I’m getting too comfortable posting every other day. As soon as I started writing this I was called on to help someone set up a streaming festival. Yes, it’s why I created Social Distancing Streaming Concerts, and I’m glad to do it, but the timing was bad. The person I’m talking to isn’t using my brilliant idea so any of you can. If you are having a gay themed festival call it a “A Pride of ______ .” How a pride has not become the accepted term for a group of LGBT people is beyond me. Are lions gay? Each pride consists of one male and many females while the excess “bachelor” males live alone. I think these are all euphemisms for their nonheteronormative society. People really shouldn’t leave me alone with words.
The other day Becca posted on Facebook about casting her absentee ballot for the local Baltimore primaries. I realized that I never applied for one for the New York presidential primary. That’s not my fault as its status has been up in the air. First it was rescheduled to June because of the pandemic. Then it was canceled as the nominations were already wrapped up so why go through the expense and risk of running an election. Then people objected, took the state to court and they had to reinstate the election. The judge’s decision just came down last week. As soon as Becca reminded me I went online and requested an absentee ballot. You need an excuse in New York but fear of spreading COVID-19 is acceptable. This morning I picked up my mail from yesterday and found what I thought was my ballot. I couldn’t believe it came so fast. It wasn’t my ballot; it was a form to request a ballot. Baltimore sent everyone a request form like that, as have many states. I understood that New York didn’t as they just got the need. But it looks like they sent them out as soon as they saw they needed to. Unless, the online form I sent out wasn’t for a ballot but just for a request form. I have to figure that out. I will try calling on Monday to find out.
I also got a piece of real-life personal snail mail from Abbie Gardner. I answered a trivia question during her live stream and the prize was a copy of the set list. It wasn’t just a printed set list, Abbie beautifully enhanced it.
My favorite part was not the artwork, or what she wrote, or even that she sent it to me. It’s that in the return address on the envelope she wrote simply “Abbie.” She is now a one-name superstar like Madonna or Cher. That is how it should be. There’s famous, folk famous, and most importantly Wise-Madness famous. Abbie you are officially Wise-Madness famous. I am not, I virtually never use my name here. I didn’t blur it in the picture, but I considered it.
Yesterday I gave myself a treat. I ordered from Popeye’s using their app and went to pick it up. They had a great deal, I got a thigh, drumstick, biscuit, and fries for $5. I figured this was very low risk. I ordered online and it would be waiting for me when I got there and could just pick it up. Theoretically that’s how it works. I got a message on the app that the ordered was filled right before I got there, perfect. When I went in my order wasn’t there. They hadn’t even started making it. They didn’t even know it existed. I had to first order when I got there. The only advantage I got from the app was not having to wait on the line to order. I did have to wait for the person before me who also ordered online to get his order. They didn’t have his either. He had to get it relayed from his friend on the phone, it was a big order. I had to wait in the store far longer than I had planned on. At least nobody was within 6 feet of me. When I gave my order, I forgot to mention the biscuit which comes standard with the meal, so I didn’t get it. On the bright side it tasted great. I ate it when I got home.
I did my usual survey of masked versus unmasked and found the usual results, around 65.3% wore masks. I no longer count men and women separately. There’s no point as the rates are virtually the same. I wish everyone would do this. I would like to know the rate of mask wearing. If everyone wore a mask we could crush the curve instead of flattening it. One of the most irritating memes I’ve seen on Facebook is the one mocking people that wear masks in their cars. This is of course considered best practice as you should minimize the number of times you put your mask on and off as you touch your face each time you do. Even if it weren’t why mock people being too cautious when the problem is people not being cautious enough? I think they are the same people that mocked “the smart kids” for studying when they were in school. These are on my Facebook feed; we are not talking about Trump supporters. Someone posted it in one group I’m on and a discouraging number of people commented by piling it on the mask wearers. An encouraging number of people, the majority criticized the post. Even as many people including me pointed out why it isn’t stupid to wear a mask in your car, people continued to mock those that did. It’s so pleasurable to feel superior that many people can’t be bothered with the facts. I do recognize that I’m now enjoying feeling superior to those mockers.
Reggie posted on Facebook that he got his application and other people did too. New York did a good job getting right on this. Cuomo has been looking excellent since we went into crisis mode. He excels at the elements of governing that are not political but managerial. I knew he would which is why I have always been somewhat disappointed with him. I knew he was extremely talented and was unhappy with some of the ways he’s put them to use. I always thought he was a good governor, but he should have been a transformative one. Like Bill Clinton he hoarded his political capital. Now everyone is discovering the importance of competence. No matter what their politics governors are separating into the wheat and the chaff. The president is chaff.
I can’t believe I’ve written 1127 words. I feel I haven’t written anything. I guess I did so I can publish this and go out to buy eggs. I’d like to go to Aldi but it’s too late now. I’ll just overspend on English muffins at the local supermarket.
Wise Madness 