How about taking a little cruise?

"It would be ironic if the strongest economy in the world was side tracked by something so small, you can barely see it with a microscope."

This morning, Dr, Fauci (one of the people in government who has credibility on this virus thing) was on the news and gave this dire warning - if you are elderly, have a lung or heart disease, STAY OFF OF ANY CRUISE SHIPS! How strongly did he feel on this? Not only did he give that warning once, but then two or three more times.

Point of disclosure. My wife and I are what is known as "cruisers". We like to cruise. We had a broken trip last year due to a super typhoon, but with our trip insurance, re-booked that cruise for April. We still plan to go. We also have a short cruise booked around the New Year. We also plan to go on that one.

Some might think this is folly. Tempting danger. Going against the doctor's orders. I have a different slant. I have said for years, once a restaurant is closed down for food poisoning, when it is allowed by the health department to re-open, there is no place safer in town to eat. Why? All the food has been inspected and re-inspected. The restaurant has been cleaned from top to bottom. It is not totally germ free, but close.

Of all the cruise lines, the one which is at the center of the bulls eye right now is Princess. Princess also happens to be our cruise line of choice. Our two cruises this year are booked on Princess. My belief is simply this - by the time we set sail towards the end of next month, each and every ship that Princess operates will be as safe as safe can be. If they are not, Princess will not put them into service. Yes, there is a chance that Princess would cancel our cruise. But it would be them cancelling it - not us.

This virus has put the country in some uncharted waters. Many feel we are overreacting to this newcomer to the virus family. After all, we have been down this road before - and will be again. Until then, we really need to keep the wheels from coming off the economy. It would be ironic if the strongest economy in the world was side tracked by something so small, you can barely see it with a microscope.



  

Wildfire!

"It would be great right now if we could turn on the news and listen to a guru who could give us all the answers. But there are none. Anyone who says they know all the answers is a 'lying dog faced pony soldier.'" 

"It is spreading like wildfire", one pundit said yesterday. Really? And we know this how? It could be - or it could not be. We simply don't know until we start testing everyone. And cruise ships right now? They just might be floating petri dishes. Again, we don't know. But what if this new virus is that contagious? How do we keep it from spreading when we are such a communal people? Good question. Welcome to what might be our brave new world.

Here is the issue. If it comes to this, the American people really don't know how to self isolate. Like I said, we are a communal people. A relational people. Our kids go to school together and sit next to each other in class. We take buses together. Planes together. Cruise ships together. Shop together. Worship together. And now the government is suggesting we might have to learn to live like Herman the Hermit? For how long? 

How fast are things changing right now? Lightening fast. We were gone for six weeks on vacation, and the world we came home to is much different than the one we left. Turning on the news, this Corona Virus is thing one, thing two, thing three and more. Already, finding hand sanitizer is like finding a four leave clover. Not impossible, but getting there. Those preppers who have been bunkering since Y2K and 9/11, are starting to feel their efforts might have been worth it. Those who are only bunkered up for a week or two, well, the panic might be starting to set in.

It would be great right now if we could turn on the news and listen to a guru who could give us all the answers. But there are none. Anyone who says they know all the answers is a "lying dog faced pony soldier" (thanks Joe). 

It is going to be weird to see sports games being played in front of empty stadiums. The big box retailers will continue to bleed jobs and sales, while mail order giants like Amazon will look at this contagion as a blessing from above. Schools are going to learn the true meaning of online classes, and our workplaces might be shifting from downtown to a home office. 

For the latest and greatest on this situation, stay tuned to the media. Why? Things are changing rapidly. Almost daily. Be informed, be prepared, and most importantly, be brave. We will all get through this. Somehow, we will. 

God was our co-pilot

"If you ever down on the Gulf Coast, and meet folks who are the true believers, consider yourself blessed. If they say they will pray for you, stand by." 

I tell this story not with trepidation - I tell it with the conviction of joy. I have written about this more than once. The spiritual nature of the south - in particular, Pensacola. The believers in Pensacola are not occasional church goers - they live their faith on their sleeves each and every day. And the churches down there? Seems like there is one on every street. The vast majority of them are Bible believing, spread the Gospel type churches. That is the kind we go to while visiting down there.

Some know this, some do not. About two weeks ago, I came down with "something". It laid me a bit low, but we kept on doing our sightseeing. A week ago, my wife said to me, "You are not getting better. Your cough is worse, and you have a fever." She was right. I had taken a turn for the worse. In the morning we went to an avian exhibit and was feeling "just okay". By the time we got back to the condo, I was feeling like death.

We went to the closest urgent care, and I found out I had pneumonia. The have me some anti-bacterial pills and sent me back to the condo. Rest, lots of fluids, and so forth. We made up our minds that once my fever broke and I feeling a bit better, we would "pull the plug" and head home. Monday afternoon I was feeling a bit better, but still had a fever. I told my wife that through "hell and high water" we were leaving on Tuesday morning. Why? Additional complication. She became ill also.

