Surviving isolation in the era of Covid-19

<p class="has-drop-cap" value="<amp-fit-text layout="fixed-height" min-font-size="6" max-font-size="72" height="80">Valentine's Day is designated the day for love. Cards, gifts and candies are symbolic things to show love and affection for your significant other. But today we are forced in many instances to shower love virtually. Although romancing remotely may not be the most romantic way, it is the best alternative currently. Of course, many will chance closeness perhaps while wearing masks and self-distancing, but lovers may desire more intimate situations. Alas, we are learning how to navigate through this time. Valentine's Day is designated the day for love. Cards, gifts and candies are symbolic things to show love and affection for your significant other. But today we are forced in many instances to shower love virtually. Although romancing remotely may not be the most romantic way, it is the best alternative currently. Of course, many will chance closeness perhaps while wearing masks and self-distancing, but lovers may desire more intimate situations. Alas, we are learning how to navigate through this time.Valentine’s Day is designated the day for love. Cards, gifts and candies are symbolic things to show love and affection for your significant other. But today we are forced in many instances to shower love virtually. Although romancing remotely may not be the most romantic way, it is the best alternative currently. Of course, many will chance closeness perhaps while wearing masks and self-distancing, but lovers may desire more intimate situations. Alas, we are learning how to navigate through this time. Valentine’s Day is designated the day for love. Cards, gifts and candies are symbolic things to show love and affection for your significant other. But today we are forced in many instances to shower love virtually. Although romancing remotely may not be the most romantic way, it is the best alternative currently. Of course, many will chance closeness perhaps while wearing masks and self-distancing, but lovers may desire more intimate situations. Alas, we are learning how to navigate through this time.

<p value="<amp-fit-text layout="fixed-height" min-font-size="6" max-font-size="72" height="80">There are many good communication apps out there, the most used are Zoom, Facebook Messenger, Skype, and for Apple users, Facetime, that comes with the iPhone and iPad. We are able to see and hear our friends, constituents and family wherever we are. I think it is a great way to meet new people on some of the Singles sites and this is a wonderful way to watch and check on our beloved seniors. I find Zoom to be my preference of virtual communication, while Skype is a close second. If you do not have these apps, the links provided below will lead you to where you can download them to your devices. There are many good communication apps out there, the most used are Zoom, Facebook Messenger, Skype, and for Apple users, Facetime, that comes with the iPhone and iPad. We are able to see and hear our friends, constituents and family wherever we are. I think it is a great way to meet new people on some of the Singles sites and this is a wonderful way to watch and check on our beloved seniors. I find Zoom to be my preference of virtual communication, while Skype is a close second. If you do not have these apps, the links provided below will lead you to where you can download them to your devices.There are many good communication apps out there, the most used are Zoom, Facebook Messenger, Skype, and for Apple users, Facetime, that comes with the iPhone and iPad. We are able to see and hear our friends, constituents and family wherever we are. I think it is a great way to meet new people on some of the Singles sites and this is a wonderful way to watch and check on our beloved seniors. I find Zoom to be my preference of virtual communication, while Skype is a close second. If you do not have these apps, the links provided below will lead you to where you can download them to your devices. There are many good communication apps out there, the most used are Zoom, Facebook Messenger, Skype, and for Apple users, Facetime, that comes with the iPhone and iPad. We are able to see and hear our friends, constituents and family wherever we are. I think it is a great way to meet new people on some of the Singles sites and this is a wonderful way to watch and check on our beloved seniors. I find Zoom to be my preference of virtual communication, while Skype is a close second. If you do not have these apps, the links provided below will lead you to where you can download them to your devices.

There are many good communication apps out there, the most used are Zoom, Facebook Messenger, Skype, and for Apple users, Facetime, that comes with the iPhone and iPad. We are able to see and hear our friends, constituents and family wherever we are. I think it is a great way to meet new people on some of the Singles sites and this is a wonderful way to watch and check on our beloved seniors. I find Zoom to be my preference of virtual communication, while Skype is a close second. If you do not have these apps, the links provided below will lead you to where you can download them to your devices. There are many good communication apps out there, the most used are Zoom, Facebook Messenger, Skype, and for Apple users, Facetime, that comes with the iPhone and iPad. We are able to see and hear our friends, constituents and family wherever we are. I think it is a great way to meet new people on some of the Singles sites and this is a wonderful way to watch and check on our beloved seniors. I find Zoom to be my preference of virtual communication, while Skype is a close second. If you do not have these apps, the links provided below will lead you to where you can download them to your devices.

