I decided to be serious about counting the Omer this year.
It will give me something to do while I wait for the US to get it's act together and combat coronavirus. From my point of view, it looks like a big old mess on that side. I sincerely hope that the whole thing ends sooner rather than later but every time I hear the US President open his mouth, I doubt it.
I really miss hanging out with my friends. Takeout is not the same and I want to have a drink in a bar. I know it's for everyone's own good, but still.
Other than that I'm fine.
Or is that FINE?
Anyway while riding the storm out I explored Orthodox Judaism. I celebrated Passover by having seders on the first and second night using two different Haggadot. The second one pointed out that it never mentioned Moses. Once.
Why? Because finding your way out of your Egypt and heading toward The Promised Land is up to you.
Dovetails nicely with the religious people in my circle whose it question is, "What is your Egypt?"
Mine centers around the Promise of the US and still believing in it. How that plays out between now and the end of the year will be interesting.
Saturday, April 11, 2020
Monday, April 6, 2020
Thinking about five years ago
As I wait coronavirus out, I am constantly thinking about five years ago.
Five years ago at this time, Rick was actively dying.
To make matters worse parts of his brain that controlled emotions and crying failed him.
I dealt with screaming
I dealt with anger issues
I dealt with crying
But somewhere inside him, he knew to help out on a subject that was near and dear to me.
So, when my therapist wanted to borrow us for a school project she was doing, he was great. It involved how people with Alzheimer's processed music, and she wanted to use Rick to do some illustrations. It was one of the two visits during this time that I will always remember.
I also wondered when that chapter would end.
It ended three months later.
And this chapter will end too.
I just want it to end yesterday.
Five years ago at this time, Rick was actively dying.
To make matters worse parts of his brain that controlled emotions and crying failed him.
I dealt with screaming
I dealt with anger issues
I dealt with crying
But somewhere inside him, he knew to help out on a subject that was near and dear to me.
So, when my therapist wanted to borrow us for a school project she was doing, he was great. It involved how people with Alzheimer's processed music, and she wanted to use Rick to do some illustrations. It was one of the two visits during this time that I will always remember.
I also wondered when that chapter would end.
It ended three months later.
And this chapter will end too.
I just want it to end yesterday.
Saturday, April 4, 2020
Next Week's Plan
Holy Week (at least the non - Orthodox version) starts on Sunday.
In normal times, this would be a sellout week for tourism in Mexico and it would be impossible to go anywhere.
These are not normal times. The hospitality industry is decimated thanks to COVID - 19.
That said, I will do an anything but Kosher for Passover seder. Why? Well, it celebrates a bunch of people who were told to hunker down because something really bad was happening. Ultimately they got out, but then started a trek into the unknown.
Guess that is what we are doing now.
Stay safe and sound.
In normal times, this would be a sellout week for tourism in Mexico and it would be impossible to go anywhere.
These are not normal times. The hospitality industry is decimated thanks to COVID - 19.
That said, I will do an anything but Kosher for Passover seder. Why? Well, it celebrates a bunch of people who were told to hunker down because something really bad was happening. Ultimately they got out, but then started a trek into the unknown.
Guess that is what we are doing now.
Stay safe and sound.
Monday, March 23, 2020
Coronavirus.
So, the world went topsy turvy over the past two weeks.
I knew there would be trouble when the Baja California authorities advised people not to go to the USA.
Of course I have things I need to take care of there, and now I can't until at least April 21. Maybe longer.
I get to see sober government advise people to socially distance themselves and entities helping that one on by doing things like blocking off every other table in a restaurant, and everyone engaged in capacity controls. Some places are now takeout only. Others have closed for the duration.
Meanwhile in the US, the President appears to be in some alternative universe. Sigh.
I am really having a hard time to digest the fact that right now it is probably safer to be in Mexico than in the US. This was reinforced when it was announced that all coronavirus patients that need to be in a hospital will go to the one commandeered for that purpose. Hopefully, there won't be many.
Also, hopefully, this ends sooner rather than later. I want to visit family and friends as well as get in some beach time.
Badly.
Hopefully all of you are staying healthy too.
I knew there would be trouble when the Baja California authorities advised people not to go to the USA.
Of course I have things I need to take care of there, and now I can't until at least April 21. Maybe longer.
I get to see sober government advise people to socially distance themselves and entities helping that one on by doing things like blocking off every other table in a restaurant, and everyone engaged in capacity controls. Some places are now takeout only. Others have closed for the duration.
Meanwhile in the US, the President appears to be in some alternative universe. Sigh.
I am really having a hard time to digest the fact that right now it is probably safer to be in Mexico than in the US. This was reinforced when it was announced that all coronavirus patients that need to be in a hospital will go to the one commandeered for that purpose. Hopefully, there won't be many.
Also, hopefully, this ends sooner rather than later. I want to visit family and friends as well as get in some beach time.
Badly.
Hopefully all of you are staying healthy too.
Tuesday, March 10, 2020
Two Weeks Into Lent
And I am eating a veggie burger because I gave up meat and dairy for the occasion.
