And if the Kinks can misspell it, why can't I? Well, Jaybee, talent, for one thing. But if this blog has ever had a message surely it's been that a lack of talent can't stop you.
Back when things were "normal" I was living my version of a life, writing this stupid blog about my dumb reactions to questionable music, or my even dumber reactions to unquestionable music. And there I was, trying to figure out where to go next regarding pop music from the 2010s, while hedging those bets to get back to the World History Project, working my way through Beethoven's Nine Symphonies. And I will get back to it. You've been warned.
But for the moment (and the length of this pandemic, I guess) I must digress. With random - and hopefully some non-random - observations during this Time of the Pandemic. Because who knows what things will look like when we come out the other side.
So I hope you'll forgive the stupid/cute play on words in the title. It can't be helped. After all, virtually anything you or I say may, in retrospect, or even at the time, immediately seem ignorant, stupid, puerile, insensitive, in bad taste, etc. If I make a joke the day hundreds die, I hope you'll understand it's just my way of dealing. So please forgive the inevitable foolishness to follow. I'm only human, for now at least.
Some Random Observations:
The morning paper delivery:
This morning it was outside the gate and suspiciously close to the open garbage can. Bad aim? I think not. Last week I had just picked up a flyer on my way into the house when I heard the paper land a couple of inches behind my foot. He and I have been in a sort of Cold War for years. But the paper outside the fence might have just been his version of social distancing.
News articles:
I can't read articles entitled "How the Pandemic Has Changed Us". Jesus Fuck, can I please actually change first and then see if you got it right??
Working From Home:
It's not all it's cracked up to be.
My wife and I were both working from home on St. Patrick's Day. She's a teacher, so first off, a hearty fuck you to anyone who thinks she's on vacation. She had to learn how to use a virtual classroom from scratch the day before. And on St. Pat's she's sitting at the dining room table, teaching a class.
Which meant I had to retreat to our finished-but-you'd-never-know-it basement. I spent the first hour sneezing from the dust, leaning over my laptop. I'm used to my office at work with the two monitors, so I was miserable. But, on the other hand, that's where the vinyl is.
Music:
You didn't think you'd escape this, did you? First, I worked my way through Beethoven's First and Second Symphonies and his First Piano Concerto. Then I got to the vinyl James got me last Christmas. I decided I'd start with Decade. Work got pretty hectic after that, so I didn't any further. But it was the correct choice.
Politics:
My Facebook friends think I'm a commie-pinko-liberal-sad-sack-pain-in-the-ass. (Let's not get into what my enemies think.) But what they don't know is how much I hold back, withholding judgment until I've got my facts straight, like in 2003 when everyone was wondering if invading Iraq was a good idea. And since we're not holding that against George Bush and Friends, why would I expect anyone - of my friends that is - to hold this catastrophe against the current occupant?
It's harder to evade politics that one might think. No sooner is someone bemoaning the politicization of the pandemic (against the current occupant, naturally) than they're nitpicking someone else's decisions. Fuck, at least they are decisions.
Social Distancing:
I not all it's cracked down to be. It was not for nothing that Decade (containing "The Loner" of course) resonated, even though I'd heard every last song a million times.
But I guess we'll find out if all those jokes we told ourselves about hell being other people start to ring hollow.
Complaints:
Just about everyone has been handed a difficulty or two in this situation. Mine are pretty minimal. I work in healthcare, but in IT, not in clinical work, so while my sister is sitting at home, bored out of her skull, I'm working harder than ever. Given all the layoffs, I should count myself lucky. I know I am. I hope to stay that way. But I'm tired. In all likelihood, so are you.
Lead-In To an Old Joke: Guess Who's In the Hospital?
Lots of tired staff.
Hospitals are running out of supplies and their clinical staffs are exhausted.
Why didn't they prepare for this, you might ask? Well, they did to the extent possible, given their limited resources. Oh, did you think all the money is going there? Well, like your paycheck, it's only there for a minute, and then it's off to the medical supply, pharmaceutical and insurance companies, who are doing a little better, thank you very much.
Back in 2008, it took a while, but the recession eventually made its way to health care, and there were severe cutbacks that we're living (and dying) with still.
So despite the inevitable second-guessing to come about what we must do to be better prepared next time, I can foresee the coming recession mowing down everything in its path. And with tax revenues drying up, politicians will have to make tough decisions about where to cut their budgets. And guess where they'll eventually end up looking?
Why, health care, of course.
Punch Line to Said Joke: Sick People!
Have you tested positive? Have you been tested? Of course not! After all, we're not South Korea, are we? Get in line, and have your cash ready.
But do you know someone who has tested positive? Are they a loved one? And have you done the math yet, about what demographic they're in, and if it's one of the safer ones or not? Youth does not appear to be the safe haven we thought it would be. And, who am I kidding? I'm in that problematic, older age range, where bad things happen.
But the attention-whore in me isn't afraid of catching it. The father and friend in me is, though. How could I live with myself if I passed it on to a loved one?
As Neil would say How can you run when you know?
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