• Zoom
• Skype
• Facebook Messenger

These are only three of the most popular platforms used today. All of them allow for chatting as well as real time face to face communication. You can even take snapshots of your participant while conversing with them. This is a great way to get photos of your grandchildren. Some apps even allow streaming and sharing files and content between users. These are really wonderful tools to use in this time. You do not have to wait to see anyone; if you have a smartphone or iPad, you can pretty much touch base anywhere and anytime. These are only three of the most popular platforms used today. All of them allow for chatting as well as real time face to face communication. You can even take snapshots of your participant while conversing with them. This is a great way to get photos of your grandchildren. Some apps even allow streaming and sharing files and content between users. These are really wonderful tools to use in this time. You do not have to wait to see anyone; if you have a smartphone or iPad, you can pretty much touch base anywhere and anytime.

Many businesses utilize these tools for long distance meetings and conferences. This saves a lot of travel money and it is an excellent way of following the rules of distancing during the pandemic. They use more sophisticated apps such as:

• Logitech Enterprise Video Conferencing Solutions

Even doctors are using this to schedule and conduct doctor visits with their patients. I have conducted doctor visits with my doctors via their communication apps and find it very convenient, especially when it is just follow-ups. The doctor is able to refill and prescribe medicine to your pharmacy quickly and forward you any information that they think you need. How great is this!

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The Calm Before the Storm

Congratulations to Biden! Good riddance to bad rubbage! Make our country heal again. It was already great. pic.twitter.com/tkBx312FeK

— Lawanda Cox (@Lawanda12708402) November 10, 2020

Happy Days are here again, …?

Is this a new beginning, or is this country celebrating too soon? Yes, the electoral votes show Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as the victors. We have exhaled, but how long will this peace last? The previous president, Donald Trump, has not conceded and his administration and the majority Republican senate is in agreement with him. People, we are in a dark time and racism never died. it just laid low. For four long years, this evil system was unleashed upon the African American community. Now, even the Asian community have stated they have been visited by the specter of racism. But their problems were opened to the rest of us, due to the coronavirus. For years, they were referred to as the “Model Minorities”. What a horrible awakening for those of this group to find out that they were just tolerated and just a foot on a ” banana peel” above African Americans. Privilege for minorities are a slippery slope in the eyes of the dominant society.

The outgoing president, set the precedents to what was always there; permission to practice openly “white supremacy” and “white privilege”. He tore the clothes off of an otherwise, proud America, to the truth. America has a sickness, so before we forget, remember, Donald Trump, won 50% of the votes. His followers and supporters are many. Most voted to save “systemic racism” contrary to some repudiating this to say it was about policy. There is no way that we should be celebrating and the man has not been inaugurated yet. Lawsuits are being filed in the courts, his base is storming mad and some of them are out for blood, so we need to be on guard. Congrats to Biden, but don’t get it twisted. This is just the beginning of what may be a long recovery for the United States. Our foreign affairs are in shambles, Americans are standing in long food lines, people are infected with the covid and dying in droves and people are faced with joblessness and evictions. So why are we celebrating? We need to hope for a peaceful transition, because Donald Trump is not going to go peacefully into that good night. If four years of this administration have not taught you anything, you best know that this narcissist is going down kicking and fighting. The world is watching and they are not easily tricked to receive America with open arms. This time they will test the water before they dive in. This is the first time since before World War I, that America was an isolated nation. Our credibility has been badly tarnished during these four years.

Celebrate the moment, but be real, this country has a lot of work ahead and it is not going to be a walk in the park.

