Wednesday, March 31, 2021

TODAY'S PROVERBS FROM THE LIVING BIBLE

"Only a simpleton believes what he is told! A prudent man checks to see where he is going." (14:15)

"To despite the poor is to sin. Blessed are those who pity them." (14:21)

WHAT I'M READING

I finished reading "The Martian," by Andy Weir. I was inspired to read it after watching "The Martian," starring Matt Damon. Too much technical jargon. I started reading "Eighty Days: Nellie Bly & Elizabeth Bisland's History Making Race Around the World," by Matthew Goodman.

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

We finally got caught up on all the CBS shows we regularly watch, so what did we do? Last night we started watching "The Equalizer," starring Queen Latifah.

A BIG STEP

One of my 2019 resolutions was to write a 365-day devotion book. I did it. Most of the devotions were adapted from those I wrote for Orphan Grain Train, but some were original, too. I had decided not to seek to have it published, but I changed my mind after checking out Westbow Press, which is affiliated with Thomas Crown, which is affiliated with Zondervan. On MON I made a commitment, including a significant financial commitment, so now I'll be working with a publishing consultant. Hopefully, I will soon be a published author. Well, self-published anyway.

ROAD TRIP

We've been doing a "camping" trip with our grandkids every year until last year, when we were thwarted by COVID. Last night Lois booked a cabin in the Black Hills, so we will be going there with Brianna, Hadley, & Bentley in May. We are really, really glad!

PROTESTANTISM

"One day, a triggered snowflake named Martin Luther nailed an incendiary comment on a giant door--causing him to get excommunicated. He then went into hiding at the Wartburg Castle to translate the Bible & invent the world's first Chick-Fil-A sandwich. Things got really dicey when he started passing out AR-15s to the peasants." Babylon Bee

Monday, March 29, 2021

WARNING! Today's post may contain content not suitable for younger readers!

TODAY'S PROVERBS FROM THE LIVING BIBLE

"The good man wins his case by careful argument; the evil-minded only wants to fight." (13:2)

"Self-control means controlling the tongue! A quick-retort can ruin everything." (13:3)

MIGRATIONS

I traveled to Hastings, NE, for a Lutheran Laymen's League/Lutheran Hour Ministries Convention on FRI. [I was representing Orphan Grain Train.] I saw a few sandhill cranes after I turned off I-80 toward Hastings. Nebraska is home to the largest migration of sandhill cranes in the world, as they work their way north, mostly in March. We're talking about ten-thousands or more birds. It's an awesome sight! We also see a lot of flocks of geese this time of year. In Hawaii we witnessed humpback whales on their migration route to Alaska. Just thought you'd like to know.

COVID

Last WED Lois & I received our 2nd Pfizer vaccination without any side effects. We were very grateful, considering others we know who have suffered pretty frustrating symptoms following their shots. Supposedly in 2 weeks we are considered "safe." When I was at the Holiday Inn Express in Hastings, we were still required to wear face masks in public areas. Lois was in the Haymarket area of Lincoln on SAT. [Our grand-daughter Brianna was having prom pictures taken down there.] She said that there were quite a few people around, & maybe only 1/3 of them were wearing masks. Now that our mask-mandate in Norfolk has ended, hardly anyone is wearing masks at church anymore. We're even having breakfast at church after our Easter sunrise service! There are still some stores, like Hy-Vee & Wal-mart, that are either strongly recommending masks or requiring them.

"Curfew, what curfew? Massive crowds of spring breakers in Miami." Drudge Report

"Taste & smell gone forever? The anguish of survivors." Ditto

ZOOMING

In case Kathy or Wanda are reading this, we stuck up for them when we had our weekly Zoom call with Lois' siblings yesterday.

Friday, March 26, 2021

PROVERBS FOR TODAY

I'm working my way through Proverbs during my daily quiet time, using the Living Bible, which Lois & I received as a gift from my parents. Here are some proverbs I encountered today that really hit home.

* "The good influence of godly citizens causes a city to prosper, but the moral decay of the wicked drives it downhill." (11:11)

* "To quarrel with a neighbor is foolish; a man with good sense holds his tongue." (11:12)

* "Without wise leadership, a nation is in trouble; but with good counselors there is safety." (1:14)

* "Your own soul is nourished when you are kind; it is destroyed when you are cruel." (11:17)

CALIFORNIA ODYSSEY POST-MORTEM

Here are some highlights of our recent trip to CA.

