For those of you don't know I take most things in my life very seriously and one thing I've taken more seriously then at any given point in my life is this pandemic. For starters, I was and remain a HUGE supporter of this mandatory state wide shutdown and if you want my honest opinion, I hope it's extended as the state of Illinois is not bending the curve like news outlets like to report.
Take IL, yesterday 1200 something cases today 1300 something more! I know they say more tests are being administered daily, but we're not doing the kind of numbers where we need to be at, ain't no way!
Watching when I can, the President's daily news briefings, it is such an eye opener and I mean that in the worse kind of way possible. I have a confession, I didn't vote in the last election but one thing is for certain, I'll definitely be casting my vote this November!
Like I stated in a past blog, I don't identify w/ either party as I believe both have their merits, but I do know who I'm voting for this November but that's neither here nor there. The things that our President says, the way he attacks reporters it's truly an embarrassment and a disgrace that this is the leader of the Freeworld. I have stated that he was given a once in a lifetime kind of event to handle, and it didn't matter if it was Trump or Obama, things would still probably be the way they are now...but who knows. Was he really tipped off to this virus months ago and took no action..whose to say, but it's something to certainly think about.
I know businesses are hurting, I know people are hurting, but I'm not alone in my belief that this country needs to extended and enforce stay at home orders until the curve is truly bending downward. I look up at CNN while typing this and it says business leaders tell Trump testing is key to reopening! Well it is, and the US is no where close to where it needs to be. I've read people who think the country shouldn't reopen until a vaccine is proven to succeed and then produced for the world to have, but that's over a year to 18 months away so that kind of seems unrealistic at this point.
Bottom line is I hope everyone is staying safe & healthy during this time. Remember, the economy will bounce back, markets will rise, but lives lost due to the reopening of this country too soon is a chance we shouldn't take. Stay home, stay safe & remember to please wash your hands :)
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
Monday, April 13, 2020
A state of haze...
First off, hope everyone had a Happy Easter yesterday! Was it weird for everyone else like it was for me? Meaning- it just didn't feel like a holiday and it was almost weird to celebrate anything with the current state we find ourselves in. For me, it was like I spent the day in almost a state of haze. Unable to see family members I'm used to seeing, not getting to see my son spend time running around like a nut with his cousins...it just didn't feel like the norm and it put a damper on the day.
Now I know, things aren't status quo right now and let's face it, they won't return that way for the foreseeable future and let's admit it- it's scary! While we're all glued to the news day in and day out, and the so called experts are cautiously optimistic that the peak may be near and we may see a downward trend in cases/deaths, the skeptic in me isn't so sure. I for one can't see the stay at home ending come April 30th and I do believe it will be extended into May and I'm alright with that, truly I am.
This state, and that's all I'm going to talk about here, cause it's the state we're all living in, shouldn't reopen until we know it's safe. I know it's not the popular opinion that a lot of people share, but it's mine. I know the economy is hurting, I know people's pockets are hurting but the government needs to put the safety of it's inhabitants first and foremost. I know it's a decision that doesn't come lightly, but it's the right one, and is certainly one I wouldn't even blink at if I was in charge.
The next big holiday on the calendar is Mother's Day and what's that going to be like? Will we be allowed to gather? Will I feel comfortable gathering w/ family? The answers to those questions, I don't know yet. Again, I'm not like the normal person as I have to think about my son and my pregnant wife before my own wants/needs & I'm ok with that. I've gotten my self sterilization technique down to a science over the past few weeks. My hands are so cracked I have the proof to back it up.
Reading various news articles has become a daily occurrence and some experts are saying we might not get back to normal all the way until 2022. To quote one of my favorite lines in Avengers Endgame: "Whatever it takes." We can't risk a second wave of this stuff only to find ourselves again practicing social distancing or even something more extreme like Marshal Law.
I wish there was a way we could look ahead and see what it's going to be like one month from now to a year from now! What businesses will be gone, will your favorite local eatery survive, it's a scary time. Sadly the crystal ball like this world right now is in a state of haze!
Now I know, things aren't status quo right now and let's face it, they won't return that way for the foreseeable future and let's admit it- it's scary! While we're all glued to the news day in and day out, and the so called experts are cautiously optimistic that the peak may be near and we may see a downward trend in cases/deaths, the skeptic in me isn't so sure. I for one can't see the stay at home ending come April 30th and I do believe it will be extended into May and I'm alright with that, truly I am.
This state, and that's all I'm going to talk about here, cause it's the state we're all living in, shouldn't reopen until we know it's safe. I know it's not the popular opinion that a lot of people share, but it's mine. I know the economy is hurting, I know people's pockets are hurting but the government needs to put the safety of it's inhabitants first and foremost. I know it's a decision that doesn't come lightly, but it's the right one, and is certainly one I wouldn't even blink at if I was in charge.