I've also been contemplative as a milestone birthday (evenly divisible by five) approaches. It's probably a good thing, but what the focus is on my life five years ago. I look back and wonder how I got through that one with my sanity intact.
From the standpoint of me physically, my body reacted badly and has yet to recover. I gained a lot of weight, developed high blood pressure and a cholesterol problem, and have neuropathy. Working on the first two, the third may be a permanent condition.
I also feel a bit burned out right now and am starting to plan a trip. Should be some good deals forthcoming and I could use one. I want to go back to Puerto Vallarta and that may be what the plan is. All I know is I will start planning later this month.
That trip may include a trip to Dallas as part of a relationship development exercise unless the object of my affections decides to move to Seattle. It's one of those long stories that has progressed over 18 months and the project may produce results. We shall see.
The other thing I would like to do on the trip is check on one of my cousins to see if she is doing well. I have not seen her in nine months and she did not look like a well woman at that time. It would mean going to Austin, but I'm a big boy and can handle that.
So, I'll work on the trip later.
I've also been contemplative as a milestone birthday (evenly divisible by five) approaches. It's probably a good thing, but what the focus is on my life five years ago. I look back and wonder how I got through that one with my sanity intact.
From the standpoint of me physically, my body reacted badly and has yet to recover. I gained a lot of weight, developed high blood pressure and a cholesterol problem, and have neuropathy. Working on the first two, the third may be a permanent condition.
I also feel a bit burned out right now and am starting to plan a trip. Should be some good deals forthcoming and I could use one. I want to go back to Puerto Vallarta and that may be what the plan is. All I know is I will start planning later this month.
That trip may include a trip to Dallas as part of a relationship development exercise unless the object of my affections decides to move to Seattle. It's one of those long stories that has progressed over 18 months and the project may produce results. We shall see.
The other thing I would like to do on the trip is check on one of my cousins to see if she is doing well. I have not seen her in nine months and she did not look like a well woman at that time. It would mean going to Austin, but I'm a big boy and can handle that.
So, I'll work on the trip later.
Sunday, February 23, 2020
Murphy was an optimist.
I say that because life has not been fun since the 11th.
You see, atomic gripe decided to pop in for a visit that day because Karma loves me and wanted to make my Valentine's Day special. I take the cold meds on Monday and Tuesday and by Wednesday am totally out of it but think I'm home free.
Right?
WRONG!
Instead my ear canal gets plugged up, meaning I am now having a hard time hearing thanks to this round of atomic gripe.
I want it to go away and it is off to the MD for me to see what can be done about that happening sooner rather than later.
Oh, and the reason why I was supposed to be in Vegas did not happen, so that trip was a bust. I would not have minded as much if the atomic gripe symptoms went away rather than linger and irritate me.
So, it has not been a fun week and I will lay low for Mardi Gras this year. Another reason for a quick I GOT CHEATED trip this year.
So, let's hope things get better.
You see, atomic gripe decided to pop in for a visit that day because Karma loves me and wanted to make my Valentine's Day special. I take the cold meds on Monday and Tuesday and by Wednesday am totally out of it but think I'm home free.
Right?
WRONG!
Instead my ear canal gets plugged up, meaning I am now having a hard time hearing thanks to this round of atomic gripe.
I want it to go away and it is off to the MD for me to see what can be done about that happening sooner rather than later.
Oh, and the reason why I was supposed to be in Vegas did not happen, so that trip was a bust. I would not have minded as much if the atomic gripe symptoms went away rather than linger and irritate me.
So, it has not been a fun week and I will lay low for Mardi Gras this year. Another reason for a quick I GOT CHEATED trip this year.
So, let's hope things get better.
Monday, January 27, 2020
Happy 2020
No, I have not done a good job of blogging.
Working does that.
Christmas was good. Spent time with family and on an extended date. He now lives in Plano and just recently picked up some work. A good thing. I hope it works out for him.
Will the relationship go to the next level? I don't know. His family issues are in the way and he really doesn't deal with them well. That said I got to meet his mom. She was nice to me.
For a reason.
I found out my date had to ask his mom for permission to travel with me from Dallas to Houston to spend Christmas with my family. The man is 37 years old for crying out loud! She assented. For a reason.
She used his going to Houston to berate his rat fink of a brother in law who said ugly things about her darling baby boy. Basically she blamed him for her darling baby boy not being with her for Christmas!
Interesting. Very interesting.
So, we will see where things go from here.
Working does that.
Christmas was good. Spent time with family and on an extended date. He now lives in Plano and just recently picked up some work. A good thing. I hope it works out for him.
Will the relationship go to the next level? I don't know. His family issues are in the way and he really doesn't deal with them well. That said I got to meet his mom. She was nice to me.
For a reason.
I found out my date had to ask his mom for permission to travel with me from Dallas to Houston to spend Christmas with my family. The man is 37 years old for crying out loud! She assented. For a reason.
She used his going to Houston to berate his rat fink of a brother in law who said ugly things about her darling baby boy. Basically she blamed him for her darling baby boy not being with her for Christmas!
Interesting. Very interesting.
So, we will see where things go from here.
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