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.

Yesterday a dear friend emailed me about her concerns regarding the "new normal" during these days of plague.  Then during the night the cities of the United Stated burned in reaction to the unmitigated police brutality.  When I responded to her this morning, this is what I wrote:

"Methinks this is going to get a lot worse before it gets better.  I've read in the news the police were really cracking down on protestors last night???  Well, is that not fighting fire with fire???  Police brutality has to end.  Oh, and lest I forget...all freeways in and around the TC were closed last night.  And they were closed not particularly because of the protestors but because of the truckloads of white supremacists descending upon the TC in order to create a firestorm of mayhem.  Lastly, as I point out to people...let us not forget that the police unions back Trump 100% and that right there explains their excuse for brutality.


And yes...what will the new normal be during this plague?  I am thinking that nothing will improve or change until there is a vaccine.  Yet, let us not forget that the so-called "Spanish flu" killed maybe 20 million people and yet the world finally did return to business as usual...large crowds, etc.  But yes, we are fortunate to have those days of wonderful memories of getting together without a care.  I also think we are fortunate to be retired at this time and not worried about job loss, etc.

And other than that it is a cool sunny beautiful morning here in the northwoods.  I did have to turn on the heat for a wee bit to take the chill out of the air.

Stay safe."

And...for all of you reading this...please stay safe.

Over 100,000 Americans are now dead from the virus and the depraved indifference of the #republican administration of Olde Pucker Lips.  May each and every republican including Olde Pucker Lips be prosecuted for their malfeasance.

This is a rough day for a few reasons.  First, I am bored...I am bored out of my mind today.  I want to be able to go somewhere and do something.  Yet, I am a responsible adult and know and understand that by being safe and minimizing my exposure to the virus, I am doing the right thing.  Second, I am homesick for my home in Pacifica, CA.  I miss my friends and I miss our get togethers...meals at Tams, Moonraker, Surf Spot and Barolo...just to name a few of our Pacifica favorite places.  Lastly, this morning I am feeling each and every one of my numerous years.  By back is making itself known via my aching legs, I have an eyelash(s) growing backwards in my upper right eyelid, and the psoriasis is itching like mad.

The back discomfort will pass and I have Ibuprofen for that pain.  The eyelash(s) growing backways...I need to contact the eye doctor today.  The psoriasis...I am going to have to deal with it for the drug I am supposed to start taking suppresses my immune system...and during this time of plague a suppressed immune system is not a good thing.

​So...that's a summary of my life today.  Thankfully I am enjoying a delicious cup of coffee...as well as enjoying the companionship of my cat.

92,000 people are now dead because of the virus.  It is being reported that if the #republican leadership of this country had not ignored the warnings of this pandemic...that the number dead would be half of that figure.  #republicans are guilty of depraved indifference and should be prosecuted.

On a lighter note I got my hair cut yesterday!  The last time it had been cut was at the end of February.  My hair stylist/barber was complimentary in saying the long hair did not look bad on me and was I sure that I wanted it cut short.  My response was that the last time my hair was this long, I was wearing bell bottoms, platform shoes and puka shells...and yes please cut it short.  The short hair feels so good right now!

Because it is almost Memorial Day I noticed that blueberries are now in the market and on sale.  So I bought enough to make a blueberry pie.  And last night I baked a blueberry pie (picture attached).  Then for my dinner I doctored up a DiGiorno frozen pizza.  Between the two of them I ate well.

Lastly, this morning I caught myself thinking of a long departed friend.  Her actual name was Ruth but those of us that were her friends called her "Jane."  I have no idea where that nickname came from...but it stuck.  Jane has a magnificent Magnavox console stereo that must have been seven feet in length.  And she loved opera and many a time when visiting her in the summer as I would pul in her driveway and be greeted by the sounds of some opera pouring thru her open windows.

Today the thing that triggered that particular memory is that I was out in my yard...and realized I could hear the sound(s) of classical music pouring from my open windows.  Jane, dear friend, I've learned so much from you!

It's the little things during difficult times that keeps one sane.  For instance, tomorrow I am getting my hair cut.  Yes!  It will be the first time since the end of February!  My hair stylist/barber and I are doing all the necessary precautions in order to be safe and that makes me feel good too.

