2020 March (yeah its it's been awhile)

Its been awhile, sorry to myself for not keeping this up, but something had to have happened that would spur me to start it up. What is happening right now is unprecedented. It's like 9/11 in that everything will be different after. This one isnt a surprise attack but rather a natural one. Scifi writers have been visualizing this for years in print and on screen. 

It was always a reality of our globally connected world, the right pathogen in the right conditions was going to become a pandemic. Right now it's not a tragedy or holocaust in terms of numbers of deaths. In terms of day to day impact it's right now 3/14 like a snowstorm, travel is limited and events cancelled. Grocery stores depleted and certain items are in short supply. So why are we here when there were warnings both fictional and real? H1N1 and Ebola were some of the warnings that ended up not resulting in not many deaths here. 

As of today the impacts are economic. The market crashed, some said it was bound to happen. The markets dont like surprises and uncertainties and that is what we are faced with.  The suspension of travel and events will cause people to lose jobs. This will hurt the most vulnerable of our country and plunge some into poverty.  All of this is temporary and we will recover stronger than ever. Also the response will be to strengthen our medical preparedness for the next one and there will be a next one.  

Now the other side which is what if this does overwhelm the medical system's capacity? This is the worst case scenario that will be more of a permanent impact to our country. We dont have control of this progression we can only work toward preventing this. What can we do, dont spread it, dont travel unnecessarily, will be working from home and looking out for others. Lastly, going to have to say the cliche might be a good time to pray. Pray for a temporary event and for it to quickly pass. 

Well week 2 staying home almost over.  We got food last Saturday and are scheduled to pick up more tomorrow 3/28.  Anxiety is at an all time high and sleep isnt great. I'm managing as best I can. Trying to take walks everyday, but still not really getting great excercise, but on the other hand not eating out at all which is ggood. I've done so many little things that I never get to. I have a big project related to the annual boat maintenance,  but adding in some pretty major electrical tasks.  First replacing the spreader lights. Second the cockpit lights need to be replaced. Finally my Christmas gift of bluetooth Speakers need to be installed. All this is straight forward except running new circuits through the hardtop tubing which has been the hardest part. 

This event is like a staycation but not the fun kind. It's like a snow day (or weeks). I am working from home and doing what I am able given my stress levels. Dont know when this will pass I hope sooner than later. One of my fears is getting sick or anyone in my family, so I am doing as much as I can to be safe.  I am seeing people not being safe, block parties and kids out playing in bouncy houses with parents socializing on the corner.  Others are walking but keeping their distance. In all this is getting old as opposed to getting used to it.  

Care for combat vets

No vet that has seen combat should be homeless or hungry.  The government should guarantee this.  I know all vets are eligible for many benefits, but some slip through the cracks or need more help. Too many homeless people are veterans. While many complications have led to their current state there has to be a safety net for those who were asked to potentially sacrificing their lives for or country.  That they did and now we must pay them back by providing housing and funds for the most basic necessities and their families too.  Couple that with basic social worker supervision to get them any further help they need to get them on their own two feet, but always they will have a safety net to fall back on. 

I know there are programs and projects for vets, but again it has failed some people and this new program is meant to catch those who were missed.  It is actually a damn shame for the country that any vet doesn't have a place to stay and in need of anything to survive.  We need to do that.

  I know the number of service members is large but my proposal is for combat veterans. Who qualifies for that remains to be seen but at first blush if you were asked to directly kill or be exposed to enemy action and you did so as your job you qualify. 

It's been awhile

It's been a few months, time flies.  Let me sum up what I have been up to in a few simple pictures.  Well that's not the whole story but other than working, it pretty much is.

Early 2015 2 pics

Spring 2015 started much like Spring 2014 lots of golf....

Attended a conference for the job at the baltimore Hilton and got this shot outside of Camden yard (OB@CY)

Did a little volunteering on my birthday at the pantry.

Early 2015 3 pics

Got to do a little shooting of the trap at Lock Raven and then went to play golf.

Pine ridge 100 yard markers are bird houses. 

Me and my boy took a trip to the ocean for the May birthday celebration in Deleware.

The week after the Preakness went to Pimlico for the races.  I didnt win, needless to say...

Early 2015 pics

Celebrating my Birthday at the cigar spot 

Below Easter with my Nana 95+.  Nice chapel at her home

First ride after a quick maintance.  It was a little cold...

Birthday Celebration (I put on at home)

Tried to get back into video games

So I bought Dragon age Inquisition after more than a year since I have played a game.  Well it hasnt gone well.  I posted this to the developer's forum:

After years of not hardcore gaming due to disappointments like Fallout's issues I buy DAI. Now I get caught in this **bleep**. I thought game manufacturers would be past this. The only games that seem to work are FPS (Call of duty like). That must be where the testing gets done, the role playing games = no testing, too bad for you. I guess I should just stop gaming again because I cant play COD anymore. I wonder if best buy will let me return this?

I guess it is good that I cant play which is allowing me to be more productive.

UPDATE: I bought XBOX one and have started playing for real.  The addiction is back...

A little boxing demo

I try and mix up my workouts and a little heavy bag is always fun.

Veteran's Day at the range

My cousin asked me to take his father to the range on Veterans day. I like the smoke in the second picture.  It was a good day with family and even better a veteran.    

November Misc.

In November did some volunteering, Golfing (last on in 40 degree and 25 MPH), Plasma and Laser cutting. I also built a router table...

September October Mega post

A lot of golf was played. Some fishing was fished. Some playoff baseball was witnessed. Some football was watched. Short and sweet but very much enjoyed.  

SEPTEMBER 2014 blue angels

So the Blue Angels came back to Baltimore for the aanniversary of the star spangled banner.  So back to the boat.  This trip went better than last time as there were no passenger injuries.   The show wasn't as impressive as the first time but it was still something not to miss.

Arlington Internment (August 2014)

I attended an internment last week.  The person laid to rest was a coworker and I knew his family pretty well as three of them were also coworkers and now friends.    I had never been to Arlington (ANC, the former home of R.E. Lee), though I knew a decent amount about it.  I felt bad about taken pictures in a place like this, but I wanted something to remember the experience by.   

The feeling I had was mixed to say the least.  On the one hand I was glad to see some many friends and I was honored to be able to attend the event at Arlington, but along with that we were saying goodbye to a special man. I guess my feelings for the place were shared by all who visit.  Many of the tourist stopped as the funeral procession went past in reverence and I saw the emotion on almost all their faces.  I was filled in awe of the place.  Taking a look at the inscription on a specific grave was a chance to see the individual details of the great sacrifice many people have made for our country in service for some and death for others.  The chaplain said something to the effect of: the 400,000 people laid to rest here not one was bought, all were earned.     

Three of the seven at ready:  

The gunmen and the graves:

Folding the flag.

This shady spot, was it laying ready for the next veteran.  I think it would be a nice place to lay for eternity.  

Near the grave site was this monument to the Pentagon 9/11 victims:

Trip to beach August

Mid August weekend trip to the beach.  Nice bay side hike at Indian River inlet with the dogs:

A nice restaurant in Lewes we didn't go to...

We went to a place called half full with pizza and drinks:

Golf tourny

So my regular golf partners and I held the first Annual BFM golf tournmant in Ocean City Maryland.  Oh and I won...

Nice place, bags are taken to the carts for us followed by complimentary driving range session (oh and GPS enabled gold carts so there was no guessing on the distances to the holes.  

Ready to destroy this course:

My first birdie:

The water hole...

Could be the next house...

A gar and score card...

To the victor the spoils...