Getting Along

Now that we have some time, here are some observations:

Update: elder couple and family crisis reported last week in this space; the wife was placed in elder respite while husband remained in hospital. Social workers cited state law of ‘family abandonment’ for reason to place her involuntarily in respite care. Husband (hospital patient) was released to convalescent facility and joined wife in same facility. Medical staff there encountered medical problems and returned him to hospital. He does not remember where he was and thus has lost track of wife. I have called two institutions and the hospital. Care centers do not report her among their patients. Hospital claims they can’t provide information to me due to confidentiality laws. Later I learned her location from her daughter, father is doing better in hospital (I talked to him) and he will be returned to the care center and rejoin his wife. For now, this is as happy as it gets for this family.


Voted Tuesday and all my candidates won. This is a primary so my candidates will be on the ballot in the fall to face the other party's opponents. A heavy republican area, my democrat choices have a chance to level the playing field in Washington and Springfield. So we continue the struggle!


Polling place was near empty. No lines. No coughing or sneezing, either. So we two tottering old fools reeled in, voted, and went home. Totally uneventful.


Have emailed nearly everyone I can think of. Am caught up with even distant cousins living in all corners of the country. Wow! And it isn’t even Christmas.


Car is fully gassed with nowhere to go. Didn’t take ride in country yesterday. Napped instead.

Taking stock of our supplies, we will soon be out of oatmeal, disinfectant bathroom cleaners and Kleenex. We will poke along for awhile until we truly need them. Several people have told us to let them know when they can pick up stuff for us to keep us out of the public. Instead of calling on them, we placed an on-line order with Target, and they will deliver on Friday to our door. Wow!


Metra parking lot across the street from our condo building is almost empty and it is 7:40 am on Wednesday as I write this. (Thursday was even emptier!) Traffic is nil. Skeleton crew at City Hall next door. Grocery across the street is doing booming business. Local Mexican restaurant (a special jewel in our town) announced it will take phone orders and deliver to their curb for drive by pickups. Taco Thursday has been saved! And it was delicious as always!  Thank you El Coco Loco!


Condo will provide a folding table in lobby upon which we can stack underused books for residents to read during this time of quarantine and sheltering. I must move some of my books down to the table!! Selected 8 for now. Have a couple of hundred to go!


Taxes done. Preparer will likely call me in a few days to sign some forms and off they go!


Anybody else notice that the price of crude oil by the barrel is at a 40 year low? Why then are pump prices for gas at $2.20 when they ought to be 1.89 or lower? Hmmmm? Just curious.


Airlines seeking public bailout? For what? They spent their bumper crop profits in recent years to buy back company stock to boost stock prices and executive bonuses. They did not improve salaries and wages for their staff. They did go into debt for $30 billion for new planes. Why not provide a loan holiday for them of say 6 months without penalty? Bankers and other lenders will still be there and the interest rates are at an all time low so they won’t be missing much income. Please; no bailout for a company that is not essential nor a public utility.


That’s all the news for this posting. More on Monday.


March 20, 2020