Pandemic Diary Day 34: A Dizzy Day - Still Fatiqued

 Dear Diary,

I'm weak, but a little wiser on why I've been so damn dizzy it's hard to walk the last couple of days.

Shirley hooked me up with a teleconference with a local doctor (amazing technology) yesterday. He doesn't think I have the COVID-19 virus. That's the good news.

The bad news is the doctor thinks I had a small stroke two days ago when I got out of bed and my whole left leg was numb, and I kept falling trying to get to the bathroom.

The doctor suggested I go to the ER and get an MRI, or whatever. I didn't go for a couple of reasons. 

One, with my luck I would be sitting in a waiting room of undiagnosed COVID-19 carriers for hours. And two, the effect of my little incident hasn't been that bad.

As a matter of fact, my hearing (which has been terrible for decades) suddenly improved! No kidding. It's been weird. I can't remember when I could hear so well in my one good ear. I've been deaf in the other ear after six surgeries since the Nam. That's a story for another day.

Imagine my surprise, and Shirley's surprise. It turns out that one of the effects of small strokes is something called auditory overload (or something like that). I certainly don't understand the biology of my brain. I just count myself lucky to have one. And now, a better ear.

I hope it's not a temporary effect. When my head quits spinning every time I stand up, and I don't feel like I just got off a 20-mile forced march, I'll have to research the subject.

Writing this is exhausting me. Time to lay down and catch a few winks. Tomorrow is a new day.

Quote of the day: "Come tomorrow, I'll wake new." - Chad Sugg

Pandemic Diary Day 33: It's Happening... Politics Over Pandemic is Costing Lives

Dear Diary,

It was inevitable with the Trump regime.

Partisan politics are once again pulling the country apart when we should be uniting under a common cause, to defeat the deadly coronavirus ravaging America.

I couldn't believe my eyes yesterday when I saw Trumpies (on TV) - carrying AR-15s - blockading streets in Michigan's state's capitol, and cavorting on the courthouse steps like they were in a Trump rally. Trump signs popped up like poisonous mushrooms.

Why? A couple of conservative organizations in Michigan decided there doesn't need to be a state-wide lockdown to fight the coronavirus … despite the fact that Michigan is tied for third in the nation with the most cases and deaths to date!

What was accomplished? Absolutely nothing! Unless you look at the very real possibility that those morons who were clustered together without masks cause another outbreak!

More stupidity in Kentucky.
About 100 batshit crazy protestors (photo left) disrupted the Democratic governor's televised pandemic briefing update by chanting, blowing horns, and shouting in a megaphone outside the window of the briefing room, nearly drowning out his comments to Kentuckians.

About 100 protesters in Ohio gathered outside the statehouse sporting Trump hats. In Utah 100s of residents marched around protesting the states closures. About 100 protestors (without masks) gathered in Raleigh, North Carolina, in violation of the state's stay- at- home orders. One red-capped moron was arrested.

Yesterday a coalition of right-wing idiots gathered in Virginia's Capitol Square. "Re-Open Virginia;" "End the Lockdown in VA;" and "Virginians Against Excessive Quarantine." 

And yes, they are all right wing groups who would rather see people go back to work, even if it means countless more cases of the deadly coronavirus.

Trump is encouraging his cult members by talking about opening the country up on May 1st; a totally unrealistic proposition. He's calculating on putting the blame of the pandemic onto state governors, thus absolving him of accountability.

It's a sick tactic. But classic Trump. Divert. Cause chaos. Divert some more.
                                               ---

On the Homefront - Medford Oregin

**Oregon coronavirus layoffs approaching 300,000. Frankly I'm waiting for Oregon's alt-right nuts to start protesting the state's stay-at-home-orders. They're probably organizing as I write this!

**I'm feeling weak and dizzy again today, but it isn't quit as bad as yesterday. I noted that I didn't have any COVID-19 symptoms in yesterday's entry. 

