Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is everywhere right now, conveying just how much of a rising star she currently is in the Democratic Party. On Wednesday she appeared on The Daily Show, wearing a shirt emblazoned with “That Woman From Michigan,” an obvious clapback at President Trump for his egregiously unprofessional and overtly condescending remark about her last week.

On Saturday, she teamed up with the Detroit Lions, Pistons, Red Wings, and Tigers to release a call to action video encouraging nurses and doctors to bring their skills to Michigan as a way to volunteer and help bolster the number of health care professionals fighting on the front lines against the COVID-19 pandemic. Her public profile has risen so high that she’s now in the mix to be the Democratic Vice Presidential candidate. Whitmer now has the third best odds of assuming the position, behind only the favorite Kamala Harris and Amy Klobuchar. 

It’s very impressive for someone who really wasn’t even on the radar, in this regard, until the middle of last month. In the end, it is likely that inexperience on the national stage will prohibit her from being on the bottom of the Presidential ticket this time, but the 48-year-old Lansing, Michigan native will certainly be on the national stage before too long.

It’s looking very likely that Joe Biden’s running mate will be a woman, with Elizabeth Warren and Stacy Abrams also considered strong contenders. We’ll know more about that when summer gets here and Democratic National Convention draws near. In the present, Whitmer is one of a handful of American governors stepping up and taking charge, filling that very large void of leadership at the Federal level. The state of Michigan, and the city of Detroit especially, is a coronavirus hot spot right now, and Whitmer is displaying poise right now in this time of extreme crisis.

“I am grateful for the health care professionals who are on the front lines of this pandemic every single day, but these brave men and women can’t do it alone,” Whitmer said in the PSA video she made with leading figures from the four Detroit sports teams.

“That’s why we are asking nurses, doctors, and qualified health care professionals across the country to bring their expertise to our state to combat this virus. If we work together, we can slow the spread and save lives.” 

Hopefully, healthcare workers will heed this call to action and the Great Lakes state gets the aid they need.

Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No,  I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation. 

You can follow Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com on Twitter here and his cat on Instagram at this link.

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Alma Deutscher is a composer in the mode of Beethoven and Mozart,  a pianist in the mode Arthur Rubinstein and a violinist in the mode of Itzhak Perlman.

Well not quite, but at 15 years old, she is a most remarkable girl who will put a smile on your face when the coronavirus pandemic gets to be too much to endure.

It’s not just melodiousness of her music–both composed and played–but also the beguiling way she puts herself into the music. As beautiful as her music is the joy and heart that show through her face is extra special. Here is something who not only enjoys what she does, but she, relishes it, lives it. It washes over her as it will you. As someone commented, “This is music straight from the Heavens.”

A great introduction to this prodigy is Barton Swaim’s piece in the Wall Street Journal, “Irony or Ugliness: This youthful composer likes to speak ‘directly to the heart.’ Critics won’t like it, but audiences do.”

Something terrible happened to classical music during the 20th century, and especially after 1945. You may be called a reactionary or a nostalgist if you acknowledge this fact aloud, but every concertgoer knows it. Many individual composers continued writing works of enduring value, but the great preponderance of classical music written over the past 75 years is deliberately opaque and aggressively ugly…

Some recent composers have resisted the tendency to equate serious with dissonant or difficult—Arvo Pärt in Estonia, the late Dominick Argento in America. But none have done so in quite the guileless manner of English composer Alma Deutscher. She writes music that people want to hear r: orchestral and chamber works that ordinary listeners—those who aren’t invested in the “serious” music industry—actually like.

Her oeuvre is small, but it includes chamber and orchestral works of inventiveness, technical sophistication, wit and, above all, melodic richness. She has performed her piano concerto and violin concerto with orchestras in Europe and the U.S.; her opera, “Cinderella, ” was performed by California’s Opera San José in 2018 and released on DVD by Sony Classical. In November, Sony released “From My Book of Melodies,” a collection of solo piano works.

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Miss our adventures in Tombstone Provincial Park (Yukon), Dawson City (Yukon), Kluane National Park (Yukon), or backcountry hiking? Not see my escapade on the side of the mountain? Overlook the time we watched three grizzlies fishing or visited Skagway? Check out parts 1-7 of the Klondike road trip at the links!

WE DID IT. We made it to the last installment of the Klondike Road Trip, only a mere 7 posts and five and a half months later. Cue the celebration!

via GIPHY

Tough crowd. Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, the conclusion to our epic road trip through the Klondike (Yukon and Alaska) took us back to where it all started: Whitehorse, the capital of the Yukon Territory. Whitehorse is set in a valley along the Yukon River and is the jumping off point for most visitors. That’s because it’s the only city in the Yukon and therefore has the only “major” airport, but just because it’s a jumping off point doesn’t mean it’s not worth spending time there.