When she contacted the rental agency and told them we were leaving early and why, her answer was typical for down there, and atypical for here. "Don't worry about it folks. We will take care of things. I will pray for your safe arrival at home." Her daughter, who managed the cleaning part of the operation, parroted what her Mother said, "I also, will pray for their safe arrival".

Long story short. Come Tuesday morning at zero dark thirty, I felt poorly. Getting the truck packed up about spent me. But - we left anyhow. Through tons of truck traffic, torrential rain and then devil wind as we got closer to home, I drove my truck. The prayers from Pensacola were guiding our trip and I could almost feel hands other than mine on the steering wheel. 

What am I saying? For three days, still in the grips of pneumonia, I drove through weather and heavy traffic. God was my co-pilot. He guided us home. Are we that special? No more than anyone else. But God continues to have plans for us. No matter our age or circumstances. 

If you ever down on the Gulf Coast, and meet folks who are the true believers, consider yourself blessed. If they say they will pray for you, stand by. This is not like someone saying "good luck". This is the real deal. Need more? Go on my blog and read the "Miracles of Pensacola" from 1969 and 1971. Best part - they are true. 

On the verge of - "something"...

"We are definitely on the verge of "something". And maybe this "something" is no more than a wake up call. And maybe a wake up call is what this world needs right now."

I told my wife on our way home from Florida, this is a good time to return. We were a couple days early due to our health issues, but putting that aside, this is a good time to come home. Why? Because of "something". "Something" is the great unknown. The great unknown of the Corona Virus. Like, is this going to be a whole lot of nothing? Or is this going to be a game changer of some sort. Right now, to see how our country (as well as other countries) are reacting to this virus, I am ready to vote for the "game changer".

Come on Bird! Don't come back from vacation and be a panic merchant! Okay, I won't be. But I will say this. I don't think we are too many moves away from either mandatory or voluntary self isolation. And what does that mean? First off, schools. What do the parents do if the schools are shut down for a while and they furlough the students? Home schooling? Home schooling by whom? And how?

Then there is the work a day world. Already, companies like Amazon are encouraging employees who can, to work from home. Okay, so when they are working from home, can they also home school their youngins at the same time? How about shopping? Groceries? Church on Sunday? How much are we expected to cocoon ourselves? The CDC has already told us that IF we get a viable vaccine to this new bug, and if the bug does not mutate again, we are 6 to 12 months away from having enough to take care of our population. 

But there is a bigger story here - much bigger. Just like in the movie War of the Worlds, the marauding Martins were only stopped by one thing before mankind was destroyed. A germ. A germ which the Martins had no immunity to. Right now, parts of our world are almost being brought to a standstill by a thing so small, it can barely be seen with a microscope.

Some say the death toll for this virus is 2%. Some say a bit higher. But what if when the next virus or bacteria appears, the death toll is 10% or higher? And we have no vaccine? What is the play? Or as the young folks say, "What is the plan, man"?

Right now, we are being advised by the powers that be to "hunker and bunker". Stock up on everything, except surgical masks. And then what? Wait. Wait for what? The vaccine? Wait for up to a year?

What kind of a plan is that? Meanwhile, what happens to our kids in school? Our jobs? Our anything? Listening to our government experts all the home from Florida on Sirius Radio, they are just as confused as we are. There is no "plan, man".

The big joke right now is to make sure you have enough toilet paper stocked up. Okay, that is important to a degree. But you can't eat toilet paper, if the shelves at the store start to go bare. We are definitely on the verge of "something". And maybe this "something" is no more than a wake up call. And maybe a wake up call is what this world needs right now. 
  

And then there were three...

"Who is going to win the November election? Trump of course! But before the election, we might witness the elimination of the nut balls from the other side."

"There was no third lane for me", cried a distraught Pocahontas today at her exit interview. Can't I go away for six weeks without the Clown Car losing its wheels? One simple Super Tuesday (or Super Thursday, in Joe's book), and everyone bails. And our feisty female socialist, who chewed up Mini-Mike to just about nothing, finally smelled the coffee and bailed. Why? No money, no donors. Other than that, everything was fine.

I don't know what she was talking about? A "Third Lane"? I have heard her speak many times on what she believes in. And every issue was ALMOST a carbon copy of Bernie's platforms. Then why in the Sam Hill, would she not endorse Bernie Sanders? Plain and simple - ego. She wanted to be the first female President, AND - the one who reshaped America.

So where does that leave the survivors after the Super Tuesday winnowing? One old goat who can no longer tell sunrise from sunset, or the other old goat who thinks he is a combination of Charlie Manson and Ben and Jerry's ice cream guys. Oh - one more thing. Tulsi is still in the mix. She will use her one delegate from the South Pacific to sway the mob. What does our President think about his grouping of misfits? He is licking his chops. The debates will be good theater for sure.

