On or about March 8, 2020, I started what is called now "physical distancing" or "social distancing."  Today is April 4, 2020, and it is now darn near a whole month of this type of near solitary confinement.  There is no end to this plague in sight and the federal government of the United States is in total disarray.  The incompetence of Mr. Trump and his republican cohorts is breathtaking.  My nickname for Mr. Trump is "Olde Pucker Lips" for his mouth resembles an asshole and every time he talks, nothing but shit falls out of his mouth.  Lately he has been trying to gaslight the population of this country that 100,000 to 200,000 deaths is a sign he is doing a good job!!!  There are mornings in which I wake up in despair.

So when I wake up and despair is filling my thoughts and eating at my soul, I adjust my focus.  First I begin to count my blessing for which there are many.  Then I gaze out the windows of my home and regardless if it is cloudy and rainy (snow??) or sunny and clear, I declare it a beautiful day.  This is my way of moving into an attitude of gratitude...and the despair fades away.

As a gay man I've already gone through one great plague...the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s...and at times attended three funerals a week.  Funerals for good young men that were dear friends.  At the time, it seemed as if that plague would never end.

So, with that experience in mind, I realize that someday we will get past this moment in time...and that we will be looking back...those of us that make it.  History will harshly judge Olde Pucker Lips and his republican party that allowed this to happen to the American people.

And we too will look at our behavior during this time.  Did we act with knowledge, faith, bravery and with good hearts?  Or did we act out of ignorance, fear and hate?

The choice is ours.

These days that are somewhere between winter and spring, I find myself drifting.  It seems there is very little that inspires me at this time.  I find myself doing a lot of reading.  There is an author I recently discovered through the Gandy Dancer Bookstore in Webster, Wisconsin.  His name is William Kent Krueger and he writes of murder, mystery and mayhem in the northwoods of Minnesota's Boundary Water area.  So this is how I've been drifting by as the days drift by as the wee cottage slowly wakes from winter's tight hold.

It is truly a time of rest.  All is well.

There is so much beauty to be found in Wisconsin.  It is easy to take this beauty for granted when we live in it on a day to to day basis.  All we have to do is stop and open our eyes and pay attention.  Yesterday while I was driving to the grocery store I suddenly stopped and paid attention to this river that I had driven past many times.  Here is a little bit of history about this river:  "The Straight River flows through the Straight River Tunnel Channel, a well-preserved glacial tunnel flanked by the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. This tunnel channel was formed between 15,000-18,000 years ago, near the end of the most recent Ice Age. During this time, melt water from deep beneath the layer of ice on the glacier's surface was forced under extreme pressure towards the glacier's margin. The Straight River Tunnel Channel is considered to be the finest example of this rare glacial phenomenon in Wisconsin."  ~ Wikipedia 1.29.2020

Yesterday's "adventure" was a drive to Copper Falls State Park which is about two or so hours from Frederic. It has always been one of my favorite parks for it encompasses three waterfalls and at least one lake. The drive to and from there is through the Chequamegon National Forest...and along the drive I encountered three flocks of wild turkeys crossing the road. I stopped for each and every one of them so they could cross the road safely. I also saw a female elk crossing the highway (stopped for her too)...and realized as I drove through 30+ mile of "elk crossing" warnings, that elk have finally been re-established in this part of the country. Lastly attached is a picture of Copper Falls from today. It was a good day...

A drive to Gooseberry Falls from NW Wisconsin is a perfect day trip.  It is a worthy location of any type of drive.  Recently I had the chance to visit the park once again along with family that was visiting from California.  We were there on a Monday in late May and it was a spring paradise.  

After our hike around the park, our appetites were enormous and we stopped at the Blackwoods Grill & Bar (Two Harbors, MN) for a delicious lunch.  We all opted for the walleye sandwich...which was perfectly and deliciously served by their knowledgeable staff.  

So...I recommend this combination...a hike at the falls followed by either lunch or dinner at the Blackwoods Grill & Bar.

This wintry morning finds my thoughts drifting toward the warmth of spring mornings.  This has been quite the winter for the first couple of months it felt as if we would escape with nothing more than a very mild winter.  Then -35(F) temps...and then the snow hit.  For the last three weeks we've had snow almost every other day.  The snow level on the ground has gone from just a few inches of snow cover to a few feet of snow cover!  Today's weather forecast is for snow showers, high winds and dropping temps...to a -14 (F) tonight.

So I remind myself that this weather has provided many wonderful opportunities to curl up on the couch in front of a fire in the fireplace with a good book.  This winter has provided opportunities to rest and just be as the snow falls.  And, this winter has provided opportunities to dream of the spring that is yet to be.

​So as CJ naps and the snow falls....maybe I will take a nap too.  Yup...now that is a good idea.