Spotted on the road from Skagway to Whitehorse: the perfect Bond villain lair

We got there by driving from Skagway, Alaska, the last leg of our two-week long road trip. The highway took us through stark mountain ranges where we passed by brightly hued lakes on our right and massive boulder-slides on our left (“rockslides” isn’t giving justice to the size of these bad boys). Along the way, as we neared Whitehorse, we stopped at the world’s smallest desert in Carcross. That’s right; there’s a one-square mile desert in Canada. Like, actual dunes and desert vegetation. Being only one square mile, there’s not much to see, but it’s worth a stop just to say you’ve been to the world’s smallest desert…that’s in Canada.

Just a classic Canadian desert (?)

We got to Whitehorse mid-day and had lunch at one of the few restaurants that hadn’t closed for the season, the Burnt Toast Café. Fortunately for us, it happened to be one of the best restaurants in town. And I’m not just saying that because we had eaten freeze-dried food, Clif bars, and fish ‘n chips for the past two weeks. The food was really good, and my body practically started weeping in gratitude for finally being given some vegetables.

Even though Whitehorse is considered a “city”, and unlike other towns in the Yukon has a Wal-mart, Starbucks, and fast-food chains, it still has a small-town feel in its downtown. There are some great locally owned shops, like the eclectic souvenir store The Collective Good. Not just a place for magnets and coffee mugs, this shop has some great items from local artists and Yukon-themed apparel only found at the store.

Like every city we visit, we made it a point to check out Whitehorse’s craft beer scene and visited the Winterlong Brewing Company and Yukon Brewing  taprooms. Winterlong is most definitely off the beaten path in what I can only describe as a “rural industrial area”, but it’s worth the trek to have their Weekend Warrior IPA under a heat lamp in the outdoor seating area. They also have two Russian Imperial stouts called Erebus and Terror, named after the ships that were part of the doomed Franklin Expedition. As someone who’s read books about it (and watched the AMC show), my inner nerd was delighted. But not delighted enough to have a 10% ABV beer early in the afternoon.

Because it’s a larger brewery, the taproom in Yukon Brewing felt more like one you’d find in a bigger city like Toronto: a sleek space with some great merch. And great beer, obvs. We stepped away from our IPA island and both gave their seasonal pumpkin spice beer a go. For non-beer lovers, they also have an on-site distillery but we weren’t looking to take down any gin cocktails at 2pm. We’re no heroes.

What a gem

Our last craft beer stop in Whitehorse was the Woodcutter’s Blanket, an historic log building whose entrance is adorned with two huge wooden moose, fighting with their antlers locked. Although it feels like a bar/restaurant, there’s a brewery on site. Given the building is essentially a log cabin, the inside feels deceptively modern and there’s ceviche on the menu right next to the pickled eggs. It’s a super cool atmosphere and probably my favorite brewery space in Whitehorse.

We didn’t spend all of our Whitehorse time on a bar stool, I swear. We also drove 30 minutes outside of the city to the Yukon Wildlife Preserve. We took the hilly 5km walking trail around the property and just marveled at all the examples of Yukon wildlife. There were dozens of mule deer sitting so still in the grass that they looked fake, a bull moose lying so close to the fence that you could see the flies buzzing around his head, and a cow moose trying to stick her neck over the top of the fence to get our attention. We could see mountain goats way high up in the hills and as close as five feet from us. There was this group of thin-horned sheep where they seemed to pile on one another and a muskox (Elliot said I was being mean b/c I said it was an ugly animal) munching on some grass right next to us. There were cute little arctic foxes, one black “red fox” that only had three legs, a herd of buffalo lounging in the pasture, and a Canada lynx that blended so well into its surroundings that it took us awhile to find it. We also learned that caribou and reindeer are the SAME SPECIES. They’re just called caribou in North America and reindeer in Europe! Mind: BLOWN.

via GIPHY

Even though it was the end of September, the weather was still warm enough to make it a perfect day for walking around and viewing wildlife. We had seen plenty of animals in the wild on this trip, but it was no less mind-blowing to view even more.

One moose. Not two meese.

One billy goat gruff

Can you see me?