Upon further reading today, it's possible that I may have some neurological aspects of COVID-19. My lethargy, fatigue, and dizziness have been reported as subtle signs of the virus.

But because there hasn't been any studies on the neurological aspects of COVID-19, it's a reach to suggest that I have it.

I just know I feel like crap, and this post is the last thing I'm going to do today. I'm tired. Going take a nap. Tomorrow is a new day.

Quote for the day: "You were sick, but now well, and there's work to do." - Kurt Vonnegut

Pademic Diary Day 32: The Heart of Darkness - Coronavirus Peaking

Dear Diary,

I'm having trouble trying to document what's happening daily because there's SO MUCH going on.

National and global pandemic stories of desperation seem to get worse daily. Here's a smattering:

** There's a zoo in Germany that's going to have to start feeding some of it's animals to the other animals because no funds are coming in! Hoping for a government bailout!  

**Farmers are dumping milk - up to 20,000 gallons a day - In Wisconsin because of a precipitous drop on demand from schools, restaurants and food service providers.

**New York now has over 10,000 deaths, and counting. Nearly 30,000 Americans nationwide have died from COVID-19, and counting.

**A group of ignorant Trumpies gathered on the steps of the Michigan capitol building with their beloved guns, to protest because they didn't like the safety orders the governor enacted to protect the people of the state. 

The group was organized by a Michigan Conservative Coalition and the Michigan Freedom Fund, a DeVos (as in Education Secretary DeVos) family-linked conservative group.

**Trump's trying to stop US payments to the World Health Organization because he's decided they're going to take the blame for what he didn't do - shut down the government when warned by his own healthcare experts.

But the orange ape is in for a fight with Congress, who rightly assert he can't change funding which has already been granted by Congress.
                                              ---

On the Homefront - Medford, Oregon

**The death toll from COVID-19 has increased to 58. 1,663 cases of known virus across the state. Still only 47 cases in Jackson Country where Shirley and I live. No known deaths in the county either.

**Gov. Kate Brown announced a framework, but no dates, for loosening coronavirus restrictions. 

**I was a bit under the weather yesterday, a problem with my balance and feeling dizzy and weak. No warning signs of COVID-19 however. Shirley is watching me like a hawk today. I am feeling somewhat better though.

Quote for the day: "Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend." Lao Tzu

Pandemic Diary Day 31: Coronavirus Coloring Book Could Be a Big Hit With Bored Public

Dear Diary,

It just came to me one day.

There's millions of Americans sitting around in their homes bored beyond belief when they could be enjoying the Zen of coloring.

Forget about the traditional coloring book themes however. Instead, consider some of the following suggestions to spice up your coronavirus coloring book experience:

The Pandumic Task Farce Follies 

Color Trump Orange and his minions yellow. 

Explore page after page of the Task Farce doing dumb shit like standing shoulder-to-shoulder when talking about social-distancing. 

Color in each member with shades of gray as they try to keep their reputation and not piss off Trump at the same time. Want an even more dramatic Trump? Use neon orange. 

The Adventures of Donnie and Mike 

Check your color inventory of orange crayons because Donnie is on every page! He shares some pages with his boob-in-waiting Mike (color him brown nose with tints of yellow) who is seldom seen standing. 

Most of Mike's appearances are on his knees. Ready to please. The dweeb duo are shown walking down a beach together... Mike several feet behind Trump in a dramatic montage of pages that you'll want to color immediately after vomiting!

Trump's Book of Magic

Make sure you have a full set of crayons with every imaginable color because Trump is like a chameleon, changing colors to con people daily.

Orange and Red Trump at WH Task Farce Briefs. Blue Trump sitting around the Oval office wishing he could hold campaign rallies. 

A jealous of Dr, Fauci Green Trump. Yellow Trump afraid to admit when he's wrong. Purple Trump straining to take a crap on his throne.

Have fun!

                                                  ---

On the Homefront - Medford, Oregon

**Three's company - Bob the Cat, Mollie, and Butters sharing scraps (bits of egg) from my breakfast plate yesterday morning.

