Day 304 – Happy Birthday Mom

Today is my mama’s birthday.

Happy Birthday Mama

My mom had her children young, so I am very fortunate to still have my parents around. It makes me feel grounded. My mom and dad are very “responsible” people. Growing up I had the most responsible parents around. If they gave me a ride anywhere I was either on time or early (so embarrassing to be early as a teenager). If I needed money for cheerleading dues or whatever, my mom would immediately write a check, staple it to whatever form needed to be filled out and put it in an envelope. I found out not all moms do things so far in advance like my mother. Some moms fly by the seat of their pants. But my mom had a calendar on the refrigerator and if something was important, it must be put on the calendar, and I was like…..what’s a calendar? Maybe I was a little flaky growing up because I figured my mom was responsible enough for the both of us. I don’t remember worrying about anything when I was young. I got to be a kid. Thanks mom.

I’m glad I put off being an adult as long as possible. It’s highly overrated.

Monday, January 11, 2021

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Day 303 -Conspiracy

There are 365 days in a year, and we are on day 303 of this pandemic. I never dreamed it would get this far.

I slept heavy last night. I had a dream that people were no longer wearing masks, but there was still a pandemic going on. I haven’t really had a lot of Covid dreams during this time.

Tonight, the app, “Parler” (conservative Twitter) is supposed to go offline because there are too many political violent threats on it. Not everyone on there is like that obviously, but tonight I saw a video of a man who said that Trump had invoked the Insurrection Act which allows the president to deploy federal armed forces to quell public unrest and he also said Trump would remain president. Then I found another video of him saying he was born of an alien and has an alien child.

See what I mean?

I am almost sad to see Parler go, it is quite entertaining. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go find my tin foil hat.

Sunday, January 10, 2021

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Day 302 – “2021”

It’s been one hell of a week. 2021 has been kicking my butt.

I have to be careful though because social media can be a bit of a rabbit hole. On one hand, the citizen journalist in me wants to know what’s going on all the time, and on the other hand, well that’s quite exhausting.

A few months ago I joined Parler (conservative Twitter) because I like to know what people are saying who have different views than mine. I promised myself I would never be blindsided with politics again. I was surprised Trump won in 2016 because I wasn’t paying attention. So now, I pay attention.

Anyway, it’s been interesting to say the least– Parler, that is. It is a bit of an echo chamber, but I get why people only want to virtually socialize with others who are like minded. However, some posts are straight up conspiracy theory looney tunes and I can’t tell if it’s a joke or real. There are rumors that there will be more rioting on Biden’s Inauguration Day. Law enforcement better be on it this time. There is just no excuse for lax security.

I battled PMS today. What I really wanted to do was curl up in the fetal position and eat ice cream. But what I did was: go on a walk, do laundry, wash dishes, took pictures of the sunset, video chat with friends and now, write this blog. Not bad for a Saturday. 🙂 Speaking of Saturday, I can’t wait for SNL to come back. They have plenty of material to work with.

Saturday, January 9, 2020:

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Day 301 -Suspended

So this happened today:

What kind of pandemic historian would I be if I didn’t document this moment?

Anyhoo- it’s all so depressing so I don’t want to harp on it too much. That man showed who he was right from the beginning– a narcissistic opportunist. He didn’t hide who he was and people liked it. And they still do.

I was a little grouchy today during my morning walk as the overcast sky loomed above, then after a little while the sun broke through and it was like God was comforting me. Then after work and my evening walk, I participated in my first ever virtual murder mystery…..

Do we look guilty? It wasn’t me!! I was NOT the killer. At least not this time…..

Friday, January 8, 2021:

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Day 300 – The Day After

I woke up this morning in a rage. I can’t remember the last time I have been this angry- and I have PMS every month, so that’s really saying something.

I still feel so sick to my stomach over the lack of security of the Capitol building and the police who just let the rioters in. That image is burned in my brain.

On a lighter note, Twitter was on fire yesterday. Now, I don’t like shaming people, I really don’t, because I believe God loves everyone. Yup, everyone. That’s how big the cross is. We are made in God’s image, so I don’t like to name call. I can disagree with someone’s behavior, but not speak out a curse over their identity, for God will always forgive us if we ask for forgiveness. So I don’t mean to shame this woman, but….

