Viral Vicissitudes

Chain of Custody: Handle with Care December 30, 2020: "It's going to be the biggest operational challenge this nation has ever faced" -President Elect Biden describing the challenge his administration will face upon taking office, asserting they will significantly increase the rate of current vaccine distribution  in the United States...  December 30, 2020: From B.B.C. (2:38 AM EST): "This just in -- the National Health Service has authorized the distribution of the vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca, which, while slightly less effective than those from Pfizer and Moderna, are easier to distribute and store for use...which should allow for millions more to be vaccinated at a faster pace..." Do You See What I See, Hear?: At first glance and upon casually listening, the topic of "Chain of Custody", which is in turn related to "Chain of Evidence", "Supply Chain Management", and simply "Custody" would see...

Hitting the Wall? I can relate........Bonk! Relatable: (but more commonly experienced by endurance athletes) "Sudden fatigue caused by depletion of glycogen stored in the liver and muscles...milder instances can be remedied by brief rest and/or the ingestion of food or drinks containing carbs..." Hitting the wall, sometimes also referred to as 'bonking'.        We have all had times in our respective lives where, even with advanced preparation and due diligence, we experience an acute period of weariness, fatigue, and malaise, feeling like we are suddenly up against an immovable, impermeable object, a WALL. Whether you are experiencing this literally in a physical sense as described above or more emotionally, you're in good company. Even in an 'ordinary' year (whatever that means to you) more people tend to complain of feeling fatigued this time of year, after so much time and energy was spent on holiday prepping, midnight wrapping, angst over assembly ins...

Sneakers, Speakers, and Leakers Insidious, Unfair! Retailers and marketing majors have studied both the timing and methodology for whetting our appetites (literally, through free samples in food stores), getting us salivating for various products. A dynamic combination of science and art, they conspire to sneak up on us at various times throughout the year (not just at Christmas time, but especially so), giving us a peek at things big and small, in such a manner that something we hadn't even glanced at before becomes something "I need mom and dad...everyone else is going to have it...it's what they're showing..." Or, "Dear, I don't really need   anything, but if you really want to get me something, I saw this thing in Sharper Image...". Yep, we all fall victim from time to time; it's a stacked Deck𝆕 Slippery Slope, Always Hope:  So subtle in its genesis, so clandestine in origin, the urge grows from a distant thought to one which occupies our mi...

Listing 2.0 -From Bumbled to Bumble: Ad-In, Volley Back! An "Ad-InDum": My December 15th post included a (negative) commentary on Time's "Person of the Year" (well, actually a composite of two), which has since gotten some criticism from other notable sources as well. Criticism for both the choice of people who haven't yet proven they were deserving of being elevated, and criticism for not endorsing some everyday people who have put their lives on the line for all of us, who could have used a "Timely" morale boost. Bumbled, indeed! Meanwhile, in this month's Vogue magazine (which is admittedly not part of my daily reading fare but might be now), I was fortunate to come across an article "Produced by Vogue with Bumble" entitled "Serena Williams Celebrates Women of Courage". The content and inspiration I drew from it represented a strong 'volley' back, puts "Time" on its heels. This, then, also represents an ...

Time to Gear Up: "Baby, it's _ _ _ _ Outside!" Get it in Gear: Even in the years of B.C. (Before Computers, the 'boomer' generation) and w-a-y before Mr. Gore and others claimed their share of fame in bringing us the information highway, the internet, we were accustomed to and welcomed getting several catalogues this time of year, chock-full of cool stuff to give each other as holiday gifts (way before "Seinfeld" featured 're-gifting'). And, a few months prior, we could look forward to those featuring fall fashions and 'Cool Gear' - clothing to keep us warm as our climate cooled in these northern climes, or literally cool, if we were among the lucky ones to have a holiday vacation planned to warmer climes. Then there was the the apparel to simply make us look COOL, no matter the outdoor temps, including sunglasses of course. I am reminded that this trend has only increased in both 'breadth and depth' -- that is, gear that is tailo...

Tis the Season for...Game Changers! (and other minor miracles) Adventful: Regardless of religious affiliation, everybody has occasions, events, and special dates they commemorate each year, those of either a historical or otherwise meaningful nature. Some dates in history, for instance that either heralded another historical event or a date on which a game changing event took place. Exactly a week from today, of course, the birth of Jesus is celebrated by Christians worldwide. The period of "advent", a period of expectant waiting and preparation, is also the beginning of the liturgical year in Western Christendom (this year it began November 29th). For the rest of the world and those of a more secular nature, this time of the year is known as the 'countdown to Christmas'. There are calendars devoted to each, with the common denominator being the great anticipation of chocolates hiding behind each day. And, for the world of retail, there is the great countdown of shopp...