Not sure if Bob thinks he's a dog, or if the dog's think they're cats? Who cares? There's no species shaming around this house.

**State stats - 1,633 known cases of COVID-19 - 55 deaths attributed to pandemic.

**Testing, testing...Oregon has been testing about 1,300 people a day. The state epidemiologist, Dean Sidelinger, said the state needs to have to capacity to test 15,000 a week before we can even think about lifting stay-at-home protocol.

**Making progress outside - Shirley and I have been staying busy with outdoor projects during this stretch of mild weather which has been perfect to garden in. 

I suppose when the gardening is all done, I'll just have to lay around on a lounge chair in the yard and drink beer every day while keeping a sharp eye out for new weeds! Things could be worse...

Quote for the day: "Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet." - Aristotle

Pandemic Diary Day 30: Trump Trys to Re-Write History During Daily Breifing

Dear Diary,

I quit watching the Task Farce briefing/aka daily campaign rallies a week ago, but a friend called and suggested I watch yesterdays spectacle...so

I tuned in to see a scene that shocked me (I didn't think that could happen in the Trump era).

Propaganda on steroids! Trump minions had put together a campaign ad and the WH press corps was forced to watch Trump's attempt to re-write history as selected videos flashed before their astonished eyes!

Attacking reality. It was the most blatant attempt at brainwashing Americans I've ever seen. By anyone. Let alone the president of the United States. It was sheer gall with a twist of rattlesnake venom.

It happened. The emperor doesn't care if he has no clothes on and the world knows it. He's without shame and drunk with power after escaping being convicted for his abuse of power by a gutless senate. Unchecked. A revenge tour against inspector generals for doing their job.

Serial liar. Cheater. Fraud. Crook. Coward and bully. An egotist like the country has never seen before. A sociopath who set out to destroy democracy - and to remake it in His Image.

He's getting worse every day. He's becoming more brazen by the hour, yet the GOP leadership remains quiet. They're. Afraid. To. Stand. Up. For. The. Country. I hope voters remember that. In November.

On the Homefront - Medford, Oregon

**Latest stats on virus - 1,600 known cases - 1 death overnight brings the total to 53.

**Oregon is joining Washington and California to pledge to coordinate reopening from coronavirus shutdown. It's a damn good idea. 

Especially since Trump thinks he can tell the states when to reopen - when in fact, the Constitution calls bullshit on his orange ass!

**Shirley and I have successfully avoided getting into too many routines by being spontaneous about our day. 

That's simply done by going into the day with no plans... other than completing some "missions" (defined as almost any completion of an act). 

Dishes. A dip in the hot tub. Emptying the trash. Vacuuming. Weeding the garden. Making meals. Playtime with the pets. Taking a shower. The possibilities are endless. Stir in a sense of humor and these days of confinement aren't so bad.

Today's Quote: "If you are going through hell, keep going!" -Winston Churchill

Pandemic Diary Day 29: All I Have to do is Blink 3 Times Rapidly to Bring Back Reality, Right?

Dear Diary,

It took me a while to figure it out.

I'm stuck in an alternate universe. 

All that time believing an orange blob slithered into the Oval Office with the help of hard core Apprentice fans, Russia's help, and a Republican party that was castrated in 2016, had to have happened in another universe.

Right? All I have to do is rapidly blink my eyes three times and I'm back in the real world.

That was just a bad dream, America being hit with a deadly epidemic with no leadership to guide the nation. Thousands dying needlessly because no plan was in place.

All I have to do is blink three times and the pandemic will go away. Right?

Isolation is a funny thing. It leaves us with too much time to think. To imagine. To dream out loud. I find myself in a zone where the real and the imaginary are at odds, because I don't like the reality that has crippled this country. 

I hate what Trump is doing, and has done to this nation. The harm that he's inflicted, that in some cases will last a generation. I hate seeing the country so polarized it can not even unite to fight a common enemy - the coronavirus.

