Tell me doctor, where are we going this time
Is this the 50’s, or 1999

40,000-plus new cases daily. FORTY THOUSAND!!!

That’s the most since the start of the coronavirus pandemic back in March. I thought the goal was to be flattening the curve? I thought the goal was to decrease the amount of new cases and hospitalizations, not to see them rise? Apparently, we’re going back in time.

We were doing pretty good. People were staying home. They were trying to stay safe. The states having the biggest problems, Washington, New York, Illinois, California, were working hard to get the virus under control. The federal government’s task force medical experts warnings were being heard. They set up guidelines that would reopen the country slowly and safely. It was looking good. Maybe we couldn’t see the end of the pandemic, that’ll occur when there’s a vaccine, but progress was being made.

So what the Hell happened, people? What went disastrously wrong? Why did we go backwards? Why did we go back in time?

I’m sure you’ll think I’ll start by blaming Donald Trump…and you’d be right, I will. He went against all the guidelines set up by his his task force medical experts. He was too interested in getting the economy started again at the expense of public health and safety. He was more interested in winning reelection than in saving American lives.

He doesn’t get all the blame. You can give a large portion to the governors who heard Trump say the word “liberate” and thought that meant it was time to start the reopening process…and start fast. In fact, I give the lion’s share of the blame to them. They know who Trump is and how everything he does is self-serving. They didn’t have to follow along. They made their choice to be good little lemmings. Now look at their states….Arizona, Texas, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Arkansas. Good job, men!

But, in an out of control pandemic, there’s plenty of blame to go around. Let’s take a look in the mirror. Are you one of the fools who decided it was time to hit the beach in Florida or California? Are you one of the folks who decided to go to a bar and have drinks with fifty or so of your closest friends…and by closest I mean side by side…no social distancing? Are you one of the idiots who went to the Lake of the Ozarks or Lake Geneva? Are you one of the people who had to go to a brick and mortar church on Sunday instead of attending virtually? To all you, thanks!

I’m not done with the blame game just yet….how about all the protesters/looters in every major city in America? Standing side by side, no social distancing infecting each other…not to mention those they come in contact with after leaving the protests. Hey, I’m good with the protests and the cause, but it didn’t help public health in a pandemic.

Finally, for those who aren’t wearing masks….WHAT THE FUCK IS THE MATTER WITH YOU?!!

You add all this up and it leads to forty thousand new cases of coronavirus each day. If you think you can see the end of the pandemic and that we’re closing in on normal, you’re just fooling yourself. We’re really heading back in time. We’re really heading back to the future.

So take me away, I don’t mind.
But you better promise me, I’ll be back in time.

*Lyrics to “Back in Time’ by Huey Lewis & the News

When Chicago’s Mayor Lori Lightfoot was sworn in as Mayor of Chicago, she was asked about the City notorious epidemic of violence and what she proposed to do about it.  Her answer was not surprising since she was a progressive liberal who probably believed the late Father Flanagan, the founder of Boys Town orphanage in Douglas County Nebraska who once famously said”THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A BAD BOY.” Lightfoots answer was that”CHICAGO IS NOT GOING TO ARREST IT’S WAY OUT OF THE VIOLENCE PROBLEM.” She extended the library hours, opened and set up youth camps where Chicago’s youth could gather and make nice, with various sports and other cultural activities. All well-intentioned without question, however, the reality soon set in.

In 14 Months since she has become Chicago’s mayor, the cities violence has taken a stunning upward surge. Somehow the gangs and their affiliates ignored the libraries and all those other opportunities to make nice and decided to wage a war on each other that has the entire city stunned. Since January, over 9 people a day have been shot, and 332 have been murdered, 1,700 have been wounded and the trend is spiraling upward at an alarming rate. See the illustration above. In just one week 150 people have been shot and 25 souls were murdered. Victims included a 3-year-old and several teens under 17. Last month saw 95 murders and over 450 people wounded. The worst May violence in 60 years.

This past weekend not to be outdone by  Fathers Day weekend in which there were 15 murders and 95 people shot, another 18 souls were murdered and 48 were wounded. Stunning numbers even in a war zone to be sure. Writing about the violence week after week to some might seem like “beating a dead horse, but the reality seems to have completely transfixed the elected Politicians who continue to be in a state of bewilderment. A scapegoat needs to be uncovered and very soon or the folks in Chicago are going to get a clue that YES indeed (sorry Father Flanagan)  there are hundreds of bad boys running loose and terrorizing a once great City to the point people in the neighborhoods are in fear of their lives and rightfully so.

