Anecdotally

So, on Saturday, we did that thing where we stocked the pantry in preparation for possible quarantines.

The kids are thrilled. They have already managed to eat half the granola bars that I bought as a quarantine treat. Forget stocking the pantry, I need to be locking the pantry.

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My mother-in-law tells us two stories from Germany. One: The government is bracing for a a large outbreak in the next two weeks as a large number of Germans visited Italy for Carnival. Two: her tenants are heading to Spain on vacation. "Aren't you worried about the coronavirus?" she asked. "Well," they answered, "if we get sick in Germany or get sick in Spain makes no difference. We shouldn't let that keep us from enjoying our vacation."

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On Democratic primary candidates: comparing Bloomberg's preparedness speech to Warren's preparedness speech from almost the same time on Saturday night is revealing. I'm really tired of how many politician have nothing substantive to say. Why are you talking if your words don't have new information? This is a particular problem among the male population.

Remember those early years of elementary school when some kids would raise their hands to answer questions when THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE ANSWER WAS? It was almost always the boys doing this. Obviously, some still do this. Except at ages 73, 77, 78,  we call them politicians and act like this behavior is not just acceptable, but exemplifies LEADERSHIP. It's bull$hit.

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I voted for Warren. We need to get serious about moving this country forward in a principled and strategic way.

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Also: did you know that cognitive flexibility decreases with age? Cognitive flexibility allows us to learn and solve problems. Do you think the average age of our elected government officials might have something to do with our governmental disfunction? What do you think: is there any hope it will get better?

BTW, please update your blog...

I was born in Iowa and the majority of my large extended family still lives in Iowa. When I was 7 years old, my family moved to Massachusetts. My cousins, young and unfiltered, and still in Iowa, kept me updated on how my perceptions of Iowa should have changed.

"You think we are all dumb hicks, chewing on hay and wearing straw hats."

I did? That's what I thought?

"But that's okay," my 11 year old cousin would add. "Because we think you are snobby Mayflower pilgrims."

I have never been ashamed of my Iowa roots. And I have never thought of my cousins as hicks. In fact, I always felt like they were far more stylish and knowledgeable than me. When their 4H projects won awards and they suddenly owned a week's worth of Z. Cavariccis, I was pretty firmly convinced that I was missing out.

I should clarify my earlier statement. I was never ashamed of my Iowa roots until 2016, when Iowa went red in the national election. My uncle said, "You just don't understand how badly people want change."

In December 2016, I was still disappointed enough that I skipped sending out Christmas/New Years cards to my Midwest relatives. I skipped again in 2017 and 2018. In 2019, I sent some cards.

There's a lot of reasons I'm not blogging very much lately, and the political situation is certainly one of them. I'm so discouraged by what I see; I don't like to be political; and yet I'm so horrified  that I can't NOT say something when given access to a public forum. This is not a version of myself that I like, and it's not a place that I'm comfortable to be. I don't want to fight with anybody, actually. But I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW ANYONE'S VALUES HAVE SUNK SO LOW THAT THIS LEADERSHIP AND THEIR ACTIONS ARE ACCEPTABLE. THESE ARE NOT AMERICANS THAT I KNOW. Also: Iowa's caucus debacle is fresh in my mind, adding insult to injury.

Primary season, in general, frequently leaves me disappointed. I look for candidates who clearly articulate a VISION that I agree with. Then I want to know if that candidate can back it up. Its strange how little Vision we get during the primaries. Is that because we only have two parties and the candidates in the primaries are expected to adhere to the generally accepted party's Vision? In 2016, I liked Bernie Sanders because of his Vision. I think he's still got Vision. But after 4 years of watching him, I'm a little less convinced that he's got the support and the roadmaps he'll need to make his Vision happen. I like Elizabeth Warren's plans, but I worry that her Vision is basically to get rid of money in politics. It feels a little reactive, not proactive. I liked Pete Buttigieg a few months ago; lately I'm worried that his positions are more about crowd-pleasing and less about his Vision. I actually have no idea what his Vision is. And I have no idea if he can back it up...although I DO trust him to surround himself with really smart people - who will definitely have experience - but who may or may not support his undefined Vision. Amy Klobuchar got in that really great spiel about FDR and "I know you" at the New Hampshire debate. It was brilliant and Vision defining, we shall see if it continues and develops. One great spiel isn't enough yet for me to vote for her. I can't really take any of the other candidates seriously: not Biden (riding on Obama's coat tails, and otherwise with a track record that I find a little suspect), not Steyer (with no government experience), and not Bloomberg (although I very much appreciate Everytown and his humorous ads.)

After primary season, Visions seem to be more clearly articulated. Two major candidates make for more contrast and an easier decision about who to support. This primary season, which is looking like it will be long, is yet another unresolved and upsetting phase in the already disturbing spectacle of the last four years. I'm trying to be optimistic: the process will yield the best candidate! But I'm not so sure that's a reality that has played out in the past.

Summer Groove

The kids started summer vacation last week. It was a wobbly start, as is often the case. You know, it just takes time for everyone to get into the new groove of summer. The kids are used to a schedule, and without – or at least, with a much looser schedule – they seem a little lost. I have faith that they will figure it out; they always have in the past. In the meantime, the transition is shaky. They are constantly asking me about something or for something. It's pretty much an interruption every 2 minutes. It makes me miss having boring job in a dull, quiet office. Although, I didn't get to watch them do funny things like make this "neighborhood" complete with mailboxes, mullioned windows, and flower boxes when I was at a boing office job all day:

We've had some unseasonably cold temperatures here. Added together the kids' desire to SWIM (because it is summer, after all), several of us have ended up with colds. This week we are taking things very easy. Easy means watching television. But Easy gives me a chance to get caught up on some lingering work projects. I've been hesitant about taking on too many projects this summer, since we no longer have an au pair and there aren't many camps on the schedule. I guess my new reality as self-employed will be this: I will worry about having work, I will be worried about not having work.

We are doing a fair amount of travel this summer. I'm looking forward to being somewhere else for an extended period. I've done a lot of two-and-three days trips in the last couple of years. But it will be nice to be away for longer. We also have some guests coming, including Fritz's mom, who will stay for two weeks.

I'm also forcing myself back into a regular exercise schedule; it's been lacking from my life for essentially 12 years now. I think my 2 year stint as an office worker didn't help at all. As a stay-at-home parent, one spends more time doing physical activity. Sitting in an office was really a radical change. Working at home for the past 3 months has been a welcome blend of intellectual work and physical activity, but I'm still happy to be getting an official hour-long workout each day. I think this change is really possible – finally! – because the kids are old enough that they sleep through the nights and sleep-in in the morning. That only took 12 years... Oh! AND I'm no longer scrambling to make it to an office by 8 am.