20 years of trauma…and it’s not over

I’m sure you remember where you were at 9:37 am on 9/11/01. I know I do. That moment and the hours that followed, the days that the pile smoldered and you could feel retaliation starting to be more mumbled about. As we each were frozen momentarily in our tracks during those horrific fully televised first moments of the planes hitting the towers, then the falling of those towers – straight down every single one of us changed in those moments. A feeling of collective vulnerability first, we had been attacked full on and all we could do was watch as events unfolded, 2997 the eventual fatality count.

Then the rising anger, calls for revenge and off to war we marched our soldiers…Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria..the middle east, thousands of miles away from home and doing a job no one before had been successful at or wanted to do. Britain tried 3 times, lost and went home every time. Russia, they’ve tried twice in recent history, only to pull out and go home. Why did we think we would ever have any more success in a country that does not want western government or influence? Democracy is not for everyone, and evidently it’s not wanted very badly in Afghanistan as we were shown when they dropped their American made weapons and ran from the Taliban.

In the last 20 years we poured buckets of cash into the war against terrorism. Trillions. Yet, here at home our infrastructure is pathetically tattered with no update in the last 50+ years, homelessness is outrageous, people are hungry, unemployed and sick without adequate medical care and our Congress cannot even get a $3.5 trillion dollar infrastructure bill passed. We’ll sit and allow our money to be squandered on needless war but NOT spend any good amount here at home taking care of our own country; improving our own infrastructure, bringing America fully into the 21st century. Yet we will try to nation build in other countries and not peep about the wasted costs.

People line Christopher Street during a gathering of the LGBTQ community and supporters protesting U.S. President Donald Trump’s agenda in Manhattan, New York, U.S., February 4, 2017. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

Our politicians need a big fat wake up call. Democrats and Republicans alike. Democrats need to stop pussy-footing around and DO THEIR JOBS, discard the filibuster and move on with the business of rebuilding America from it’s neglect and from it’s abuse during the last administration’s time in office.

Republicans need to take a deep, deep look inside their party and DECIDE WHO THE FUCK they are and WHO they represent – oh and try developing an agenda that is not based on lies and cheating American voters, slamming women’s rights, installing inadequate people in all the wrong places, conspiracy theory, and made up bullshit about dems being lizard people. They party looks absolutely FOOLISH.

American citizens have been in a constant state of trauma response for the last 20 years. From the falling of the towers on 9/11/01 to the Texas abortion ban of 2021. We’ve literally been dealing with once crisis after another; one on top of the other, some thing repeatedly through the 20 years. Here we are now, 20 years later just having exited Afghanistan – albeit in not so graceful a fashion for the #1 fighting force in the world – in the midst of a huge heath crisis (covid) that has become a partisan political football. We have 30% of the country acting like children, attacking our capital, refusing vaccines, pushing for authoritarian rule and marshal law and enticing politicians to act like ogres who’s only goal is to end democracy in America.

On a daily basis we have trauma piled on us by what’s going on around us. Mass shootings at grocery stores, movie theaters, concert venues, barbershops, shopping malls, SCHOOLS, work places, and even government buildings. The virus keeps us all in this constant state of trauma limbo…where we are just itching for it to be over and don’t want to get infected! We wear our masks, socially and support President Biden’s 6 point Covid plan AND we fight with the anti-vax, denial and misinformation crowd. We are contending with a party that wants to limit voting rights, end Roe Vs Wade, and deport the Dreamers.

Don’t even get me started on the personal traumas, we’ve all had those as well whether related to what happened 20 years ago or to something totally personal, we all cope with some level of trauma response daily, we’re all still alive and kicking and this is a more difficult part of life in 2021. We can always keep hoping the future grows more calm and becomes more organized for all of our sakes.

((Hugs)) to all. ~ MB

Shifting…

When is covid over Dad???

Taken from Fort Foster…early morning sea smoke on the water.

What an insane way to start the week…insane conspiracy theories, four of them in 1 day….wow

Check out this video, you will be astonished. The flat out lies are just insane!

Then there was the Fox interview of Trump with Laura whats-her-name…I almost exploded watching him do THIS…!!! The video is about 1/2 way down the page, I think you’ll – if you haven’t SEEN this shit yet – be quite astonished to hear ANY world leader speak of his own people like Trump does here – oh, he has only “one people” his right-wingnuts – then there are the 70% of the residents of the USA that are evidently “thugs” and “antifa” and “dark people lurking”….we are the “enemy”…so buckle up a bit tighter, things are about to go full postal…if you get my gist.

My mind wanders so much more lately, fucking covid overload has made me spacey as fuck it seems – at least some days it does. The air is so thick with sanitizer that I rarely even get dirty thoughts these days…hahaha

My pot plants are doing really good now. We’ve not had enough rain this year, along with the lack of good snow cover last winter – which we depend onto fill the underground aquifers yearly – has resulted in very arid summer. My yard is DUST. The grass all died, turned brown and then the top level of dirt , when you walked on it, would create dust clouds it was so dry. Anyway, I’ve been watering the gardens – both flowers and the weed – every day at least once a day, even fertilized everything a couple of times.

It’s been a tough grow season this year…figures, with everything ELSE going wrong this just adds a little twang of being pissed off at the dry environment…even though it’s OUR faults because of global climate change. My pot plants are the Black Sugar Rose hybrids. I bought female clones but they came in late, so I’m behind on the grow. They’ve been in solid ground since the end of July, previously in pots. Won’t be as big as the last grow, but should be quite impressive, especially in quality and potency. The BSR is GOOD high THC content with a good back up of CBD as well. I love the buzz personally.

