During these extremely difficult times here in the US of A, I've been practicing the practice of "living in the moment."  The year 2020 has been nothing but bad news between the Covid-19 virus, a fake and drug addicted delusional would be president and a corrupt #republican party.  On a daily basis one wonders if this once good country will survive the onslaught of all of it checks and balances.  Sadly we are learning with with the likes of #MosclowMitchMcConnell and #WilliamBarr there are no checks and balances and at times it seems as if we are doomed to become a far right wing theocratic dictatorship.

All of this news is horribly depressing and overwhelming.  

Today I found a great quote from Walt Whitman:  “Happiness, not in another place but this place...not for another hour, but this hour.”

Reverend Maureen Bass from Unity San Francisco used to encourage all of us to learn to live in the moment...for as she would say...this is all we have.  This moment, this hour, this breath...is all that we can be sure of.  Another great quote that aligns with what she said:  "Today is the tomorrow we worried about yesterday."

So if this is my last hour...my last moment...do I want to be tied up in fear and anxiety or do I want to be at peace with my soul...and peace with my Universe.  Quite simply...yes I do for all of this and the vitriolic clamoring of the world is not worth the stress.  I will do my best to do what is right...and then knowing that I have that foundation for the next step, I will let go and let God.

That said, I will continue to practice another concept from Unity #Unity and declare that nothing but good will come out of this turbulent time.

And...so it is.

​I am at peace.

(First of all a disclaimer...the above picture is NOT Kenosha, WI.  The picture is a city scene from San Francisco and used only to capture the dynamism of any city.)

The police in America are out of control.  Shooting an unarmed man in the back 7 times?!?!?  If it had been a white man, it would have never ever happened.

I am no fan of the police for to this day they despise us gay folk.  Also do not forget the police unions backed Trump in the 2016 election...and they also welcome with open arms the right-wing militias.

Couple the above with the conservative (ultra-conservative leaning of most police) and you realize that they are not on our side.  Then, this little known fact needs to be loud and clear:  "The Nazi state fused the police with the SS and Security Service (Sicherheitsdienst; SD), two of the most radical and ideologically committed Nazi organizations. Heinrich Himmler, head of the SS, also became the chief of all German police forces. His associate, Reinhard Heydrich of the SD, became at the same time the head of the Security Police, charged with safeguarding the Nazi regime. Nazi ideology became part of all police activities. The police were central figures not just in maintaining public order, but in combating the so-called racial enemies designated by the Nazi state. It was in this context that "preventive police action" took on such terrible consequences. The SS, SD, and police were among the primary perpetrators of the Holocaust."

One then begins to realize that their motto of "To Protect and Serve" is bullshit.

So Kenosha burns while right-wing militias swagger thru the city with the police buying them water and not stopping them.

This is horrid beyond belief.  It is true America finally exposing itself.

This year I am not particularly proud of the United States of America.  In fact, I've not been proud of this country since #BenedictDonald was given the presidency by the electoral college.  It was and still is a catastrophic failure of our democracy.

Here are the numbers:

10,966,000 people infected worldwide
523,000 deaths worldwide

2,777,000 people infected in the United States
129,000 deaths in the United States

Because of global warming this part of the country which generally has mild summer weather, is experiencing a record breaking heat wave that has now lasted for more than a week and there is a no relief in sight.  It's too warm to bake or to really do any cooking.  So my holiday meal will be simple...sloppy Joe's (Rachel Ray's recipe) and a tossed salad.

Meanwhile CJ has retreated into nap time after a morning of critter watching.  It's going to be a quiet non-celebratory day.

​When I next will celebrate the 4th of July...and again fly the flag of the United States will be when #BenedictDonald is removed from office and is in prison for treason.  It will happen when a traitor such as #MoscowMitch is removed from office and is in prison and stripped of the money he has made while in office.  It will happen when the likes if William Barr aka #BenedictBarr no longer leads the DOJ and is in prison for the damage he has done to the American rule of law.

First let's take a look at the grim numbers (which are as of 9pm on 6/29/2020):

People infected worldwide - 10,275,392
Deaths worldwide - 504,851

People infected United States - 2,588,020
Deaths United States - 126,131

During this time of plague the seasons have passed.  Winter ended, spring arrived and now it is summer.  These are strange days in so many ways yet it is the little things of the season that reminds us that nature has her own schedule.

Yesterday one of my Asiatic lilies has started blooming.  The story behind this one is that it is one I purchased at Menard’s. It bloomed. It finished blooming and I trimmed it back…and left it in its original plastic pot. Which I then placed in one of the garden beds…the leaves of fall covered it…and then a good two feet of snow covered it…and I forgot I even had it. Spring arrived and the snow melted and I kept thinking I got to throw this thing away but on the day when I intended to do so, I saw it was sending out new shoots. And now it is blooming. The question I asked of friends:  "What do I do when it stops? Should I plant it in the ground?"