> Spending time with John & Wanda, Lois' oldest sister.

> Spending time with Blake & Teresa, our niece & god-daughter, & their 5, count 'em, 5 kids.

> Exploring in & around Kingsburg.

> Visiting Sequoia, Yosemite, & King's Canyon National Parks.

> Exploring in & around Casa de Olson in Bass Lake.

> Relishing CA cuisine, including Blake's artfully grilled burgers, along with salmon, roast duck breast, Chinese, Mexican, & barbecue.

> Relatively hassle-free flights.

> Enjoying movies with Joh & Wanda, including License to Wed, Jeremiah Johnson, The Martian, The Shop Around the Corner, You've Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle, & An Affair to Remember.

What you lowlights, you ask?

> I knocked a bottle of Jamison Irish Whiskey off the top of a cabinet in Casa de Olson. Alas, the entire contents were lost in the ensuing crash.

> A 4-hour layover in the Denver Airport, although this allowed us to feast on over-priced yet tasty food at a Mexican, sit-down restaurant.

ONE TO GO

Some of you know that Lois & I "collect" license plates. We record license plates as we spot them. You can only count one if you see it outside that state. During our recently concluded trip to CA, we picked off 3 more license plates. We saw Nevada & Utah in Sequoia National Park, & we saw Montana in Kingsburg. That brings to 49 the states that we've seen. The only one left is Hawaii, which could be a challenge.

NATIONAL PARK PROGRESS

We visited 3 more national parks while we were in CA: Sequoia, Yosemite, King's Canyon. Each was spectacular & unique in its own way. That brings to 16 the number of parks we've visited; 17 if you count Rocky Mountain National Park, which I've visited, but Lois hasn't. Since our Alaskan trip has been cancelled again this summer, we plan to visit national parks out west, so we should be able to add considerably to our list.

ROAD TRIP UPDATE

Thanks to our recent trip to CA, we've now accomplished 6 trips. My New Year's resolution was to take 8, so we're well on our way to meeting this goal. You might be interested in knowing that our travels in 2021 have accumulated 9,255 miles. [And since I've gained 8 lbs this year, that works out to 1 lb every 1,156.875 miles.] Our miles this year may exceed all other years except the years we lived in Hawaii.

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

Since returning to Norfolk, we've been catching up on our CBS shows. We're all caught up on NCIS & Seal Team.

WHAT I'M READING

While in CA, I finished reading "The Earth Is Weeping: The Epic Story of the Indian Wars for the American West," by Peter Cozzens. [No matter how many times I read about the Battle of the Little Bighorn, things don't end well for Custer.] Now I'm reading "The Martian," by Andy Weir. [Yes, the movie is based on this book.]

COVID UPDATE

Lois & I got our 2nd Pfizer shot on WED. No side effects other than sore arms. And our arms aren't even as sore as they were after the 1st shot!

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING *

* Courtesy of Reader's Digest, Dec 2020/Jan 2021

"These may be some of the more creative justifications for speeding that police officers have encountered.

* "I wasn't speeding; I just got a haircut & it makes me look fast.

* "I thought the sign for I-95 meant the speed limit."

* "I have a cold, & when I cough, my foot mashes the pedal."

"The little girl I babysit asked if I had a boyfriend. I said, 'Not anymore,' & she said, 'Boyfriends are a waste of time.' Then she turned to her brother & told him, 'You're gonna be a waste of time.'"

"I hated going on job interviews until I realized the perfect answer to the question 'What is your biggest weakness?' is 'My interview skills."

Thursday, March 25, 2021

A PERSONAL REFLECTION

As I continue to be distressed about the level of political discourse in our country, these words from Proverbs 10:12-14, 18-21 (Living Bible), which I read this morning during my quiet time, really spoke to me.