How does this happen to people?

This woman stormed the Capitol and then was upset when she was maced. When asked what she was doing there she said, “it’s a revolution“. Does she know what a revolution is?

I am used to seeing “extreme leftists” romanticize this type of “protest”, like the Symbionese Liberation Army from the 1970s that kidnapped the heiress Patty Hearst, or the “Weather Underground” made up of mostly white college educated people who thought they were Rambo and were going to save the world. I did not expect this from the alt-right, but here it is. Brainwashing does not discriminate and you wonder what emotional needs are these people trying to meet by doing this? It’s as if they are desperate for a purpose, and I totally get that. I know what it’s like to wonder about what my purpose is.

But this extreme behavior leads to destruction. The bible says “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the hearts”. – Proverbs 21:2

Today I carried my rage into the office. I was distracted, but managed to get a lot done. Even though what I really wanted to do was curl up in bed and eat junk food.

#Never Forget

God forgive me. I know you love Elizabeth from Knoxville.

Thursday, January 7, 2021:

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Day 299 – My Ted Talk

I have been writing this blog to document the days of the pandemic -for history’s sake. And today? Well, it was pretty predictable, wasn’t it? Mr. Trump planted a seed of fear in the masses long ago and today it came to full blown fruition. And what is so infuriating about it, isn’t the simple fact that there were angry people storming the Capitol building—it was that the police let them in. Protests happen all the time, but for the police to be so compliant and “unprepared”? Seriously? And hmmmmm…..why do you think that is? What assumptions were made about the Trump supporters that caught them so off guard? Gee, what could it be? And now some conservative people think the angry mob were Antifa in disguise? Their denial game is strong. People want to believe what they want to believe. Note to those who support Trump: When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time. All the signs of a demagogue were there from the beginning. Donald Trump preys on vulnerable people- he is a manipulator. He made you feel seen and special, didn’t he?

I had a hard time getting any work done today-it was so emotionally exhausting. And since I work in a government building (but I was at home today) my co-workers who were at the office had to leave immediately. Protesters were also storming the Capitols in other states as well.

Again, I live in Oakland, and am sooooooo used to people protesting. What I am not used to – are police taking selfies with the protesters. Yes, the police took pictures with the Trump rioters today. Police do not see white Trump supporters as an immediate threat. But they see Black Lives Matters protesters differently. Cops do not take selfies with BLM supporters.

Think about it. You know how many traffic tickets I have gotten out of because I am a fair-skinned female? And why is that? Because the police do not see me as a threat. Cops are flawed human beings with prejudices. We all have prejudices. Why is that so hard for people to believe?

I think one of the main reasons racism and prejudice flourish is- segregation. People of different races need to be allowed to live next to each other (lots of home owners will not sell or rent to black people), go to church together, and break bread together. And white people need to humble themselves and attend churches where they are in the minority for a change, and just sit there and listen. And then listen some more.

Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.

Wednesday, January 6, 2021:

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Day 298 – Flipped?

Another beautiful day. So grateful for the cool crisp walkable weather.

I worked from home today and then a friend came over and help me assemble my new storage unit.

I know it’s nothing fancy, but it had a lot of pieces and screws and I got overwhelmed, so I called in my handy friend. He likes doing this sort of thing. It’s important to have handy friends!

Then I caught the sunset at the lake before Georgia’s Senate Race election results started coming in tonight.

As I type this, one seat looks like it has definitely flipped Democrat and the other one is too close to call. The election representative, Gabriel Sterling, who is a Republican, is saying that this has been the most secure election they have ever had, but he is expecting accusations of voter fraud to be coming his way. What a world we live in. I don’t know how Rachel Maddow does it. I find this all so exhausting.

Tuesday, January 5, 2021:

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Day 297 – Blue Skies

This morning it was raining and I was all ready to feel grumpy when I walked down the hill with my umbrella to pick up my iced coffee.

