Saturday, November 28, 2020

Things You Don't See Every Day: Rampaging White House Raccoons to UFO Confirmations

Pandemic Diary - Day 249, 

Dear Diary,

Things you don't see every day department:

Recently CNN's Joe Johns was live on camera when he was suddenly attacked by a marauding raccoon in the front of The White House.

His reaction; "Frickin raccoons man! God, again! It's the second time. Jesus!"

Apparently there was a gang of wily raccoons who took up residence on the White House lawn. The rascals were an ongoing problem, attacking numerous news crews filming in the dark.

Federal authorities reacted by setting traps for the raccoons using marshmallows as bait. (who knew?)

This effort was recorded by a White House producer for NBC News who shared some fun footage showing Secret Service agents trying to wrangle a raccoon from a tree.

Warning! Don't try to catch a raccoon up a tree in your yard. Not only is it dangerous, it's stupid. Unless of course, it's a matter of national security where trained Secret Service agents agree to help.


A TTS Academy concept for a vehicle embodying the technology of UFOs. 

Space Force News

A couple of weeks ago a former high ranking DOD official confirmed UFOs are real. 

(Long pause)

After leaving his post at the Pentagon, Luis Elizondo claimed that an official UFO Program exists.

Luis told assembled reporters that, "We are planning to provide never released footage from real US Government systems...not blurry, amateur photos, but real data and real videos."

Since then, Luis officially marked the launch of To The Stars Academy of Arts and Science (TTS/AAS). The goal is to release game-changing information about UFOs and to make one of their own.

Frankly, it's hard to tell if this is a really serious effort, or the works of a bunch of college educated conspiracy kooks on crack. 

A lot of "ex- government" types have banded together to prove there are UFOs, and to copy the alien technology behind them.

That's assuming any alien contact will be peaceful. No way of know that until it's too late and the planet gets invaded.

Just saying. I wish this aspiring collection of scientific stalwarts well in their efforts. If all goes according to Hoyle, the universe will be our pearl some day. 

Quote for the Day; "Those were strange days, now that I look back at them. In the midst of life, everything revolved around death." -Haruki Murakami 

Friday, November 27, 2020

Looking Forward to the Future: 'For Everything There is a Season...'


 Pandemic Diary - Day 248

Dear Diary,

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted."

During this season of COVID in America and the rest of the world, death is at every doorstep as the virus surges out of control.

Mental coping skills have never been more important than now. Depression is widespread amidst the countless challenges we all face. 

At times, I feel like my mental process is bogged down in a thick mud of misery that clings to my thoughts like blood-sucking leeches.

I'm watching my father fade away although he's alive and breathing. Dementia has robbed him of a once sharp mind. He barely recognizes my sister, and I.

His mind is caught in a life loop where his long deceased relatives and friends dwell. The conversations in his head manifest into words that blurt out of his mouth like vignettes from his past.

His condition is worsening as he doesn't remember to eat or take care of himself. We've had to get outside help and now are facing putting him in a nursing home during this season of COVID. It may very well be the last time I see my father alive, because of COVID-19 restrictions.

It's breaking my heart. There is no good ending to this personal story. 

But, I know that I'm not alone in my grief and sorrow. Millions of Americans are experiencing untimely deaths caused by the coronavirus.

Millions of families are faced with similar situations like mine. We're all together in this season of COVID... but it will pass with vaccines and time.

And when the new season comes there'll be healing, physically, and mentally. The human race will survive and eventually thrive.

Until that blessed season arrives we must give ourselves the gift of hope, and a positive mind-set to move forward... one day at a time.

Peace.

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

Thanksgiving Day 2020: Something We Can All Be Thankful For

 Pandemic Diary - Day 247

Dear Diary,

Like millions of Americans this Thanksgiving, my family has had to make adjustments to the holiday during a major surge of COVID-19 across the country.

That means we don't have family and friends over to celebrate our traditional holiday. It's just the four of us. But we're making do. We're still having a turkey with all the trimmings. And we're talking with family and friends via Skype and phone calls.

Despite the pandemic, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade still happened. It was an abbreviated version - from two-and-a half miles to a one block stretch of 34th Street - with participants having to be 18-years old to participate.

No school bands, but there were some floats pulled by golf carts instead of humans who were social distancing. 

The lineup included Snoopy, "Diary of a Wimpy Kid," "The Elf on the Shelf," "SpongeBob SquarePants," and "The Boss Baby."