I am smoking shatter, live resin or sauce 85% of the time these days, the other 15% I use edibles, which I LOVE! I am glad that they are now making cartridges that fit the multi-voltage batteries (need higher heat) containing the live resin and sauces. They’re just awesome and FAR less labor or mess intensive. No rig, no dip stick, no mess. Screw it on and puff away. Perfection in stoneage, the ultra potency of this type of THC consumption is out of this world. Never in the 1970’s when I started smoking weed from Mexico – the old Columbian Gold days – never did we even imagine that our grandkids would perfect the methods of intense consumption. haha….little fuckers, gotta love ’em tho.

I’ve been perusing the depths of podcasting and off-beat sites, videos and delving into the caldron of like minded individuals from across the country. Vetting news sources right now is critical and absolutely necessary. The forces working to disseminate mis-information to you through Facebook, Twitter and even direct emails. Be aware of TV or internet commercials, the subliminal seduction factor flipped to subliminal fear factor is incredulous. Journalism is a frightening dabble at the moment. Lives are threatened and taken daily, mostly from the truth pool. Voices are quieted, headlines are twisted and YOU are the target; your vote counts so much that Russia wants it to be cast in THEIR desired direction, i.e. Trump the Puppet of Prickhead Putin.

The only interaction I have personally had with any Trump related thing is that I gambled in his casino in Atlantic City in the late 1980s. It was quite opulant, just about to the gawdy point in places. Dripping in gold, and later I found out in blood as well. Many contractors were gilted out of money when he had them build the casino and refused to pay many of them, forcing those who COULD AFFORD IT to try to sue him. You know how Trump lawsuits go, they get dropped. Contractors lost money, lost their businesses in some cases and their families suffered greatly as well.

Anyways, I didn’t stay there, I stayed next door at the Playboy, a very, very favorite memory in my data banks. I was a wet-behind-the-ears baby Butch just learning my walk through the universe as my more authentic self – I was still nervous and yet resolved to be out and proud in my skin and in the world around me. I can vividly recall so many individual “moments” of that 4 days; forever etched into the dark matter in my skull as some of the finest, most sensual and most memorable moments of my young Butch dive into the world of women, money and sex. I would dabble in this world on and off for a couple of decades, which direclty coincide with my good ole drinking days, Jack and Coke with a twist of lime, or Tequila…my go-to alcohol loves. Finally I got to that point in life where you desire deeper, more secure, loyal, loving connections and less frivalty. I have memories from other trips, but none compared to that first time in AC.

I digress….back to the blog and out of the inside of my head….but it’s such a pretty place, the colors, the music…the voices…BWHAHA…kidding….but it IS funny AF. The hazard of writing while stoned. I tend to amuse myself and end up sitting here cracking up as I type.

I just opened a new group on Facebook with some friends assisting in content and collaborating upon which direction we move with the page. I’m fully open to that morphing and twisting through time, all things change, grow and die. I’m psyched about the page in general. I’ve got a tight little team of cohorts and I’m sure I’ll find more fun, creative talent as time chugs on and we all get one day closer to November 3rd.

For anyone interested in joining the group it’s called The Butchuation Room and is a Facebook GROUP not a page, it can be publically located, but it’s a private membership group, just to try to keep things safe for members. I really think it’s going to be an interesting and engaging group. We’re trying out lots of different topics and ways to engage as a community including the use of Zoom meetings and Facebook Rooms. This is NOT a dating site….but I did add a dating topic page just to keep people from posting in the main body of the page with those kinds of searching for others posts.

Here’s my irrational thought of the evening….I think I have the hots for the journalist, Anna, who works on The Young Turks with John. She’s freaking HOT AF…and a blonde, which is interesting for me to find myself attracted to a blonde, not usually my preference. I thinks it’s her incredible vocal control and high intelligence and political awareness coupled with a very hot make up routine. There is no woman more attractive to me than a very smart, intellectual, well versed and knowledgeable smoking hot femme being.

Ok I need to button this blog up, get it posted and get my sleepy ass into lala land, where i can dream of honey on the lips and deep kisses…but before I can go there I need to show you all this particular article on Covid-19 discoveries that are VERY important. Our government doesn’t follow along close enough, good thing some of us DO!

check this out: Super Computer analyzes Covid-19 I think you will all learn some really wild stuff about how Covid-19 affects the human body, why and what you can do to help your own body be more prepared if you were to become infected. Please read and I think you’ll be astounded at this super computer analysis, I know I am!!

Take care. Be SAFE and Wear your MASKS! Especially covering the NOSE at all times, that’s your #1 main way of giving or getting the virus!!!

Peace ~ MB

Sunday Musings

I watched quite a bit of the Global Pride 2020 and saw the ads for World Pride 2021 in Copenhagen Denmark…wow, wouldn’t it be so cool to go! I attended World Pride and the Gay Games years ago when it was held in NYC and it was an incredible experience. That was when the United Nations was headquartered in the Twin Towers in NYC and we marched for world equality on the UN.

