days of the after-fire.  Back in a bit.

 

Well—it was a 2 hour “bit,” but I found them.  Now to review them.  And one more thing--wrote this just a few months ago and left it on a crowded desktop,  Awakened today, at the usual hour (hah!), and while looking at my desktop rediscovered this.  So....

 

Resuming?

Well, it’s been quite a while since I last posted on my other site (MB--deux), and there is a reason for that, as there is a reason for almost anything any of us do or don’t do. 

 

My reason is just this:  My initial blog, "Morningbrain, what keeps me up nights," was cast aside by me by mistake.  You see, when I had gone beyond 50 posts, it appeared the initial posts were being cast aside by the blog rules.  But appearances are not always right, as I found a while after starting a secondary blog, Morningbrain—deux.  Seems I had selected 50 for the number of posts of that initial blog and when I exceeded that number the initial posts were hidden to allow for my given number of 50 posts.  Interestingly enough, the earliest posts were there, they just were not obvious. 

 

In any case, after establishing a second blog, and using it for a while, I discovered this initial Morningbrain blog was, still, usable.  All I needed to do was change one number in my description of the blog and all was well.  Interesting.

 

So, what did I do?  Well, I returned to this first blog and began to post there again.  Now what I guess I ought to do is incorporate the posts in Morningbrain—deux into the original blog and move forward from there.  Come to think of it, maybe this little note needs to be on both blogs.  Who knows--there may be a good reason to keep both of  'em!  (Which is what I will do--for a while, anyway!) 

 

Ain’t Blogger great?  Well, I like it, in any case. 

Want Democracy? VOTE!

Well, it’s another Labor Day weekend, and wife is watching Paladin.  Interesting.  I remember how I used to think, when they flashed his business card, how “Wire” was an unusual first name.  Kidthink, I think.

 

Well, no matter, somewhere along the line I began to understand just what that business card meant.  Today the card would have said “email Paladin” with an accompanying address.  Or, maybe it would have referenced a web site to go to, to find a contact form (docs do this all the time—guess they don’t trust email.) I guess a hundred years or so would give a person a range of options in the contact department, right?  Maybe in another hundred years we might just voice our message to Paladin and expect an answer whenever.

 

But wait—isn’t that something “Alexa” might be able to handle today?  Goodness. Maybe in another hundred years we will just have to think about contacting Paladin and our friend “Alexa” would take it from there.  Then, again, maybe Alexa will be out of the picture entirely, then, and all of us will automatically be in touch with whomever over an all-overriding thoughtnet. 

 

A good idea?  Not in my book!  Those messages from the WhiteHouse would eliminate all hopes for having the least bit of independence in that thought department—and the substitute for personal thought would be totally obnoxious babble.

 

God help us!  Another 4 years?  God help us if this is to be our fate—in a hundred years, or a hundred +/- days. 

 

Trump?  T-Rump?  Or (4 our of five ain’t bad, they say) just plain Rump.

 

Vote, America!  And, (this time) GET IT RIGHT!

Blog work--what's that?

 I’m working on something I haven’t done in quite a while—that is (just) working.  OK, you say, so why do you say that?  Well I guess the problem here might be time, and how I’ve learned to spend what used to be something I had that I traded to various “employers” for a paycheck…something that no longer is something I must do since now I receive those checks on a regular basis as pay for my earlier performance in and payment to various retirement systems.  And this, to me, is a problem.

A problem, you see, since I still have the ability to generate just a few things that could be considered worthwhile and, therefore, could give me a reason to return to the “workforce” to a certain extent.  The question now becomes “why is this a problem?”

 And the answer is:  “What, precisely, do you want to do!”

 Which, question posed, now requires an answer.  Be a writer?  Well, sounds good, but how do I position myself in such a manner that a monthly check would begin to grace my mailbox to the extent and degree that I would find just a bit satisfactory?  Good question, wouldn’t you say?  Is it even possible to have Blog work be real work…with real pay?