People often ask what is the solution.? There is no one sure-fire solution but a big, big step would be to arrest the shooters and violent criminals and hold them accountable for criminal behavior, stop releasing violent offenders on low bonds, and no bonds, especially those who are arrested for crimes with guns. Prosecute those who are arrested and seek the maximum prison time. The Cook County  Criminal Justice  System is completely broken and in the hands of politicians who favor the criminals over the victims, and it’s just a repeat cycle as everyone can plainly see by the violence numbers Chicago is enduring.

Something is very wrong with the theories that there is no such thing as a bad boy, (believe me only evil people kill like they have been doing and will continue to do) or everyone deserves one chance after another, is nothing short of insane thinking. Imagine a Governor releasing over 4,000 convicted felons and over 65 convicted murderers because of a worry that they might be vulnerable to the VIRUS  and not realize they are heading right back to the same neighborhoods they previously terrorized. Cook County has over 5,000 people on the home monitoring program, that is not being monitored, this includes people charged with murder and other serious felonies.

Last week President Trump sent a letter to Governor Pritzker and Mayor Lighgtfoot denouncing the unprecedented violence taking place against Chicago’s citizens and offered FEDERAL HELP in formalizing a plan to stop the shootings and killing that are grossly out of control. Their response was that the President was JUST TRYING TO DEFLECT HIS BAD RESPONSE ON THE VIRUS. Insane thinking by two very clueless politicians who are dancing a political dance while blood is running all over Chicago’s streets. Two classic politicians that are either clueless or totally incompetent. How many more need to die at the hands of THUGS who are in control of entire neighborhoods. Next weekend is the 4th of July, I’m betting they are ecstatic that it is only a 3 day weekend. The search for a proper Scapegoat is most likely underway.

Now more than ever, it’s important to put focus on maintaining good health. Adding music to your life is one way to lessen the everyday worries. Did you know that playing an instrument, listening to music and singing can have positive health benefits? Listening to music can help reduce anxiety and has shown to lower blood pressure. Music can also improve sleep, reduce pain and improve memory. Studies have shown that music can actually strengthen different portions of the brain.

Research tells us that listening to music is great therapy as our brains age. It is always good to enjoy familiar pieces of music but listening to something new has the added benefit of taxing and challenging the brain’s ability to interpret. Learning new music can be helpful in improving one’s ability to understand conversation in a noisy environment.

Problems understanding speech in noise is one of the most common reasons to schedule a baseline hearing test. Music is one way to improve and change the brain’s ability to sharpen listening skills. Listening to music gives your brain a chance to work differently.

Studies have shown that training with music can improve one’s ability to understand speech in noise. It’s great to know that listening to music, playing an instrument or singing can reap positive benefits.

If you have musical abilities, by all means use them. Listen to music, play music, and sing out loud because there are health related benefits. If music doesn’t come naturally, you can always belt out a song in the shower or on your drive home from work. It’s never too late to start and you will give your brain a great work out.

Anybody else feel like the world is out to get them?

Sorry. That statement was SO DRAMATIC. (I know my flaws! Lol!)

But really, does anybody feel like the world is just challenging them at this point in time?

These last couple of months have been difficult for all of us for a multitude of reasons. The world is just going through A LOT. And through going through all of that everybody keeps having the attitude that “it’s just life.”

I will be the first to admit that I am so sick of hearing “it’s just life.” That isn’t enough of a reason or excuse for me anymore.

I am OVER IT.

(This might be coming off sassy, and truthfully – it should. I feel very passionate about this.)

Instead, I have chosen to be in charge of my own mindset and my own life.

I have chosen to find the lessons that I am being taught from these situations and scenarios and grow from them.

I have chosen to not give in or give up just because the outcome isn’t what I wanted or hoped.

I have chosen to get through this bump in the road, no matter how bumpy it gets.

I have chosen to continue finding the positives. (THEY ARE OUT THERE!)

I have chosen to put more effort and energy into the things that I do. (Be strategic. Have a purpose.)

I have chosen to make a difference in my OWN life.

I have chosen to SUCCEED.

If you are feeling this way lately because of everything going on in the world, please know YOU ARE NOT ALONE. But also know, that at some point in this crazy life… you need to make the conscious decision to choose you.