I also caught a lot of the Global Goal broadcast, where many artists and most world leaders all spoke or performed to raise awareness and money for Covid-19 vaccine. I found it the MOST informative piece about what exactly IS being done around the world to find a vaccine by Johnson & Johnson and with all the major counties of the world. The counties NOT represented…USA, Russia, China. Wouldn’t you know it. Our government hasn’t told us shit about this giant collaboration because Trump has this idea that if he can find a scientist to develop a vaccine HE can sell it and grub all the money for himself. The vaccine being developed by J&J will be provided to the world in a non-profit way. It was a really good show and I recommend everyone watch or listen to the show, you’ll not only gain a lot of knowledge of what IS being done, but the music is also awesome! Global Goal video link.

So, yeah, you can see that I had an exciting Saturday night at home with my dogs. I got stoned and did some personal writing, research and other stuff to get ready for the coming short week. This morning I woke up refreshed and ready to tackle some house tasks today. I’ve been repotting house plants and changing furniture around in different rooms. I am going to get rid of a few small tables and some other things. I try to purge a few things every time that I clean. It’s just amazing the shit that one accumulates! I have an extensive pocket knife collection that I want to sell to an interested collector, save for a few select pieces that I enjoy edge-play with on occasion. And I have an incredible collection of miniature things, I don’t think I will part with those just yet, but I have lots of other things to get rid of around here! Either I sell it, donate it, or throw it away!

The coronavirus-19 pandemic has laid bare all of the short-coming of the United States. Poor healthcare programs and insufficient insurance coverage, deficient – even derelict -care of our elderly and those living in group settings, no cohesion or healthcare management for existing programs, a very poorly prepared federal government and barely operational institutional systems, a failing public education system, deficient stock-pile of emergency supplies, broken social systems, and abusive police practices – including murder by police. That’s just a partial list I am sure. Not that ANY country is ever “perfect” for every citizen, but we used to be much better before we got complacent and the GOP got control of things. Somehow I believe we can work together once #45 is out of the way and rebuild things better than ever, updated for 2020 and beyond.

The world is changing right before our eyes and none of us are promised tomorrow, so we push for each other today. I am very proud of my two eldest nieces who are activists like me. Seeing all of this generation in the protesting and making their voices heard in the streets, all together, is so awesome. Some of us work behind the scenes doing research on various people, watching hard, pushing candidates, working the phones, door knocking and manning the polls, and the youngsters are doing night after night in the streets! THIS is Democracy. WE ARE MAKING CHANGES!!! Us Dems held on for 3.5 years and went thru hell, but in the end I really believe that the good and honorable will prevail! Love always wins.

Now I’m about to relax for the evening on my couch listening to music or watching something interesting…viking related no doubt. 🙂

Peace ~ MB

Watching This Unfold

I am very concerned with all that is happening across the USA, far more concerned than I have ever been about current events, and far more concerned about this than anything else right now! Our basic survival and freedom are threatened by several things, without survival and freedom nothing else in our lives will matter one flying fuck…not one thing; nada. If you’re dead from convid19 you won’t give a fuck. If you’re in prison for opposing racism and police violence you won’t give a fuck for a while at least, and if you’re not free period, why even bother?

It’s easy to get depressed, but don’t. Don’t let this shit get you down, make it force you to GET UP! Raise your voice in protest. Register and plan to VOTE in November! Support your candidates – all of them!!! And join those of us who are working, often against the tide, to create the gigantic BLUE WAVE in November 2020. Even if it’s sending money to local, regional or national political activists or groups, working doing outreach to voters on the computer, urging your family, friends, employees, bosses, and everyone else to VOTE on Nov. 3, 2020! Hopefully we can get most to vote BLUE and be rid of the child currently fucking up the Oval Office with his grossness and igorance. We also need to remove all of his cronies holding offices that are up for grabs around the country; those silent GOP members got to go!

I watched pieces of #45’s “rally” in Tulsa last Saturday night, in between doing other things. I actually left a party to watch it. I’m completely convinced if he’s re-elected he WILL destroy the remnants of our Republic..every. single. one….and we will become a Russian province. Laws will change, more journalists and writers will be harassed, beaten and killed. Racism will get even more dangerous with the eventual rise of his right wing supporters that are waiting in the wings with those M16s they need so fucking badly for jacking off self-defense. The LGBT crowd will be hiding in the shadows trying once again not to be noticed thus the beating shall begin. It will NOT be GOOD if he wins again. And we must also prepare for the possibility that he will not leave office voluntarily. That’s a whole other angle.

Maybe I SHOULD go off-grid, deep into the Vermont mountains, or maybe Arizona’s. Belize is always an option I suppose. Ya know, I say that but in my mind I start constructing what I would HAVE to HAVE if I did something like that in order to live in a happy kind of way. I wouldn’t want to completely disconnect from the world. I would want a good 4G or better internet connection, I could generate electricity via solar/wind and generators, but I like indoor plumbing – unless it’s someplace warm year round, then I love showering outside, oh the memories! Cell phone service would be great, and if you have a good internet connection you can tie it to that and it would work fine. I’d write, take pictures, grow things, and figure life out from there. It would also be nice to have a girl to share it with for a while.

Trump is just letting coronavirus19 roar through America like an out-of-control wildfire. He doesn’t mention the 120,000 dead, the 30K + a day new cases in the USA and we don’t ever hear from the CDC anymore. This is a serious heathcare disaster happening in slow motion. Hospitals are at 70% ++ capacity for ICU beds as case numbers are rising exponentially. We got to get a LOT more SERIOUS about this crap and SOON. We lack ANY national leadership or guidance, Fauci and Birx are silent, I hope they start to feel VERY guilty about holding back what they know is happening or coming down the road.