 Well, let’s see what might be found on the internet.

 (Check back in the morning.)

Red Cross and covid-19

Got an invitation I couldn't refuse today, seems I am eligible to donate blood again.  Which is a good thing, especially since a blood donation could help someone who might have difficulties fighting off this virus of note.  You see, there are people who have succeeded in overcoming Covid, and their blood contains essential antibodies that some seem to have difficulties coming up with, and those persons are the ones in dire strates when it comes to succeeding once the virus has begun its attacks.  If, though, one who has won this battle were to donate a pint of blood containing their antibodies, the person in need just may have a fighting chance.  Which is where I come in--you see, you can't expect that successful covid patient to just give blood without having someone like myself provide a bit of healthy blood to replace the covid resistant sample with.  Covid antibody blood saves the antibody poor individual, and good normal blood replaces it in the covid antibody producer's body.  

Should work.  All we need is for our Docs to figure this out and move on it, and for ample blood to be donated to cover the added needs that will be generated.  

If everybody does their part--fewer covid deaths will occur.

A good thing, no? 

And, no, this doesn't work in all cases--does work in some.  For the person dying from the infection, it is well worth a try.

We do what we do--right?

You know how there are things you’d just as soon not be doing? Well, those things are the things we all should be looking for, and concentrating on, especially as we get older.

You see, the older you get, the less time you will find before you (and the more time there has been behind you!) And, as you have less time coming up, why not use it doing some of those things you really don’t like doing? Cleaning out the toilet, planning your next trip to the dentist, working on your obituary, you know, things you would just as soon not do at all? Well, why not? If you don’t think you would enjoy doing something, then the doing is something that would take time that you would rather not be taking, and as a result, the time would go slooow, really, really, sloooow!

Which would give you more time on planet earth, right (or, in any case, that’s how it would seem....)

Well {:-)? (Smile--it may not make things go slower, but it just might make you feel better about how things are going, regardless!)

Heh, heh, heh!

Blog, Blog, everyone loves to Blog, Blog!

A number of months ago, I noticed a bit of a problem, or so I thought, with this blog business.  Wanting to keep my very first blog as something some might want to read, it appeared to me that early insertions would be dropped by the system.  Don't know why I thought what I thought, but, to be sure things were not lost, I started a second blog, "Morningbrain--deux..." and began making my posts there.  Turns out this was not necessary, but I didn't know that at the time.  In any case, for me one blog is more than enough, and, accordingly, I will concentrate my efforts here, on good 'ole "Morningbrain," for the moment.  Some of the writing I did on the new MBrain I will transfer here, and for a while, anyway, the MB deux will be saved for I don't know what purpose.  Could be there are just some things that might be better kept separate, just don't know.  In any case, this original business of "what keeps me up nights" should be all anyone might need to follow (if anyone wants to follow my middle-of-the-night thinking at all) so that is that.  Since I no longer have anything to post in that one-time online "newspaper," Examiner.com, to which I wrote a bit over a hundred articles, I guess anything I find interesting that I suspect you may find interesting, too, will show up here.  And thank you, dear friend, for dropping in.

Steve

Post office time!

Went to my Southside Post Office today to mail one of my autobio’s to a couple of close friends who live just about as far as anyone might live away from us, and still live on our planet. Address ended up with a town called Dunedin. That is, Dunedin, NewZealand.

Was happy to send the book and the how-to pamphlet (Autobiographical Trust) to our old friend (one of the best artists, by the way, on the planet!) While waiting for the clerk to do her part in the process, I noticed a form behind her that was just a bit interesting: “HOW TO OBTAIN A PO BOX” was the title on the form. As is often the case when I see something like this, I queried the clerk, stating, “If I wanted to rent a box, I would want it to be a GOOD box--was there a form for that?” After a moment, she caught on! Good employee, I’d say!

