The Shut-In Gazette #03

During this pandemic the projects don't seem to end, and that's a good thing!  I've continued to work on finishing our backyard here at our new house.  Yesterday afternoon I went to Home Depot (for about the umpteenth time since we moved in last May) and stood in their version of a Disneyland line for about a half hour to buy some 4"x8" concrete bricks to build a base for an iron arbor-trellis-bench-like-thing to sit on.

Well, of course I was about one brick short, so I had to go back and get another one.  I went early (about 6:15am) to avoid the going to Disneyland again and walked right in.  I got my brick and, after taking a shower in Purell, got back in the car and drove home.  As I turned into the entrance drive to our community I noted some big dogs in the road; I slowed dow and they suddenly became deer instead of Great Danes!  There were seven of them lazily munching on the grass and some of the other ornamental shrubbery.  What a fun sight at 6:45am!  Isn't the Lord great to provide these guys for us to enjoy!

Here are a couple of gems from Barb Michieli with whom I worked at Seattle Children' Hospital...

My Coast Guard friend Dave Pitkin sent this video of "Jimmy Buffett's Take on Coronavirus".  Dave and I met for the first time while I was on R&R in Honolulu in 1969 and we were reunited because of the internet several years ago.

Our friend Roger (Superman) Kent sent this amazing Youtube video of a very large parking lot out in the Mojave Desert.  We have a similar but much smaller one with parked 737-Max airliners in Grant County in Central Washington.  Click on the link and enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIbXai0l174&feature=youtu.be

My neighbor Dan Batman periodically feeds me interesting pictures and cartoons.  Here's one that he sent me a few days ago:

The Shut-In Gazette #02

Well, here we are.  On the verge of another potential stay-at-home extension by our Governor in the State of Washington.  So The Shut-In Gazette is in its second edition for your entertainment pleasure.

Sure, I know you probably have Netflix or Prime Video to fill your time, but set aside a couple of minutes to take a look at the lists and video links below that our friends have sent me to share with you...

Jim Taylor sent this amazing video of a Jeep On Ice:

George Drago sent this of an Emergency Airdrop:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reBhp2sD6GE

Tony Chapa sent this list that is a result of the Covid-19 Recession":

The recession has hit everybody really hard. My neighbor got a pre-declined credit card in the mail.

CEO's are now playing miniature golf.

Exxon-Mobil laid off 25 Congressmen.

If the bank returns your check marked "Insufficient Funds," you call them and ask if they meant you or them.

McDonald's is selling the 1/4 ouncer.

Parents in Beverly Hills fired their nannies and learned their children's names.

A truckload of Americans was caught sneaking into Mexico.

A picture is now only worth 200 words.

The Treasure Island casino in Las Vegas is now managed by Somali pirates.

And, finally...
I was so depressed last night thinking about the economy, wars, jobs, my savings, Social Security, retirement funds, etc., I called the Suicide Hotline. I got a call center in Pakistan, and when I told them I was suicidal, they got all excited, and asked if I could drive a truck.

On a more serious note...Barb Michieli sent this about Different Perspectives on the Coronavirus Pandemic:
WE ARE NOT IN THE SAME BOAT

I heard that we are all in the same boat, but it's not like that.  We are in the same storm, but not in the same boat.  Your ship could be shipwrecked and mine might not be.  Or vice versa.

For some, quarantine is optimal.  A moment of reflection, of re-connection, easy in flip flops, with a cocktail or coffee.  For others, this is a desperate financial and family crisis.

For some that live alone they're facing endless loneliness. While for others it is peace, rest and time with their mother, father, sons and daughters.

With the $600 weekly increase in unemployment some are bringing in more money to their households than they were working.  Others are working more hours for less money due to pay cuts or loss in sales.

Some families of 4 just received $3400 from the stimulus while other families of 4 saw $0.

Some were concerned about getting a certain candy for Easter while others were concerned if there would be enough bread, milk and eggs for the weekend.

Some want to go back to work because they don't qualify for unemployment and are running out of money.  Others want to kill those who break the quarantine.

Some are home spending 2-3 hours/day helping their child with online schooling while others are spending 2-3 hours/day to educate their children on top of a 10-12 hour workday.

Some have experienced the near death of the virus, some have already lost someone from it and some are not sure if their loved ones are going to make it.  Others don't believe this is a big deal.

Some have faith in God and expect miracles during this 2020.  Others say the worst is yet to come.

So, friends, we are not in the same boat.  We are going through a time when our perceptions and needs are completely different.

Each of us will emerge, in our own way, from this storm.  It is very important to see beyond what is seen at first glance.  Not just looking, actually seeing.

We are all on different ships during this storm experiencing a very different journey.

~ Author unknown

I received this from Steve Sachs...It's about "Old Glory":
https://raulrubiera.smugmug.com/RaulRubieraPhotography/RRP-Final-Images/2020/Evangelo-Morris-Old-Glory/i-zWkvH7G/A 

The Shut-In Gazette #01

As most of you now, I live in Washington State where the first coronavirus (Covid-19) case in the US occurred in March.  Fortunately eleven months ago Karin and I moved from Kirkland to the Olympia area about 70 miles south of the then epicenter in Kirkland.  Since March we have been sheltering in place because we are in that “elderly” class of people in addition to each of us having several “underlying health conditions.”

In light of all this history, I was thinking of a way to report on the pandemic without being snarky or morbid (and believe me that I have plenty to be snarky about!)  As I was trying to go to sleep last night I thought that I should start an ongoing column called the Shut-In Gazette.  Over the past couple of weeks several of you have sent me some very clever items that I will include in this and subsequent columns.  Thanks! and keep them coming!!!

From my friend and former colleague at Seattle Children's Hospital Barb Michieli MAJ US Army Retired:

• I used to spin that toilet paper like I was on Wheel of Fortune.  Now I turn it like I'm cracking a safe.
• I need to practice social-distancing from the refrigerator.

• I still haven't decided where to go for Easter – The Living Room or The Bedroom.

• Every few days try your jeans on just to make sure they fit.  Wearing pajamas all the time will have you believe all is well in the kingdom.

• I don't think anyone expected that when we changed the clocks we'd go from Standard Time to the Twilight Zone.

• This morning I saw a neighbor talking to her cat.  It was obvious she thought her cat understood her.  I came into my house and told my dog . . . we laughed a lot.

• Quarantine Day 5:  I went to this restaurant called THE KITCHEN.  You have to gather all the ingredients and make your own meal.  I have no clue how this place is still in business.

• My body has absorbed so much soap and disinfectant lately that when I pee it cleans the toilet.

• I'm so excited – it's time to take out the garbage.  What should I wear?

• I hope the weather is good tomorrow for my trip to Puerto Backyarda.  I'm getting tired of Los Livingroom.

• Classified Ad:  Single man with toilet paper seeks woman with hand sanitizer for good clean fun.


• Day 5 of Homeschooling:  My child just said "I hope I don't have the same teacher next year".  I'm offended.

• Better 6 feet apart than 6 feet under!

From our friend Larry Stallard, former CPT US Army and Mohawk Driver in RVN:
"This is what I need instead of our 'traditional Alexa'."

And from our friend George Drago, also a Mohawk Driver in RVN: This is entitled "What Sex Are Computers?"