Attny General Bill Barr has fired (forced resignation) of a bunch of top guys at the Department of Justice. He’s trying to protect Trump and his buddies from investigations that are still hanging around the system in the Southern District of New York. He helps Trump interfere in prosecutions. Barr is out-of-control, taking the title “General” literally – even to the point of ordering federal troops to fire tear gas and pepper spray upon peaceful demonstrators – he’s THAT out-of-control!

The fucking soap-opera of our leadership across this country is pathetic and sickening. So many must be removed and replaced with people with common sense, integrity and honor to country. The idiots currently in the republican party are staying silent, watching #45 ruin America and saying nothing. Send them home in November!

There’s so much more going on, but I’m exhausted for today, it’s been a very full day. I was woken up by a phone call that my closest Uncle died last night – on fucking Father’s Day, damn! And the day just picked right up from there, resulting in a productive day and some interesting conversations. Hope you all are following along…it’s getting deep!!!

What’s next? Fucking aliens???

Peace ~~ MB

As the Hoax Turns….

I currently, like most, have a lot of free time on my plate right now. How to use each day has become a bit of a game. Usually at some point each evening I make a “list” of things that I “think” I will do the next day. Now, what I should do when I finish said list is to ball it up and send it into file 13 via a 3-point jump shot from a sitting position on my couch half-way across the room. Can’t you just picture it? The grace of a couch potato during a pandemic? Yeah, I know it’s a dumbass picture, but I’m attempting to entertain you here and squeak a smile out of that frown; trying to make some sort of morbid lightness out of a dark situation.

You get my drift, the list is useless. By morning my mind has wandered half way around he world and decided to do completely different things than were on that suggestion list. Yeah, that’s what it was a “suggestion” list. Ha. Sure, those things on the list should be, or perhaps even need to be, done at some point but I can think of nothing that needs to go on the list that is anywhere’s near critical to complele, thus the list will hit the trash can and I’ll do another one tonight for which the same fate will apply. Now, why do I do this weird thing? Because I have every good intention, but my follow-through sucks. By the time morning rolls around five thousand other ideas have meandered through the forest of my mind.

Each day this grows more and more sobering. Each day new fears arise. Each day something new about this virus is exposed making even more frighening. Each day the stories of the brave, the helpers, the frontline people trying to save lives are told to us in news outlets attempts to bring some “feel-good” stuff to us before diving into the worst things they can tell us about various viral “hot spots” in different countries. Each day new governmental guidelines are issued; not direct orders or mandates here in the USA, but “guidelines” and “suggestions”. Each day I wonder when the fuck thisfis going to end and who I will hear has been infected or is waiting for test results. Yes, each day it’s something new, different, updated or changed about the world’s war with Coronavirus19.

This morning’s “biggest news” thus far is that Italy sadly reported the death of the 10,000th person from CV19. News centers have continued to report that the United States is 10 days behind Italy in what we will experience eventually. Scary as fuck when you can literally SEE what is in store for us in just a few short days. t

It doesn’t matter how many are tested, how many ventilators there are or what our leaders’ say, the death toll continues to rise, doubling overnight in some places. The time for testing, procuring enough medical supplies and equipment, having emergency hospital spaces lined up and ready for full use as well as other preparations in readiness, that time was TWO MONTHS ago. Unfortunately, that window of opportunity was shut long before US citizens were aware it was even open.

This aforementioned “advanced notice” that Trump and his administration thugs actually got from Chines leadre Xi and China’s top scientists/doctors was NOT something our lovely leader wanted to have mentioned to us, his constituents, yes US Citizens – those whose interests he is supposed to be working for until his contract expires. Yes, come November, he will more than likely be replaced with a newer, up-to-date, faster, sleekler, more efficient and effective model. Time to retire the old stuff; it’s time has come. Everything wears out eventually as it grows old and tired. Then old, tired things must be replaced because of age, or being broken or out of date – which ours is all THREE now. He’s just out of date and cannot perform in today’s fast paced, techno-savvy world – or in any world containing human beings. No, this particular specimen is best suited for installing basic ATM machines for Deutchebank until his final expiration date rolls around and the big man calls him up on the carpet.

I’ve come to my own conclusion that it’s useless to argue politics during this in-progress pandemic of our lifetime. This is THE EVENT that each of us WILL remember where we were and what we were doing when Coronavirus19 came into light of day, brought to us not by our “fearless leader” (from which it should have come in a special talk to the nation, no it was simply reported to us like any old news of the day on most news and media platforms.

Trump was informed of this Coronavirus19 back in January 2020 and made a conscious choice to keep the warnings of the virus and how dangerous and contagious it is to himself. He did not immediately do or say ANYTHING. He went on about his personal business, which is what he does daily in the White House, and he ignored scientific evidence and medical advice to prepare the United State for the arrival of coronavirus19, which he was TOLD was inevitable and could be devastating. It was at that time thatTrump made the decision NOT to use the Pandemic Playbook which was compiled by experts in diseases and their control. This playbook contained step-by-step guidelines for dealing with all of the logistics of an epidemic / pandemic; all of the direcitions, protocols, and results of tabletop exercises that helped deal with pandemics. Donald J. Trump’s complete bumble-fuck of this national security crisis and world pandemic has been nothing – NOTHING – short of abysmal.