Hatred stirs old quarrels, but love overlooks insults. Men with common sense are admired as counselors; those without it are beaten as servants. A wise man holds his tongue. Only a fool blurts out everything he knows; that only leads to sorrow & trouble . . . To hate is to be a liar; to slander is to be a fool. Don't talk so much. You keep putting your foot in your mouth. Be sensible & turn off the flow! When a good man speaks, he is worth listening to, but the words of fools are a dime a dozen. A godly man gives good advice, but a rebel is destroyed by lack of common sense.

And consider these words, which are reprinted from the Grace Norfolk church bulletin on 3/21.

"Looking at a multitude of people, one might expect Jesus, the Son of Man, to be the one demanding service. That is the way that the world thinks: those in authority are here to be served. But Jesus undercuts this whole idea with a compassionate heart for the people of this world. He came to serve by giving His life as a ransom for many on the cross so we could have eternal life."

ON YOUR KNEES

"You can see the world standing tall, but to witness the Savior, you have to get on your knees." Max Lucado, Men's Devotional Bible

THE FOCAL POINT OF SCRIPTURE

"Unlike most books, the beginning might not be the best place to start. Instead, turn to the Gospel according to John. There, read about Jesus as God in the flesh, as the fulfillment of the Old Testament, as the crucified & risen Son of God who is the love of God, & who gives life to all who believe. When you read John (or the other Gospels), you will notice that Jesus lives in this world (although centuries ago) & prays to God, just like you & me. Yet Jesus performs miracles & gives eternal life, unlike you & me. Jesus dies like you & I will. Yet He rose from the dead, unlike anyone before Him (apart from those He raised). Here, in Jesus, heaven & earth meet. In Jesus, God & humanity are reconciled & God dwells with His people. Yet this unity & this togetherness come about through a distinct & shocking event. The divine Word in the flesh dies.

"The heart of Scripture beats in the person of Jesus. His death & resurrection stand as the climax of God's activity to graciously save mankind & therefore as the focal point of Scripture itself." Dr. Kevin Armbrust, The Lutheran Witness Feb 2021

A LENTEN HYMN

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, LSB #425 Sts. 1 & 4

"When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Price of Glory died, My richest gain I count but loss & pour contempt on all my pride.

"Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a tribute far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all!"

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

RACE

"We always hear that the U.S. has to engage “a deep and honest conversation about race.” That’s good. We need to work out how to move past our nation’s greatest historical failing. But “conversation” doesn’t mean what it used to. You see, that word implies openness to diversity of expressed thought. But these days, one has to agree with the BLM, “structural racism,” and/or “critical race theory” sides of the topic even to be allowed to express an opinion. And if you don’t, CANCELED, baby!" Wesley Smith, National Review Online 3/10

COVID

The City of Norfolk has ended its mask mandate, although some stores & restaurants are still requiring or strongly recommending them. Most of us are no longer wearing masks to church. Attendance was back to normal at our worship services this past week. At our Church Council mtg last night, there was some discussion, however, re: whether we're doing enough to social distance at the communion rail.

"The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are not having a great week. First, in USA Today, a group of doctors is accusing the CDC of misinterpreting their research and using it to downplay the need to reopen schools, contending the CDC guidance on reopening schools is an “example of fears influencing and resulting in misinterpretation of science and harmful policy” . . . Second, the airline industry argues that the CDC guidelines for vaccinated people issued this week make no sense because they still discourage vaccinated people from traveling. Unvaccinated people are traveling while wearing masks now; why would it be considered particularly risky for vaccinated people to do the same while wearing masks on airplanes, etc.?" Jim Geraghty, NRO, 3/10

"Noem: Meia used fear 'to push an agenda' during COVID pandemic." Drudge, 3/10 She's the governor of SD. She's my 2nd favorite governor after our own NE governor, Pete Ricketts.

"Vitamin D supplements offer NO Covid benefits." Ditto

DR. SEUSS

This week, Dr. Seuss Enterprises announced it would stop the sale and distribution of six classic volumes from the great children's author. Those volumes, said the company, violate its commitment to "messages of hope, inspiration, inclusion, and friendship." The books include portrayals of people "in ways that are hurtful and wrong" . . .

"Our societal turn from actual, measurable harm toward subjective, psychological harm places us on the road to complete devastation of our culture and our rights. Now anyone who offends -- or even has the potential to offend -- can be, and indeed ought to be, fired. Now any book -- no matter how old or how inoffensive -- can be, and indeed ought to be, banned. Now any kernel of information -- no matter how true -- can be discarded.

