My Daily Struggle in the COVID-19 Lockdown

 This was not a very good week. First, the good old boy of a District Attorney, Michael Gravely, decided not to pursue criminal charges against the cops who shot Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Yes, this is the same incident that caused the rioting and the shooting of rioters last summer. Yes, Blake had a warrant for his arrest, and yes, he was probably resisting arrest, and while Officer Rustin Sheskey possibly does not have any racial bias, many of us are compelled to ask the question once more: What if Blake were White? We have seen too many cases in which perps of European descent resist arrest and commit exceedingly violent crimes, even with guns, and they are brought to jail unscathed--no matter how aggressive they are. Heck, let's not forget Dylan Roof--the White supremacist who shot at congregants at Emanuel AME Church--killing nine of them--even a nonagenarian woman. By the time he was booked at the local jail, he had no bruises on his face. He was even given dinner fro...

  Another week gone by. Another week less with COVID-19. It would appear that the percentage of those contacting COVID-19 is up again--close to the numbers back in May. Sure, it would be easy to feel despair from this, but don't forget that we are encouraged to wear masks now much more than we were in May. Plus, we have treatments to reduce the risk of death. Then, of course, Pfizer developed a vaccine that is supposed to be 90% effective. We are going to beat this thing, friends. Just keep praying and living in hope!  I hope each of you had a chance to take a look at my article in this Des Plaines Valley News newspaper--if you live in my locale. I had the displeasure of reading the letter below mine from a woman who is, unfortunately, going to be my new representative, replacing Dan Lipinski in 2021. She talks about how we need to fixing America and all that jazz. The majority of her post involved her doing what most politicians of the Democratic Party have done: denigrate Pr...

( This letter is in response to Marie Newman's Letter to the Editor post in Des Plaines Valley News, 11/12/2020) Marie Newman, I find your November 12th Letter to the Editor, in which you call on Americans to heal, to be disgustingly hypocritical. This is because you have chosen, like all other politicians of the Democratic Party, to take a swipe at president Trump. Honestly, is that the best you can do in your letter? Very weak. You said that we need to come together as Americans, yet you do not take the time to understand why 70 million Americans, roughly half of all voters, voted for this man. Your comments did anything but for America to heal. Instead, your comments can only serve to bring Americans further apart. Actually, I am not too surprised by this letter of yours, considering how you campaigned against Representative Lipinski. I still remember how my mailbox was stuffed with your flyers, accusing Representative Lipinski of being against women because he is pro-life and w...

 The elections have come and gone. Though President Trump has not conceded, it seems that Biden has won. Again, no matter who wins, Americans in general have lost. The margin of winning between Trump and Biden are very small, but it seems that the few votes have gone to Biden. Still, I found it very interesting that, even in New York and California, less than 25% of the counties were blue; the rest were red. Hence, the small-towners and the rural were in favor of Trump. They represent roughly half of this nation, and even those who are against his policies did not want Biden to sink in. Instead of denigrating them, let that sink in. Try to learn why. We need another way to talking to each other. We need to get back to agreeing to disagree. There were self-righteous leftists who disowned their families and friends simply because they admitted voting for Trump. I still remember how that ratchet excuse for a mother kicked out her 8-year-old son because he voted for Trump in a school e...

 Dear Mr. Biden, No matter what is being said by President Trump or his staff, it seems that, unless anything happens in the the next few months, the presidency is as good as yours. Mazel tov.  You acknowledged that the United States of America is divided and that you want to help us heal.  The best way to do this is to listen to those who either voted for Trump or a third party, or who only voted for you under duress. By duress, I mean those who don't like you or what you stand for, but they still think you are a safer bet than President Trump. While President Trump spent too much time on social media, did not have his facts straight, and did not talk properly to others, he still listened to non-leftists--especially those who were denied the civil liberties. By this, I mean those who were fired from their jobs for refusing to wear "pride" pendants, as well as those who were being fined and lost their businesses in Colorado and Washington for refusing to bake cakes for sa...

 So, this has been quite an eventful week. First of all, a client had a medical procedure done, and she later found out that a staff person in the operating room had COVID-19, and she might have been infected. They had better pray that he is not infected. It has been over 10 days and she is showing no symptoms, but she has the right to sue for malpractice. Now her life is on whole. I know stuff happens, but don't people get tested anymore? In hospitals??? Speaking of COVID-19, our president and his wife have it. There have been people celebrating or laughing because of this. I know that he made mistakes and often does not use that muscle between his ears, but he is still the President. You think you can do better? Then why aren't you running. Some of these people celebrating will be in church worshipping tomorrow. We are not perfect, I know. No Christian is perfect. Still, at least try having a sliver of compassion for a serious illness. Just look at that outspoken pro-choice m...

