June 12, 2020

Today was such a glorious day I just have to document it.  It's one of those that I want to store in my keepsakes to be cherished forever.  John and I took Michael and Sophia fishing at Mississinewa Reservoir.  As we were getting Bessie (what I call our pontoon) ready to launch, we saw a Scarlet Tanager in the trees.  It was the first time I had ever seen one and was excited to snap a picture.  Unfortunately, by the time I got the camera out and focused it was gone.  I still got to see it though and in fact, I saw another one flying as we were heading to our fishing spot.  The weather was perfect for an early morning jaunt.

As they were getting their poles ready we saw a hummingbird.  Of course  Hummingbirds aren't that uncommon here in Indiana this time of year, but the way it came and fluttered in each of our faces was so enchanting - almost like it was saying good morning to us!

During our first stop, Sophia landed the first fish of the day.  She is quite the fishergirl and it's fun to see her enjoy being out in Nature.  I could have sat in this location ALL day..... so peaceful and relaxing..... fishing and catching fish was just an added benefit to me (I had not even put a line in the water yet).  My joy came from listening to the sounds of Nature waking up.

A short time after the Hummingbird visit, this majestic bird flew in.  WOW!  Bald Eagles are reclaiming their territory in Indiana and it's becoming more common to see them around bodies of water year round.  We never tire of seeing them.  John said he was probably waiting for us to catch a fish and then he'd come and take it.  Heck, he could sit on the boat railing and I would hand feed him if he wanted me to.  But alas, he just sat up there and watched us, or allowed us to watch him is more like it. 

Here came another!

And then there were two.  Oh my..... Blessings over load!  John asked, "What are the chances of us being in this spot at the very time they chose to fly in?"  

My reply, "I don't believe in chances."  God has a plan for each and everyone of us.  His plan for me today was to be overwhelmed with His presence all around us and I was.

After I settled down from the excitement of all that I had seen and heard, I decided to get a line wet.  Sophia and I declared a contest with the guys to see who would catch the most fish.  I think she already had two or three in the live well.  Bang!  My first cast and I hooked one.  A short while later I landed another.  Girls are easily in the lead now.  John nor Michael had caught any yet.  The captain decided to move us on to fishier waters, and I decided to have a beer (yes, it was probably only 10 am, but hey!  I am retired).  I told Sophia that she was going to have to carry the "girl team" for a short.  That wouldn't have been a problem but on her first cast in what we have since named Catfish Cove, something took her line and immediately snapped it (she didn't have her drag set, doggone it).  Whatever it was, no doubt it was big.  Since she was going to have down time getting her pole rigged backed up I decided to fish AND drink beer.  :)  I couldn't let Team Girls slide you know.  A couple of casts and then HOLY COW!!!!  Fortunately John had my drag set!  I have never experienced anything like how this fish was fighting.  Not sure how long it fought but I know it was longer than two or three minutes.  He was a fighter and a pretty darn big fish.  I felt like I was in one of those fishing shows on TV!  He would run then I would reel and gain a little.  My pole was bent way over.  I had been fishing for Crappie and that is the pole and rigging that I had.  This WAS NOT a Crappie!   Oh it was fun.   HOLY COW!  I did get him in the boat finally.  Team Girls are definitely ahead of Team Guys.

We finished off the day with a picnic in a shady spot, where John caught a nice Bass and Drum.  Then it was time to call it a day.  I never want to get off the water but in the afternoon it gets really warm, the fish take a break from hitting, and we have animals to tend to at home.  It was time to go.  I declared Team Girls the winner and the guys agreed.  What a fun day.  I finished it out with an evening on my deck listening to the Bobwhite Quail that I raised and turned loose.  This is another thing I don't think I would ever tire of.... their precious BoB WHITE whistle.  Listen close:

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

UPDATE 5/18/2020

This is STILL CRAZY!
It has been two months since my last update.  Race tracks are just now opening up the backside to allow horses to train - there are still some restrictions but they are getting there.  Restaurants are starting to open but only at 50% capacity.  Hair salons and barbers are by appointment only, and unemployment is out of sight.  The Government has added a $600 per week supplement to the unemployment payments that states provide.  Some workers are making more pay by being unemployed than they did working.  The Government handed out stimulus checks to everyone as well - $1,200 for single, $2,400 for couples (add on $500 per dependent).

We have been pretty much "sheltering in place" for the last two months, only going out to get food or other essential items.  John and I both wear a face covering when we go.  There is a lot of hesitancy from some regarding the wearing of masks but I like the adage - my mask protects you from ME, your mask protects me from YOU.  Unfortunately some don't get it, or simply don't care.  I certainly would not want to be the reason someone had to suffer from this disease.  I will wear my face covering.

At first the critical item at the grocery stores was toilet paper and sanitizer items.  The rush on the TP has righted itself but now the supply chain is starting to see shortages in meat.  So many packing plants have been stricken with the virus and have closed down that the growers of hogs and cattle have no where to send them to be processed.  The price has really skyrocketed for what is available in the stores.  The stores did set up a special time early in the morning for seniors and people at risk to shop but the crowds are pretty large.  We found it better to go after this time and not have so many people around... easier to social distance yourself.  Most, if not all, check outs now have a plexiglass barrier between the clerk and the customer.  


