Fenway and I walked out of the building early yesterday morning and turned east toward Lake Michigan. I swear I saw dinosaurs walking across the horizon. Elephants and brontosaurus and even a t-rex!
A few days ago I was taking stuff out to our little RV.....planning for a few days at Wisconsin State Parks for a change of scenery. I loaded up tote bags in the condo, put my mask on, went down the elevator and out the garage door to the RV. One one trip I noticed something kind of "sad".
Living in Port Washington on the shores of Lake Michigan offers us many chances to enjoy nature up close and personal.....but usually on a happier note. Sorry little guy.....wrong place, wrong time.
According to this morning's TV meteorologist we will be "celebrating" the first day of fall in a few days. Usually I love the onset of cooler weather as I am a jeans/sweater kind of person. I love the trees as the leaves begin to change color. Somehow I feel a bit differently this year.
We went for a hike yesterday at a nature preserve just west of Port Washington. A nice in-the-woods kind of walk around a pond. We were hoping to spot lots of birds and maybe some wildlife....but we didn't pick the right time of day for that. However two things did catch my eye.
Trying to figure out how many of our friends are willing to buy snowmobile suits.
OK...I admit it. I am not a fan of our current President....I think he will go down in history as the worst leader in America's history. I think he is unqualified and inept. But when I heard that George Stephanopolis was hosting a 90 minute program where undecided voters would get to ask 45 their questions I decided to tune in. Dave left the room but I sat and did some hand stitching on a quilt binding and listened. I didn't spend much time actually looking at the TV because, just frankly, I can't stand to look at the man....but I listened.
I heard one citizen after another ask specific questions....about COVID, about the economy, about systemic racism in America, about health care and pre-existing conditions. I listened to very specific questions and then listened to 45 ramble....and ramble...and justify....and talk about how great he did in his first term. And he'd mention his opponent as often as possible....putting Biden in an unflattering light while non-answering the question in play. I listened as the moderator, an experienced newscaster, tried to clarify 45's answers or actually get him back on track....to no avail.
But I admit I can't stand the man....so I have a bias. And tonight's 90 minute "performance" did nothing to make me feel any differently.
I come away from the evening with the intent of emailing Good Morning America tomorrow to ask that ABC host another evening with 90 minutes of content....undecided voters asking 45's main opponent questions so that he gets equal air time.
Sorry but I can't help but think that Joe Biden's answers would at least be more reflective of the actual question being asked. And I can't wait to wake up tomorrow to hear the spin on tonight's program......
I often "find" something sort of "memorable" to start my day when I take Fenway out for his first walk in the morning. A beautiful sky, a colorful bird, some deer in the park, an angry Lake Michigan.....there is often some little moment that catches my eye.
This morning, as we rounded the building and turned east toward the lakefront, there is was. 6:50 in the morning and just after sunrise.....wildfires from the west coast said good morning Port Washington. I smelled the smoky odor as I left the building and seeing our huge hazy orange/pink sun made it impossible to ignore the fact that part of our world is on fire. The camera on my phone did not do justice to the color.....a dull orange with pink on top. A flat circle in a grayish sky.
We don't have to really think about it....until we walk outside and smell smoke and see an unusual pink/orange sunrise. This morning our west coast send me a reminder........
With news of taped interviews between 45 and Bob Woodward, I am again thinking of numbers. 18 hours of interviews so 45 is on tape saying "....it goes through air Bob. That's always tougher than the touch.....you just breathe the air and that's how it's passed."
So, in February 2020 he stated COVID-19 was "more deadly than even your strenuous flu" during one of these taped interviews, right about when he was basically telling the American public the opposite.
I googled today's numbers: 6.38 million cases in the United States and 191,000+ deaths.
I can only imagine what might have happened if 45, after telling Bob "it goes through the air" had come out in one of his press conferences in a mask and told the American people to mask up. As America's President he could have set a completely different course for the disease. What would our numbers be?
191,000+. I wish I had a huge readership and word would get out that every family who buried a loved one due to this virus would send a hard copy of the obituary to 45 at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500.
Use a first class stamp and help the post office at the same time.
We usually try to watch Sunday Morning on CBS. I like the combination of interviews, travel, art, music, famous people, some politics, nature. I liked Charles Kuralt when we was the host and I like Jane Pauley now. Something about her speaking voice and friendly face just make Sunday mornings seem a little more relaxed. Today's show had several interesting segments and then about two or three minutes highlighting some well-known Americans who had died during the past week. There was a scientist, a Broadway set designer, the man who started the witness protection program and a few others. Short salutes as a part of the morning's show.
And at the end of the postings there was a notice.....black print on a solid background. Over six million COVID-19 cases in the USA and more than 188,000 deaths. 188,000. Imagine how long the program would have to be if they tried to provide witness for each one of these people recently deceased....each important in their own right. 188,000.
Later in the day I ran off to the grocery store and on the way home I passed a campaign sign posted in a front yard along North Franklin Street.
Of course we are beginning to see lots of yard signs for both parties, that’s no surprise. But this morning, after getting that 188,000 figure in my mind and wearing my face mask while moving through the public areas of our condo building and while grocery shopping, this sign gave me pause.
Promises Made Promises Kept! This sign in support of a man who, at last count has made more than 20,000 false or misleading claims since his election. This sign in support of a man who said something like “Oh maybe we’ll see 15 cases.” Or “ One day the China Virus will magically disappear.”
I just keep thinking.....I must be living in the twilight zone.
188,000 and counting.......