It hurts my head to know the worst president the USA has ever had, is killing people because of his greed and stupidity. His inability to listen to experts in any field. It's like living in a badly written novel with little hope of a happy ending.

All I have to do is blink three times and everything will be okay. Right?
                                               ---

On the Homefront - Medford, Oregon

**COVID 19 update - The Oregon Health Authority announced 80 new cases of COVID-19 Sunday, bring the total number of known cases in the state up to 1,527. There's been 52 deaths to date.

**Parks are closed right now in Oregon. 

I thought it would be nice to share 30 photos of Oregon waterfalls. 

I feel so lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the country.

This photo was taken by Jami Hale/The Oregonian. Beaver Falls plunges into a pool at the end of a short trail in Oregon's north Coast Range.

                                                  ---

**Finished weeding in our front yard on Easter Sunday. Our son and his girlfriend came by and busted out like a couple of migrant workers! They made short shrift of what would have taken Shirley and I another week of work.

Todays quote: "In three words I can summon everything I've learned about life: it goes on." - Robert Frost

Pandemic Diary Day 28: Easter Sunday - Don't Kill Someone Else to Prove Your Faith

Dear Diary,

Faith is a good thing. 

We all need to believe in something. 

It doesn't matter if we're Christians or Muslims, faith is central in all world religions.

But faith without common sense, or accepting scientific facts, can be misplaced. 

When a religious group ignores the global pandemic and continues to meet in-person for services, the consequences can be deadly.

Look what happened in South Korea; when a religious church sect - Shincheonji Church of Jesus - continued to ignore the government's social distancing rules. The results were catastrophic. Most of the nation's cases have been traced to 8,000 of those stubborn believers.

So what's the answer to stopping church-goers from infecting their community today when they have regular services together?

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has come with an answer on how to deal with the stubborn parishioners. Authorities are recording license plates in church parking lots with mass attendance today. 

Tomorrow Quarantine officials will be contacting violators who will be subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine at home. I applaud the effort because it's a compromise (depending on how you look at it), but mainly because it will save lives that may have been lost due to their faith.

I don't even want to go there about how many people have been killed in the name of some faith. Out of respect for the day, I'll leave that argument for another time.

On the Homefront - Medford Oregon

**COVID-19 Statistics - The death toll in the state is now 48 with nearly 1,400 known cases of the coronavirus.

**Pandemic poems - Oregon's poet laureate, Ken Stafford (pictured), has been writing about the pandemic since it started.

**Pet therapy - Shirley and I feel blessed to have a handful of pets/companions to make the days more pleasant. They entertain us and love on us relentlessly.

Pictured - I'm loving on my fur babies - Mollie and Butters - on a typical day.

Dogs are a real blessing. They love you without reservation, and are always happy to see you.

Feeling sad? Or, depressed? Love on a dog and let them love on you. Their spirit revives yours. Their very presence is therapeutic.

                  ----

"The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it." - Neil deGrasse Tyson

Pandemic Diary Day 27: NO! We're Not ALL in This Pandemic Together!

 Dear Diary, 

 I'm sick of hearing that phrase "Americans are all in this fight against COVID-19 together."

It's just not true. Especially when referring to unity in the fight against the coronvirus spread. Who gets priority screening testing? Who doesn't? The wealthy have had no problem getting tested first.

The daily Trump Task Farce is so full of misinformation that most news outlets have wised-up and decided not to run the two-hour presidential rally in it's entirety. 

Trump's lies have sown confusion throughout the government, and the country, in a time when we desperately need factual reporting.

Minorities are suffering the most - per capita - because they tend to live together in tighter space restrictions - such as mulitple families in one home. Poor communities filled with a dense population, have been helpless against the coronavirus spread.

States are bidding against each other to get needed medical supplies like ventilators. The bigger states have more bargaining power to win private bids, leaving states with lesser populations to seek other sources.

