My Daily Struggle in the COVID-19 Lockdown

 A whole year; a whole year has passed since I started writing this blog. It has been three days since the one year anniversary of the pandemic. This pandemic caused suffering all around the world, but not as much as it has affected Americans. As of today, 29,920,435 have been diagnosed with COVID-19. That is almost 10% of the population. That means, of ten people with whom you will interact this day, one will have had it or are suffering from it now. Also, the latest death toll is 544,424. Hence, if you have not lost a relative or friend from COVID-19, you know someone who has suffered such loss.  Let us look back a year ago and compare it to last week. First, there were still hate crimes and acts of intolerance against ethno-racial minorities, only the last weeks have seen an increase in racism towards Asians--since they are being accused of bringing the virus to America (even if they were born here and never left).  There was an incidence of our President sli...

 It was a rough week. I called my paternal grandmother, who has Alzheimer's, at her nursing home to wish her a happy birthday, and she did not recognize me. She did not know who I was. That was totally heartbreaking, and I had to end the call so that I would not become so emotional. She barely even knew she had a son. I hope I never get like that. If I do, God forbid, I wish people would put me away in a safe place and treat me as if I were dead. After all, I would be. Few things truly scare me, but I am afraid of the day when I will not even be able to wipe my own backside. Literally. I know there are people who care about me, but I never want to be a burden on anyone. I really feel for my old man. The responsibility for taking care of our grandmother falls on him because his older brother died ten years ago, and her husband died this year. I don't wish Alzheimer's on anyone. It is devastating for the family and for the patient. I saw this movie where a woman who was diagn...

 Let's talk about race. One thing Americans never seem to get tired of is talking about race and what is racist. For instance, it was not enough that the leftists want to ruin many childhood icons, like Sesame Street, Disney, Mr. Potato Head, and toy stores in particular. Now, their ravenous mouths water in the direction of Dr. Seuss. There has been a campaign started by our new president to remove Dr. Seuss books from the shelves. Why? Because the books are "racist." Seriously? So, Dr. Seuss is inappropriate, but King and King isn't? This is what America has come to, ladies and gentlemen. How many minorities actually campaigned against Dr. Seuss? {crickets chirping} Now, how many so-ashamed-to-be-White left-wing radicals are against Dr. Seuss? {marching, shouting, torches flaring} That's what I thought. Strike 2, Biden.  Afraid to lose power of the mob, the fascists are attacking another icon of American culture. They never tire of trying to divide us further. On...

 Friends,  Though I debated whether or not it was worth it, I wrote Illinois Senators Durbin and Duckworth to explain why they should vote No for the Equality Act . The letter is posted below, and I strongly urge you to write to them also. Unless they are full slaves to lobbyists or wants to destroy this country like the tycoon Soros, they MUST listen to their constituents. You can edit this letter to suit your style, but I strongly urge you to write to them. If you don't want to write, call them. Their information is in the link to my last post.  Silence is not an option. To do nothing is to take a stand against freedom for all Americans! After all, if Equality Act is allowed to become law, this will only be the first step towards a fascist regime, a communist regime, where everyone is too afraid to stand up for what is right and is only a shell of a human being with no heart or soul. It's time we all put our foots down.  Dear Senator, I am writing about the H.R..5 ...

I am glad that more and more people are getting the vaccine. A senior client of mine had just gotten his second shot this week, and he will be fully immune by the middle of March. I have heard that my senior friends and my mother are starting to at least get appointments. On top of this, today's news is that FDA approved a third vaccine--from Johnson & Johnson. This vaccine is a one shot deal; yes, there are no booster shots. Before you celebrate, please keep in mind that this vaccine is only  up to   85% effective. I don't know how this was considered good enough (still better than Astra Zeneca), but I think they should only give this vaccine to young adults in good health. The other two, especially Pfizer, should be given to the older and/or frail populations.  It was announced that the COVID-19 death toll reached 500,000 this week. Is it me, or did the death toll increase by 100,000 people since Biden took office? You tell me. Anyway, I see that only 2 of you ...

  1.        Rights without responsibility are poison. 2.        Pride without responsibility is poison. 3.        The schools will not raise your children. You must. 4.        Discipline is not just a whipping. It is talking, listening, and understanding. 5.        If you don’t discipline your children, don’t cry when they are dead. 6.        Black Live Matter organization does not care about Black lives unless they are taken by cops or Whites. 7.        If you ignore or downplay neighborhood shootings but are only angry about cops and what some Whites do to us , Black lives don’t truly matter to you. 8.        If you are pro-choice, Black lives don’t matter to you. 9.        Rioting and looting for justice creates m...

 Good news! As of Tuesday, February 16, 2021, I am fully vaccinated against COVID-19! Yes, I know that there is still a 5% chance I could get infected, but don't kill my vibe. Allow me some time to luxuriate on this blessing.  More good news: Parler is back online. Yes, I know that there are a few unsavory characters who use Parler, and two bigots who were in a Parler exile group with me on MeWe called me a nigger when I tried redirecting their rude behavior to the group. Still, most of those I have encountered on Parler are decent conservatives and free-thinkers who are tired of being bullied by Big Tech. It seems that the independent company that web-hosts Parler has Russian ties, but so what? It is a shame that an American has to depend on Russia for freedom of speech, but until Big Tech, New York, and Hollywood relieves itself of those who hates the Constitution or the Bill of Rights, so be it. For those who  did not know, Rush Limbaugh, the conservative radio talk sh...