"This formulation puts all power in the hands of those who are most easily offended -- or at least those who claim to be. The offense itself is the weapon. Legal torts require damages; societal torts merely require a claim of damages, without evidence. No one can explain just how a drawing in "If I Ran the Zoo" has contributed to actual racism; there are no recorded incidents of a single white supremacist citing "And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street" as a formative source in his racist worldview. But any academic with a computer and a degree in postmodern nonsense can take those books off the shelves simply by claiming that offense is possible." Ben Shapiro, Townhall, 3/10

POLITICAL POTPOURRI

"At a March 8 White House event to announce the nomination of two female generals to lead U.S. military combatant commands, President Joe Biden seemed to forget the name of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and where Austin works. Since the theme of the president's mental acuity is still associated with memes of former President Donald Trump, the media desperately wanted to forget this happened . . . Is it any wonder that half of America thinks the press is in the tank for Biden?" Tim Graham, Townhall, 3/10

Tuesday, March 9, 2021

IN CASE YOU'RE WONDERING

I call my MON posts "Mental Health MON," not necessarily because I post information about mental health, but because I blog FOR the sake of my mental health. So there you go.

ROAD TRIP UDPATE

We leave for CA on THU. We're visiting John & Wanda, Lois' oldest sister-which does not mean that I consider her "old"--in Kingsburg. We'll also be seeing Blake & Teresa [She's our niece & god-child.] & their 5--count them--5 children.

And it's never too early to plan ahead, right? After consultation with her sisters Kathy, who lives in St. Petersburg, & Anita, who lives in Ft. Walton Beach, Lois has booked a VRBO or AIRBNB [whatever] in Key West for FEB 2022.

SPEAKING OF NATIONAL PARKS

In our endless quest to add to our list of National Parks, we picked off Everglades last month when we were in FL. When we're in CA this month, we hope to pick off Yosemite, Sequoia, & King's Canyon. We have visited Arches, Badlands, Black Canyon of the Gunnison [technically not yet a national park when we were there, but we're counting it anyway], Everglades, Glacier, Grand Teton, Hawai'i Volcanoes, Lassen Volcanic, Redwood, Theodore Roosevelt, Voyageurs, Wind Cave, Yellowstone. I've been to Rocky Mountain, but Lois hasn't. If we have to skip our Alaska trip again this summer--which seems increasing obvious--we hope to visit national parks in CO, NV, & UT.

ORPHAN GRAIN TRAIN

Some of you know that I work for Orphan Grain Train, an international relief organization located in Norfolk, NE. Mostly I write devotions, but I also help occasionally with public relations events. Later this month I'll represent OGT at the LLL/LHM * convention in Hastings, NE. Here's what I learned yesterday.

Charity Navigators [charitynavigators.org] rates about 9,000 charitable organizations. Based on their criteria, OGT ranks #5 on their list. We have a 100% rating, which means they are 100% confident of our worthiness of our organization. It helps that our President, Rev. Ray Wilke, receives no compensation. It helps that over half of our shipments go to non-Lutheran sites, & we receive a lot of support from non-Lutherans. We are currently sending relief to those still suffering in TX from their weather crisis in February. We received $79,000 from new donors in JAN-FEB. About 98% of your donations are used for direct relief. That's right--only 2% is used for administrative costs. Visit us at ogt.org.

* Lutheran Laymen's League/Lutheran Hour Ministries

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME *

* Courtesy of Parade Magazine, 3/7/21

"Spring Forward Warning: When clocks change on MAR 14, you'll reset your microwave ahead an hour & maybe change the smoke alarm batteries. You also should watch for some surprising health & safety risks that the switch to DST brings. 'An hour of lost sleep seems like not much. But we now know every cell in your body has a clock--& changes in daily patterns can trigger negative effects,' says neurobiologist Joseph Takahashi of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, whose lab discovered the clock gene, which helps run the circadian rhythms inside us. Twice a year, our internal timers get yanked out of sync. Spring is hardest on us, he says, partly because most people find it harder to get up earlier than to stay up later. That first night, the average adult loses 40 minutes of actual sleep. But it's harder to fall asleep & stay asleep for a week or more after the changeover. Here some other possible side effects.