And a friend that is an avid gardener gave me this advice:  "Wait until the blooms fade and then cut off the head.  Leave the green on it.  Then plant it.  Plant it about 8 inches deep and in a sunny location.  Full sun is best.  They will come back every year and will spread."

So that is now your gardening advice for today.  BTW, another friend piped up that he "googled" the term "accidental gardener" and my picture popped up!

Here are the numbers:

Number of cases worldwide - 9,740,000
Number of deaths worldwide - 492,400

Number of cases United States - 2,505,000
Number of deaths United States - 126,785

Here in the United States the medical professionals are struggling valiantly against the indifference of politicians such as #OldePuckerLips #MoscowMitch #RussianRonJohnson #ToxTomTiffany #republicans  as well as a stupid, selfish and uniformed population.  God help us all.

On a brighter note...some days are better than others.  Yesterday was one of those bright days.  Summer days in the Northwood villages of Frederic and Webster can be all too brief and maybe that is why they are so special.  I met a dear friend for coffee and pastries at Fresh Start Coffee Roasters...where we satisfied our caffeine addictions and our sweet pastry addictions. Then we went out to the Gandy Dancer Bookstore where we satisfied our avid reader addictions. I purchased six books for $11!  There is something very reassuring about a stack of unread books next to the couch.  All in all it was a beautiful way to start the morning. Here are some pics of this day:

First, the numbers and the news:

122,000 Americans are now dead from this virus.  The forecast is that 180,000 could be dead by October.  On Tuesday California reported 7,000 new cases.  States across the country are seeing an upswing in the people with this virus particularly the states with #republican governors:  Missouri, Arizona, Florida, Texas.  One doctor reported yesterday that we are not in the second wave but only in the first wave...and that this country has not effectively dealt with the deadliness nor seriousness of this virus.  His prediction is that it is going to be a wildfire of death.

Now onto lighter fare.  Let me tell you about my adventure yesterday.  Sooo...let me call my story “While on my Way to the Barber”:

First of all, I go to the St. Croix Barbers in St. Croix Falls. My barber/hair stylist is named Bruce. Yes, imagine that. Except what stretches the imagination is that Bruce is straight. So I have a hair stylist named Bruce that is straight. Next, the co-owner of the shop is Debra Swanson. Her maiden name is Lysdahl. Honest to God...it is the only place where I call in to make an appointment and they do not ask me to spell my name!!!

LOL!

So, anyhow, back to yesterday...I was driving down Hwy. 87 on the way to get my hair cut...listening to good tunes, the a/c is on, the car is quiet and I am mellow. Then in an area in which Hwy. 87 threads though a hilly and heavily forested area filled with sunlight and shadows, I noticed that the car approaching me was swerving to the shoulder and coming to a stop. I too slowed slightly...but not that much...when suddenly a doe and a fawn leap out of the shadows right in front of my car!!! I literally stood on my brake pedal trying to stop the trusty Honda!

I missed the rear legs and butt of the fawn by three feet (or less). Dear God...I would have never forgiven myself if I had hit her/him! They both then disappeared into the woods. I slowly exhaled,  wiped the sweat off  my brow, cleaned up the car seat and proceeded.

Methinks, therefore, that I needed a Door County!  And it was just what I needed.

First...here are the grimm numbers:

8,267,000 people infected worldwide
446,000 deaths worldwide

2,149,000 people infected in the United States
117,000 deaths in the United States

A friend that I've known since college days and I were exchanging emails and talking about SIP.  She also lives in a northern climate so we exchanged anecdotes of life in the woods.  Here are excerpts from my email to her...and I think they do capture life in the northwoods:

"Ahhhh...life in the woods, eh?  I so enjoyed your stories of dealing with critters for they made me chuckle because I could share similar adventures (misadventures?).


Beware of that rabid racoon however...because they are also very smart animals.  My handyman...Kirk...told me a story about him shooting an aggressive racoon on his patio.  He thought he had missed it because it had run off and was not to be found.  The next morning Kirk and his wife found bloody paw prints on their glass doors.  It was as if it was trying to get into their house and get even.

As far as racoons go...though...they do not bother my bird feeders.  Neither do the squirrels and I have lots of squirrels here...black ones, gray ones and gray ones with blonde tails.  Yah...gray with blonde tails...go figure, eh?  What does destroy my bird feeders, though, are bears.  And there is not much I can do about that.  For about two years I had two bird feeders right outside of my kitchen windows...under the eves of the house and they seemed safe.  In fact I had a flock of 12  - 14 wild canaries that would visit every day.  I enjoyed their song and their color.  But a bear took both feeders out one night...totally destroyed them.  In fact I still have a greasy bear snout nose print against one of the kitchen windows.  This too is kinda scary when I think about it!  ;-)

I would wash the window of the bear snout snot...but at the end of June I am having the house repainted.  The painter is going to power wash the house first before painting.  So I am thinking why bother?