Life is a Journey

Walking down the long and winding road

Walking in this day of mourning and sorrow seems too daunting a task for our troubled souls. As we continue to live in the shadow of 2020, a year of many strife and loss, we long for relief. I know how this feels, because I and my family have experienced loss and mourning of loved ones. Recently, my family buried my beloved niece, of 40 years old. My niece was a vibrant young woman, daughter, mother, and wife. Unfortunately, she was not the only loss to our family in 2020. We suffered the loss of my father, step-father, two cousins, and two of my pets all in one year.

Covid-19 took the life of my step-father while a fatal car crash took the life of my niece. I know my family is not the only one having a hard time this year, but when it hits home, it is a reality hard to fathom, but yet, we must go on. Listening to the news day by day, it seems like the world is upside down. Conflicts involving race, government dishevel, virus deaths and infections all over the world, exhaust us and sap us the energy to recover. This year is an election year and already we see war clouds; a time in which this country has never seen before. What will this election bring? Will it bring relief and change or more of the same? Are we, the people of these United States going to step up and demand this change or will we decide to go backwards to a time of inequality, financial depression, racial hatred and violence, and hopelessness due to mindless choices made by those in high places?

This is a time of serious reflection and self-evaluation. Covid-19 has left the country with choices that we never expected to make. Our children are not able to attend schools, teachers have to learn how to educate virtually to young children whose attention span is no longer than a 10 minute cartoon and parents have to decide whether to work or stay at home with their children. Despair is heard over the air-waves and people call in blaming one candidate over another for the problems we all are having. They feel that their problems will be solved if we just vote the right person into office. One person cannot change the damage that has been done during this pandemic. But we are hopeful that whomever is elected will have answers to an impossible situation.

As life leads us into unchartered waters, we pray for a ray of sunshine to a time that seems, now, so long ago when things were normal and predictable. Life is hard and many times unfair. Grief has been a constant companion of late, to many. Young people are not confident of their future and wonder if there is one. What can we do to change the path we are on to a path of a new beginning? For a start, we can hold each other’s hand and travel this journey together. Face these obstacles with courage and determination. And when we fall down, pick each other up and continue on until victory is won. I believe that this too will pass and the sun will shine again.

For those who seek refuge through the storm, I suggest that you click on these

links below, there is help for the needy and unemployed.

Also, you will find links to voting information and officials.

Resources during Covid-19

• Indeed.com (For those seeking employment)
• Voting information (Where, how and when to vote information)
• United Way (Food and Shelter resources)
• Monster Jobs (For those seeking employment)
• U.S. Senate (Contact U.S. Senate for answers and complaints)
• House of Representatives (Contact your U. S. House of Representative)
• Salvation Army (Source for help with utilities, housing, and food)
• Information on Covid-19 (Information on Covid-19)
• Survival Information:
  • Survivalist info (Information for survivalists
  • The 25 Best Survival Websites (Great sites on surviving catastrophes and unexpected events)
  • Ultimate Survival Skills Guide (Click to download this e-guide)
• Medical Assistance Programs (Offers links to medical assistance that will help you pay medical expenses)

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Summer Gone So Soon

So soon is the summer leaving us. This is the first summer that I did not go swimming, a past-time that I truly love. I think that the Covid virus has taken a toll on me. No, not my health, but my mental and well-being. This has been the saddest and unfortunate summer for everyone. I lost two beloved pets, my dog, Foxy and my cat, Lady, to devastating diseases of cancer and congestive heart failure. Although they were both very old, nevertheless, their deaths left me empty and grieving. I still have one cat, but she knows that things are not the same. Autumn lived with two other pets and now it is just her and myself. I have been more attentive to her and she to me since the others are gone.

The Swimming pools I usually swim in at home in the summer

My father and step-father also passed from diseases. My step-father died from the coronavirus and my dad, from bone cancer. My sweet nephew, buried his pet guinea pig who also died of old age. Yes. this has been the worst summer and year that I have ever experienced. The swimming pools were not crowded this year, far from the photo that was taken last summer, because everyone is effected by this god-forsaken virus. I miss seeing my neighbor tenants walking their pets in the evening. Everyone is in after dark. We live in a beautiful apartment complex in the rural-suburbs of Macomb county in Michigan. It is so strange to see my neighbors not walking or sitting on their patios and balcony after dark.