 Another interesting, eventful week. Where do I start? First, there's the death of the one of the most powerful nursemaids to leftist radicals, Supreme Court "Justice" Ginsberg. Okay, to be fair, she has done some good things and have made a few positive changes. Still, to a person who believes that life begins at conception, that sexuality is a private issue alone, and that small minorities should not force their issues on the majority (with a few exceptions), some of her rulings are an affront to morality, freedom, and even nature. That being said, I found it interesting how people showed disrespect to Ginsberg and other mourners by booing the President when he came to her casket. The irony is, if he did not come to honor her memory, people would have booed him for not coming. With leftist radicals, you cannot win.  As for him nominating a candidate to take over  Ginsberg's place, good for him! We need an even balance of liberalism and conservatism in the Supreme Co...

This was a bad day. All over the country today, even if my hometown, Chicago, there is rioting. Yes, some areas have peaceful protests where police officers have even joined them, but in Chicago, its suburbs, such as North Riverside, Tinley Park, Orland Park, etc, as well as Atlanta, New York, Dallas, Los Angeles, Seattle, Phoenix, and, of course, Minneapolis, people are burning buildings, firebombing police cars, throwing things at officers, turning over vehicles, spray painting, and so forth. There was even a demonstration across the pond, in London! Many news networks still call these punks "protesters, so allow me to summarize what I wrote last night: While some of these rioters and looters are opportunists or more violent factions of BLM, there is much evidence that White supremacists have provoked the protesters, and Antifa has taken a great hand in hijacking peaceful demonstrations, turning them into riots. This is why the President has declared them a terrorist org...

Today was a busy day. I helped my clients, over the phone, apply for their stimulus checks. I hear that people are getting their checks already. When will mine come? Besides, they are not GIVING me anything. They overtax me as punishment for being married and not having human children. As far as I am concerned, they are giving me money back for the times they taxed me too much and for the unjust laws they create to take even more of my money. I am in favor of taxes, but didn't we give the British the boot for their taxation without representation? The only people I see profiting off of my taxes are the wealthy corporations and the victicrats. What about the working and middle classes? We are too busy fighting off poverty. Since when do the resourceful Republicans and bleeding-heart Democrats show that they truly care about the other 80% of the population? In other new, things just got worse for my best friend and her family. First her mother-in-law died, and now a tornado smacked...

Not the best day. I was bombarded by phone calls, and I had gotten the runaround with a provider. On top of that, I tried ordering groceries for my clients on Instacart, but there was some kind of error, and I spent two hours with customer service agents trying to get them to correct their mistakes, but to no avail. As much as I hate talking on the phone, I couldn't even do that since they were swamped. I seriously hate Instacart. I was able to relax a minute at home until I received news. My old organist, Wayne Lucht, departed this earth recently. I hope he didn't die from the virus; that is an undignified end for a man like him. Sure, he was 94, but whenever anyone, young or old, dies this month, there will be the lingering question: did they die from COVID-19? Either way, I am sick of death. I read the news. Death. I go to work. Death. I go home. Death. It follows me like a hungry horsefly. When will this pandemic be over?! Rest in peace, Mr. Lucht . --Signing off.

Good Friday. A sobering day in which I remember how my Savior suffered and died for the forgiveness of my sins. It is the second holiest day of all Christianity. Our Vicar had another livestream, and I almost missed it because Mozilla Firefox cannot stream well from Facebook. On Chrome, there were no problems. Just as you think the mudslinging had subsided, Governor Pritzker just had to open his 100 lb mouth. He is now repeating the rhetoric of his extremist comrades. He had the nerve to insist that Trump was failing to help with providing necessary materials for fighting the outbreak. What is the proof? Also, why are governors like Pritzker and Cuomo becoming more apt to depend on Trump for support? Another thing: Illinois and New York have GDPs greater than 1/3 of Europe. Why aren't the governors making resources for their states instead of demanding resources from the President, especially considering how they told him to take a hike ever since he was elected. Maybe if they wo...

