March 31st, 2020

We've been "socially distancing" for a couple weeks now. As a natural introvert I've actually enjoyed it, and who can argue with sleeping in until 8am everyday, sure beats getting up at 6 so we can make the bus and commute. We've barely eaten out, and i've been to the grocery once for real, a costco resupply, and I picked up ingredients at no frills for a Juniors cheesecake. I made the original with the sponge base. Holy cow it was good, definitely the best i've ever had. If I can just figure out how to keep water out of the springform pan I think I could probably sell them for 40 or 50 bucks myself.

I've been paying less attention to the news, I'm still aware, I check Twitter a few times a day and occasionally tweet, but honestly the whole thing just gets me down. Even a national emergency like this doesn't do kill the partisanship, even if congress passed a bill. It's interesting that Trump has let the local leaders take charge in the response to the virus. In a way I think it's a good call. Government should be responsive to its people, and if the mayors and governors let their constituents be overrun with virus they deserve the consequences.  We will be able to see, and better yet feel the impact of the decisions of our leaders. All politics is local, and nothing is more local that our health.

I absolutely love sleeping in every day. I haven't gotten out of bed before 8am since we were locked down. The number of heart attacks must be plummeting with so many people being able to sleep in. I may just refuse to ever go back to a normal schedule.

March 19th, 2020

I just watched the most incredible news conference I've ever seen. The power of the entire government being wielded by an addled, greedy, narcissistic mind. Trump moved from moment to moment, arguing for, then against the same question. You could almost see him lick his chops thinking of the money the government will give out to "affected industries."

Smedly Butler, twice recipient of the Medal of Honor, and author of War Is A Racket said, "War is just a racket. A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to the majority of people. Only a small inside group knows what it is about. It is conducted for the benefit of the very few at the expense of the masses." I don't know exactly what kind of crooked deal Trump and McConnell, is gonna cook up with every industry now needing a handout, but I do know this. Americans are gonna get screwed, and Trump, McConnell, and the CEO's are all gonna get rich. It's happened every time before and it will happen this time too.

We need to pass legislation now that requires a vote in November. Trump's only move is to delay. It's exactly what he's inclined to do anyway. Just like his taxes, and his business holdings, and any detail ever. Trump will try to delay the election and we can't let it happen. We need to pass legislation, as part of the bailouts, requiring widespread ;mail in voting.

March 14th, 2020

I've been trying to stay away from the news. I'm trying to focus on enjoying my kid free time, and not worry about what's happening outside. It's impossible of course. Every TV is reporting numbers, sometime they tick up while you're watching.  It's such a dichotomy, no one I know is sick, my town had it's first reported case of "community transmission" today. It still seems so far away.

We went to Home Depot today. If we're stuck at home, we might as well get stuff done. We weren't the only people with that idea, but it wasn't packed, by any means. Not for a Saturday, this close to spring. We're gonna paint.

Schools are closed pretty much everywhere at this point. So are large events, sports etc. Bars, restaurants, shops, those are all still open.

It's boring, sitting around, waiting for the end.

March 13th, 2020

S drove the kids to her mom's today. Not the whole 10 hours, they met half way. She's on her way back now, childless, free. She texted me "kid free",  I replied "whoa".  You know that feeling, when you know you shouldn't do something, but you do it anyway? It feels good in the moment, and in that moment, what you need is to feel good. So you do it, consequences be damned.

I called S's mom, C yesterday. She's been a nurse for years, she's seen a lot of sickness. She watches Fox. To start things off gently I ask her what she thinks, with all her experience. A variation of, "just the flu" and "wash your hands" comes out. My heart sinks. We had a cordial conversation, I explained that I was worried the her husband, "B" had just flown to DC and back, and they are both "in the high risk age bracket".  I ask her about food. I've been stockpiling, they haven't.  I told her I was worried the roads would close. She promised me she'd get the kids back here if anything happens.

I bought a O2 concentrator yesterday. So I can treat myself and family if we need oxygen but can't get to the hospital. I'm worried it's too late, that it won't be shipped in time, or that i'm being scammed. Only time will tell. The 400 bucks is gone anyway, it's fine. I sent my mom on the east coast 1000 bucks a few weeks back. I called and asked her to buy food, fill her pantries. A few days later I checked back in on the way to work. She said she bought 75 dollars worth of food. She said her friends don't think it's a big deal and "we don't do that" when mom asked her about stocking up. Thankfully, mom listened to me, it warmed my heart when she said, "I figure I had better listen to my son". She's right, and so am I. I told her to go back out, spend 300 dollars, fill her pantries, buy dog food for the Chihuahua.  Pretend like she can't leave the house for a month. That's what I've been doing. I have 2 St. Bernards, they eat a lot of food.

You know that saying, "the calm before the storm". It's so true.