I reject the idea that Americans are in this pandemic together after witnessing the daily cluster fuck that's happening to our polarized society.

The wealthy have more options to successfully survive this murderous virus. That's a fact. The rest of America is suffering economically and physically.
                                              ---

On the Homefront - Medford, Oregon

**The good news - no new deaths reported yesterday.

**Everyone is on the "front line" if their job requires being out in public during this pandemic. I read about Oregon child welfare workers reporting cases of COVID-19, and that made me wonder about all of the rest of the public workers with lesser profiles than doctors and nurses who are risking their lives in order to do their daily jobs.

**On job security... there's some professions that are pandemic proof. Like plumbers. We required the services of a plumber yesterday. He required $100 per hour. We paid without complaint for his two-hour visit.

**Humor is the best medicine - it's really helpful that Shirley and I have a good sense of humor. Otherwise we would have been at each other's throats long ago during this stay-at- home phase in the country.

Our top 3 coronavirus parody picks are:

1) Toilet Paper 

2) Friends in Low Places

3) *Die, Die *Coronavirus

                                              ---

Quote for the day - "I don't trust anyone who doesn't laugh." - Maya Angelou 

Pandemic Diary Day 26: Social Distancing, Melania Irony, and Masked Maroons!

Dear Diary,

I have nothing but high praise for those Americans who are actually obeying social distancing.

Healthcare experts say it's helping stop the spread of the coronavirus.

As for the rest of the other maroons who, for religious or other reasons, are ignoring requests not to gather in groups of 10 or more; there's going to be a special place in hell for them when they contact COVID-19 or infect someone else who dies from being in contact with them.

Pandemic Tidbits

**Journalists attending the coronavirus Task Farce briefings are now being tested for COVID-19. Apparently the WH got some of those 15-minute testing kits - probably with Jared Kushner's inside "pull."

                                                ---

**I hope the rumors I'm hearing are true about Joe Biden selecting Kamala Harris as his VP. She'd be a great pick!

**Once again irony slaps Melania Trump in the face as she is seen in a PSA asking everyone to wear face masks... 

when her husband doesn't, and, the vice president doesn't, and the rest of the rat pack in the West Wing doesn't...

**20-plus hotels in NYC have offered empty rooms for free to 1st responders or overflow patients. Not a word from Trump's flagship property -Trump Tower - about helping.

There's 7 more cities with Trump luxury hotels that are not offering any assistance during this pandemic. Thanks Mr. President... you piece of shit!

**The word from the UK is prime minister Boris Johnson is doing better today in his fight against the coronavirus. I  read somewhere that he was a tough guy, despite his obvious extra weight.

**Under Masked Maroon: I have a friend that was wearing a face mask in Costco when he suddenly had to sneeze...what did he do?

He pulled the mask aside, sneezed, then put it back in place!

Did I mention he's a "special friend?" Got you, Larry! I couldn't help myself!

**It's a mystery to me... why more men are dying from COVID-19; and why are more minorities dying from the deadly virus attacking our country?

On the Homefront - Medford Oregon

**We now have 44 people in the state who have died from the coronavirus - 1,300 known cases.

**1 in 8 workers have lost their job. One of my sons is among those unemployed who is still are trying to reach the state unemployment offices after 3 weeks of calling daily! It's insane. He got a confirmation letter weeks ago...then nothing. I've been reading about the same thing happening nationwide.

**Good information: Oregon now has an online triage tool for coronavirus symptoms.

**Conversations with animals: 

Do you speak to your pets? I do. 

As a matter of fact, I was having a conversation with Bob the cat this morning and he brought up some good points on happiness.

The first thing he emphasized was eating good food whenever he felt like it. As you can see he's no lightweight (25 pounds).

The last thing he brought up on the subject was having "a forever home." It made me sad to think of the many cats and dogs that didn't have one.

