Fear

 If you are in the Southwest US, you are probably experiencing the same weather as I am, cloudy, rainy colder days. That's OK, we NEED rain. I am fine with it, especially since I can't really get out and walk around anyway. You see, Last Thursday, I had my left knee partially replaced. But that's not what I want to write about today. It's the pain others maybe going through.

Fear comes in many forms, but in my mind I see two really big issues we all need to address. 

COVID has turn our world upside down, twisted it around four or five times and then kicked us in the butt. We should all know we have to kill this pandemic. And the only way we can is first, wear a mask and get the vaccine in our arms. The mask part is easy, just wear it ANYTIME you get close to someone you don't know. Obviously, stay away from big groups and social distancing. But getting the vaccine can be a little rough. Our State and County has a website where you go, put in all your info, pick a location (which I believe there are only 3 in our county) and then pick a time. Well, after 40 million tries (maybe 20 or 30), I still could not get an appointment. Finally my wife got an appointment at 3 AM 40 miles away. So I am going to rub my eyes and climb into the car to go with her and try to slip in. Cheating? NO! I am 74 and I am a higher risk with some past health issues. That is one kind of fear. Not getting the vaccine before the virus gets you is plain stupid.

Another type of fear is people who have lost their jobs, and now do not have an income so they may lose their homes. How am I going to feed my family and where will we live? In our little car?On the same issue, people who are suffering due to low business and they may lose their business. Now they lose all the money they have invested AND their income. It breaks my heart to see small family owned businesses close due to the past administration's lack of empathy for small businesses and helping families in need. Huge corporations got millions and many small businesses got nothing. And they say they did a great job?

I believe our newly elected president will do the right thing and start helping the businesses and family, but hopefully speed up the vaccinations of Americans in more that a couple places to get it. By stopping the pandemic, our economy WILL come back.

If the government is reading this, let drugstores, doctor offices and clinics, trained military personal sit up areas in poor communities, small towns, in parking lots, ANYWHERE to get ALL OF US vaccinated rapidly. And for you few that want the vaccine ... I am sorry for you listening to the wrong information from someone other than the experts. Join us and kill this pandemic.

America has always been a country of hope and strength. Let's ALL pull together, get vaccinated, wear mask and STOP THIS VIRUS. 

Got to go and put an ice pack on my knee. Take care, stay safe, and comment if you want.

Look at yourself... first

 I am going to resist writing about the top two "Ps" of the present, the Pandemic and the Presidential debate over who won and who doesn't admit it.

Instead, after hearing a really down-to-earth speech by the actor Matthew McConaughey, I am paraphrasing my post after him speech. He called his the "13 Life Tips". I am just saying it plainly without a numbered list. I only make list if I am going to the grocery store.

As he spoke to  the graduating class of a university, people really need to look DEEP into their-selves before they can love themselves and other can love them. Again, I am spinning this off his speech, but I thought it was SO true and needed to be said again.

Life is not fair, never was, and never will be, but that does not mean you have to fold under it. Accept it, hate it, but NEVER let it beat you down! Get up and try a different route or avenue, but NEVER give up. There may be some helpful hands along the way, but YOU have to push on and only you. Don't focus on your failures. Learn from them and focus on what you did right. The choices you make on your shoulders, not anyone else. You have to live with them. When the day is over, only you can make yourself better and make good choices for tomorrow and the days after.

Define success in yourself. How do YOU define success? Money worth? Position? Friends? Family? Religion? I believe it is who I am. Take away all those things and what is left? That is who you really are. If you can walk away from that and feel good about yourself, then that my friends, that is success. The other things will automatically come to you. Make volunteerly and personal obligations to yourself like making it a point to see more of your family, friends, go to church, volunteer your time to charities and donate if you have the means.

Define 'want' and 'need". Nancy and I have had a running conversation on this topic for years. "Do I WANT it, or do I NEED it" I believe most people want things but don't necessarily need it. Do I need it to live or survive, or do I want it because 'Bill' has one, and it's cool.

Whether you win at life or lose due to your own fault is on your shoulders. Don't be afraid of life and become fearful of failure, be brave and redirect your efforts toward and clearer target. Remember, you are the author of your own life. Not your parents, not your spouse or friends or your school, YOU! 

I consider myself as an empty jar when I was born. My parents deposited a little sand in my jar and as I grew, more people, events and things deposited a little here and there. That sand contributed to who I am today. Every once in awhile, I unload some unnecessary sand or baggage in an attempt to define myself, and hopefully make myself better. The real truth about you is written by you. As Mr. McConaughey said, "All I want is what I can see - and all I see is what is in front of me." I take it, he was in front of a mirror.

Take care and stay safe.

