Endurance

Yesterday was a meh day...woke up late (never good sleeping through an alarm) and then had to hustle to prepare for an important call.  Work-wise, Excel kept crashing, so much of my was spent shutting the computer down (at least I got through a couple of magazines) and resetting it, and not doing real work.  Sleeping in meant that my AM workout was gone...  to top it off, Mom finally got moved to a home, whicn was fine, aside from the many issues related to that.  Oi.  I was so busy I skipped my restaurant perambulation and ate in (which was fine).  I watched my Netflix movie - "Stan and Ollie," which looked at the later lives of Laurel and Hardy, after the fame and fortune were largely gone...  Cute and poignant, actually... good way to end the day, sort of.

Today was better, either because of or in spite of me not being home.  OC duty today, and it was quite slow as expected -- the fifth Saturdays always are.  I ended up taking home a bag of produce myself; odd that we should get a ton of it now.  Anyways, then it was off to the hovel -- a nice chat with the sister -- the gym, the library (I now have nine books to plow through, oi), care package to Mom, and home. I stopped for lunch at JB' Grill; a soul food place in the Village that also supports a local literacy program...good not great, I would say, but I got a hearty meal for $14, not too shabby...  

I should go to bed early and take advantage of the extra hour and just sleep, but I think we all know I will piss around some way, somehow...ok, I have many things to read and watch, and was catching up on them now, so not quite piss around...

Not Enogh Time

 So, a friend of mine tested positive for COVID (I haven't seen him since before Labor Day, don't worry) and is having breathing issues, so he is going to the hospital... I just spent 40 minutes talking to him, trying to comfort him, and... well, not that I didn't, but, let's face it, this isn't good. On the other hand, he is pretty healthy, has no risk factors, and decided to go there voluntary, so...guarded optimism reigns.

Funny, because I had planned on doing something tonight (not that this wasn't important); I've decided I need to finish up the old Sherlock Holmes, because I want to watch the "Free to Choose" series, as well as the Burns country music documentary, to say nothing of Netflix stuff.  And... I need to finish all the readings from the OWU class on the pandemic I watched online.  I would like to read more, as well, and a friend gave me a book to read, so that has to go to the top of the pile (shudder).  It will get done, of course -- no baseball and politics (soon), and this weekend I have nothing to do, really, so there is that... save for home cleaning and organizing...

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/10/29/2020-polls-trump-biden-prediction-accurate-2016-433619

I hope so, but I am doubtful...just don't think there are that many of them, not like 2016.  Certainly, you see more Trump signs out there, which leads me to believe that the secret voter has become overt.

I bought some honeycrisp apples on sale at Aldi...never had them before, and let me tell you, they are pretty awesome... I will go again on this sale cycle and stock up... 

Sorting

Funny, for all of the pain yesterday... nothing today.  I mean, usually, after a charley horse, my leg is sore for a day or so, but not today...odd.  I did take an hour-and-a-half nap today -- something I rarely do -- which was nice; oddly refreshing and invigorating.  I am still sleep deprived, I feel, but I was less so today.  Phew.

Had to go into the office today to clean out my desk; supposedly, in expectation that the lease will NOT be renewed, we had to move our stuff.  Anyways... I had a box, and filled it -- mainly with paper -- and then of course I had to haul all the magazines I read away, and... it was quite a haul.  Half of the paper was old studies and stuff I saved for whatever reason; I filled a smaller box with them and added them to the recycle pile on the curb.  The rest...some I have to go through and some I need to find online the originals and save them, I think... The magazile pile to read... I pawed through a few and will keep doing it; the problem is what to do after I read them; prolly won;t return to the office. Of course, if we do move...what happens to those archives and the other stuff we;ve accumulated (the construction group has an impressive arsenal of saved sources)?  Oi.

Like everyone else, I was amazed by pulling Snell last night, and I won't make any snarky comments about it.  I did like Trevor Bauer's take on Justin Turner and his appearance at the victory celebration. 

https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2020/10/16/church-losing-touch-working-class-catholics

Interesting...I go both ways on this.  Also, I think this is a de facto policy for a bunch of reasons, mainly fiscal; not sure about politics, as most of the priests I have known lean leftward, sometimes to the barricades.  Anyways, first... they are right, that yes, modern Catholicism tends to stress social policy more... I would argue it is easier to articulate the "right" answer (i.e., we are pro-life, so no abortion, ever!) than, say, economically... it sucks to close a factory in the US, but what of the Catholics in Mexico, Vietnam, etc., who will be employed when the place opens there?  There isn't anything in the Catechism that says our jobs are more important than theirs.

Point two is...both sides tend to equate agreement on one side of the rules as a pass on the other, and I don't think that is what the Catechism says, either.  I mean, the lefty types want economic justice -- and I agree - but then ignore the stuff about abortion, homosexuality, etc., which is as wrong as the "ultramontane" types adopting a Ricardo-style economic policy.  Catholicism has tenets that are uncomfortable for the left as much as the right, and in this day and age it is hard for the average Massgoer to separate them into one political party or another...  As I like to say, I like volunteering at the food pantry, but it's not my first choice of activities...