The barista told me they were low on almond milk and would I like some extra cream? Yes please, and she handed me a small paper cup of half n half. I put some in my coffee and was going to take the rest of it back with me up the hill to my apartment when I decided I didn’t need it. I was already carrying an umbrella in one hand and now an iced coffee in the other.

As I begin to walk back home I noticed the rain had stopped. Could it be? Instead of turning the corner to my apartment I kept walking straight. “Maybe, just maybe, I can walk a little farther before it rains again.” And I kept walking, all of a sudden grateful that I didn’t keep that extra cup of cream and had kept my load light.

I crossed the street and headed towards Piedmont. So far, so good. I closed my umbrella and tucked it away. Now we’re talking.

I made it to the dog park. Again, no rain- yes!!

I was practically bouncing through the park. I really didn’t think I was gonna get to walk this morning.

Hello there Mr. Squirrel

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And after I exited the park….

Blue Skies!

I love it when the weather people get it wrong. They said it was gonna rain all day.

Then I got into the office and as I sat in my cubicle, it begin to pour outside. I had just missed it, thank God. I was feeling sort of bummed though that I wouldn’t be able to take my 3:15pm walk break, when low and behold, the skies opened up again! And again, I sprinted outside….back to Starbucks. Yes, another Starbucks- it was a “two coffee” day for me. I am walking distance from coffee shops at home and at work. Hey, it was crazy busy at work-tons of emails to go through- I earned this!

Then I came home and collapsed.

But so happy I got to walk. 🙂

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Day 296 – California Dreaming

All the leaves are brown……

And the sky is gray…….

I’ve been for a walk…… on a winters day. I’m still safe and warm…… Cuz you know it’s the bay……… California dreaming– on a California day….

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Yup, it was gloomy, BUT NOT RAINING. I went on two walks today, BECAUSE I CAN.

Sorry for the caps. I felt like I needed to make up for yesterday’s sloth fest.

I did my usual morning walk, said “hey”, to the squirrels, then I met my sister at the Lafayette Reservoir for a quick jaunt around the lake. I hadn’t been there before. It was super easy. I wanted to do the more challenging unpaved trails, but my sister warned me about the mud factor. Another time.

I also signed up for a screenwriting workshop for just the month of January, before my solo performance class starts up again in February. Hey, I got two different stories for two different classes. If I am not writing, I feel like I am not breathing. At least in this season of my life.

Alright, everybody back to work.

Sunday, January 3, 2020

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Day 295 – California

Well it rained/drizzled all day today, so I missed my morning walk and I missed taking pictures of funny squirrels and sunsets. I did walk down to Starbucks and back, but that was only good for 1500 steps which is nothing. When I don’t get my morning walk in, I get a little cranky. I don’t know how people in colder climates do it. If I lived outside of California, I would have to own a Peloton bike or something.

Speaking of living somewhere else, my Roku offers news channels from other states so I was watching the news in Chicago, Minnesota and New York last night. I am desperate for a change of scenery. But what I noticed when watching their news was – how flat everything looks. I guess I am just so used to our hills. Also their states are smaller so their weather forecasts cover their neighboring states’ weather as well. (New York covers New Jersey etc.,) Not only does the Bay Area forecasts not cover weather outside our immediate region (which includes three microclimates -Inland, Bay, and the Coast= 30 degree drop within a span of a 45 minute drive), it sure as heck doesn’t cover weather in say, Nevada, or Oregon. Well, maybe it shows where our next rainstorm is coming from, but that’s it.

I think this is why we, in California, especially us Bay Area natives who have been here for generations, are so sheltered. We have everything here, (coast, beaches, mountains, skiing, hiking etc.,) and when I googled “Most Beautiful States in the US”, California was listed at #1–so we don’t really know about other ways of American life. I did like looking at all the snow in Chicago though. I love winter weather pictures.

I have visited other states, but I forget so easily about the cornfields I saw in Illinois and Iowa. Miles and miles of corn fields. Or the crisp cool clean air in Nevada when I used to visit my grandparents who retired there. And I forget about the humidity in Florida and how it made my bangs curl up incessantly.

Man, I need to get out more. Once this pandemic is over, get me out of here!

So I can appreciate here.

Saturday, January 2, 2020: