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S*** happens
I just finished listening to the audio book of Alan Paton’s Cry, The Beloved Country. This is a wonderful book in whatever format it is experienced. However, the reader of the audio book was absolutely perfect, pegging the South African accents of various peoples.
The book was published in 1948 and set in 1946. It is a book of many flavors including that of a cautionary tale. Knowing a little of the history of South Africa after Continue reading “Keep Well, Go Well”
El domingo 10 de mayo, aquí en los Estados Unidos, es el Día de la Madre. Así que aquí hay una canción para nuestras madres. Disfrútalo y compártelo con tu mamá.
De nada.
This started shortly after my bride retired in 2013. She had spent the previous 35 years teaching Special Education, and earned a much needed rest. The last 3 or 4 years had been tough on her as her role had changed from one she loved, teaching, to one she was less than enthralled with, case management. Same job title and pay, but the documentation for Special Education seemed to have assumed more importance than the teaching in the minds of upper management. What do they say, “follow the money.”
She was at a bit of loose ends initially, as are most retired folks. She started responding to an activity suggestion with, Continue reading “Sure, why not…”
Radiolab is one of my most favorite podcasts. When first I discovered it I went through their archives. I have literally listened to every episode that is available on Stitcher. A bit of a feat as the podcast has been around a long while. It has been interesting watching the evolution of the show. The early episodes were nerdy, sciencey, hidden side of things. The current shows are still many times that, but they have also branched off into social and philosophical realms.
This week’s episode is titled The Cataclysm Sentence.
The theme of this podcast was if Continue reading “Radiolab – The Cataclysm Sentence”
In my somewhat long and very circuitous life I have lived through several natural disasters, economic, spiritual and emotional crises. The current one of COVID-19 feels different on so many levels. With natural disasters and to some extent with economic crises there is something physical to grasp onto, something to see. Especially with natural crises, there is often something physical you can do. Our physicality in this crisis is limited to sheltering in place. With a natural disaster you generally have a timeline. You have an expectation Continue reading “Zombie Apocalypse and Silver Linings”
Dear children, grandchildren and other assorted beings younger than I:
I am requesting that you start addressing me, in person, and in your correspondence (text??) as “Dear Disposable One“.
It will do two things.
First it will ease the transitional phase of my absence from this world of woes to whatever supposed metaphysical state exists thereafter.
Secondly, it will show your support of Donald J. Trump and the GOP as they “restart” the economy. I am sure the $1000.00 or so you spend on my cremation will be a big help, especially after a long and costly hospitalization paid for with your tax dollars.
Thanking you in advance for doing your part.
With much love,
The soon to be dearly departed.
Here is a link to the story in the STL Jewish Light:
St. Louis Jewish family grapples with coronavirus
TV News Story about the family
Obviously positive thoughts appreciated.
Amazingly this story has gone viral globally. I was talking to a lady in Ecuador via Skype and she was telling me about this. I explained to her it was my brother-in-laws’ family. After the Skype call, I put the terms Weinhaus coronavirus into a Google search. It is CRAZY. Who knew a story in the STL Jewish Light newspaper would have such legs.
“And the people stayed home. And read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games, and learned new ways of being, and were still. And listened more deeply. Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some met their shadows.
And the people began to think differently.
“And the people healed. And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal.
“And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed.”
~Kitty O’Meara
Normally when I use art on my blog I do a Google image search and make sure I grab images that are “free to use and share”. I took the poem and image off a Facebook posting of a friend who is an artist. I erroneous made the assumption the art was hers. I believe the picture is actually the work of Jessica Boehman. Here are a couple links for her and her art. It is a very nice picture, and hopefully Jessica will not be offended by my use of it.
I worked in Information Technology for 30 years. I was actually on call December 31, 1999. Remember Y2K? Lots of folks felt like there had been a tremendous overreaction to this potential problem. What most people did not see was the 3 years before the change from 1999 to 2000. There was an immense amount of work that went on changing the date routines of uncountable computer programs on mainframe systems. This is when Indian programmers first started coming to this country in large numbers, to work on the Y2K issue. The work was done, and there were very few glitches across the computer world. People then had the luxury of making fun of the whole Y2K phenomenon.
What I am trying to figure out is, are we overreacting to the coronavirus pandemic? The truth is we will not really know until Continue reading “Coronavirus, are we overreacting?”
Anyone dealing with a loved one with Alzheimer’s will appreciate this.