We are creatures of habit here in the kingdom. Disruptions to our routine are not met with joy but we manage to adjust when we have to – Bear’s work schedule has gone from second shift when I first met him, to third shift for a very long 7 years – during which time I was grateful for a very large dog with a very menacing bark. Max would have gladly welcomed any robber or rapist if they had given him treats, but he sounded menacing and that was enough to scare off any stranger who came to my door in those days. The shotgun propped beside the door probably helped with that as well.
Then he retired and that was an adjustment. He went back to work, part time, from 3 to 7:30 in the evening. And then he went full time and was once again on second shift. We are rather fond of second shift here, you have time in the morning to do stuff but you don’t have to be up at the crack o’dawn. Then summer came and he went on days – he’s currently getting up at 4 to be at work at 6. (According to my sister who isn’t speaking to me, this is absurd, “no one needs two hours to get ready for work!”) (Oh, shut the hell up) I digress.
So lately we’re up around 7:30, Maverick and I. Off he goes to daycare, and I do whatever I need to do all day. On Saturdays, I take him to the little park to walk, then we head for the patio. Eventually I clean bathrooms. While cleaning the Bear’s bathroom (yes, we have our own bathrooms), I started thinking about the past year and a half.
It’s been interesting- people have become convinced that a couple of layers of cotton cloth will protect them from a deadly disease. This actually makes sense when you consider they’ve also become convinced, very quickly, that this disease with a 98% survival rate, is going to kill everyone who doesn’t tow the line and get something injected into their body that may or may not prevent the disease, may or may not have side effects, and may or may not have long lasting health implications for those who take it – and that if you don’t choose to be part of the experiment, you’re a selfish pig who wants to kill grandma.
People have also been convinced that this was the most secure election ever held and anything that says differently is a baseless accusation.
What’s really scary to me is the current push to silence dissent. You don’t have to agree with me about anything, you don’t have to listen to me, even. But when you tell me I can no longer say something, that gets my hackles up. I know that words have power. I know that words can cause great damage. But I will defend to the death your right to say any words you choose. I will not defend you from the consequences if you say something completely idiotic like “baseless accusations,” however.
And now I guess I’ll go see how much knowledge I’ve failed to impart to my students this week.
Suziecreamcheese Sings the Blues 
I just listened to a podcast on youtube called Unsafe Space, they had a conversation with Lily Tang Williams, she escaped from China when she was 24 and she’s been a US citizen for about 30 years. She said that hearing all the free speech issues and and the violence and the cultural segregation of people by hate using race caused her to almost panic because it’s what the Mao regime used to divide people but they used wealth.when they were coming into power and the thought police was very real and millions of people died. You should listen to it, particular one is called deprogrammed former red guard Lily Tang Williams. Was a very interesting listen.
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I’ll look for it, thank you!
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I always used to give myself about 2 hours to get ready for and get to work; I don’t see a problem there.
As for the masks or even the vaccine, neither is a Cure, but I think they might help stop the spread as quickly and if you do come down with it, the vaccine helps to slow the severity and duration. I believe in free speech and opinions, if done in a just and loving way. When you get into screaming and hate, then you have issues.
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More than once since I’ve started reading your blog, I can see where we have to agree to disagree on some things. I continue to respect your opinion and your right to it (even if you are wrong! LOL). I think you’re intelligent, well-spoken and say your thoughts in order to make them – and therefore yourself – known to you fellow human. I wouldn’t feel at all the same if I sensed you were doing so merely to cause an uproar and dissent. In the end, I chose the vaccine because I have some immune disorders and decided that, if it made any case of my contracting the virus more tolerable, it was worth my concerns. I still wear my mask in crowded places of strangers for the same reason, plus the fact that I know people are going mask-less whether or not they’ve been vaccinated. And those things make me feel safer, even if they don’t actually make me safer.
Anyhow, give Maverick a hug for me and tell him I miss his stories. Meanwhile, you keep doing you – since nobody can do you better!
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I totally respect your decision to get the shot. You have valid reasons and in your shoes I would maybe make the same decision. I think it should be a personal decision for everyone- what bothers me is the current push towards segregation of those who make a different choice.
I don’t like drama. I hope I get people to think just a little about what they’re being told by the MSM. And maybe someday I’ll change your mind about some stuff you’re wrong about 😁
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“I will defend to the death your right to say any words you choose. I will not defend you from the consequences if you say something completely idiotic . . .”
That’s exactly how I feel.
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The state of public discourse these days is frightening
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