The summer was very hot this year and we have had more blue skies than we have had for the past 3 years in Michigan. It truly has been a lovely summer. But we can feel the havoc that this virus has taken on all of us. I plan to get another dog soon, but I will always remember the pain of Summer 2020. I spent more time sitting on my patio looking out on the pond than going to the pool. As I said, I have not swam at all this year. My spirit was just not up to it. Ever since I moved here, since November 2014, I looked forward to summer to swim in the 3 pools. This is a large apartment complex with over 2000 tenants. I looked forward to evening walks with my dog and sitting outside of the apartment guest house watching others swim. It is so nice watching the swans, geese and ducks swim around the ponds. And there are large bass in these ponds too. My neighbors are seen fishing. You see we have large ponds outside of our patio doors, so we can fish anytime we want without even leaving our homes. How great is that? But I only saw one or two of my neighbors sitting along the banks fishing this year. Yes. This was a beautiful summer as far as the weather, but a gloomy one otherwise.

I miss my dad and I really need to go see my mom, wearing a mask of course, since my mom is 82 years young. She does not look or act her age, but precaution is needed in this age of Covid-19. I miss my cousins, some who have passed away this year from illnesses other than Covid. I hope and pray that we will see better days. But I will concentrate on adopting another dog to give both me and my cat company and love. Be well, family!

All Dogs go to Heaven*

My best friend, Foxy Cox

This year has been a very sad one for many, but it has been especially grievous for me. My best friend and companion passed away on August 18, 2020 from cancer. Foxy was a beautiful and sweet mix Pomeranian that loved to ride in my car and take long walks. Recently, before her death, she was pushed in her pet carrier to her favorite places. I live in Clinton Township Michigan in a beautiful apartment complex surrounded by rolling green hills and land. Foxy had the best times when she could roll in the grass and bark at the other dogs. She lived with two cats, one that also passed away with congested heart failure. All of my past pets lived to be 18 to 23 years old. Foxy passed away at the ripe old dog age of 18 years old and my cat, Lady, died at the old age of 23 years old.

Foxy loved Lady and she loved her. They are both survived by my youngest cat, Autumn, a Maine Coon.

She originally belonged to my grandmother until she passed at 97 years old in July 2014. With the death of my father and stepfather this year, it has been very hard. My dad loved Foxy and she was always so happy to see him. Foxy was a very frisky and happy dog and she easily took to children and cats. It took a little while for her to grow on other dogs, but eventually she did. Foxy was surrounded in a apartment community of dogs. So she was able to see and get to know one or two of them. But she bonded with me and we were inseparable. I adopted Foxy from the Detroit Anti-Cruelty Shelter in Detroit Michigan two weeks before Christmas of 2005 after the passing of my girl, Muppet, a mixed Terrier.

She too passed away in my arms with congestive heart failure at the age of 22 years.

All of my pets have been either strays or shelter adopted. I loved all of my pets that are no longer with me. Foxy was only the latest and she is greatly missed. I would love that all homeless pets have a loving forever home as my pets have had. So I choose to donate to the animal shelters and rescue services for animals. I am especially grateful to the Michigan Humane Society of Rochester Hills Michigan for the kindness and compassion shown to me and Foxy at the end of her life. She was put to sleep by them, but before they decided to do so, they allowed me the privilege to make peace with my girl Foxy for one more day. As I held my dog in my arm in bed, I knew that this would be the last time. I took her with me the next day to have my laptop repaired. Before the afternoon was over, Foxy started shutting down and I knew that she was not going home again with me. I quickly contacted the doctor and said that it was time and I was resigned to give my baby girl rest.

It was very hard, but I could not bare any longer to see my dog suffer anymore. Foxy could no longer hold her head up and her legs were completely lame. She could not stand and she was breathing irregularly. The staff assistant came outside with a blanket and I kissed and said my last good-byes to my best friend and companion. Foxy left my side for the first and last time. She will be forever loved and missed.