No crowds this year. Visitors were discouraged. A 2020 reality. Many performances were pre-taped and on TV. 

It's all about adapting to our new realities imposed by the coronavirus. We may not like it, but certain things have to change or there's going to be even more deaths this fall and winter.

I hope your family respected the restrictions on large gatherings today. If not, you may be having a last meal with some of them. The virus has no respect for holidays.

We can still be in contact with those friends and family without risking lives.

There is a light a the end of the tunnel as vaccines continue to get approved in record time. That's something we can all be thankful for today.

Quote for the Day; "I'm thankful for my struggle because without it I wouldn't have stumbled across my strength." Anonymous 

Today's Subject: Where Should a Trump Library Be Located?

 

Pandemic Diary - Day 246

Dear Diary,

Today's post was inspired by Michael Beschloss, author, and Presidential Historian.

Yesterday he asked his numerous Twitter followers, "Where should the Trump Library be located?

Here's a collection of responses that are hilarious:

--"You mean Trump Presidential Library and Casino?"

--"The Four Seasons...Total Landscaping."

--"The Hague."

--On the Mexican side of the wall."

--"There are several options here:

1) Moscow (They already have all his important personal papers, so it would save time.)

2) Riyadh

3) Inside an abandoned coal mine in West Virginia

--"Obviously, it belongs at the site of the Bowling Green Massacre."

--Riker's Island Prison

Moving on...

I have a few suggestions for a Trump Library location:

--Why have it located in just one place when there could be a traveling display?

Like a Three-Ring Circus featuring clowns from his administration; interactive displays of bronzer makeup application; the Sharpie pen and map that the weather service was forced to show how Alabama was in the way of a hurricane - when it wasn't; and countless other artifacts that will disgust and entertain future generations.

--In the center of the Florida Everglades. Since Trump made the state his new residence after fleeing New York prosecutors, it's appropriate that his (bookless) Library be located in a swamp. 

--Across the street from Florida State Psychiatric Hospital - Port St. Lucie Hospital. It's also just a few hour drive to Trump's residence at Mar-A-Lago.

Quote for the Day; "This life's hard, but it's harder if your stupid." -George V. Higgins

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

White House to Hold Auction When Trump is Kicked Out


 Pandemic Diary - Day 245

Dear Diary,

Hear ye! Hear ye!

As the official White House Auctioneer, I hereby invite collectors of presidential memorabilia to assemble on the South Lawn on January 21st, 2021, for a two-day sale of Trump's junk that was left behind after he was forcibly removed from office.

Category One 

The Oval Office

Taken from inside the historic resolute desk (made from English oak taken from the HMS Resolute and a gift from Queen Victoria to Rutherford Hayes):

--A deck of playing cards with women peeing on Trump in various famous hotels 

--Videos of Trump and Jeffrey Epstein on Pedophile Island chasing nubile teenagers under 16-years old.

--A pack of Sharpies engraved with Trump's name.

--Obviously a new addition, there was a mirror that popped up from the top right hand drawer with a recording, "You are so handsome! and You're a stable genius" on an endless loop.

Category Two

The President's Residence

--Expected to go only to the most serious collector, is Trump's shitter throne made from solid gold.

--Found in a dresser drawer, a supersize jar of face bronzer make-up, and a year supply of Tic Tac's engraved with Trump's name on them.

--Discovered in the bathroom, a solid gold scale that only went up to 240 pounds.

--12 94" flat screen TVs that surrounded the bedroom

Category Three

The Dining Room and Kitchen

A Trump ware dinner set for 64 people consisting of: 

--Plates and saucers etched in gold

--A massive Centerpiece with naked golden Trump cherubs frolicking in the Capitol Hill bathrooms

--4 gold Salt and Pepper shakers in the shape of a box of Kentucky Fried Chicken

--16 McDonald's themed tables and chairs for four.

Category Four

The Secret Nursey

Background: Many historic (and horrible) decisions were made there where most of the staff couldn't see Trump throwing temper tantrums and acting like a baby.

--A gold leaf crib padded with stuffed hamburger cushions.

--A Big Boy wooden Playpen (with metal bars) made by illegal immigrants at Mar-A-Lago.

--A golden pacifier dispenser in the shape of a golf club.

--A gold encrusted height chair sturdy enough to hold an elephant. The tray is decorated with flying hamburgers wrapped in a Carl's Jr. motif.

Note to All Buyers

All sales are final and permanent. We accept VISA and MasterCard.

