Five Days

Remember when 2020 sucked? Well it's been 5 whole days into 2021 and we're still not seeing the Wonderful World that Louis Armstrong used to sing about. Instead, we're seeing ugly.

Really ugly.

And frankly, I just can't wrap my head around today's events in Washington. I guess I'm telling my future self that if she wants to know about what the heck was happening, just Google it by date or related subject matters, because there's a lot: storming capitol, electoral college, protests, election fraud, Trump, riot, 25th Amendment, democracy. Oh, and disappointment.

On a positive note – because we need one – a friend's son going through cancer treatments for the past 15 months was declared "in complete remission" today. Praise the Lord! 

Take that, 2021. You can't steal all our joy.

#findpositives #prayforpeace

 

Stop and Smell the Flowers (unless you're allergic)

So Wisconsin is in the middle of crap-show (PG language) right now as the state Supreme Court sort of overruled our governor's Safe at Home extension that had most non-essentials businesses, etc., closed until the day after Memorial Day. Now he has to work with legislators and they need a new or revised plan.

Lots of mixed messages and feelings and vocal opinions on social media right now. Let's ignore that and look at something pretty I saw near Rudolph...

To some, it's a field of allergies!

But I say it's bright and pretty. So look at it and smile, darn it. Then keep washing your hands, no matter what decisions are made in the next week.

Thanks. Have a good night. And be safe!

Right to Bear Masks

A little primary election day humor for you. If we can laugh yet. I'm not going to spout my political opinions. Just recording some events so when I look back at this someday I'll remember what the chaos was about.

Obviously with COVID-19 and Stay At Home orders, the health of Wisconsin residents is top of mind when it comes to our state government officials. Not sarcastic. I believe they care. But they, much like the federal government, don't know what to do. The problem is that when they finally make a decision, it comes a little too late.

Yesterday afternoon, our governor declared the spring primary scheduled for TODAY would be postponed to June 9. Then, within mere hours, our state Supreme Court overruled the governor's mandate so the election was back on.

If you can imagine municipal clerks notifying their election workers of the status change at the last minute. Then having to call them back 2 hours later, "Nope, that was a false alarm. I still need you tomorrow." My sister is a town clerk up north and can attest this whole election process has been insane. Yesterday just added to it.

So today, thousands of voters went to the polls and bravely or stupidly (I count among them) exercised their right to vote... and wear masks and gloves and BYOP. (Bring Your Own Pen.) Our polling place had a nice setup for the workers to be safely behind plexiglass. And the polling stations were 6 feet apart, too. They did what they could to make it a safe environment. Based on the fact there was no line at all when I went at my lunch time, I suspect the participation numbers are way down. Lots of absentee ballots, sure, but a lot of people just opted to stay home in their bubble. I don't fault them.

I had my mask and my invisible powers and I did my duty.

I don't know how much protection is afforded me. But dang, purple gets my vote any day!

Closing Time

Of all things a pandemic could cause in Wisconsin, I never thought sobriety would be one of them. But the gov announced today that all bars and restaurants are closed. Yes. Closed. Not even the unpopular dives with less than 10 patrons are open. Every CLOSED sign was to be hung by 5 p.m. On St. Patty's Day, no less.

Ironically, the phrase, "It's 5 o'clock somewhere" did not indicate the start of a good time.

Crazy, huh?

Also in Wisconsin, churches had announced they're closing their doors for now, too. But the saloon announcement came later. Totally in line with our usual priorities. No offense.

Seriously, every day it's bizarro news taken to a new level. For us in the Blue Jay Drive Bubble, we're just glad we reached Day 8 Post-Washington and still not symptoms. I'll drink to that! (At home.)

Based on our empty fridge, water or chocolate milk will have to do.

Cheers and happy St. Patrick's Day!

Trust Issues

When my cell phone rang at work this afternoon, the first thing I noticed was that I forgot to change my "I want a hippopotamus for Christmas" ring tone. The second thing I noticed was that the call was coming from Washington, D.C.

Allegedly.

When I don't recognize a number, I always let it go to voicemail. I figure if it is someone I know, they'll leave a message. If it's a telemarketer, scammer or automated call of some sort, there won't be a message. 9 times out of 10, make that 9.75 times out of 10, there is no message because they fall into one of those categories.

Today, though, that D.C. caller left a voicemail. And, if I hadn't been on top of my Anti-Trust High Alert game, I might have been freaked out. Apparently the IRS is suing me and if I don't call back they'll let the local authorities know so they can arrest me. Whoa.

It just happened that I recently heard or read a news story about this scam so I was free of guilt when I deleted the message. Not this time, scammers!

These guys are persistent, though, and sent a follow-up text. I had to screen shot it to share.

It is kind of scary how official-sounding they attempt to be. It's just downright sad that these are the times we live in. We don't know whom to trust. Who is truly official, who is being helpful, who is out to get us or whatever they can from us.

Years ago when we gave hubby's parents a computer, my mother-in-law staunchly declared that they were not getting the Internet. "We don't want that in our house," she said, as if the virtual hand of evil was going to reach through the monitor and grab their morals, their soul, maybe their wallet. 

She might have been onto something. Our security gets threatened through cell phones, land lines, emails and the Internet. I even worry about my blog sometimes. There's probably some thugs out there who could use it to turn my life upside down. Do I quit and let them win? Or do I take the risk?

Frankly, I am not going to quit using my phone, television or any of my electronic devices. Then there's the fact that once something is on the Internet, it's there forever. Crap. What was I thinking starting a DAILY blog nearly 10 years ago?

Other than my IRS lawsuit, I hope there is nothing incriminating to warrant getting my assets frozen.

With these below-zero temperatures, my assets already frozen!

Be careful out there.

A is for Apple; Z is for Zombies?

It felt like a typical Monday today the way I was buried at work and all the computer systems were running slow.

I love technology but we expect it to work FOR us. At Warp Speed. All the time.

And it doesn't.

My computer locked up a few times and I restarted it. The second time I restarted it, I couldn't log in. It no longer recognized me or my password. Of course two thoughts come immediately to mind:

1) Do I still work here?
2) Are aliens taking over my computer?

After calling the "help desk," I was assured the answer to No. 1 was yes. Whew. But No. 2? Who knows? Refresh my memory... Do we prepare for an Alien Invasion the same way we do a Zombie Apocalypse? And are Twinkies needed?

You know where you can find the official answer? The U.S. Government.

Not kidding.

Did you know that on the Center for Disease Control's website the Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response has a plan for Zombies? I kid you not. You can check here or just read below:

Wonder why Zombies, Zombie Apocalypse, and Zombie Preparedness continue to live or walk dead on a CDC web site? 

As it turns out what first began as a tongue in cheek campaign to engage new audiences with preparedness messages has proven to be a very effective platform. We continue to reach and engage a wide variety of audiences on all hazards preparedness via Zombie Preparedness; and as our own director, Dr. Ali Khan, notes, "If you are generally well equipped to deal with a zombie apocalypse you will be prepared for a hurricane, pandemic, earthquake, or terrorist attack." 

So please log on, get a kit, make a plan, and be prepared!

I will point out that I do not troll the Internet for Zombie sites. A friend just pointed this out to me when I was determining whether I needed to buy some Twinkies.

Thank goodness those are back in stores – now with an even longer shelf life. I'm pretty sure they'll outlast my computer at work. And I don't think they'll tempt the taste palates of either aliens OR zombies.

Do you?

I better check with the CDC.