Tis the Season for...Celestial Bodies ("Now You See Me...") The Pattern is (getting) Full: Air traffic controllers, despite a lower volume of traffic throughout the past year due to the pandemic, have their work cut out for them the next few weeks. What, with all the sightings of airborne and otherwise heavenly bodies with wings at various altitudes competing for air space. Likewise, astronomers are finding the perennial return of an extra star of incredible brilliance, beckoning Us 'wise guys' from the east, to a destination that is at first mystical but then fully realized...where might that be in our respective lives at this point in time? An Angel's approach: "It's a bird, it's a plane...it's an apparition, it's an ANGEL!" So how do  we recognize an angel's approach, her/his angle of descent? Some accounts and experiences you have shared with me in the safety of our conversations ("You're gonna think I'm crazy but......

Tis the Season for...Listing! 🎵 I'm making a list, checking it twice...Beyond the most important list of all, include all the other lists we are all making this season. Yep, we've got lists everywhere, of every type. We're surrounded by them. We hear and read about them all day long these days. So many that we end up making a list of lists, with a Post It note as a reminder to look at the list! So many, I don't have room here to list them. Return of the Perennials: The annuals, such as the most notable events --  beyond  COVID and the election, can you think of any if I give you only three seconds? These two events really have eclipsed our attention spans -- of course there are many other things that have happened, good and bad, that you will read about in the next few weeks, in case you can't think of any at the moment. One of the last lists we will (literally) hear about are the top songs of the year (as well as the worst), if we care to stay up and watch one of ...

Heavy Lifting, Unburdening          Atlas , in Greek mythology, was a Titan condemned to hold up the celestial heavens or sky for eternity. Most of us have come to envision (partly via many statues) him as being burdened  by a globe on his shoulders. Universally, we have experienced times in our lives where can totally relate to Mr. Atlas, where we have viscerally felt the weight of the world on our shoulders, our minds, or our hearts ('heavy hearted'). To the astonishment of no one reading this (thank you for tuning in to #101!), as a professional psychologist, I have heard this more frequently throughout 2020. Herein are some reflections that may help to lighten your load, ease some burdens, some of which others before you have endorsed as beneficial. OUTWEIGHED!  Three days ago, I listened to an in depth interview with a scientist detailing the scientific analysis and data, which resulted in the conclusion that the world may have reached a type of '...

Pandemic Postings: Plentiful, Poignant...Passe' 🙏 97...98...99...and 100! Ever so weary, ever hopeful...         When I started this blog on May 5th, it was as I indicated then, prompted by many stressors and lifestyle changes people were already weathering associated with this pandemic. Little did you or I know what was yet to come. And here we are exactly a fortnight from Christmas eve, with our collective psyches reflecting both a state of weariness and hope, cumulatively and concurrently as I complete this, my 100th post. Psyche Up, Out, Up...  Reflected in numerous posts, I have utilized this space and a little of your time, to provoke thought and attempt to add value to your and my journey through this tempestuous time. This, partly through offering information and coping strategies that come from our collective experience, much of which you have shared with me through this very time period, others preceding it. I have also engaged in a bit of editorial l...

Gimme A Break! December 9th: We lost sight of some of the "Right Stuff" as Chuck Yeager passed from our midst, the first to break  the sound barrier on October 14th, 1947, traveling over 660 mph (or 1062 kph if  you prefer bigger numbers)...repeating the feat as a 'back set driver' 65 years later to the minute. Decades ago many wondered if it was possible, whether someone traveling at that speed would break  up. Breaking News! Well, kinda: The BBC's morning news today included an update on the Brexit negotiation which, if it's successful, will allow the U.K. to break away  from the EU: "...the talks neither broke down  nor resulted in a breakthrough ... Breaking  into the Olympics: In other news this morning, I heard a proposal to include break   dancing  in future Olympics. If you question whether this belongs alongside other traditional athletic events, perhaps you should try it. And just maybe it will bring back some judging controversies that...