Monday, November 23, 2020

Hope Springs Eternal: Enduring 2020- Day-By-Day

 

Pandemic Diary - Day 244

Dear Diary,

In a year where some days feel like a week, Americans are exhausted with 38 days left in an what's been a constant stream of major challenges.

The two biggest challenges have been the pandemic, and a corrupt president unwilling to concede he lost the election.

In the waning days both will be front and center.

The fact that we're faced with a sociopath whose probably going to have to be put in a straight jacket and wheeled out of the Oval Office on a handcart on Jan. 20th, 2021, is discouraging to say the least.

Thanks to Trump our highly valued smooth transition of power was violated and continues to be a dicey subject. Welcome to our banana republic. It only took one con man to pull it off.

So how do we handle the twin challenges facing us all this fall and winter?

As for the pandemic all we can do is to slow down the deadly surge. That requires wearing face masks, practicing social distancing, and good hygiene. Vaccines are on the way next year.

The problem is too many Americans are not following CDC guidelines because they see it as a challenge to their personal liberty, or they're Trump followers who universally scorn science. 

The other challenge, the one threatening our democracy, is a demented Donny. He's going to continue with a scorched earth policy designed to hurt the Biden presidency.

I expect the stupidity to last until January. Meanwhile, taking it day-by-day is the answer. In addition, don't spend more than an hour on the news of the day.

I'd go further than that and exclude talking heads on biased news channels. Personally, I watch the nightly news on NBC with Lester Holt and our local news. Total one hour. 

That leaves you the rest of the day to divert from the madness around you. Despite having to avoid public situations, there's numerous alternatives to making your confinement more bearable.

--Try reading a book. It's a lost art getting rediscovered in the Age of COVID-19. 

--Don't forget Zoom, phone calls, texts, emails and snail mail to stay in touch with friends and family.

--Hobbies. Whatever tickles your fantasy. You might even come up with a way to make money and soften your financial burdens.

--Use humor like a shield against the negativity your exposed too. Jokes, comedies and comedians can take you to a happy place.

Enduring 2020 hasn't been easy. Over a quarter of a million Americans have died from the coronavirus thus far with little end in sight.

Our republic has been rocked by a lunatic on the loose in The White House for four years.

But, there's hope. There's always hope. Americans have been through many hard times in the last 240 years, and we're still the United States of America... despite Trump.

Quote for the Day; "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God, which is why we call it the present." --Bill Keane 

Sunday, November 22, 2020

America Will Never Be The Same After Trump and the Pandemic

 Pandemic Diary - Day 243

Dear Diary,

Between the pandemic that's killing 2,000 Americans daily, and a treasonous president who won't except the results of a fair election, America will never be the same.

Age old traditions have been trampled on by Trump and his enablers. Laws have been lynched by his crooked lawyers and cronies in key government positions.

Morality is mocked. Science is scorned. Civility is a casualty. Compromises have been crushed by Trump's authoritarian regime. 

Democracy has never been this close to collapse. If Trump would have won, there was a distinct chance that future generations would be living in a fascist state.  

But Biden won, and Trump melted down trying to reverse the will of the voters with lies that appeal to his QAnon, and extreme right-wing followers.

The country has to endure 59 more days of Trump's terrible tantrums and purging of people disloyal to him, and the lighting of foreign fires to hamper the incoming Biden administrations foreign affairs.

Somehow we'll get through this assault on democracy and Trump will have to go back to being a civilian facing numerous crimes in the year(s) ahead.

It's the pandemic that will have longer lasting effects on America as a whole. Surviving this dark winter is going to be a bigger challenge than anyone alive in the country today has ever faced.

Despite COVID-19 vaccines that are predicted to be available next spring for the majority of Americans, many won't take it for myriad reasons.

Unfortunately, the virus will be around for the foreseeable future. There's hope for mitigating the virus with the arrival of Biden's Health Advisory Team whose decisions will be based in science, not politics like Trump's Coronavirus Task Farce.

Everything we once took for granted, from sports to entertainment, is going to be different. The days of football stadiums with 60,000 cheering fans are gone.

Americans are going to have to accept new norms, like wearing masks, social distancing, and avoiding large indoor gatherings. Holiday traditions are going to have to evolve to accommodate our new reality.

While the challenges are many, I'm confident Americans will meet them and our republic will stand as a beacon of freedom in the world.

Quote for the Day; "Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change." -Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

It's Time to Pay Up Donnie!

It's looks like there will be some prime real estate going on the market soon in New York City. Convicted rapist and former president ...