#republicans have now made the plague political.  They know they cannot win on the issues that are facing this country...so they character assassinate as well as divide the population.  Their latest ploy is that 100,00 to 200,000 deaths are ok as long as the economy is doing well.  In my book any society that is willing to sacrifice lives for dollars is far sicker than any virus can make it.

Spring has fully arrived and today's forecast high temp is to be 76 (F).  Blueberries are in season and I plan on baking a blueberry pie.  Once again, it's the little things.

​All is well here.

Memorial Day weekend is approaching.  This weekend is the unofficial beginning of summer which then ends with Labor Day weekend.  This year with the plague we are confronted with many things...choices perhaps...as well as moods that are generated by what was, what should be and what is actually happening.

A dear friend and I were discussing this via emails this morning.  Here are my thoughts:

"I heard you loud and clear in your comment(s) yesterday for like you I have those moments and/or days.  Sometimes it's a whole day.  Sometimes it is a day of roller coaster moods.  When I was in California at Christmas...little did we realize what 2020 would bring and that it may be a very long time before all of us can be together once again.  When Sandra & Rod or Tammy & Adam were here in January we did not understand it might be a very long time before we see each other again...in person.  Zoom is nice but it is not the same.


So it was with shock that I realized this coming weekend was Memorial Day weekend.  I think back to better times...nicer times...when the weekend was about starting our summer tans, getting together with friends and family, barbecues, bar hopping...just having fun.  This year it is going to be CJ and I.  The weather is to be very nice so maybe I will grill a steak or a burger...but it is not the same.

And now Wisconsin is wide open.  Minnesota is opening up today.  Rates of infection are starting to spike.  My doctor had a very frank discussion with me a few weeks ago and he said that this is a very dangerous virus about which we (the medical field) know little.  Immunity?  He laughed at the idea and said it may be 10 years before we understand that.  In conjunction with what he said there are now news articles showing up that say the virus is attacking children...that it is not just a respiratory thing but that it can damage hearts, livers, kidneys.  And we are rushing to open up the country???

The bars & grills here may be jam packed this weekend but I am not going anywhere close to them.

Yup...we all have our moments of being discouraged and/or blue...for it seems no end is in sight to this nightmare.  Yet somehow I know someday we will get beyond this.  I hope I am alive to see it.

A couple of loads of wash are going this morning.  It is cloudy right now but the weather is supposed to clear and be a nice sunny day.  I need to get to my parent's and sister's grave this week to put flowers on them.

And that's it for here.

hugs
us"

Today I am not going to dwell of the horrific numbers except to say that here in the United States the death toll is over 80,000 and that number is growing by 2,000 to 3,000 people per day.  Meanwhile #republicans continue to play politics and are guilty of depraved indifference.

A couple of days ago I mentioned the story of Gabby and Hatties.  Wednesday of this week they finished raking my yard and getting it ready for spring and summer.  It truly has been a delight to know these young women.  Their hard work couple with their thoughtfulness has earned my respect.  Needless to say, they agreed to come next spring and help once again.  And...they also said if I needed any help this summer...they would be willing to work.

Next week I will talk to their grandmother (Doreen) and advise her of the game plan.

I am happy to report that my friends and family are all well.  That in itself is the biggest blessing I could ever want.

​Enough for now.

Here are the tragic numbers as of this past Friday.  Please note the numbers are based upon those people tested and do not included the millions not tested:

People infected worldwide - 3,864,696
Deaths worldwide - 270,020

People infected United States - 1,256,972
Deaths United States - 75,670

The term that comes to my mind most often these days is depraved indifference.  Here is the legal definition:  "To constitute depraved indifference, the defendant's conduct must be 'so wanton, so deficient in a moral sense of concern, so lacking in regard for the life or lives of others, and so blameworthy as to warrant the same criminal liability as that which the law imposes upon a person who intentionally causes a crime. Depraved indifference focuses on the risk created by the defendant’s conduct, not the injuries actually resulting."

The republican Trump administration is guilty of depraved indifference in every way imaginable.  The virus is mutating...new types of symptoms are appearing...immunity is not guaranteed...and republicans want to open up the country and force people back to work.  Americans should NOT have to choose between poverty or death.  Yet that is unfettered capitalism in today's America.

I despair for my country.  And for all of the lives lost and for all of the lives yet to be lost...I despair.  God help us all.