The United States of America, richest nation on earth, had NO PLAN in place to deal with any disease breakout, epidemic, pandemic or bio-weaponry – which we KNEW at least one of them WOULD eventually happen. The Pandemic Preparedness team from the National Security Counsel was disbanded by Jeff Sessions and Donald Trump, right after they fired the team leader, Tom Bossert in April 2018. Why disband this vital part of our homeland security? Because Pres. Obama formed it and Trump didn’t believe we needed it because “that will never happen here”. No, we needed a wall to stop illegal immigration way before anything that would directly protect ALL Americans. SMH. Go figure. NOW which is needed more???

This complete lack of preparedness at the federal government level and the utter failure to disseminate Coronavirus19 information to state governors and state CDC leaders and those who really needed to KNOW so they could prepare in advance, has directly resulted in this consistently botched response to handling it by our government.

First they failed by prolonging ANY response whatsoever. Then they failed in testing by having NO testing kits. The WHO offered Trump 250 million tests way back at the begininng, but he said no. He wanted US companies (probably $$ in it for him or someone in his “circle”) to develop one to use. So, NO testing for the first THREE weeks after we KNEW we needed to start testing IMMEDIATELY. Testing is CRUCIAL to slowing any epidemic – let alone a PANDEMIC. S. Korea tested 66,000 people in ONE WEEK, and it took us 3 weeks to get anywhere near that.

Trump continued to sabotage efforts by our scientists and doctors to sound the alarm about this deadly virus by taking to national television and calling the pandemic a “hoax” that Democrats cooked up to hurt his re-election chances, he claimed it was no worse than the common flu – NO it’s TEN TIMES more contagious and more potent than the flu and may have a kill rate even higher (that number will be unknown until the first round of this novel virus Coronavirus19 is finished. We should have a better idea as we enter the bounce back round, which is inevitable. He told us that he has a “hunch” it’s not really “that bad” and it will “miraculously” disappear, “….one morning we will wake up and it will be a miracle.”

Trump has very limited understanding of science, we all KNOW that from all of the previews into his brain that he let’s out occasionally, like him making fun of the disabled reporter, or his claiming h can and will do “whatever he wants because Article 2 gives him ultimate authority, or the claim that our Revolutionary forces took Britain’s airports over during our war for independence. It’s right up there close to his unbelievable knowledge of US or World History….good ‘ole rocket-scientist he is! Ha! His complete ignorance, refusal to acknowledge the truth and FACTS, his convincing ways of deceiving the public with baseless, made up statements and “alternate” facts….yeah, he’s still using those! Trump REMOVED our chances here when HE FIRED Tom Bossert and the Pandemic Response Team and yet he say he has “No responsibility” for any of this or for any lack of response. He claims it’s the “China” virus’s fault. Ignorant useful idiot.

So, it’s useless to talk politics. so I’m not comparing our current president to anyone else, but I am just stating the obvious in my above words. I think it’s fantastically ironic how this all is playing out and how absolutely STUNNED the rest of the civilized world must BE at watching the greatest country on Earth’s response – or actually LACK OF RESPONSE – to a crisis right on our own soil, with our own systems, products, people, corporations, and American Dollars backing us, our federal government, with all it’s boldness of thought, action and speech has responded LIKE THIS? What a joke…which is NOT funny because as the USA is still playing catch up our death toll rises, doubling every 3 days now.

It is not Trump’s fault really, the blame for this big ass mess of non-response belongs to his entire administration. It belongs to all of those GOP Senators who have fiercely defended him, even when it’s come to paying off prostitutes or buying services from foreign governments to interfer with our elections. It belongs to Sessions and whoever else let Trump think that disabling our Pandemic Response Team was in any way a good idea – they SHOULD have fought him to the ground on this one. UYet they have continually allowed Trump and his family to jeopardise the security of the United States and I don’t believe that ANYONE really understands what it IS about Trump that has the old Republicans so scared of him and so willing to defend even his most illegal and immoral actions. Something is fishy in Denmark.

I am so sad for the world. Sad for my country and for those who are fighting battles with this virus, either themselves in their personal health or as a front-line healthcare worker or essential services person putting their lives at risk so the rest of us can maintain the “social distancing” and try to avoid becoming infected with this dangerous virus. Because this is entirely new to us and our medical and scientific people we don’t know enough about it to understand how long we are going to have to endure this, but we WILL do it. We are resilient people and with each other’s support and love we will make it through yet another crisis, somehow.

Once this is all over and behind us – which cannot be TOO SOON – then we can have a look back and see what happened, when, why and how. Then we can decide who needs to buck up and take some responsibility and for which part. Until then we need to remain strong, unite as Americans and get through this together.

I hope your Monday is a good day, take it easy and be good to yourself and be kind to others. And for hell’s sake, take care of each other!

Peace and good health! ~ MB

Utopian Reality…

Day to day, this is how we now live – around the world. Each day we wake take care of the first thing business, get ourselves a coffee and visibly flinch as we reach to turn on the news. Never before has life been this unpredictable for some many at once.

The virus was a naturally occurring disaster, the response to it by our gov’t was a totally disaster of willful ignorance and stubborn egotistical shortsightedness. Trump didn’t want it to affect his presidential campaign or chance for reelection – which he obviously values far more than he does any human life that could be saved if he were to do the right things – so he did what he always does with these annoying things, he pretended the virus was not true, it was “a hoax by the Democrats ” to stymie his reelection bid. With this type of blatant inaction he has not jeopardized approximately 3.3M individual lives of Americans by making us ALL more at risk for infection, severe sickness and possibly the ultimate cost of our lives.