I am appalled

January 6th was one of the darkest day in the United States' history. We all know what happened in Washington DC. Now, along with the pandemic, we are faced with dealing with the Trump followers who think our elections were fraud and illegal. How many times do we have to recount and waste tax dollars to come to the same conclusion that our elections were proper and without fraud.

I really hate to continuously talk about politics, our so-called President and his stupid followers. I am also really sorry if I offend my friends and family that can not see through this president. I still love you, but I disagree with you.

As I was going to a lunch with a couple friends on last Wednesday, I drove be a crowd of people on the front lawn of our Arizona State Capitol buildings. State police were rushing there with lights and sirens. I saw one fellow standing on the curb with an AR15 slung over his shoulder, and I thought, 'that is just not right'. A couple hours later, after the waitress brought our food, my friends and I sat at our table talked and caught up on our lives when one of the guy's wive called to tell us the Capitol was being broken into by a mob. We ask the waitress to change the channel from the Golf channel to CNN. We sat there with our mouths open. I could not believe my eyes.

Up to four years ago, the United States has always been seen as the strength of power and democratic solidarity by the entire world. Now we are seen as a crumbing democracy. A democratic country is built on divided principals and points of view, but settling on a point that most citizens can live with. If you disagree, we stand up and vote. We CAN NOT be cry babies and have a temper tantrum when you do not get you way. That is exactly what Trump has done, and then he influenced other to revolve, as he has implied for the last four years with his tweets, Facebook messages, and even live TV. 

I will admit, I have NEVER liked Trump, or his actions to get out of the Paris Peace Accord, the World Health, the building of the Mexico border wall, and many other things. His actions, and words have lead radicals to invade, as a mob, our Capitol buildings and disgrace this country. We DO NOT need any violence to settle disagreements. We DO NOT need mobs of people to destroy our democracy that we have fought for over centuries. We DO NOT need people that can not face facts, as hard as it maybe to them. My suggestions is, if you don't like the principals of democracy and our Constitution, maybe you should find some place else to live where rebels do as they please, like Russia.

What we DO NEED is sensible citizens to lay down their arms, vote their opinions if they are not pleased, and UNITE behind this country so we can begin to rebuild our reputation in the world, bring respect back into the government by the people they represent. There are failures in both parties and that has to stop. Egos aside, let your representatives know we want peace and unity in our parties, in our states and in our country. And finally, let's stop the pandemic. Take the shot when you can. I love you all and wish you better days ahead.

"The future ain't what it use to be." - Yogi Berra

 I don't think anyone would disagree the world is a lot different these days. The only difference from last year is the calendar changed. We still have the bad guys and some good guys around. We still spend too much time on social media, our phones (not talking), and watching TV. I am guilty of that myself. But my TV watching is mostly football of golf. Since we got rid of our landline, my phone is with me all the time. As far as social media, well, here I am.

In the 80s when I started getting into computers and the beginning of the internet, it was fascinating and frustrating at the same time. Now it is as easy as talking to your Dick Tracy wrist watch, or "Hey Siri", or Google. We are so connected to everything around us. You can turn the TV on with a simple button, and we never get up to change the channel. Start you car, set the temperature in you home, play music from the door of your refrigerator, see a package delivered to the front door while you're in another state or country. It's crazy! I have a watch that tell me when to get up and move, tells me my blood pressure and pulse, I can even answer my phone and text just by talking to it.

And now we are threatened by foreign powers tapping into our lives and having the knowledge to influence our lives through our utilities, personal information, social media and our government's strategies. That is REALLY scary.

Back in the 50s, 60s and maybe the 70s, we feared of War with Russia. Then the communist country broke down the wall and we all hoped that period was over, but it just went into hiding to reappear in the 90s and early 2000. And now it is not just Russia but China, Iran and maybe Saudi Arabia. It all sounds like a James Bond movie and spies, but it's true. Our own fragmented nation has caused these countries to see the once super power get weak and unorganized.

If we want to regain our respect and place among the our allies in the world, we need to come together and unite, no matter what color, religion sex or political believes are... become Americans again.  Lay all that stuff aside, take pride in the flag, singing the National Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance. Take pride in your community, State, City or Town. Take part in your government issues, if nothing more that voting. When volunteers are asked for, be the first to raise your hand. (Sometimes that has gotten me into trouble, but I did it anyway.) These are the things that grows and cultivates strength within our country. Leave the heavy lifting to the politicians you've elected legally. They are not always right either.

As you are fully aware, we are in the midst of a pandemic and the government has been slow to react. But now we are slowly rolling forward, we ALL have to do our part to help beat this thing. Mask up, social distancing, don't go to rallies or concerts and large groups and wash your hands often. The experts have told us that many, many times, we just have to do it.

This all sounds so doom and gloom-ish. But as the British say, "Pull yourself by the boot straps and carry-on." Unite together and together we WILL get through all of this as AMERICANS, and as the great country we still are.