Thursday Thoughts

Received an emergency alert on my cell phone this morning warning of flash flooding risk. In light of the recent dam break tragedy in Michigan, no meme today. Way too soon to joke about floods.

  

In the spirit of sharing softer news and/or silly vibes:

• Josh Gad organized #ReunitedApart Goonies virtual reunion.
• King of Staten Island, semi-autobiographical film about Pete Davidson available on demand June 12.
• NY Gov Cuomo wants Robert DeNiro to portray him in coronavirus movie.  
• Mrs. Betty Bowers’ pre-rona look at states’ rights is still relevant.
• NC Zoo is largest walk through zoo and largest natural habitat zoo in the world.

  

Daily pandemic update:  

The number of coronavirus cases worldwide reached the five million mark. The United States, Russia and Brazil stood as the countries with the highest number of infections.  Aljazeera.com timeline

21 May 2020	Cases		Deaths		Recovered
12:28 GMT*	Yesterday	Today	Yesterday	Today	Yesterday	Today
World	5,008,368	5,113,706	325,325	330,361	1,974,974	2,039,698
US	1,571,131	1,593,429	93,558	94,963	361,227	370,971
NY	362,630	364,249	28,648	28,758	62,672	63,007
CT	38,430	39,017	3,472	3,529	6,264	6,264
NC	19,844	20,261	719	726	11,637	11,637

*Documenting time of day because real time data updates continuously.
Tracking specific states:  NY is US epicenter. Son Reid lives in CT. I live in NC. 
Worldometers     Coronainusa     Starsexpress2020     https://ncov2019.live/

As of today, 20% of closed cases in the US resulted in death; 80% recovered.

A moment of silence for those we’ve lost to coronavirus, including the first 100 in the US.

In the news: 

• After massive flooding due to multiple dam breaks, Trump threatened to withhold funding from MI over absentee voting.
• Coronavirus spotlights continuing friction between individual rights and common good. 
• Data security and medical information privacy may be at risk as some states share addresses and names of infected with law enforcement dispatchers and first responders. 
• Hackers claimed to have sold off all their Trump data. 
• NYT reported Pompeo knew of IG investigation of Saudi arms deal, answered written questions in probe. Also, Pompeo's elite taxpayer-funded Madison dinners were likely intended to cultivate donor base for political ambitions rather than state dept diplomatic purposes.
• South Korean study indicates patients who tested positive again after initial recovery do not continue to pass on the virus. 
• Study of coronavirus genome found that 70% of virus transmissions in Israel could be linked to US. 
• Trump said high number of US cases is badge of honor, tribute to testing progress. 

North Carolina news: 

• NC Gov Roy Cooper announced Safer at Home Phase 2 reopening plan to begin Friday May 22.
• NC DOT furloughed 9,300 employees to save money during pandemic.
• NC Frontline Flyover will give aerial salute to doctors and nurses May 26. 
• NC GOP leaders announced reopening of state legislature as fight over shutdown continues. 
• NC health officials confirmed reports of coronavirus in all 100 counties.

Following Kenny Beck’s lead to share a few signs of hope:

• Brothers used 3D printer to make face shields for health care workers.
• CA high school delivered diplomas to students with a fishing rod.
• High school student born with one arm earned college football scholarship.  
• Mississippi teen created food bank to provide bag lunches for children in need. 
• TX school's band directors went to graduating seniors' homes to play fight song one last time. 

In my personal life…

Yesterday was mostly good but tinged with a bit of melancholy. Son Reid called, sounded good on the phone, updated his resume in preparation for job search. Son Austin stopped by to pick up some strawberries, quick visit, didn’t stay long. Brother Randy emailed with an update from Lenoir, he’s back at work, his temperature is checked on site each morning when he arrives. Friend and former co-worker Vickie emailed too, her grandson is finally getting much needed heart surgery. Overall everyone is well and taking the pandemic in stride with few complaints.

Though Greg and I are both ok overall, I felt a bit sad and anxious yesterday afternoon. I think my mood was partly due to the weather (gray and rainy) but probably more because of worrisome news reports and social media trolls. Reading posts from MAGAs refusing to wear masks sometimes elicit eye rolls but I rarely engage with them. Yesterday a couple people reacted negatively to something I had posted online and one of them went so far as to call me a c*nt. I reported the person for being abusive and hateful and blocked them but did not reply. I’m not afraid or intimidated. Just don’t want to interact with angry people who resort to name calling in lieu of intelligent discussion.

Yesterday I split an everything bagel with Greg for breakfast; it was topped with smoked salmon, cream cheese and red onion plus capers on Greg’s half. Snacked on way too many chocolate covered peanuts. For dinner I reheated left over seasoned ground beef to make tacos while Greg made himself a chicken quesadilla with leftover grilled chicken and shredded cheese.

Today our yard is soaked with rain and there are puddles in some spots. Greg and I staked our young cherry and nectarine trees this morning. Greg also hoed a trench next to the cherry tree to help with drainage since water was pooling behind it. Most of the plants seem to be benefitting from the rain. Personally, I’m looking forward to clearer skies Saturday.