work stretch done...

 covid numbers in our state are increasing and the hospitalizations seem to also be increasing.  we should have been pretty easily contained due to our remoteness, but sadly we live in a society of people who are selfish, entitled and so stupid. they can't be bothered to wear a mask and distance.  we would be safe up here and opening up locally but no.  now we will have to endure increased death and illness and our economy will take a hit for much longer. 

 if you still think Trump is doing a great job at this point my respect for you is pretty close to zip.  the number of things you have to rationalize away with this guy is so far beyond rational at this point, it's ridiculous.  he's been given a pass for more things than any other politician has ever been given. 

 they must look away from his racial issues, his overall treatment of women, his many financial messes which he continues to do everything in his power, with their support, to hide. taking children from their parents at the border, many to never see their parents again...for illegally crossing the border?? really, they think loss of their children forever is a fair punishment for illegally crossing a border in attempt to seek asylum or a better life for their families? using his office and power to get assistance with elections. looking the other way and doing nothing in a pandemic...well he is golfing. deaths and a spiraling economy.  using the justice system to go after his enemies, assist his buddies, cover his illegal acts.  lying, so much lying. 

 the critters have been keeping me entertained.  they are so sweet. 

 often i end up at the dog park.  easier and less bear risk.  now i hear the animal control are trying to rescind the off leash for training laws and that could cut even more places for me to walk the dogs. there really should be exemptions for those who do actually train their dogs for off leash.  go for a walk with me, charge me for a special license.  they have kennel licenses why not off leash licenses.

 did  rainy walk between shifts at North Bivouac.  i have heard tickets were handed out at Campbell Airstrip.  just more people on trails that usually do not get out there as they do other things that are closed now. people who have untrained dogs, do not know the rules on the trails, throw trash all over. they ended up closing Lake Louise as fellow Alaskans left garbage all over the place. leave no trace is a lost art.  so many selfish citizens. 

 sadly, we totally live in a "not my problem" society.  people only care about themselves. will Covid break us of this eventually?  how many citizens will need to get sick and/or die before people find the compassion and empathy that they have abandoned. we are at 135,000 lives + dead and the entitled still feel entitled.  still make all sorts of ridiculous claims about how mask wearing is such a burden for them.  they scream about their freedom while not giving a crap about the loss of lives...to them, it's just old people or its a hoax or its been over blown or it's fake news.  any and all excuses.  anything to justify their lunacy...and their lunatic administration.

 these are from a blend of home, Homer, local hikes, Seward boat tour.  there is beautiful stuff out there, all over.  all you have to do is keep your eyes open. it changes daily.

 the little sloth rock was out N. Bivouac. people like to paint rocks and stash them on trails.  always fun to run across. i'm sure there are purists who freak about it...just like they hate cairns...of course, many of those same people will turn around and feel entitled to run 4 wheelers all over or do other things that often do far worse damage...but ....

 the flowers are really hitting their stride.

 yesterday after i woke i headed out to Powerline Pass.  ended up going up to the flat area below Hidden Lakes.  always pretty up there.  enjoy the flowers along the way.  no bears spotted.  did see one moose but it was quite a ways off.

 got a new fishing pole toy for Covid Cat.  all of the pets seem addicted to it. its the feathers.  i have to hide it in the closet when i'm not playing with them.

 his tail!!  his paws still seem fairly large.  he's nearly 9 months and still growing.

 work this week. i worked ER, PCU and then was the runner again.

 the place is for sure getting busier.  much more full. i'm not doing holds in the ER yet, they are still getting room but it's getting tighter. 

 the west part of the ER was mostly unused for a few months and now it's been open more and more.

 Covid patients seem more mixed in...nurses can have a covid patient and a fairly fresh open heart patient.  seems a bit odd to me but...

 there is talk of re-opening the CICU as the covid unit again. 

 we are still re-using n-95 masks for sure. i get a new surgical mask every day...those used to be one time use but now we keep them all day. i think on some of the med/surg floors they re-use those masks for up to a week. 

 we are running out of bleach wipes and are using sprays more.

 blue wood from those tiny blue mushrooms

 the agitation level is increasing on families that can't visit or accompany their friends/family into the ER. at the door there are incidences fairly regular of pissed off people, who take it out on the door folks...they have put security back with us because of the anger we have had to deal with. my guess is this is happening all over and it won't be shocking when guns are drawn as that is how many Americans deal with life...just pull out a weapon. 