The next big holiday on the calendar is Mother's Day and what's that going to be like? Will we be allowed to gather? Will I feel comfortable gathering w/ family? The answers to those questions, I don't know yet. Again, I'm not like the normal person as I have to think about my son and my pregnant wife before my own wants/needs & I'm ok with that. I've gotten my self sterilization technique down to a science over the past few weeks. My hands are so cracked I have the proof to back it up.
Reading various news articles has become a daily occurrence and some experts are saying we might not get back to normal all the way until 2022. To quote one of my favorite lines in Avengers Endgame: "Whatever it takes." We can't risk a second wave of this stuff only to find ourselves again practicing social distancing or even something more extreme like Marshal Law.
I wish there was a way we could look ahead and see what it's going to be like one month from now to a year from now! What businesses will be gone, will your favorite local eatery survive, it's a scary time. Sadly the crystal ball like this world right now is in a state of haze!
Thursday, April 9, 2020
2:30
It's the event, no the word, no it's just the event that will be perhaps the biggest in the history of the world to date? Whatever you wanna call it it's the word/phrase we can't go more than 2 seconds without hearing- Coronavirus.
It's funny how the time 2:30pm can hold meaning in my life for the past month! 2:30 you ask? Yeah, it's the time that each afternoon whether I'm at home or sitting by my computer at the bar at work when Illinois Governor JB comes on and I listen intently to what news he's bringing and what new case totals and more importantly death tolls the state is announcing. I like all of us eagerly anticipate these new numbers to see if we are approaching the apex of the curve and if the people of this state are truly adhering to policies set forth by the stay at home order!
Is Social Distancing working? Are others like me who take this seriously still doing it? It's the answers to those questions that makes me tune in each week at 2:30. Being around the same core group of people for the last month or so it's funny to hear some who take it seriously and some who for the most part don't! I am not going to blast their opinions cause that's now what this post is about, but we all need to take this seriously in order to get back to a normal daily routine. As I type those words- normal daily routine, it hits me...will we ever get back to a normal daily routine? What is the world going to be like post Coronavirus?
It's these questions that are I'm sure keeping others awake at night and not just me. It's unimaginable that when we all rang in 2020 something like this would happen a mere 3 months later but it's happening. With each passing day it appears to me that this country was so under prepared for something like this, but how! How, when we're supposed to be the most 'Powerful' nation in the world w/ some of the biggest companies and corporations in human history, are we not prepared for something like this? Seeing our first responders struggle to fight this disease without the proper PPE is utterly heart breaking to see unfold day in and day out but that's the realization.
For those who know me, I've never pretended to be a political person nor do I identify as being a Democrat or a Republican, and this post isn't going to dive off the deep end as I have some pretty strong opinions on how our President and his people have handled this crisis! But that's another talking point isn't it? When this all began, I personally said it wouldn't of mattered if Obama was still in the White House or anyone else, how can anyone be prepared to tackle something of this magnitude? But as the facts have come out and the shortages have unfolded on the daily news bulletins, it's clear to see that the Federal Govt has failed this country.
But I digress, as I could keep going on this for hours! Today was another day that I was afraid to go to the grocery store! I catch myself with the word choice because men don't like to admit their fears but I'll admit this today here and now, I was afraid to go to to my local grocery store today! Sure I went there as I need to bring home food for my son, myself and most importantly my pregnant wife! I had a bandana covering my face and got a freshly sanitized cart and it's so funny to say all that! I clearly wasn't alone in the store today as it was actually pretty busy in there go figure, which only added to my anxiety. I would speed walk up and down those aisles and luckily I've come to know this store like the back of my hand.
I wasn't alone in my social distancing practicing as almost everyone in there was wearing some sort of mask while many more were wearing gloves as well. What's crazy to me is the next part! Remember the days of just coming home and unloading the groceries without even a second thought? Now I'm the person who brings in the bags and we use our little kitchen island cart to put unwiped things on one side and after they've been wiped move them to the other side to be put away by one of us. Here we are in 2020 and my wife and I are wiping our groceries down w/ a cleaning solution. It's truly just...that's the thing I don't have a word to describe it.
Anyways, for those of you who have visited this page so far, I greatly appreciate it. I have received a few nice comments so far and it means a lot to me. This blog is a great way for me to continue something I missed and love doing and that's writing. Well, stay safe my family & friends and remember tomorrow at 2:30, you'll know what I'll be doing!