We have not been to church service since mid-March.  The plan is to open the sanctuary on June 7th but I am not sure I will attend even then.  It is hard for people to Social Distance and that is what is needed.  We don't have a large congregation this time of year (many college students call our church home during the school year), but even so, the sanctuary is a small area.  Just not sure yet.

Life as we knew it before Covid 19 no longer exists and I am not sure it ever will again.  


UPDATE 3/19/2020

This is CRAZY!  
This past week has been unreal.  Hoosier Park and Indiana Grand both announced that they were closing their doors for a period of at least two weeks.  Bars and restaurants have been ordered to serve takeout only - no dining in.  The run on food at the grocery stores continues with some items being limited in quantity to purchase (if there is any available).  Grant County was place under a Yellow Travel Advisory and since then moved up to an Orange level, which limits travel on the roads to only essential travel necessary for work, food, medical.

The Kentucky Derby was postponed to Labor Day Weekend.  This has only happened one other time in the history of the race!  Cruise lines have shut their ships down for an undetermined about of time and one of them has offered ships to be used as a place for people to shelter during this time.  It is CRAZY.

John and I have pretty much been abiding by the President's request to STAY HOME.  I did have to go in to get feed and a few prescriptions along with doing Mom's pills early this week but other than that we have not left the property.  My good friend, Julie, lost her mother this week and unfortunately many of us will not be able to attend.  Funeral homes are restricting the number of visitors.

I really don't know what to think of this situation.  It seems like we have been hit with an atomic bomb or something.  There is a race to find a vaccine for the virus along with medicines that will help heal the damage.  I believe it attacks a persons lungs.  At first it was like,  "it is just a flu bug.  You will get it and then get over it".  But now it is something much bigger.  A part of me feels that it is a political effort to oust President Trump.  He just went through an impeachment inquiry that didn't prove out and now this.  Is the media running with it to hurt him or is it as bad as they claim?  Most of the media hates him because he calls them out on their lies.  I just wish we knew what to believe.  A part of me really hopes that they are over reacting because if not this is really serious.

It is CRAZY!



FIRST POST

Because I don't believe I have ever seen anything quite like this, I have decided to chronicle the events of what has become a mass-hysteria event.

We started hearing about COVID-19 early in February 2020.  COVID-19 is a novel virus (humans have never seen it before and there is no cure/vaccine for it yet) that causes respiratory illness.  And to make matters worse, the testing for it is new and not readily available.  Symptoms are said to be fever, cough, shortness of breath, and can lead into pneumonia.  Many people have died from it!  

It became a problem in China and other countries in the later part of 2019 but no cases had been reported in the United States yet.  Research says the first two US cases were reported on January 14, 2020.  Through the next thirty days there was one or two cases reported each day.  But.... beginning in mid-February the number being reported each day began to rise rapidly - five per day, fifty per day, seventy-five per day continuing through the first week of March.  As March 13, the US had 1,629 reported cases with 41 deaths.  

The media was talking about it.  In fact that is all you heard on the news.  John was tired of hearing about it, along with many others.  On March 8th, Italy was locked down because of COVID-19.  On Wednesday, March 11th the W.H.O declared it a pandemic.  John decided perhaps he had been wrong about the seriousness of it all (as did others on social media) along with the Stock Market and Commodities Market - ouch!.  The week of March 13th (yes it was a Friday) was one of much uncertainty.  

Indiana thrives on college and high school basketball.  March madness is a real thing here and I'm sure it will take on a new meaning this year as ALL of the high school and college tournaments have been canceled.  Two pro basketball teams were on the court in Texas and right at tip-off time the game was called because one of the players had fallen ill and did test positive for COVID-19.  The stadium was packed and the fans were told the game was being postponed and asked to leave in an orderly fashion.  Can you imagine what must have been going through their minds?!?!  After this, many of the other sports organizations followed suit.  The NBA, NSL NHL seasons, and MLB spring training all suspended.  MLB regular season delayed.  Indy Car and NASCAR racing suspended.  Cruise ships suspended voyages and travel bans were put in place for certain countries in Europe.  Talking about delaying the running of the 146th Kentucky Derby and some racetracks initialized spectator free racing.  The Masters golf tournament was postponed.  The amount of revenue lost will be massive.

March 13th, President Trump declared a National Emergency.  While this opened the door for funding of State and County governments it also made the public go into a buying spree that surpassed any "blizzard run" I have ever seen.  

For some reason the hot item was toilet paper.  The symptoms of this virus are more of a respiratory illness, so why TP?   Stores had to ration the number of items one person could purchase.  It is CRAZY.

Schools (including colleges and universities) extended their Spring Breaks by one or two weeks and some will only continue the year with eLearning.  The student never going back to the classroom this year.  It is CRAZY! 

Like I said before, I have never seen anything like this - unprecedented in my time.  The 911 attack on the United States was very bad and caused a lot of fear but nothing like this.  It is CRAZY!