 many are very good and understanding of the situation.  the staff love not having open door policy. it was pretty stupid in a hospital anyway to just have people of all ages wandering in and out.  we had no control over drugs and weapons, let alone control of germs coming and going with people.

 i suspect some patients are thrilled to actually be able to rest a bit more without having family come and go at all hours of the night.  we had cut visiting hours a good degree before this all started.  before that people showed up in the middle of the night.

 always a great view on the powerline trail

 trump commuted his buddy, Stone's, sentence.  I suspect he will give the ex-cops a get out of jail free card for the Floyd killing as well. 

 he is destroying all we had left of civility and law. as someone said, he is tossing rolls of paper towels at all of us like he did with Puerto Rico.  he could care less about anyone but himself.

 Barr has become his personal lawyer.  what have all these folks been promised?  how deep is the corruption in our nation?  what does Putin have over some/many of these folks?

 the right seems to be even excusing the bounties that Putin has more than likely been placing on the heads of our servicemen and women.  they scream fake news, dem plots...they believe this administration and the GOP can do no wrong and that everything on the left is a conspiracy and plot to destroy the US.  they trust Putin far more than any on the left.  they have quite literally lost their minds and are willing to destroy our nation because of their beliefs in all these crazy conspiracy theories.  it's so nuts....

 thankful for sane friends and family who are not so wrapped up in the conspiracies. 

 also thankful for the pets and nature as they keep me grounded and give me a distraction from all of this. i can't control these citizens who are so lost in these conspiracies and lies.

 i have no idea how it all finally resolves. blood shed for sure as these folks will not be convinced by facts or truth or explanations.  they are so lost to the propaganda machine on the right.  they turn on anyone on the right that dares stand up and speak out.  it does mean their force field is getting a tiny bit smaller. 

 there are now two groups of GOP/former GOP working against Trump so that is something.  that at least a few of them have figured out the bull and are trying to fight against it.  sadly, the bulk off the right just demonize them and continue believing the most crazy crap. 

 there is absolutely nothing Trump can do at this point that would drive his cultish followers to turn from him.  they seem more and more willing to do his bidding, even to die for him.  of all the people to trust...it's mind blowing really.  he's such a terrible person. he does not have their interest at all, just his own.  he'd turn on his own children for sure.  he truly only cares about one person, himself.

 just seems unfathomable that the religious right has handed over their faith to this faithless fool.

 my guts took 3-5 days to clear the Nexium but all has been well since then.

 i also crack up that white folks on the right will find one black person that agrees with them and that suddenly cancels out the feelings/opinions of every other black person on the planet.  very often that one opinion is on the internet because many of them do not actually have any black folks in their lives.

 i better get that lawn moved before the rain starts, need to do the cat litter/garbage/dog poop pick up, dog walk...just a little bit of stuff to do today.  i was tired after working and then the long walk.  it is always great to get that whole body work out on a real hike. 

 loving all the forget me nots.  always a favorite.

 these are at the dog park.  there is a good amount of them on the waters edge.

 still debating a little road trip.  maybe tomorrow.

 i also want to start a few projects....sinks and counters in bathrooms and new flooring. 

 for sure some outdoor projects i should get to as well. would love to re-do the driveway. it's a mess, cracks and such.  make some better curb appeal.

 i am happy now that i don't have a huge yard to work on.  this is enough.

 i was a bit worried about bears on the last few hikes but it was the mosquito's and bugs that were the most annoying.  North Bivouac was loaded with mosquitoes despite the rain.

 tired Ivy out. she has a scrape on her lower jaw. i wonder if it's like a rug burn from drooling and tennis ball scooping up

 the mushrooms are starting to pop out.  was thinking of heading to Kincaid for a loop around Little Campbell Lake as well.  hmm.  it's already after two.  yard first.

 beautiful day yesterday.  today is just cloudy so far.  i love clouds and rain though.  often i wake and feel a little sad when it's bright and sunny out....i know i'm a bit of a freak i guess.

 Tusker on the trail.  they had a great time out there.

thankful for A. overall decent health that allows for walking B. the furs to share my world with, it would be super lonely without them i fear.  C.  normal guts again.  :-)  off to pick up dog poop and mow!!