* Erratic Driving

* Cardiovascular events

* Feeling jet-lagged

* Overspending . . . & eating."

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

When we got back from FL, we started catching up on our CBS shows. After watching 6 NCIS episodes on TUE & WED, we had a momentary panic when we couldn't connect on THU. It turns out that the app had changed from CBS.com to Paramount. Fortunately, the issue was resolved by THU, thanks to Lois' diligence. [We were able to watch episodes of Heartland on WED.] We've caught up on NCIS, FBI, Seal Team, Blue Bloods, & NCIS New Orleans. Tonight we'll start catching up on FBI Most Wanted. We're a little disappointed in FBI & a lot disappointed in NCIS New Orleans, which have become very PC & woke.

WHAT I'M READING

When we were at the Smallwood Store in Chokoloskee, FL, south of Everglades City, we learned about the murder of Ed Watson in 1910. He was killed by vigilantes, because he was suspected of several murders. I bought "Killing Mister Watson," a novelized version of the events leading up to & including his murder, written by Peter Matthiessen. I enjoyed it very much.

Now I'm reading "The Perfect Mile: Three Athletes, One Goal, & Less Than 4 Minutes to Achieve it," by Neal Bascomb. It's about the 3 men, including Roger Bannister, who dedicated themselves to running the first 4-minute mile. I borrowed it from my son Nathan, who qualified for the state track meet in 3200 as a junior & senior. [He also won the 3200 in the prestigious Norfolk Classic as a junior.]

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE CALIFORNIA

"LA gas price rises for 47th time in 48 days." Ditto

CRIMINAL MINDS

"COPS: 12-yr-old commits 4 carjackings in 1 hour." Ditto

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

While we were visiting Lois' sister Kathy in St. Petersburg, she taught us how to make homemade croutons, using ciabatta bread. She--& perhaps you--will be happy to know that we have successfully made homemade croutons twice since we got home. [Well, the first batch, admittedly, didn't turn out all that well, probably because we used Italian bread instead of ciabatta.]

Friday, March 5, 2021

A PERSONAL NOTE

I've been troubled--a lot--by the direction our country is taking, shaped especially by the drive-by media & our leaders. I've also been troubled by challenges in my own personal life. Have you ever noticed that a daily devotion sometimes hits those challenges squarely on the head? Here's some of what I read during my quiet time on FRI 3/5.

"Don't get into needless fights." Living Bible, Prov. 3:10

"But I say to you, love your enemies & pray for those who persecute you." My Personal Prayer Diary, Matt. 5:44

"Thus does the Holy Ghost give us the power of God, & make our testimony divinely effectual. So let us, each on our part, be firm, undaunted, strong witnesses of Jesus." Crumbs [A devotion book I use for my daily quiet time]

"Now do you want to hear some of the less blatant assumptions that likely affect all of us, but we don't pay much attention to (& I must confess that some of these indict me also)? (1) 'This is my body & I may eat or drink whatever quantities & qualities of food & drink that I please.' (2) 'This is my body & I choose to exercise it or not.' (3) 'This is my body, & the Lord knows the day of my death, so how I live doesn't matter.' These are the words that we pastors sat at the grave of every Christian funeral: 'May God the Father who created this body, may God the Son who by His blood redeemed this body, may God the Holy Spirit, who by Holy Baptism sanctified this body to be His temple, keep these remains to the day of the resurrection of all flesh.'

"There are several eternal truths that I would like to leave with you. (1) Our bodies are inseparably connected to our spiritual & emotional selves. (2) Our bodies are not our own; they were bought & paid for with the blood of Jesus our Savior. (3) Our bodies are eternal; they will be cleaned up in the resurrection & be with us forever. (4) Our bodies are the Temple of God & how we treat them matters.

"1 Cor. 6:9 says: 'Do you now know that your body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. Therefore honor God with your body.'" Pastor Ray Wilke, Grace Lutheran Church Newsletter, Mar. 2021

GIVING IS THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE

"When Sir Ernest Shackleton, an Antarctic explorer in the early 1900s, was asked to describe his most terrible moment in the Antarctic, he said it occurred one night when he & the other members of his expedition were huddled in a little hut trying to sleep. They had divided up the last of their food rations. There was nothing else to eat.

