My Daily Struggle in the COVID-19 Lockdown

 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...

 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 ...

 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...

 Well, I am back at the monastery for the weekend. Enjoying it very much. Doing some thinking and reflecting, as well as getting questions answered. Whilst meditating, I realized that, in my anger about how I was treated regarding my grandmother, I dishonored my father. It does not matter that he dishonored me and hurt me very much. When I reflected on the Ten Commandments, I realized that my obligation to honor my father is greater than his to honor me. By my comments, I have sinned, and I am sorry. So, just as I thought things were getting better pandemic-wise, this week happened. In Illinois, between Wednesday and Thursday, the rate of COVID-19 cases increased by 54%. The mayor of Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, placed a curfew on restaurants, bars, and nonessential businesses. I keep hoping that things will at least get better for Thanksgiving. If I must cancel Thanksgiving Dinner, I will be very unhappy. Many of us will certainly struggle to find something to be grateful for this yea...

Things are getting gradually better COVID-19 wise. In addition to the Phase 4 beginning, the governor decided to reopen schools for the fall semester. As for the states that did not take this seriously, they are raising restrictions again. Indeed, we should be taking this seriously, but we should not use this virus to oppress others and limit their freedom. We should also not be so afraid that we surrender our rights and freedoms. If we give up our rights and freedoms for security, all three will eventually be taken from us, and rightly so. It would appear that we are getting the repercussions from the riots which I knew would come. First, there are stories of police officers and private individuals who advocate killing, even via massacre, of African Americans. Furthermore, there was a news story of teachers taking a photograph whilst holding a noose, plus nooses just happening to appear in broad daylight. Then, there was the story of a young biracial woman who was attacked in her ca...