Incapable of putting the needs of others before his own desires, ahead of his feelings and ego. It’s having a direct, very negative affect on how we have been able to respond to this pandemic racing through America and around the whole world. As much as I truly dislike #45 I REALLY wish he could – just for this once – make the right decisions for the country, putting his own need for praise and applause on hold for just a little while to get this under some resemblance of control.

Now, due to our complete lack of guidance and leadership, our healthcare workers are being forced to work in dangerous, unacceptable conditions putting many of them directly in the line of fire for catching the CV19 virus. They don’t all have the proper PPE, or enough of it, and are reusing the one-time-use products. This would be criminal at any other time. The gov’t claim they have “strategic stockpiles” and are shipping products to the states…what everyone is asking is WHERE are these “stockpiles” and WHERE is the product promised? It’s not arriving at the designated places, no matter how many times it’s “ordered” by each state governor. Of course, all gov’t officials – including #45 himself, keep repeating “it’s on the way” “it’s been shipped” “so-and-so is receiving those items tomorrow”…etc…just stalling and avoiding the questions asked about these items and their true availability.

Here in America the desperate calls for PPE, hospital beds, ventilators, etc. is being answered, somewhat, by private companies and our citizens. American ingenuity, some people making masks one by one by hand with whatever materials they can procure on their local markets. We are crowdsourcing efforts to get things moving and into the hands of the frontline workers who need them. Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos have both pledged $10M to help with these private and personal efforts people are endeavoring. If nothing, this pandemic has brought out so much good from people and companies. We are watching and reading about individual heroic efforts to pitch in and help where it’s needed. We have several state governors who have really stepped up to the plate and taken the lead in hleping guide other states who have less. We’ve also sadly seen the opposite, those who align with #45’s temper tantrum methodology of shame, blame and willful ignorance.

With all of this madness going on all around the world it’s difficult to imagine what life will be like when this finally comes to an end – who knows when that will be. The UK is seeing infecion rates double every 3 days. The USA now has the most cases in the world, and although we have over 100,000 known infections doctors and scientists claim that in reality there is most likely 3 times that number. Some countries, like Iran, are suffering devastating loss and have little to no medical help for their people, citing a lack of hospitals, supplies, doctors and nurses and other support services. Yes, it’s a very scary worldwide mess. Everyone has every reason to be frightened, for themselves, for their families and for their friends and co-workers. All we can each do is work together and keep trying to make it through this horrific time in history. That’s all we can do.

Personally, it’s been hard to write lately because the pace of things is so furiously fast. Things seem to be just exploding here in the USA. With the daily death rate continuing to rise and the pressure of seeing people so distraught when they cannot be with dying loved ones, I feel emotionally overwhelmed and at a loss for words much of the time. Meaning well, I plan different blogs out but then when I sit to write different things come from the tips of my fingers and brain than I had originally intentioned.

I have been working like crazy around my property to keep my mind off of things. I’ve been taking the dogs for walks over on the old town farm property, exploring, taking photos, watching birds and trying to think about better times. I’ve written letters to old friends, made calls to people I haven’t talked to in ages, and checked on my family and friends daily as well. My Facebook friends lists are fairly extensive because of my blogging and vlogging over the years and sadly now I am being notified daily about people dying from the virus. Yesterday alone it was 4 people from my friends list that passed away. Sad. Scary. I am ready for this to STOP.

Be well my friends. Practice social distancing and take care of yourself and your loved ones. We will get through this, just keep caring and doing what YOU can do.

Love to all. ~MB

Jpeg

Lock Down…Day 4

So, it’s Thursday, March 19, 2020….day four of our voluntary lock down here in southern Maine and coastal NH. It’s eerie. Just weird.

I got up because I couldn’t sleep. The anxiety plus all the lifting I did yesterday has my body pretty sore. I don’t know if it’s just me, but I also have sniffles and am sneezing this morning. Dammit. If I get this virus shit it will NOT be funny. I easily get bronchitis and pnuemonia. I just downloaded the app, it’s for keeping track of temperature, and it creates a data base that’s more accurately predicting pockets of this virus than the CDC.

I watched a couple of videos from Italians warning us here in America of what’s coming for us in just 10 days, and advising us to cooperate with the stay in place and remain calm, yet stay informed as much as possible. This is a very serious time, not one to take lightly. I can’t believe that 13 states still haven’t done much at all. In 9 days we will have a total of over 80,000 cases here in the USA and who knows how many dead by then. Frightening I know, I wish it wasn’t true. I know everyone wishes that, let’s just all take this seriously so we can keep it down to a minimum.

I did a little preparing last week before this all got super serious. I bought a back stock of paper goods and food, plus cat and dog food – yes the damned cat is STILL here! I also laid in a good stock of gummies and flower so I won’t be calling for delivery. Plus I have more tincture made up to make another batch of gummies should I feel up to it. I may just take this time to do that! Got some back up batteries and made sure I knew where stuff was located.

Our healthcare providers are really at risk right now. They’re short of personal protective equipment like masks, gloves, and gowns. This virus is so contagious that you have to change after every patient completely. The national stockpile is pretty measly – I don’t care what the orange idiot is flapping his lips about, our government dropped the fucking ball BAD this time. We don’t have nearly enough equipment to take care of all of those who will get sick simultaneously, that’s why it’s VITALLY IMPORTANT that we stay away from each other, stay home and break the cycle of this germ.