Then in the cold darkness, Sir Ernest heard a quiet movement. He turned & saw one of the men reach over & pick up the provision bag of the man beside him. Shackleton said he lived through an eternity of suspense in the next few moments. He would have trusted his life to this man. Was he now turning out to be a thief who would steal his friend's last morsel of food? Then Shackleton saw the man open his own provision bag, take out his last biscuit, & place it in the bag of his sleeping friend. Shackleton said, 'I felt I had witnessed a secret moment between man & God.'

"God wants us to be men & women who will love one another in such a way, openly or in secret, that we are raised above the level of mere mortals to become more like our Creator. That is when we truly imitate God.

"Giving is the language of love. Love can never be close-lipped or tightfisted. Jesus said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive' (Acts. 20:35). Because God is love, we can love. Filled with God's love, we seek opportunities to share His love with others." Grace Lutheran Church Newsletter

A LENTEN HYMN

"Christ, the Life of All the Living, LW #94, Sts. 1 & 2

"Christ, the life of all the living, Christ, the death of death, our foe, Christ, Yourself for me once giving To the darkest depths of woe; Through Your suff'ring, death, & merit Life eternal I inherit. Thousand, thousands thanks are due, Dearest Jesus, unto You.

"Then, for all that bought my pardon, For the sorrow deep & sore, For the anguish in the garden, I will thank You evermore, ThankYou for the groaning, sighing, For the bleeding & the dying, For that last triumphant cry, Praise You evermore on high."

I saw in today's Omaha World Herald that MON is International Women's Day. Lois remarked that this strikes her as being trans-phobic.

I LOVE MEAT

"Costco bacon demand jumps as pork prices climb." Fox News 3/5

"Nebraska Gov. Pete Rickets is going toe-to-toe, or perhaps it's fork-to-fork, with CO Gov. Jared Polis over eating meat. On FRI, Ricketts announced that he had designated Mar. 20 as 'Meat on the Menu Day' in NE. He is encouraging people to buy & eat beef, pork, chicken, lamb or another kind of meat on that day . . . He acted after Polis generated controversy in CO by declaring Mar. 20 as 'MeatOUT Day,' during which people are encouraged to adopt a vegan diet . . . Some CO agricultural producers responded by naming Mar. 20 'Meat-In-Day.'" Omaha World Herald, 3/6

POLITICAL POTPOURRI

"'The View' host: Republicans are Neanderthals because they don't 'listen to the government.'' Fox News 3/5

"Psaki says Biden will hold press conference 'before the end of the month.'" Ditto This probably depends on how fast they can draw up cue cards & how fast they can feed questions to the media like, "President Biden, what's your favorite ice cream flavor."

"Meanwhile, left-wing media outlets such as National Public Radio offered the No. 1 spot in its "100 Best Songs of 2020" honors to Cardi B's smutty rap song "WAP" (for "Wet A-- P----"), and there are no content warnings for that on YouTube, not even the explicit version with the N-word. That is not wholesome family entertainment. Naturally, Cardi B doesn't let her daughter listen to her music. It just pays the bills. But everyone else's children can access the video on an iPad with no more limitation than five seconds of advertising. So save us the trigger warnings about people being harmed by Dr. Seuss books or "The Muppet Show." Tim Graham, Townhall 3/5

"School under fire for 'chivalry day' that had girls obey boys." Drudge 3/6

"Progressive surprised to learn he can still wear mask even without government forcing him to." Babylon Bee

COVID

"Approximately 3 million of the most marginalized students in the country have been missing from our schools since March 2020. That’s 3 million children completely isolated from the services, socialization, and education they so desperately need. The consequences of taking school away from children have been severe. Teen suicide rates have skyrocketed. Overdoses are at their highest levels ever. Students still lack access to the technology they need to access their educational materials. As Lawrence Jones aptly expressed on Fox News Primetime, our students are struggling in silence. We are witnessing one of the greatest failures of government on a generation in history." Whitney Munro, Townhall 3/6

"Close to one year after the vast majority of public schools decided to suspend in-person learning due to the coronavirus, a new report shows just how much this misguided decision has negatively impacted the mental health of students across America. “The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on mental health, particularly on that of young people,” according to a recently released report titled “The Impact of COVID-19 on Pediatric Mental Health.”