And as for those books, they are on the way, today! And, if I wanted to continue the rhyme, I would undoubtedly quote from Yogi Bear. (If you know what I mean!  He, he!  Close, but no cigar?) (:-) 

Thanks for the read!  SVG

Another short passage from the "book."

I had just a bit on my mind this morning, and, as often is the case, a passage from my one and only for-real book seemed to fit what I was thinking about.  Here 'tis:

"There was an empty field next to the road between my barracks building and the Officer’s barracks building where the little BX, the Library, and some meeting rooms where our U of Maryland had classes. We had built a baseball diamond there. Softball was the game and drinking was optional. I say optional—can’t think of anyone who didn’t put down at least a few beers during one of our games. Don’t really remember doing this more than a couple of times, though.

"And, while I’m on the topic of drinking, I remember one night at the NCO club when my two newbys and I were sitting at one of the tables, listening to a comedian do his thing. One of the newbys decided he could have a few drinks—actually, he challenged me to a contest. Well, that was his mistake. After about an hour of drink after drink, he literally slid under the table. I got some help and escorted him upstairs to our room. He never tried that again. (Neither did I.)

"And again at the NCO club, actually an EM, “enlisted members” club, (we had no separate club for our enlisted underlings,) one night the entertainer began telling his store of the current in-vogue Pollock jokes. Before he started his fourth “joke,” our training NCO, whose name ended in –ski, invited him off the stage and told him in no uncertain terms that the Pollock jokes were not exactly his favorites and, unless he wanted to step outside to discuss the matter in greater detail, maybe he should change his routine. Poor guy tried, but he was not quite the same for the rest of his routine. Lesson: Don’t mess with the –ski’s."

And, lest anyone get the wrong impression here, my thoughts were gravitating towards a personal friend named "Richard."  And, of course, if anyone were to want to try to guess Richard's last name, would you suspect a good start would be to go with a last syllable of "ski?"  If so, you definitely would be on the right track.  

Thanks for your time.  If you would like just a bit more to this reading, check out Amazon.com, and take a look at page 128 of the book.  (You may have to buy the book first, unless you are an Amazon Prime member.  Membership does have it's advantages!) 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07R5KW376/ref=rdr_kindle_ext_tmb

Just checked--yep, purchase would be necessary (sorry!)

Yesterday, today, and tomorrow

According to a Brookings Institute post, the Covid-19 outbreak began in WuHan China sometime early in November 2019.  Since then, it has gone "viral," amply demonstrating why we have and use that phrase.   Since then, our lives have all changed remarkably.  At that point in time, I was beginning to retrace steps I had taken in our Hitchcock Woods while I was writing environmental articles for an on-line news site.  My days typically began leisurely, awakening with my wife and our trusted companion, TobiJuan, watching the morning news programs, and deciding how I might spend a little time doing things I liked to do with my two trusted house-mates.  Are things really that different now?

Yes they are.  Now, along with me, each and every home on my street has neighbors waking up every morning wondering what might have changed in our world over night that they need to know about.  Many of us are not going in to work that we used to report to on a daily basis, and now, after watching our fill of the morning news shows, our neighborhood is awash with dogs, children, moms, and dads on all sorts of vehicles (golf carts, bikes and feet, mostly) getting out and around instead of heading to work and going through the routine found in that environment.  Everyone is doing things a bit differently these days, and, hopefully, this will end sooner, rather than later, although it doesn't look like this will be happening.

Wife and I will continue with our daily routines, which for us involves taking care of TobiJuan, fixing lunch, and deciding if a trip to the store might be needed.  That's today.  Hopefully, this time next year we will all be thankful this episode in our lives is behind us.  The only thing I might hope for is that what might be learned from this exercise might result in better preparedness the next time it is needed--which will hopefully recur later rather than sooner.  A turn-around needed?  Hopefully it will get more than just a little attention by the leadership of our world's nations.  Think that will happen?  Better stated might be "who thinks that will happen."  A question--just not a very good one.

