wow

 Not something I expected to see from this source.

happy halloween, everyone

Here's hoping the next one is a bit closer to normal (the old normal, not the new normal).

a visitor

This was a first. And with the wildfires, I have a feeling we'll be seeing more wildlife coming into populated areas.

the gift that keeps on giving

2020 just won't stop. Freak dry lightning storm that lasted for hours, bringing 10,000+ lightning strikes that caused record wildfires. The Bay Area is being hit hard by multiple large fires, and there doesn't look to be any relief any time soon.

trying out a new mask

Wore my Under Armor mask while exercising this morning - 85 minutes total (62 push, 23 cool down), 5.10 miles, 681 calories, and 87 degrees by the time I was finished (gack). It was surprisingly comfortable: it stayed in place; didn't hurt my ears even with earbuds, sunglasses, and a hat; and didn't fog up my glasses. A bit warm and moist, but no more than other masks.

I'm calling this one a win.

another goodbye

RIP, Darwin. You were a good dog.

a hell of a timeline we find ourselves in

I know I haven't posted about the state of the world here, and I'm not entirely sure why. I think part of me is still trying to internalize it, to understand, to work through it all in my head (and my heart). For now, I'll try to sum up my thoughts on the two big challenges we are facing as humans and as Americans right now: the pandemic and the racism protests.

The pandemic: I am boggled at the denial and selfishness (or if I'm being more charitable, self-focused attitudes) that I'm seeing. This thing is literally killing thousands of people a day, yet people won't do something as simple as wear a mask. In America, we are losing a THOUSAND PEOPLE A DAY, and that's not enough to get people to care, to take steps to protect their neighbors, to work together to save lives.

I don't understand.

The protests: Again, I am boggled at the denial, the people who try to argue that racism doesn't exist, that privilege isn't a thing, that everything is being blown out of proportion. There are entire groups of people who can't do something as basic as walk in the park, go to the store, sit on their porch without having to think about how they look or act or whether someone will take exception to them and put their lives in danger because they are different. In America, there are people being beaten, incarcerated, and killed because of the color of their skin, and that's not enough to get people to care.

I don't understand.

The lack of respect, the dearth of empathy, the inability to care about something if it isn't directly affecting them...that is something these situations, these people, have in common. The only way they begin to care if their circle gets caught up in what is happening, and while that is better than nothing, it tears me up that it takes being personally affected to get people to care about someone else.

I have seen this happen with strangers, I have seen this happen with friends. I refuse to make large generalizations, since this is in large part what everyone is fighting against..."us vs. them" is easy, seeing people as individuals, as humans, is hard. I know people that I would describe as good, caring, loving people, yet those people still get caught up in bubbles of hate and derision and seeing others as "less than".

I also know that I can't change anyone's minds, yet I still try. I will always try to err on the side of compassion, of empathy. I will always try to live by the guiding principle of wanting others to have what I have, the same rights, the same privileges, the same ability to walk and talk and live their lives. I will never understand how some people can base their lives on the opposite: wanting to take away from others, wanting rights for themselves but not for others, wanting privileges and access that they then refuse to others.

In the meantime, as a friend once counseled me, I will follow my heart, I will do what my heart tells me is right. I may be shouting into the void, but I will try. I will do my damnedest to recognize my own privilege, my own biases, and I will try my best to listen to those that are trying to educate me about them.

There are many lessons to learn, many stories to hear, if we would only listen to each other.

a song for these times (from fb - 20200602)

(this is a post I originally made on facebook, copied here and backdated so I can look back on it later)

A song for these times. You can substitute "my soul" or "my heart" or "my conscience", whatever moral compass you use to empathize with your fellow humans.

"When I close my eyes, so I would not see,
My Lord did trouble me.

When I let things stand that should not be,
My Lord did trouble me."

unity (from fb - 20200602)

(this is a post I originally made on facebook, copied here and backdated so I can look back on it later)

Images of unity and peaceful demonstration.

To quote a friend: Protestors are protesting. Looters are looting. Don't lose the message in the noise.

solidarity (from fb - 20200601)

(this is a post I originally made on facebook, copied here and backdated so I can look back on it later)