"The new report, far from anecdotal, “analyzed data from its database of over 32 billion private healthcare claim records, tracking month-by-month changes from January to November 2020 compared to the same months in 2019.” The results, while unsurprising, are downright tragic . . . Although it is understandable that an abundance of caution was exercised at the beginning of the pandemic considering we knew very little about the virus, it is shameful that so many public schools remain closed almost one year later . . . America’s students are suffering across the board because of the terrible decision to keep them out of school. Aside from the mental health trauma wrought by months of social isolation, these students, an entire generation, are falling woefully behind in terms of academics." Chris Talgo, Townhall 3/6

"He wasn't the first governor in the country to lift the mask mandate for his state. North Dakota, Montana and Iowa have ended state-wide mask orders in recent weeks and progressive states like Florida and South Dakota never issued them in the first place. But Gov. Greg Abbott did the country a huge favor this week when he announced that Texas was allowing all businesses in the state to reopen at full capacity on March 10. It was a loud and bold signal to the whole country that it's time to climb out of our basements, regain our freedoms and get back to "normal," whatever that's going to be." Michael Reagan, Townhall 3/6

"Abortion concerns prompt a huge warning on vaccine. Roman Catholic leaders in St. Louis & New Orleans are advising Catholics that the COVID-19 vaccine from Johnson & Johnson, newly approved for use in the U.S., is 'morally compromised' because it is produced using a cell line derived from an aborted fetus. The New Orleans archdiocese says the decision to receive a vaccine is one of individual conscience. In its statement late last week, it stopped short of advising Catholics not to take the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, but adds that Catholics should choose coronavirus vaccines made by Moderna or Pfizer--if they are available." Norfolk Daily News 3/5

"69% of U.S. adults intend to become vaccinated." Drudge 3/6

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING *

* Compliments of Reader's Digest, Dec '20/Jan '21

"During recess, I sat on the bench with my 1st-grade girls as they whiled away the time playing with my long ponytail. 'Mrs. Rudlak, you are so beautiful!' one of them said. She then followed with the ultimate compliment: 'You look just like a horse.'"

AND ALSO . . .

"The Super Bowl was such a dud that I watched from home & I still left early to beat traffic." Jimmy Fallon, latelaughs, Norfolk Daily News Entertainment Spotlight 3/6

Wednesday, March 3, 2021

SPECIAL LECKBAND TRIVIA

* Lois got her 2 gallon pin from the American Red Cross, because that's how much blood she's donated. Salut!

* I got to try the new Girls' Scout Cookie flavor: Toast! Yay! Ehh. [Which didn't stop me from eating 2.]

TEMP CHECK

No, this is not a Leckband Temp Challenge. Still, I thought you would find it amusing. Lois' sister Kathy in St. Petersburg, where we recently visited, texted us on WED morning that she had to close the windows because of cold temperatures, high wind, & heavy rain. Lois checked temps at 6:00p (CST). It was 60 in St. Pete's. It was 61 in Norfolk.

COVID

Lois & I got our first Pfizer shot on WED. So far, no side effects except sore arms. Our 2nd shot is on 3/4. Anecdotally, the 2nd Pfizer shot isn't supposed to have as many side effects as Moderna.

Also, I recently that the new Johnson & Johnson vaccine was developed using stem cells from aborted babies. That is troubling.

"The Biden administration is releasing COVID positive illegal aliens into the U.S." Drudge Report 3/3

"GALLUP: For first time, majority says COVID situation getting better." Drudge 3/5

"Great apes at San Diego Zoo first non-humans to receive shot." Drudge 3/5 Because animals should receive the COVID vaccine before humans.

"CEO of CNN owner sys pandemic 'really good for ratings'". Ditto I wonder what CNN would say if the CEO of Fox News made the same announcement?

"Estimated 9 billion already dead from TX mask mandate reversal." Ditto

ROAD TRIPS

"Reservations are no longer required for Yosemite National Park." Fox News 3/3 Great news! We hope to visit Yosemite when we visit John & Wanda later this month.

