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| Our driveway this morning after I returned from my early morning walk - daffodils in bloom - yes, that is my shadow |
"What's rolling through your head this morning Ron?"
See how I began this post without using a personal pronoun? I also didn't begin with using the useless word "So", mainly because I fear a Raybeard slap down.
So (whoops, there I go) here is what is roiling (not a misspelling) through my seventy-eight year old brain this morning:
I'm glad Joe Biden did so well in the Democratic primaries last night. Sure, Uncle Joe is boring and has difficulty completing sentences and his speeches sometimes meander off but he can beat Trump for the presidency. What about Bernie "Free Stuff" Sanders? I never was a fan of the Angry Old Man Shouting campaign offering free stuff to his cult like following of youngsters who want their college debt paid off. Now all Joe has to do is stay disciplined and give speeches like he did last night and not screw up in the last Democratic debate later this week.
Change of subject, switching lanes here folks:
Trump has sealed his fate with his grossly incompetent response to the coronavirus threat. He can't bullshit and bully his way through his catastrophic failure of leadership in protecting us from a pandemic. As with everything in Trump World, it's all about him. He's only concerned with the falling stock market threatening his chances for reelection. I could go on and on about this Criminal In The White House and the Republicans sycophants and toadies who have enabled Trump to be the greatest threat to our country has ever endured. I wonder if his cult Evangelical followers will say Trump's failure of leadership is God's way of finally opening the eyes of his cult followers that the emperor has no clothes?
Changing lanes again here folks:
I've made my airline reservations for April 13th to fly out to Palm Springs for a ten day stay to help Pat prepare his condo for sale. I heard that the CDC recommended that elderly folks (that's me folks) not fly because we are more at risk of catching the corona virus. Trump slapped that recommendation down. I have to agree with him there. Let's not go with the "everyone takes off their shoes when going through TSA airport security." Millions of people have taken off their shoes since the failed attempt of the Shoe Bomber, how many potential shoe bombers have they found? Nada? Security theater. Banning seniors citizens from flying would be the same thing, theater. Of course I will take precautions. Hand sanitizer, and not touching my face (which is harder than you think). I am concerned though that things may get worse by April 13th and I will be banned from taking my flight. What happens to my payment for my flight? I hope American Airlines does the right thing and holds my payment as a credit for a future flight just the way I would hold a hotel guest payment as a credit or refund. But you never know with airlines, they're pretty greedy.
Change of lanes:
I completed my taxes yesterday and filed them. I always dread doing my taxes. This year was no exception. Good news again this year, we get a refund. Ever since Bill and I got married in 2013 and I could file a joint return as head of household we get refunds. Of course I've been head of household since Bill retired at fifty-five years old thirty-six years ago but I always owed more money at tax time. It took a long time but thank goodness that discrimination ended. Now to make it to next year to file our taxes again. The years sure do seem to fly by.
Change of lanes:
I got a ride to the Philly airport on April 12th. For my early flights out of Philly I now reserve a hotel room at the Airport Marriott Hotel the day before my flight. My flight out of Philadelphia 6 AM on April 13th. Much less stressful to rise from my king size very comfortable Marriott hotel bed at 4:30 AM than get up at 2:30 AM from my Delaware home to catch my ride, more expensive but worth it, my new normal.
Change of lanes:
The stock market continues to drop. I have a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach when I see my already small stock portfolio shrink even more. I thought when the stock market plunged in 2001, that would be the last of my lifetime, apparently not. At least this time I don't have all of my money in stock, I did keep some in cash. Of course my fears are all relative, as Pat often reminds me "First world problems." I have my health, a fabulously comfortable home, great relationships, and enough food to eat. All my limbs work too, albeit a little stiffer because of my enriching arthritis. But the daffodils are out and I know I'm one of the lucky ones.
Have a great day!