I have a few things to discuss today.  First, as of Tuesday, 2/16/2021, I will be completely vaccinated against COVID-19. Halleluya! (As tomorrow is Transfiguration Sunday, I know I will only liturgically be allowed to use this word for 3 more days. ;-) ) I am glad that, after many hurdles, seniors are now getting their vaccinations. If you have not gotten yours, please do so--for your health and others. It is safe, and it does not alter your DNA as some conspiracy theorists suggest. If you can get Pfizer, great. If not, Moderna is almost as good. Just avoid others--especially Astra Zeneca. It is only about 70% effective, and the company has the reputation of using aborted fetuses.  Second, for those who have not heard, the former president, Donald Trump, was acquitted again. I guess the Democrats in Congress enjoy wasting our time and money. For the record, if you listened to his speech, he did not encourage those rioters to storm the Capitol building. He told them to protest...

So, I went to church today at the local Greek Orthodox church as I said I would. I love the liturgy and all of the icons in the sanctuary. Plus, I am a sucker for domes. Plus, the priest was very nice; since the only Greek I know is "Kyrie eleison," "Chrystos anesti," "Alithos anesti," and "S'agapo,"  he showed me a website I could use to follow along to the liturgy, called "Ages Initiative." It helped me quite a bit, but learning Greek would help me better. For that, I would need to learn a new alphabet. Even so, I love the chanting, the incense, and the blessed bread (not Eucharist) concluding the service. In fact, I saw something spectacular today. When the priest burned incense all over the altar area, which was behind a wall called an iconostasis (like the curtain to the Most Holy Place), the incense made a fog above the altar. When it streamed through the iconostasis, the sun hit it as it spread out and landed on all of our he...

 This is not a special report. I am writing this an evening early because I have a tremendous need to vent. First, I did receive my booster shot on Tuesday, and as of February 16th, I will be fully vaccinated, Halleluya!  Vaccines for those over age 65 are now being offered, but I am hearing that those eligible are not able to make appointments. Perhaps there are first responders and other essential workers who still have not gotten theirs. Perhaps they the supply is not keeping up with the demand. Whatever the reason, be patient. Your time for vaccination is coming. Yes, there are reports that there are new strains of the virus, but the people who inform us of this are some of the same people still encouraging us to get vaccinated, so let's not kill the vaccine in the crib. Besides, a few years ago, they told us that there was a new strain of influenza found that may deem regular vaccines ineffective. Were there unusual outbreaks of influenza that year? I think not. So, if yo...

This week, one of you who is a regular reader expressed to me that, while he did not agree with some of my views, enjoys reading my blogs and encouraged me to keep blogging. This, friends, is open-minded thinking--something this country sorely needs right now. Another regular reader is an Democratic Illinois senator, so I know much of my opinions cross hairs with policies he supports. I appreciate this, friends, and it is an honor sharing my thoughts with you. Another person who had read my posts could not see both sides of the coin. They would shut you down if you said anything slightly supportive of the previous president. They would rant and rave about him but would not listen to my response. If they disagreed with a point I made, they would ask me for my source, and if I told them, they would discredit it if it were from a conservative viewpoint. I would tell them not to discuss politics with me since they would not listen to other perspectives or be fair in their judgements, but t...

 Hello again. Many of you have been very encouraging about me continuing to write blog posts indefinitely. I was originally going to resurrect my previous blog, The Silver Soapbox, but I am not set on it. But, when I retire this blog, you can be assured that I will keep blogging. For those who have been religiously reading, you have my humble thanks. I know you may sometimes disagree with me, but I am comforted that my thoughts and opinions are safe with most of you.  As a special feature, here is a poem I wrote today. It testified to how I have been feeling since the Inauguration. Hope it inspires you. Since I was young, I loved America It was my proud, happy home And I was proud to be born here My teachers taught me rights and liberties My mother taught me responsibilities and morals Freedom came at a cost, and we all had to pay My feelings and wants were beneath The good of the people The security of the Republic And the fear of God We learned that we ar...

 First, as everyone has been asking, I am fine. The only side effect I have had to the vaccination is that my arm was sore for a few days. Nothing else, thankfully. I go for my second shot aka booster on February 2nd, and then I will be safe from this horrible virus. She-Sits-by-the-Fire discussed an interesting point with me. The first injection I received had the Pfizer vaccine. What if the booster is from Moderna? Will it have interactions of some sort? I will need to look this up. I have decided to keep doing this specific blog until 30 days after the vaccine becomes available to the public.  This week has been very nauseating. Biden was inaugurated this Wednesday, along with Harris. He said that he would act as a centrist and that he wants there to be unity with all Americans. Then what does he do on the first day? He signs orders overturning everything the previous administration enacted--even a few good things. He overturned restrictions on the transgendered in the mili...

 Three hundred days. Wow. For those who have been reading all this time, you have my humble thanks. Well, I had gotten my first vaccination last Tuesday.  My agency worked together with the city, and they made sure that we were among the first. It was just like any other vaccination, only I must go back in 3 weeks for a booster. Thankfully, it was from Pfizer--so it is the most effective. Plus, it does not have any cells from murdered unborn children.  So, I learned a few things from taking this vaccine. First, until we hear otherwise, yes, I must wear these stupid rags over my face a spell longer. This is because, while there is only a 5% chance I could catch the virus after my booster shot, when I am fully vaccinated, there is a chance that I could still carry the virus and infect someone else. Second, while most vaccines include dead or devenomized viruses, this one use takes "spike proteins" from the virus and introduces them to our cells. The proteins do not have the...