It's funny how the time 2:30pm can hold meaning in my life for the past month! 2:30 you ask? Yeah, it's the time that each afternoon whether I'm at home or sitting by my computer at the bar at work when Illinois Governor JB comes on and I listen intently to what news he's bringing and what new case totals and more importantly death tolls the state is announcing. I like all of us eagerly anticipate these new numbers to see if we are approaching the apex of the curve and if the people of this state are truly adhering to policies set forth by the stay at home order!
Is Social Distancing working? Are others like me who take this seriously still doing it? It's the answers to those questions that makes me tune in each week at 2:30. Being around the same core group of people for the last month or so it's funny to hear some who take it seriously and some who for the most part don't! I am not going to blast their opinions cause that's now what this post is about, but we all need to take this seriously in order to get back to a normal daily routine. As I type those words- normal daily routine, it hits me...will we ever get back to a normal daily routine? What is the world going to be like post Coronavirus?
It's these questions that are I'm sure keeping others awake at night and not just me. It's unimaginable that when we all rang in 2020 something like this would happen a mere 3 months later but it's happening. With each passing day it appears to me that this country was so under prepared for something like this, but how! How, when we're supposed to be the most 'Powerful' nation in the world w/ some of the biggest companies and corporations in human history, are we not prepared for something like this? Seeing our first responders struggle to fight this disease without the proper PPE is utterly heart breaking to see unfold day in and day out but that's the realization.
For those who know me, I've never pretended to be a political person nor do I identify as being a Democrat or a Republican, and this post isn't going to dive off the deep end as I have some pretty strong opinions on how our President and his people have handled this crisis! But that's another talking point isn't it? When this all began, I personally said it wouldn't of mattered if Obama was still in the White House or anyone else, how can anyone be prepared to tackle something of this magnitude? But as the facts have come out and the shortages have unfolded on the daily news bulletins, it's clear to see that the Federal Govt has failed this country.
But I digress, as I could keep going on this for hours! Today was another day that I was afraid to go to the grocery store! I catch myself with the word choice because men don't like to admit their fears but I'll admit this today here and now, I was afraid to go to to my local grocery store today! Sure I went there as I need to bring home food for my son, myself and most importantly my pregnant wife! I had a bandana covering my face and got a freshly sanitized cart and it's so funny to say all that! I clearly wasn't alone in the store today as it was actually pretty busy in there go figure, which only added to my anxiety. I would speed walk up and down those aisles and luckily I've come to know this store like the back of my hand.
I wasn't alone in my social distancing practicing as almost everyone in there was wearing some sort of mask while many more were wearing gloves as well. What's crazy to me is the next part! Remember the days of just coming home and unloading the groceries without even a second thought? Now I'm the person who brings in the bags and we use our little kitchen island cart to put unwiped things on one side and after they've been wiped move them to the other side to be put away by one of us. Here we are in 2020 and my wife and I are wiping our groceries down w/ a cleaning solution. It's truly just...that's the thing I don't have a word to describe it.
Anyways, for those of you who have visited this page so far, I greatly appreciate it. I have received a few nice comments so far and it means a lot to me. This blog is a great way for me to continue something I missed and love doing and that's writing. Well, stay safe my family & friends and remember tomorrow at 2:30, you'll know what I'll be doing!
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
It's been a long time...
Hello to everyone in cyber land!
For those who don't know I use to have a blog that primarily focused on the world of entertainment and I maintained it quite often during 2010-2011! I used to love to review TV shows, movies and any breaking Hollywood news that I found particularly interesting to me....I was young, so give me a break. Don't get me wrong this blog will have some of that stuff on occasion but the point of this new blog is well...that's what I'm here to discover. My Bachelor's Degree in Journalism besides collecting dust, has been calling to me so to speak as of late and it's made me realize that I miss writing.
I served on a few different positions on my college newspaper from 2006-2008 on the award winning Lewis Flyer Newspaper. GO FLYERS! From Tempo Editor to Assistant Sports Editor and being tapped as the papers first ever Health Editor (which at the time seemed funny) as I wasn't about being fit or healthy at all during college, but it's something I'm most proud of as that section really took off under my guidance and it remains in the paper today, at least last time I checked it was still there.
But anyways I'm rambling, I've missed writing about anything and everything and that is the point of this blog. I'm not going to post daily but I will post hopefully a few times during a week's span in order to relieve and express some emotions that have been inside me as of late. There will be posts about current events, entertainment and whatever tickles my fancy. The world has changed a lot since my last blog and my writing and opinions have certainly changed a lot in 10 years. I've grown up, got married, have a 3 year old son & a daughter arriving this August!
This blog will touch on my life as a working father & experiences I've had and will have with my son that I hope will strike a chord or that other guys can relate too as well.
So in the mean time, I want to hear what you guys think and if there's something you'd like to bounce an idea off me to write about, I am open ears.
I'm excited to be back and hope you will come along with me on my writing rebirth!
Tim
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