And the big problem is that we no longer make our own stuff here in the USA. All of that stuff is made in CHINA and they need it too, as does the EU and Italy especially. They can’t make it fast enough or make enough of it to fill the need.

I hope that we learn some super valuable lessons. The biggest we need to learn is NOT to elect an imbecile as president. Trump totally ignored this for over 2 months. Then called it a democratic hoax. He fired the pandemic preparation team and the scientists and doctors back in 2018. Thus leaving us very vulnerable to something we KNEW would happen, just not when. Thus, our federal response has been non-existant, even though they spout off about how much they’re “doing” when on TV as they slather praise on the Orange Idiot for his “early action”, yeah right! The US military hasn’t been properly activated for domestic assistance yet. And although the 2 navy ships, the Mercy and the Comfort are headed to each shore, they aren’t yet manned and ready to jump into action. They’ll be used for those WITHOUT the virus who require hospitalization, traumas, heart patients, etc.

All of us alive today don’t recall the early 1900’s and the Spanish Flu pandemic that lasted 3 years and killed millions globally. We weren’t ready then and aren’t now. We are all in for a helluva Spring and Summer I believe. Don’t make any plans, nothing is going to be moving or open. Best thing we can all do is hunker down, use social media and snail mail, and just ride this out – paying attention to the REAL FACTS and not relying on our government to always be forthright with them.

Here’s a video I made this morning…describing some of what I’ve been doing and have lined up to do.

Hang in there my readers! Stay in touch with each other and try to remain calm and sane. We can do this. #stayhome

Stay Home!!! ~ MB

Trump’s Biggest Failure to Date…Corvid19 epidemic

Trump’s unprecedented and very unfortunate mishandling and misinformation campaign about the corona19 viral pandemic we are now in the midst of – the BEGINNING of according to the scientists and WHO, CDC and Dr.Anthony Fauci, our very top doctor and scientist who is TRYING to warn the government as well as us living here in America – CANNOT be allowed continue.

The GOP, Republicans or the Trumpacrats, whatever they are calling themselves these days, MUST take control of this man – their so-called “gift from God” and empirical leader – before he does any MORE damage, causes MORE deaths by continueing to speak his misinformation, lies, made up “alternate facts” and BAD advice he seems to HAVE to go live on TV to spread to the American people – SOME of whom actually BELIEVE what he is telling them.

In this specific case, the health, welfare and the REAL LIVES of Americans are being put in very serious jeopardy due to Trump’s visible, well-known inability to understand science, by him calling it all a “hoax” if it doesn’t line up with whatever he concocts in his head on any specific day and his continued denial to the people that this is as SERIOUS and can be DEADLY to so very many people here and around the world.

Let’s put Trump’s idiocracy aside and look at the Republican party that stands silently, firmly and stupidly in full support of Trump for SOME WEIRD UNKNOWN reasons – we all have our theories of the reasons that these politicians back him like he is God, My theory is that he and Bill Barr obtained Jeffrey Epstein’s “ledger of clientele”, with specific notes of names, dates, likes/dislikes in sexual desires before he was conveniently found dead in his cell. This dynamic duo, Trump & Barr, are holding this book over the heads of the entire male Republican Senators and Representative as a threat to “out” them all publically if they do not FULLY cooperate with EVERYTHING that our “president” and his personal attorney, AG Bill Barr, tell them to do or make them say, write, do or defend for Trump – even if it is illegal, immorral, unethical or just plain WRONG.

No matter WHAT Trump does, says or demands they quickly bow down to his wishes like little boys worshipping a superhero. I find it revolting to watch these men continually belittle themselves so radically and publically for a man who would throw them to the wolves given the opportunity. Yes, I truly believe (as do many others) that Trump and Barr are holding SOMETHING HUGBE over the Republicans, one day it will be brought out into the light and we will all understand, but NOT forgive them. The TRUTH always comes out in the end. Always. Perhaps it’s karma or maybe it’s just plain justice.

I have no proof of this “ledger” theory, the only way to prove it would be to demand to SEE that ledger and the other evidence gathered from Epstein’s properties, banks and other devious connections around the world. Doesn’t anyone else wonder where all of this stuff went? Where IS it NOW? Who has it and who has access to it? I would LOVE to KNOW the answers to these questions as well as others about Trump and Mr. Epstein’s relationship and connections – both personal, sexual, and financially. ALL aspects of their days of running together and abusing their privilege as very rich, famous highly protected men of power SHOULD be investigated and factually reported.

We KNOW they were close friends for decades and that they have BOTH been jointly charged with some very serious sexual crimes, such as rape and assault on children as young as 12 yrs. old more than once or twice! Yes, minor girls ARE still considered to be CHILDREN. It’s high time to shed some sunlight on this dark partnership, especially since it concerns us because this man, Trump, is our PRESIDENT. As his constituents, we all have a right to KNOW who Donald J. Trump REALLY is and WHAT he has done – good and bad – with his power throughout his life. He loves to dig up dirt on others but is highly secretive about himself, somehow believing that the rules don’t apply to him for some reason I don’t understand – does anyone?

