2020

Laying on the bed explaining how to wrap presents while my wife actually wraps the presents is going over as well as could be expected.

How in the world has Trump not been impeached again? Also, at this point, I also have no idea why our constitution has the 25th amendment. Did the folks who wrote and ratified that amendment have someone worse in mind?

For about a third of the episodes of The Mandalorian I’ve literally stood up to watch. I would go from sitting back on the couch, to sitting up straight(ish), to sitting on the edge, to standing. What a fantastic series.

Looks like I’ve just become a fan of someone I’ve not heard of until right now.

Some advisers close to President-elect Joe Biden are frustrated over a Glamour magazine interview in which incoming White House deputy chief of staff Jen O’Malley Dillon referred to Republicans on Capitol Hill as “f*ckers.”

Go, Jen O’Malley Dillon!

The Mandalorian is such a good TV show that 1) I can’t believe it’s a TV show and 2) If it was a person, I’d hug them. It really puts the prequels and sequels to shame. We really need a lightsaber emoji. And Mandalorian helmet.

One quibble with this

It’s impossible to overemphasize just how much the White House has failed all of us. Everyone left to fend for themselves. War-scale death. No support. No help. Nothing.

Is it wasn’t just the White House. It was the GOP. Every damned single one of ‘em.

I don’t understand why so many Dems retweet (or rebroadcast) those on the right. Even when you agree with the sentiment, these are the folks that got us to where are today. They will take us back in that direction as soon as they can.

My daughter is home from college and is thrilled about being back here with us. That reinforces we did an OK job making a decent home1. In this trying time, I proud of my little family for making a good home.

  1. I’ve had my share of poor parenting moments… Really. ↩︎

I’ve long said NYC isn’t as pedestrian-friendly as it should be. When the pandemic first took hold here it was actually much easier to walk around. Not that I want the pandemic to come back as it was (it’s still here), but it was quieter and safer to be outside with fewer cars.

Every time I read about spikes in COVID cases I get super paranoid. Then I realize many (not all, of course) of these places are super anti-mask and I worry a little less. We all wear our masks when we leave and most everyone we pass on the street does too. It’s so easy to do.

My dilemma is to keep ranting about politics or … Naw, I’m going to keep ranting (and voting) until things get better. Well, I’ll keep voting if it gets better. :)

I’ve had to adjust my expectations for Thanksgiving. It’s just my immediate family. The pandemic is terrible and I wish it hadn’t happened, but I do like just being with my family.

Thanksgiving Day is tomorrow. And that means instead of a gathering of 25+, we’ll be just us four. And a call or two (Zoom/FaceTime) because we’re being responsible and not trying to kill anyone.

I’m optimistic that Thanksgiving 2021 will be as wonderful as it should be.

When I went to the grocery store this evening for a forgotten ingredient, I noticed more and more seating built along the street. Wood frames, plexiglass-type windows, ceilings, lights… these structures will capture COVID just like indoor seating. Don’t use these!

During my walk around Brooklyn yesterday I came across two huge lines of people waiting to get tested for COVID. I’ve not seen that happen ever while this pandemic was going on. I assumed they were getting ready for travel. Today, there’s more parking around my neighborhood than I’ve seen in a long time.

The pandemic is about to get a huge boost in hosts.

Today marks one full week with the iPhone 12 mini and I have absolutely no buyer’s remorse. It might very well be my favorite iPhone, but if it’s not, it’s in the top 2 or 3. Nostalgia plays tricks on the mind and so maybe I’m remembering the first iPhone because it was so revolutionary rather than being a great product. The iPhone 5, however, was so just fantastic. I remember thinking it was impossibly light. This mini almost feels the same way.

The battery has not been an issue on any level. Now, granted, I’ve not been going out as much and only once did I get the Low Battery Power warning, but it was a day of early rising combined with a bought of insomnia (and so lots of doom scrolling), so a smaller battery hasn’t changed my habits or caused me any inconvenience.

This iPhone was $250 less than my iPhone 11 Pro, is easier to hold, and is somehow cute. So far, I fully recommended it.

I hope this time will never fade from my memory or the memory of my children. I want them to always remember who allowed this to happen and is allowing it to get worse every day.

If those supporting or attempting to perpetrate a turnover of the election results are not punished for their actions, they will continue these attempts until they are successful.

Then democracy will have failed in the United States.

Seventy-one million voted for Trump after seeing what he was like in practice. Certainly good judgement has already failed.