A few random thoughts that are on my mind:

1. Every president faces a crisis while in office. It’s inevitable. What is unfortunate is that our current president is not remotely up to the task of dealing with our current crisis — the coronavirus pandemic. My concern was always that Donald Trump would make a harrowing foreign policy miscalculation with dire consequences. While his management of foreign affairs has been witless, it hasn’t gotten us killed. His handling of the COVID-19 outbreak is another matter entirely. Trump is just as advertised: an incompetent prevaricator who creates more problems every time he opens his mouth or launches Twitter. He owns this mess. Unequivocally. Now that he is being held accountable at his daily campaign rallies, which masquerade as press briefings, he is quick to lash out, pointing fingers at everyone but himself — the thin-skinned bully who won election in 2016. Countries get the leaders they deserve. Let’s hope we’re done with the self-flagellation and realize this November that we deserve better than the ignominious dumpster fire we’ve been subjected to the last four years; that goes for enablers in the Senate and House, too.

2. Why are Florida and Georgia so interested in becoming COVID-19 internet memes? Opening beaches, barber shops, nail salons, restaurants, gyms, and theaters within the next few days is asking for what will come. Serious question: When infection rates shoot up, will the governors have to reinstate shutdown orders, or does the rest of the country simply need to restrict travel to and from these states?

3. There has been quite a bit of ukulele playing at our house over the last month. I have a technique problem though. I bend the wrist on my fretting hand way too much. It makes my playing less fluid and creates pain from the tension. This is not good. My teacher started working with me to correct the problem, but it requires relearning what I’ve been doing wrong for two years. Muscle memory is great…but not in this case! Ugh.

4. I introduced our daughter to my old Nintendo Wii. Aria has found a ridiculous amount of joy from Excite Truck, which was a console launch title in 2006. Her laughter is infectious. I steer while she presses the accelerator and “helps” me with stunts. We’ve destroyed quite a few trees, totaled numerous vehicles, and flown through the air more than some planes. I guess this is a warm-up for driver education in 10 years.

5. I just celebrated my first birthday in quarantine by working from home, taking a lunchtime run in the sunshine, supplying tech support for Aria’s distance learning Chromebook, enjoying a homemade dinner of chicken cacciatore, partaking in a few truck races with Aria, and watching an episode of Bosch with Lisa. A memorable day for happy reasons. Those are needed during a health and economic crisis.