This pandemic is a disaster. The biggest part of this disaster is our governments complete and utter failure in response and handling of information dissemination about the virus. Our federal government’s response has been very slow, disjointed, disappointing, confused and is turning more deadly with every passing day that the president and our federal government remain in this disjointed, confused and unorganized state. They are very unsure of WHAT to do, WHEN to do it and HOW to handle this properly, et. We do not have testing. We did not and still DO NOT have ANY PLAN for how our country will handle or deal with a health crisis of this magnitude. Our president blames his predecessor as he always does when he can’t find anything else to tell us. Trump FIRED the branch of our Homeland Security team that was specifically focused on infectious diseases, outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics should they, or when they, occur in America – and in the world. So, of course our government, who are supposed to be working for the good of all people in America, is nowhere near prepared or ready to protect us, prevent more infections, advise people properly and quickly, provide accurate tests, provide the right number of tests, handle the coming medical care crisis looming in our future due to Coronavirus19. Let’s HOPE that we are not going to be stuck in this predicament until many more die and someone in another country find a cure and saves the world. It’s certainly NOT going to be America. We lost that opportunity when Trump fired the scientists and doctors who were preparing for scenarios like this one we are now contending with now in our lives.

We need very aggressive testing, we need the feds to get out of the way and let the highly skilled, knowledgable, researchers, laboratories, scientists and doctors and all of those with the abilities help us through this mess. Individual states and state leaderships are working overtime to do the job that the federal government and our president FAILED to do or be ready for as they should have been. The federal government must give them the money and resources to do their job and find a vaccine that will work in the most timely manner possible. And we KNOW that this will take 12-18 months minimum, maybe longer.

In the meantime, we the people must unify and try to deal with these infections with whatever we can to minimize the virus’s effects and prevent as many deaths as we can until there is a vaccine. Trump and our federal government representation FAILED us as Americans. We are now basically going to have to figure out what is “true” and what is “false or fake” information and share that widely among ourselves through whatever means works – emails, social media like Facebook, instagram, Youtube, Google and any others out there.

We must take care of ourselves -it’s been thrown completely upon us to do so – and be aware of all of those around us, specifically reaching out to those at the highest risk and making sure they understand how to keep themselves as safe as possible, what to do if they feel sick, and also help each other as much as we can with whatever we need. Things are going to get tight. It’s not going to be a family picnic by any means.

This is serious and important and we must be fully aware and properly informed about our personal and family risk factors. Then we each have to make decisions of how to prepare ourselves and our families in the case that one or more in our individual households or living quarters become sick. There really is no other option now.

Our government dropped the proverbial ball, Trump fired the entire department that used to keep us aware and protected from these kinds of things, like SARS and Ebola in the past, and we are now screwed into handling this the best way we can, which will be by unifying, coming together to help each other through this and to take care of those who do get sick as best we are able to do with what little information or support we may have or get from others in China, S. Korea and Italy about how to stop the spread, protect ourselves and others, treat patients that are sick, take care of those who need help getting through this themselves and continue to SCREAM at the president and our government for eliminating the office that was specifically supposed to be protecting us to begin with!

Trump said tonight on live TV that he “takes no responsibility” for eliminating this group of dedicated people who were protecting us. He even called the question about why he did it “a sick question” and you could see him visibly cringe that it had been brought up in the news conference. He now claims that he didn’t even know about it, that someone else did it. He is a LIAR. He said we didn’t “need” that group and eliminated it to get more money for his stupid border wall and to line his family’s pockets. His ignorance and GREED stink like a dead skunk.

Just remember, if anyone in YOUR family becomes sick or dies due to Corvid19 you can thank Donald J. Trump, God of Republicans and personally acclaimed perfect purveyor of hate, knower of ALL – or so he also claims. HE is directly responsible for the disasterous delay and non-existant reliable response to this nasty pandemic – which he was informed and KNEW about way back at the beginning of January 2020….but he said it was a democratic hoax to hurt his bid for reelection – all he really cares about is money, power and how things make him “look” to other world leaders. He believes he is some kind of king and can do no wrong in the eyes of the rich, famous, dictators and autocratic leaders we all know of and are not fans of due to their barbaric treatment of their own people. He’s emulating them. Right down to perhaps allowing many die for his egotistical stance.

In the end my biggest unanswered question is WHY do Republicans continue to protect this man, who is obviously NOT concerned about this virus except that the “numbers” are hurting “his stockmarket” and he takes NO responsibility and has NO PLAN and NO ANSWERS for why we have no test kits, where the test kits are, who is making them, who will get them, and WHEN they will REALLY BE AVAILABLE to ALL providers that NEED them – hospitals, doctors, community partners, etc.

Republicans need to get real with themselves and their constituents and FIRE Trump, ignore his idiotic statements, bad information and lies, and find a new leader that can restore some of the dignity to their party – and our country. Oh wait…only a Democrat will be able to do that, the GOP has no need for dignity and ethics anymore. Those are characteristics of Democrats and Independents in America now. Good luck GOPers…keep believing the lies, we can write your epitaphs accordingly.

Protect yourself and your loved ones. Check in on your neighbors. Perhaps even create a neighborhood care plan so that everyone is checked on during this trying time, especially those who live alone and are in the higher risk groups for infection with this icky virus. It could bring you new friends even!

My next blog will be HOW to have some fun while being vigilant and caring during this health crisis.

In the meantime, wash your hands, cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze and stay the fuck home if you are even a little sick!!! Do it for you. Do it for your elderly Granpa or Nana. Just be smart.

Wishing you ALL good health!!!

~MB