The best part is, the President has been sitting on the sidelines and tossing a bit of gas on the flames. Because he knows this is still a sore spot from 2016, he is telling Bernie the "powers that be" on the Democrat Party are out to get him again. Plus - he is telling the world that Liz is costing Bernie delegates by not quitting and endorsing Bernie. It is quite a thing to watch right now!

Who is going to win the November election? Trump of course! But before the election, we might witness the elimination of the nut balls from the other side. That will leave the ranks somewhat thin. BUT - that will take the Democrats back into the land where they might win something without relying on mind number robots. 

Oh, for Pete's sake!

"Joe said he is anxious to debate the President. "We will find out who the sleepy one is," Joe quipped. Should be interesting if Joe does not become confused. Like, when the Fox interview was over, he called the moderator "Chuck" instead of Chris. Oh well, it is only a name."

Oh, that old wedding song - "And another one bites the dust!" And just like that this weekend, not only did that goofy Steyer drop out, but also "Mayor" Pete. Sound fishy? A few days before Super Tuesday? Yea, me too. This smelled worse than the fishing docks in Pensacola in August. Like, Steyer I understand his exit. Zero traction. But Pete? He had just sent a memo to his team laying out the next few weeks. Then, just like that, the plug is pulled.

Now a suspicious person might suggest there was a back room deal struck. But with whom? Biden or Mini-Mike? It won't be Bernie as he has already tipped his hand. He is looking for a female of color. Stacy Abrams? But why speculate? It will be much more fun after Tuesday night is over. Some say if Bernie sweeps all the delegates from California (about 400 of them), it might be the start of "lights out". 

Oh - I almost forgot our hometown girl. What about Amy? Already the press corps is saying, "Amy who?". Yes, the door is closing quickly on the hot dish queen. Don't worry - she will win Minnesota. Big deal. And when things go wrong, they really go wrong. She tried to have a safe rally in her safe state of Minnesota last night. Whoops! Seems that BLM had a different plan. They were so disruptive, that the rally had to be cancelled. Ouch!

And how about Mini-Mike speaking in a historically black church down in Selma on Sunday? Half the congregation turned their backs on him. Double ouch! When will this all end? Mike however, is not deterred. He is going to stick around, no matter how much it costs him. Sound like a good business decision, or an act of foolishness by an old man. You decide.

Joe said he is anxious to debate the President. "We will find out who the sleepy one is," Joe quipped. Should be interesting if Joe does not become confused. Like, when the Fox interview was over, he called the moderator "Chuck" instead of Chris. Oh well, it is only a name.

Same OLD Joe...

"And Joe's message is as old and tired as the hills. 'I will fight for you!' So you are a fighter, huh Uncle Joe? No offense, but fight what? Government oppression? Sorry, that is from your team."

This post is going to sound strange coming from a 70 year old man. But most of the candidates running for President are too old. Not all - the one who currently occupies the White House is doing just fine, thank you. But Bernie, Joe, Pocahontas, and Mini Mike should be considering what retirement would look like. Too harsh? Let's look at the winner of the South Carolina primary for example.

"Uncle Joe". "Sleepy Joe". Whatever name you want to refer to Joe Biden with. I prefer, "All hat and no cowboy, Joe". How so? He is a three dollar bill. 100% phony. Been around forever, done very little. For years, he has had the same style when addressing crowds. Mr. tough guy. Yelling, screaming, squinting, and as of late - much forgetting. He is often confused, bumbles and mumbles.

Come on Bird! Not too many of us are as sharp at 70 as we were at 50! Amen to that! I know I am not. But Biden can smell 80 from where his at. So can Sanders and Bloomberg. And Joe's message is as old and tired as the hills. "I will fight for you!" So you are a fighter, huh, Uncle Joe? No offense, but fight what? Government oppression? Sorry, that is from your team. Over regulation? Sorry again - that is from your team. How about the sanctity of life? Once again, your team - and you. In fact, you have been refused communion by your own church because you are a staunch supporter of killing the unborn.

Donald Trump on the other hand, does not fight for people - he relieves them of burdens. He reduces government oppression. He reduces government regulation. He reduces government taxation. And he protects the American citizens, both born and yet to be born. That is the kind of "fighter" patriots and Christians like. Are you listening, Joe?

If I were a Democrat, I might consider moving to Canada this election. Looking over the board, there is NOTHING to offer. The closest to being acceptable is Tulsi, and she is not electable. So, I would either move to Canada, or consider crossing over and voting for Trump.

Donald Trump, by his own admission, is a flawed man - an imperfect man. He has made mistakes. But he was the right man at the right time to lead this country. Many feel he was divinely chosen by God. God has a habit through the ages of choosing flawed people to enact His will. Many of us feel Donald Trump is one of those people. 

I will say again, Joe Biden, take your anger, and get help. Find a nice place to retire and put your feet up. The country is in great shape, thank you. However, it was nice of you to check in.