Of course, one thing might alter our routine just a bit--that thing is called our Presidential election.  I already know how my vote will go, if not who it will be for.  Looking forward to seeing some major changes, in any case, following that vote.  Hope enough are in agreement with wife and me and we have an opportunity to see things change for the better (much better) in the new year!  Thanks, all.

Ciao.

SVG

Corona virus issue 1

I am titling this "Corona virus issue 1" since it discusses who just might be "hurting" the most.  Good luck to all. This thing is bigger than our politicians' capabilities to even try to respond. The problem I see developing is with politicians closing this and regulating that, the little people are suffering even more than they deserve. They are the ones who have the least ability to react to this dangerous time, and they are the ones who are suffering the most with loss of jobs, loss of the ability to pay their rent, to buy food, to do anything. The lowest rung of our society is the one being hurt the most. They need help to just survive. Who will help!!!! And HOW !!!! PLEASE, EVERYONE, ADDRESS THIS MOST REAL NEED !!!!  

That being said, what can be done?  Help me with this, if you can, by writing your newspapers, your politicians, your churches, your everyone who might be able to help in the least!  Do this, and do this today.  

The poor do not deserve to be turned out into the streets, do they?  They do not deserve an enforced diet of whatever, perhaps dandelion because it is edible and growing well these days, but dandelion what--root, leaves, with what kind of dressing?  Why dandelion?  Because they may be found growing at the side of the road, and the price may be all that our lower rung may be able to pay.  

And what if someone in this bottom rung actually catches a cold?  First thing will be to go to an emergency room for treatment, and hope they do not catch Covid-19 in the process, right?  

We all have problems because of this virus but, unless we are in that lowest rung, our problems are minor--until we, ourselves, catch the virus.  Then what is for us--whatever we have to look forward to at that point in time, what would be our situation if we were on that lowest rung of our county's financial society.  

If the hospitals are full, and we have nowhere to go, what will be our fate?  Sick, hungry, out in the weather?  Is that what anyone deserves?  Am I wrong here?  Who will take them in? 

Beat Covid-19? Why not!

3:56 is what my clock says--guess it’s time for a little Morningbrain session. Actually, that morningbrain has already struck. It is why I am up and in my livingroom and not lying in my bed in comfortable repose. And to what purpose has my dear old brain brought me to wakefulness? Well, would the term “covid” be something anyone else may relate to? How about “covid-19?”

Well, now that I have your attention, let me first point out the obvious and then ask one question.

It is obvious that there are people out there who have recovered from an attack from these little viri. These people now are relatively free to live their lives and go about their days with a bit more confidence in their abilities to win should they be attacked again by these viri, and why not--wouldn’t you feel more confident than the average one of us who has not had these individuals’ opportunities to confront the disease and win? Of course you would.

That being said, let me now propose a little swap--a “tit for tat,” so to speak, or, more specifically, a pint for pint.

If the powers that be, and I mean scientific powers that be, not political ones, if those scientific powers that be can determine if this proposal would have the least bit of merit, I would like to propose a swap of one pint of my blood for a pint of blood from one of our successful covid-19 recovered battlers, that pint to be used for a half-dozen of the organizations deemed most likely to have the expertise to take a sample of that blood from that successful combattant and determine what about that combattant made them succeed in their battle with the little buggers. Surely there will be something, something about their blood that just might be used to provide protection for you and me, and, if my hope is correct, that organization just may be able to produce what is needed to give you and me the protection we might need to have should we be attacked.

A worthwhile thought, you say? Well--what to do now? Guess that is obvious, too.   Find that person, collect that pint, replace it with my donation, and let the scientists begin their examinations, determinations, and eliminations of our problems-to-be.

Two pints of blood should do it--shouldn’t it? You tell me. Better yet, tell your congressman. They are the ones who can take this idea and run with it. And, the sooner they do, the better.

SVG 3/23/2020