Today was a little bit better, but pretty busy nonetheless. Had a meeting this morning in which we processed the death of that client that was discovered yesterday. I felt a little numb, but I tried to support my other coworkers, especially the desk clerk who found the corpse.  I had a lot of paperwork that was due today, and I was hoping to finish it in a timely fashion, but no! After calling clients to report  the death of one of their residents , I had to admit another client to the hospital after this client finally snapped from psychiatric symptoms due to quarantine Cabin Fever. I couldn't follow him to be emergency room because of the COVID-19 restrictions. I therefore had to fax the necessary papers to the emergency room and the social worker on duty and then follow-up to make sure that they received the documents. Surprisingly, they admitted him right away and did not have to wait a long period of time in the emergency room. But then, this hospital has a psych ward o...

Today was a good day. I had gotten up around 7:30 and watched the Palm Sunday service livestream. I then went out and delivered palms to people from church, as well as my mother and grandmother. Also, I was able to get some work done on my new book; I had been neglecting it for too long.  This will make an interested Holy Week. Indeed, though I keep saying this, this is the first time since I remember missing church on the major festival days. At least there is livestream. I hope we can agree to some sort of compromise on Resurrection Sunday; I know that this day will be very hard for many. Still, I understand and submit to the lockdown, and I would have for what happened to  Rev. Rodney Howard-Browne of Tampa, Florida to happen to our Vicar and Maintenance Pastor. I am confident we can think of something to observe the holiest day of the year safely, like a drive in service. After all, would we not be in the protection of our vehicles? Communion may be another story, but I ...

Today was almost decent. Was finally able to spend more time outdoors since I needed to buy groceries for my clients. Do you know how difficult it is to buy groceries for 8 people? It took me about 2 hours, not to mention how long it took to unload them. At least a client came and helped me put them away--using social distancing, of course! It was so annoying though, having to wear those gloves and face mask all that time. Plus, there were limits to half the items, and they were out of some of the affordable things. For instance, the maple-flavored syrup supply was completely depleted. At least my clients will have a chance, for the first time in their lives, to taste 100% maple syrup! I just had a sad thought, though. Another Sunday in Lent, and I won't be going to church. I don't know how I am going to cope if this thing continues through Holy Week and Resurrection Sunday. Enough of this lockdown! Would it help if we arrested all the irresponsible people who won't use d...

I was so glad to get out of the house after work today; staying cooped up in the house since Monday afternoon was more than enough for me; I don't know how people can do it. I had to get some medicine and a few things, so I put on my mask and thick gloves and went out. I had a growing craving for a Coke, so I bought a Mexican import while I was at the store. Sure, I was one of the few people wearing masks, but so what? So, Chicago's mayor laid down the law today because some people are too stupid and/or inconsiderate to obey the lockdown. People are going golfing, and they are socializing on the lakefront or in the park. After all that is going on, people still don't get it. Because of this, she closed all parks and lakefronts, and she told people that if anyone violated the restriction, she would fine them or even thrown them in jail. Right on, sister! It is disgusting that it had to come to this. Personally, I think it should be legal to take such monstrous morons and s...

Another day spent at home. While I went to my patio to "summerize" my bicycle, I was in the house all day. Besides Tangaray flirting with me and the occasional "Hey Devin?" from the wife, I didn't get many interruptions today. That was good since I was busy checking in with clients via telephone, plus the clients of my esteemed colleague since she was out sick (no, she doesn't have "it", God be praised). Of course, the day could not end without correspondents criticizing the President. So, there was a press conference today, and when the President said that he hopes that the crisis would be over by Easter, Dr. Fauci, the medical spokesperson of the COVID-19 task force, said that it is necessary to be flexible. Because of this, people not only think Fauci is openly defying the President, but they are congratulating Fauci for their illusion. Let's get something straight. President Trump is NOT a doctor. He has no medical training. Ask him you...

So, I survived my first day working at home, making phone calls and doing documentation. Work at home is not easy as it sounds, especially for one used to keeping work at work and home at home. First, it is too easy to want to get comfortable. I must sit on a hard dining table alone to work. Second, The cats keep insisting on attention. Actually, Felix, my tuxedo, will pull at my pant leg a little and then leave me alone. Tangaray, my wife's tabby, though, comes and licks my back, taps my side, and then jumps on my chair and smacks my temples. Then, of course, there's the wife, who asks me questions and strikes up conversations when I am trying to concentrate. I know. She likes having me at home in the afternoon, but it is very hard to get out of work mode when I am in it. I am already wishing for this lockdown to begin so that I can get normalcy back. I read on the news how these brats are ignoring the shelter-in-place orders, enjoying spring break when crowds are outlawed. ...