"Cry. Forgive. Learn. Move on. Let your tears water the seeds of your future happiness." - Steve Maraboli

Pandemic Diary Day 25: Biden vs Trump and Wonderful Weather

Dear Diary,

Now that I know it's going to be Joe vs the Orange Blob in November, I can breath easy knowing the Democrats didn't stumble into a contested convention giving Trump an edge.

Speaking of the Democratic convention and thousands gathered in one building... there's no need for one now. Biden is in. It would basically just be a pep rally. 

All the Dems need to do is hold a virtual convention and they will automatically get the high ground against Trump whose made it clear the GOP is having a BIG one packed with his rabid base to honor him...regardless of the consequences!

Here's the optics: it's about public safety. The Dems respect the pandemic (hurray for science) while red cap wearing Trump minions flout social distancing. It get's worse if any of those eager Trumpies catch COVID-19 and die after Trump's bigly party.
                                           ---

**I read where UK's prime minister Boris Johnson is still in ICU after contacting COVID-19. This is the third day the UK's leader has been in there. If he dies, he'll be the first leader of a country to fall victim to the coronavirus.
                                              ---

**It's starting to feel like my own personal Groundhog Day every morning when I get up. So far, that's not such a bad thing.

On the Homefront - Medford, Oregon

**Nothing but beautiful sunshine today, and for the foreseeable future.

**Shirley and I puttered around in the backyard and soaked up those rays. We both treated our legs to shorts. No more long pants. Our legs looked white alabaster columns, but their pinkish now after a day's exposure.

**That's it for all Oregon schools... their staying closed for the rest of the academic year. I really feel sorry for high school seniors for so many reasons. They've been robbed.

**No new COVID-19 deaths reported overnight. Still stands at 39. Over 1,200 confirmed cases statewide.

                                               ---

Life during this pandemic is full of challenges. But we must take heart. The great Moliere once wrote, "The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it." 

Pandemic Diary Day 24: A Primary During a Pandemic, Stop Briefings, Iggy vs a Bee

Dear Diary,

Thanks to the conservative majority in the Supreme Court, Wisconsin voters were faced with a choice yesterday; obey the governors orders and stay at home (in essence forfeiting their right to vote), or get in ridiculously long lines to vote in-person and risk getting COVID-19.

No sugar-coating it... the Supreme Court has chosen a GOP agenda over the health of Wisconsin voters who risked getting COVID-19 to vote in-person. 

GOP ideology has successfully superseded public safety in another court power grab. One more blow to democracy.
                                                ---
**When is cable news going to quit covering Trump and his pathetic Task Farce? Can't they see he's using them like puppets for his daily campaign rallies? Actual news seldom comes out of them anymore. 

I realize people like to watch Trump entertain them by attacking reporters and facts freely and without inhibition, but this charade has gone too far. Too many lives are being lost because of it.

After weeks of disinformation, and partisan campaigning, it's about time cable news rooms everywhere re-evaluate their coverage of the buffoon. Let the mainstream news give a few soundbites (if merited) during the 5:00 o'clock news.
                                                ---

On the Homefront - Medford, Oregon

**The differences between northern and southern Oregon have been well documented by social scientists.

What I'm seeing is people in Portland who are ignoring social distancing rules despite the state mandate, and folks here in Medford in almost perfect compliance. The difference between north and south this time may be judged by lives lost.

**Speaking of lives lost, Oregon has had 34 deaths thus far, and 1181 known cases. Some healthcare experts are predicting the virus may peak in a couple of weeks, as long as a worst-case scenario doesn't happen.

**Pet talk - Our Iggy, Butters, was chasing bees yesterday and managed to catch one in his yap... much to his dismay! Little lumps sprang up almost immediately on his head!

Shirley went and got some Benadryl and gave him some.

It helped, but not before the right side of his little face was swollen and his lip drooped.

Amazing how fast it did work however. An hour later and he was fine. There's no doubt in my mind he didn't learn his lesson... I expect him to be chasing bees again today.
Another Pandemic day gone by.