Stand and Deliver, Hands that Deliver...Deliverance        Whenever I get the chance I encourage math teachers (at least those from middle school on up) to show the film "Stand and Deliver", a 1988 biopic featuring Edward James Olmos as Jaime Escalante, whose approach to teaching (math in this case) inspired his students and colleagues alike. Who inspired a group of dropout prone students to take on the herculean task of passing the AP Calculus exam, telling them exactly and honestly what it would take for them to deliver  on this promise together. Watch what happens. Given the number of times and contexts I have heard the themes associated with deliver even just within the past 48 hours, let alone the past months, ranging from politics to other pandemic related issues, I thought it timely to provoke thought (and perhaps action, who knows) on the topic(s) of   deliver , as a noun, verb, and something sought after. First, categories of people that we h...

Pining, then Whining - "Do You Want it, or Not?!" Vexinations - Part 3 Rolling it out, Rolling it up: The vaccines and your sleeve, that is. Well, the first vaccines are arriving on the scene, distant ones at that. The Russians and the Brits have issued press releases the past few days regarding their respective rollouts. Last week Russian President Putin ordered his government to start a large scale vaccination program, which was 'launched' with Sputnik V injections on Saturday, December 5th (some of us remember the actual launch of the first Russian Sputnik, a major spark in the space race). And this morning ( really  early here while I tuned in), the Brits announced they had officially started their own COVID-19 vaccination program with the Pfizer vaccine. After so many months of the world pining for a vaccine, it's finally here  and it's not  fake news!. Taking a Jab at Maggie: The first Brit to undergo the needle, after only queuing briefly, was a 90 year...

F'ing Brilliant: Feeling fettered, furled, feckless...fecked?!   More feelings, words, alliterations... Throughout my formative years, especially later high school and college, I became enamored with various wordsmiths, William F. Buckley, Jr. and George F. Will in particular. My children knew I was reading one of their novels or articles when they saw me with a dictionary (now my 'smart' phone) in my lap next to the book or magazine ("What are you doing, dad; I thought you took AP English in high school?" "Exactly, which has given me an appreciation for knowing I'll never  know enough words, as well as how the ones I already know can be used"). I'm not sure when I started appreciating the use of alliterations. And I obviously got a good (over)dose of feeling words while majoring in psychology. So, here is yet another post to provoke, expand your own emotional vocabulary, some that have special pandemic pertinence.         Word play -- a nod to B...

Permission Granted, Honored to Serve        I've paid tribute here to some more well known historical figures, as well as some lesser known with whom I felt you might want to become familiar. I have also occasionally eluded to several people closer in time and personal space that have inspired me, who inspire me still. As we are literally on the eve of December 7th, I am paying tribute today to Russell, one of the greatest of the 'Greatest Generation', one of the few remaining survivors of Pearl Harbor living in our state. While considered great in our extended family, he could just as well be part of yours; if you met him and spent any time at all in his presence (like some of of his newest caregivers), you too would want to adopt him as a grandfather. He would certainly make you feel welcome, as if you were one of his own. Hail-fellow-well-met, indeed. Age of Minority, Permission Granted: As he attempted to gain entry into the United States Navy at age 16 (the age ...

 Angels On Your Tree, Angels Around You and Me         "...they had horrendous diseases to deal with despite a shortage or even a complete lack of proper medicines or personal protection, getting little or no sleep, little in the way of recreation - yet they banded together to provide...In the middle of a malaria infested jungle...they worked around the clock in operating rooms and open air field hospitals, those band of angels..." (From a review of Elizabeth Norman's 1999 book "We Band of Angels" which, with only a few minor insertions/deletions, approximates a more contemporary story unfolding before us, about yet another 'Band'...)        I ordered "We Band of Angels" for a special nurse in the life of out family shortly after she embarked on her nursing career, answering a call similar to that of her grandmother (I remember the day she quietly disclosed to us, while working in an assisted living facility even prior to completing her degre...

A Divided Nation: Tinsel Town!        We are reminded daily, if not hourly, by various media outlets as well as many we are in conversation with, that "We are a nation, a house divided...". A nation divided by politics, designating us as either 'red' or 'blue' states...issues of social justice...whether we are complying with mask wearing or railing against any CDC guidelines...those anxiously awaiting a vaccine versus those who have already declared "don't come near me with any needle"...send the kids home from school to their parents (college included) or keep the schools, restaurants, gyms, salons, and other government institutions opened up. Important issues, to be sure. But these pale in importance to others we are now becoming preoccupied with, issues that really  have the power to ignite conflict and start a civil war within our households, communities, and across our nation. Issues we will all, in the coming days, have to take a stand on, ...