Sooo...yup...life in the woods.  I am basically doing ok  with SIP and I am not one of those dumbass mavericks that thinks wearing a mask is affecting my freedom.  Here in this part of Wisconsin...about 2/3 of the people are wearing masks...and the majority of those not doing so are Minnesota people that are here for the summer.  Like with you these northern counties are asking people to quarantine themselves for two weeks when they come up here to their summer homes and cabins.  It ain't happening.  And it has not been happening since March.  Lot's of Minnesotans were fleeing the Twin Cities in March and opening up their summer homes early...but they were not quarantining themselves.

That said, though, I do have my stir crazy days where I want to get out and go shopping, go out for lunch or dinner, etc.  For instance many times over the last few years I would take a day and drive to Roseville and go to the car wash and get the trusty Honda thoroughly cleaned, washed and waxed.  Then I would go to CostCo in Maplewood and stock up on supplies...and lastly stop at Jakes for a late lunch before driving home.  I miss that.  And who knows when I will be able to do that again.  The good news is that the whole family remains safe and that is such a blessing that I will not complain.

Lastly...in the life in the northwoods story...there is a very pretty female cat that has been visiting the last few nights.  She is in heat so she howls when visiting...she comes right up to my screen door looking for CJ's (ahem) companionship.  Meanwhile CJ is neutered and does not give a damn but is also very territorial so he adds his own version of howls, groans, hisses.  I cannot even concentrate on reading or whatever I am doing because I am giggling so hard!

And life goes on..."

Here are the grim numbers as of 6/12/2020.  Mind you these numbers are of the people tested and does not reflect the total of all people that have been infected and died without being tested:

• 7,573,699 people infected worldwide
• 423,155 deaths worldwide
• 2,033,003 people infected in the U.S.
• 114,126 deaths nationwide

It is a cool Saturday morning here in the northwoods.  The sun is shining and soon the temps will start to warm.  Meanwhile I am sitting here and sipping coffee and contemplating these times of pandemic, social upheaval...and then being retired.  It is just CJ (my cat) and I these days walking the halls and rooms of this house as we continue the practice of SIP.  Yes, I go to the grocery store and have gotten my hair cut...but you will not find me in a crowded bar or restaurant.

It's my observation that the #republicans have decided to make this pandemic political rather than lead or govern in the best of interests of the state, country and its people.  There are now rumors of a second wave of the disease building.  God help us all.

The the social upheaval caused by the police murdering a man in custody.  It is time for police reform.  The "blue code of silence" needs to be removed as a standard operational procedure.  Once again #republicans are blaming the victims and there is no hope of real reform.  And I lay the blame for this squarely at the feet of the #republicans who are so wrapped up in the pursuit of power, ideology and money that they no longer know how to govern.

​It is a sad and troubling time.  Methinks I will go back to my cup of coffee and start counting my blessings this morning...including the huge blessing that no one in my family is sick.

However, as I revisit my thoughts of this morning, I cannot help but reflect on the life of this senior that is me (I?  Myself?).  As this lovely day passed I found myself gazing out the window more than once in reflection of life...my life...all of life.  I am so thankful for all of the good and fun years of my life.  And now at my age I wonder about the future?  I admit that I am a coward in that I do not want to suffer much before I die.  In fact like so many...I would prefer transitioning in my sleep, in the middle of the night, in my own bed.  Most of us do not get that option.  What will be my fate?

I've had great loves, I have had great losses...and I have spent the majority of my adult life in a wonderful city full of live and full of options.  Now the years have passed and in a sense I've retreated to the safety of this wee house in the woods.  I am at peace with myself and as i jokingly said to a friend the other day "I am writing my memoirs...or something like that!  LOL!"

This blog is my memoir.  So how truthful should I be?  That is the question.

In the news this morning was an article about New Zealand.  The country have had no new reported cases of Covid-19 in the last 14 days.  All trace of the virus in that country has been eradicated.

Meanwhile in the USA the death toll has now soared past 113,000 and new cases are reported each and every day.  In fact the #republican administration is no longer doing anything about the virus.

Think about that for a second.  We...the people of this country...are facing a catastrophic failure in leadership.

​

In the midst of the national upheaval over police brutality, it is easy to forget the plague still exists and the numbers are climbing.  Here are the latest numbers I've found...which are as of June 4, 2020:

Number of people infected (tested) in the United States - 1,894,000
Number of death in the United States - 109,000

BTW, nothing has changed.  The #repbulican #Trump administration does nothing except to obstruct any viable solution to this epidemic.

I tell you, this time spent at home with the cat gives me a lot of time to reflect upon life.  And for an old man there is a lot to reflect upon.  However, suffice it today when the sun is shining, the birds are singing, the temp is mild...and a good cup at coffee is at hand...reflection dissolves into the pleasure of the moment.  Is it not these simple little pleasures that carry us thru difficult times?

I think so.