Agony

 Finished the book on inequality yesterday; it was funny, because at the end he discussed how of all the things that could cause a leveling, he thought it would be a global pandemic.  But you know, it's not the case.  Indeed, it has been the reverse, or at least our reaction to it has been.  Government has been sending people money, which has helped, but a lot of people can work from home.  If anything, it;s the people on the bottom rng of the ladder who are most affected, working at the grocery store/fast-food place/customer service location. People in those jobs have gotten the short end of the spear, at least this time...

So, I went to lay down for a bit while writing this at about 11; I nodded off, which may or may not have been an accident.  At about 12 or so, I woke up with an incredible charley horse; left leg, above the knee... oh my God, I thought I was going to die.  I literally couldn't move; I grabbed my leg, held on as I could... the pain, the cramping, the thirst, the deep breaths... it took an entire hour to get to a point where I could walk again and put some pressure on the leg.  I nodded off again, finally, and now, an hour later, I wake up with low blood sugar...oi, oi, oi.

https://nplusonemag.com/online-only/online-only/the-american-pickup/

Well, duh! I am fascinated by the idea of a truck with no bed, just a cab, literally... I am not sure that will work, at least for most truck buyers...

Fatigued

 So, Mom is doing better physically; mentally, not so much, and that is...taxing, to say the least. The next few weeks...well, she will be in a home, and hopefully the rehavb will work quickly and get her back to where she was. I don't fault her for feeling down, but -- as I keep telling her -- this is temporary, they've fixed her, and she is good to go to start living her life again...

Haven't slept well lately and am feeling it; just laid around and watched "The Old Man and the Gun," a recent Redford film...it was ok.  A little slow, like Eastwood's stuff is now, but not quite so exciting?  Caught up on some reading; I've been slowly going through the bookmarked articles in the computer, and continue to pluck away at my current book -- Schiedel's The Great Leveller, which looks at things that cause inequality to decline - roughly, the four horsemen (war, pestilence, famine, revolution; they are often related). Interestingly, one of the things he discusses in the beginning is the cause of inequality, and one thing he harped upon was that of urbanization; people flock to cities, the costs of living are higher, and they get poorer, while the landlord/tenant class profits.  I find this amusing as the core of the new left-wing coalition is, if you will, largely an urban population; hence, the solution to their problem may literally be geting out of town..

Politics

 A day of double posts...very exciting.  :P Well, not really.  Hit the gym hard today; rode the bike a lot, which is good, for many reasons.  I need to start hitting the gym 2X a day for a bunch of reasons, namely:

1) It's good for me; 2) I can do a leg day and then another muscle group at night; 3) If high blood sugar happens in the AM, it's cheaper than insulin; and 4) a double dose of cardio means I can read more, which is good, as the book list is...long.

Of course, I have not been sleeping well, or long, so....but we will try.

https://donsurber.blogspot.com/2020/10/reading-polls.html

Oh, I don't know; I would like this to be true, but I don't think there are that many "secret" Republicans out there; I mean, driving around Parma, for instance, you just see so many Trump signs and such; maybe they were secret before, but now...if anything, there are prolly more Biden voters out there among GOPers and independents who prefer a candidate with more... or shall I say less, um, presence?

Funny thing is, things seem to be set up for a late run by the President; campaigning like a madman, another debate, the Hunter Biden thing in the air...the man is also short on cash, surprisingly; just like 2016, but I don;t see the late-breakers/independents/undecideds going his way.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/20/opinion/polarization-politics-americans.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage

I think this is largely true, and as someone who is of the 20%, I find it...interesting?  I don't know; it is important, but I also get the sense that most people see angry people yelling at each other and thus tune it all out. I don;t think this is a good thing, but I also don;t think it is bad; people have limited amounts of time and info to process, and if they drop politics, so be it...

Spinning

 Six days...not quite a record, but... here we are.  It has been an interesting time... first, Mom. She has been doing better, until Sunday... she was complaining of feeling unwell, then stomach cramps, so I convinced her that this maybe wasn't a stomachache (I am not a gentle nurse)...and it was not.  Rather, she had a blocked bile duct, and needed care soon...ended up taking the chopper to UH downtown.  But, they were able to get rid of the stone and she is doing... better?  As the MD said, she can buy green bananas.  Yesterday they took her off the ventilator (needed for the endoscopy) and she ate real food and did some walking.  This is good, but when Mom called, she gave us the usual pablum about how she should buy the farm.  My sister did not appreciate this, so we had to have a pep talk (my abilities there are as well as my nursing).  The only downside is that Mom will need to go back to a home for a bit for some rehab, and that is going to be a hard sell...

AS you cay see, I am up; I had planned on a double day at the gym (yesterday I was low, blood-sugar-wise, all night, to say nothing of what could be safely called an overdose of this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ku42Iszh9KM) today, but my blood sugar is a bit low (Not that I am complaining) and I have 100 things to read, so maybe tomorrow.  I feel fat, not that I am; just a but of stress eating at night and the general running around, oi.