CRIMINAL MINDS

"Thieves steal beer left aging in barrels underwater in shipwreck." Fox News 3/3

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE NEW YORK

"Return of taggers: NY blighted with graffiti." Ditto

POLITICAL POTPOURRI

"Congressional Republicans make deal: Democrats get everything they want, but Mr. Potato Head will stay male." Babylon Bee

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING *

* Courtesy of Reader's Digest Jan. 2021

"After my wife & I took our seats at a restaurant, the waiter arrived to take our order. First, he let us know that the special of the day was twin lobsters. My wife was not impressed. 'That's silly,' she said. 'How can you tell they're twins?'"

"HUSBAND: 'Don't be angry at me, but I accidentally spill grease all over the oven.' WIFE: 'How about I won't be angry at you, but you have to clean it.' HUSBAND: 'I'd rather you be angry with me.'"

MY BLOG IS BACK!

Did you miss me? Seriously, I appreciated all the comments I got in response to my posts about our FLORIDA ODYSSEY. Well, most of them anyway.

COVID

Just thought you'd like to know that Lois & I are getting our first COVID vaccination today. My prayer continues to be that those who need the vaccinations the most get them first.

FLORIDA ODYSSEY POST-MORTEM

We got back to Norfolk around 5:30 yesterday after an uneventful trip back from Florida. Regrets about our trip:

> I may have rubbed it in a little bit about the warm weather we enjoyed while our friends & family in the Midwest & Texas were freezing their buns off. Sorry, IF I offended anyone.

> We should have spent an extra day in & around the Everglades. We didn't get to do nearly everything we would have liked. We'll try to make it back there on a future visit to Kathy's.

> I should have done a better job with sunscreen. I badly sun-burned my feet during our first two days at the beach, & they're still peeling.

Highlights of our trip:

* The warm weather. [Once again, I apologize IF I offended anyone with my posts.]

* Seafood. We enjoyed seafood, especially fresh seafood from a genuine seafood market in St. Petersburg, which included salmon, crab cakes, shrimp, & lobster dip. We had scallops, grouper, mahi mahi, & blue soft shell crabs while we were in Everglades City. I had a dish from Portifino's Italian Ristorante--our favorite Italian restaurant in St. Petersburg--that included mussels, clams, calamari, & shrimp.

* Serving as Lois' sous chef. [I had to think long & hard before including this as a highlight.]

* Four trips, if I remember correctly, to Ft. DeSoto Beach.

* Picking off all the New England license plates, including Delaware & Rhode Island, plus several more states.

* Wildlife. We saw bald eagles, white ibis, great egrets, great blue herons, great white herons, cormorants, dolphins, white pelicans, brown pelicans, wood storks, turtles, & alligators.

* The Everglades, including our 3 boat trips & swamp buggy tour.

* Maybe most of all, Lois' sister Kathy's wonderful generosity. We especially enjoyed the opportunity to worship with her while we watched Terry Tiemann's online church service from Grace Celebration Lutheran Church in Memphis. [Also, it became obvious that I'm Kathy's favorite brother-in-law.]

2021 RESOLUTIONS REVIEW

> At least 8 road trips. We're off to a great start, thanks to our trips to TX, which included a side trip to San Antonio, MN, & FL, including a side trip to the Everglades. And later this month we're headed to CA!

> Give up French fries. I confess. I ate French fries 3 times while in FL, but I tried very hard not to enjoy them. [I have been successful, so far, in abstaining from tater tots during Lent.]

> Get a DNA report from Ancestry.com. I sent off my sample while we were in TX in January. I haven't checked to see if my report is available yet.

> Do my PT exercises at least 3X per week. I don't want to talk about it.

> Avoid useless arguments on Facebook. So far, so good.

> Add to our National Park & bucket lists. We added Everglades National Park while we were in FL. When we visit John & Wanda in CA later this month, we hope to add Yosemite, Sequoia, & King's Canyon National Parks. And we crossed off San Antonio, which Lois had never visited.

> Lose at least 10 lbs. I really, really, don't want to talk about it.

TRENDING NEWS FROM THE BABYLON BEE *

* which I tend to trust more than CNN.

"Texas removes mask mandate to scare all the Californians away."

"Cuomo assures public he always kept mask on while sexually harassing women."