I needed a coffee break yesterday, and was out of instant, so I hopped over to Starbucks; the condiment counter is gone, so you have to tell the baristas (and they were, and cute ones, too) what to put in... it worked out ok, but I think my micromanaging runs down to the coffee cup, and that is prolly unwise.

Also yesterday...got a haircut. My usual stylist is no longer employed there, and the new one was...fine?  I mean, she dissuaded me from the man bun, and everything looks the same.  But a new stylist is like a new phlebotomist, and the way things are going now... I could use a bit less novelty, if you get my drift.

Foodies

 So, Sokolowski's is closing...my first thought, of course, was one of sadness...no more crab cakes. Followed by, well, when did you eat there last, Matt?  (It's been a while.)  And, I had heard that none of the younger generation wanted to take over, so... I am not surprised.

In other news, I went to Irie Jamaican Kitchen today; doing my own part to help restaurants stay alive.  Funny it is literally around the corner from another place I want to visit, so... my list might get itself culled a bit.  ANyways... it was pretty good, and the portions were such that I got two meals out of it, always a nice touch.   I would go back, in all honesty, just to try some of the other things on the menu...

I watched/listened to the Trump town hall today; it wasn;t too bad.  I think I would prefer a debate, but I also think that we need more of these town halls, as they are...more confrontational?  Or, at least, I like to see how candidates do and do not answer questions.  Everyone does it, of course, though I would love to see someonbe who doesn't...

 I am beginning to think a Blue Lives Matter flag is required for residence in Parma...

Back in the Saddle

 Finally home and with nothing to do (Ha) so I figured I would blog... Mom is ok?  A bit of confidence and some good therapy work, I think, would be wonders, but I am not sure all of those are in the cards...  Anyways, I have been spending more time there, which is not that bad; Mom needs the help and likes having me around, and as she has no internet, and I don't surf the net that much on the phone, I have been reading more.  This IS good, as the book list lengthens. Finished three off this past week and am into one about the Roman Empire at its peak now... I have always said I should have studied that period more; always fascinated me, for a bunch of reasons.

https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/education/2020/10/12/ohio-wesleyan-cuts-18-majors-including-journalism-after-review/3635864001/?fbclid=IwAR0Qriq2n8kYNEcePTSxgZtwFHZ7jPbCEPFDjig8TgZKQ3slIprys0JjSPc

No more journalism majors at OWU?  The horror! Ok, not really; I think we all what I think of the Fourth Estate...

I watched "The Last Waltz" a couple of days ago (738); it's a concert film/interview set The Band on their last show.  It was ok.  I would have enjoyed it more if I liked the music of the era or knew more about it/them....on the other hand, I did learn some things and it was an interesting look at the culture of the time...

Catching Up

 I am going old school in my lack of posts, but it is nothing too serious... Mom duty, recovering from the Polish Festival, and the general stuff of life, I guess.  I watched the VEEP debate last night, and it was... good?  I am not saying it was entertaining or informative, but it was good to see...well, issues, if you will, discussed.  I don't think it changes the trajectory of anything, of course, but it...stops the bleeding, for a bit, though the propensity for self-inflicted wounds is...massive.

One nice thing about all of this is that I have been catching up on some reading and making progress on the book list.  I am almost finished with Hess's bio of BRaxton Bragg and while he does not say the man was a great general, he does make the point that his battles were in some ways similar to Lee's (Perryville vs. Antietam, Stones River vs. Chancellorsville) and that while in many ways the results were similar, Lee was of course covered in glory while Bragg was not. To be sure, Lee had better command cohesion (which can be blamed on Bragg) but he also faced less effective commanders (i.e., Rosecrans didn't cut and run like Hooker did). In short, both commanders made the best of the circumstances they had, but for Bragg, it didn't work.  I hadn't quite thought of the battles that way, which is why I love to read, you can always get a new perspective.

Relief

 Polish Festival weekend came and went (that explained my absence)... it was ok.  I mean, I am tired, but certainly not as tired as I would be for a real festival -- three days of kitchen service. Rather, this year, all of the food was pre-made and served curbside (ordered online or at the site), and I served as a runner/setup/cleanup for only two days.  The crowds weren't as big, we didn't make as much as a full festival... but I guess that is expected. I think it went ok; some chaos early, and some of the online orders were all over creation, but in the end we figured it out.  Rah. I think we want to incorporate this -- the takeout -- next year.  We will see... in the meantime, I am tired, just not as much as usual.  Oi.  My feet hurt some, and I am sure my digestive system will be feeling this for a while.  

In other news, POTUS has coronavirus.  Not sure what to feel about this -- the man has certainly been flouting the rules, and it appears he got burned.  In the meantime, no one wants to see President Awesome come to harm (at least on my side).  I am more concerned about the Senators catching the disease... every vote is critical for the SCOTUS situation... 

In other news, the NC Senate race... I do get a kick out of these things.  Again, this could be me, but if I was ruinng for the Senate, I'd figure out, or try to, delete all of these unpleasant things that may make a candidate's life uncomfortable, but that is me...