After the wildlife preserve, we had to quickly come back to reality and wash and pack all of our camping gear. That meant hosing down our muddy boots in the hotel bathtub (and then cleaning the tub b/c I felt guilty leaving it for the maid), making sure our hatchet and Rambo knife were in our checked luggage so we wouldn’t get arrested at airport security, and playing Tetris with our two bags to somehow fit in all of our camping shit. After somehow getting everything into bags, we loaded up the Ford Expedition that had been our noble steed for the past two weeks, and made our way to the Whitehorse Airport and, ultimately, reality. Okay, not really because we still were going to spend some quality time with our friend, Jessie, in Vancouver.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: road trips are the best kinds of trips. You have the flexibility to see what you want, when you want, you encounter things that you wouldn’t if you were just taking flights (like bull moose fighting in a valley), and you get to spend quality time with your travel buddy (in my case, my hubby). Our road trip through the Yukon and Alaska gave us wildlife, Mother Nature at her finest, great food, and life lessons. Even if you don’t strike gold in the Klondike, a visit there will make you feel like you’ve found treasure…

Thirsty for more? Why not subscribe to Court’s Excellent Adventures? Type your email address in the box below and click the “create subscription” button. My list is completely spam free, and you can opt out at any time. On Facebook? Of course you are, so check out the blog’s FB page!

The message has been repeated numerous times: The best thing we can do for others during this pandemic is stay in. As sensible as the message is, the urge to do more grows stronger with every additional day of isolation. But what, other than donate money?

My nephew unwittingly gave me an idea the other day.

Ten of us were having our second weekly “family reunion” via Zoom. Matthew talked about how long and busy his workdays are at the Heartland Blood Center in Aurora. He mentioned the critical shortage of platelets, the fragments of blood that stop bleeding. Donated platelets need to be used within five days.

“Giving platelets — that’s what I can do,” I thought, feeling instantly better.

Blood banks assure us that it’s safe to donate now. Donation chairs are spaced the recommended distance apart, and steps to control infection are ramped up. Donors are screened, including temperature checks, to make sure they are well.

Blood donations are way down as people isolate during the coronavirus pandemic, causing a dire shortage of blood supplies. Blood is needed for millions of Americans with serious injuries and blood disorders and for survivors of major surgeries. Cancer patients regularly need transfusions of platelets, which help blood to clot, to prevent life-threatening bleeding. Low platelet count is a major side effect of cancer treatment.

Matthew alerted us that giving platelets is more taxing than giving whole blood, not because it is painful but because it is long. He spent almost two hours in the donation chair. He has his job to return to, but during this crisis, what better thing do retirees like me have to do with two hours?

During a platelet donation, whole blood drawn from an arm goes into a machine that extracts the platelets and returns the other blood components (plasma and red and white cells) to the donor. The cycle of extraction and return is repeated several times, with a single donation session providing platelets for as many as three patients. With check-in procedures and recovery afterward, the process takes up to three hours.

For those wanting to help more than once now, an upside of platelet donation is that you can donate every seven days, up to 24 times a year. Those who give whole blood have to wait eight weeks to make another donation.

Anyone interested in donating platelets, other components, or whole blood can search for a nearby donation location through the websites of the American Red Cross, the American Association of Blood Banks, or America’s Blood Centers. Appointments are needed for platelet donation. I made an appointment at Vitalent (formerly LifeSource) in the Thompson Center on the earliest available date.

Before Matthew mentioned the need for platelets, I had looked into whether the Greater Chicago Food Depository needs help packing grocery boxes. Indeed it does, but it is recommending that people older than 60 not volunteer. (It’s interesting that we’re discouraged at the same time retired health care workers are being welcomed back into hospitals — another example of the sometimes contradictory messages about this virus.)

My church is continuing its food mission, providing takeout meals in partnership with a restaurant. Like blood centers, it is following strict protocols to keep both volunteers and those served safe. The number of volunteers at each event is limited. I haven’t been asked yet, but if I am, I expect I’ll go.

I’m not trying to be heroic, but I live alone and don’t have an underlying health condition. There is no one I would bring the virus home to.

Helping both blood banks and food pantries has a selfish motivation, too. I’d have justifiable excuses for getting out of the house.

*****

WHEN WE COMPLAIN OF ISOLATION . . .

A cartoon by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Steve Kelley has a spot-on message when we complain of isolation now. An elderly military veteran says, “I shipped overseas for 33 months, marched through muddy fields and jungles, and dug trenches under enemy fire. I did it for the sake of other Americans.” Sitting across from him, the other person replies, “I’ve been stuck mostly at home for two weeks, forced to eat takeout and binge-watch series on Netflix. I don’t know how much more I can take.”

*****

ANTI-TRUMP QUOTATIONS: 108TH IN AN ONGOING SERIES

“In a [NIH] video that leaked online last week, Dr. [Anthony] Fauci was seen telling colleagues at the National Institutes of Health that he regularly made suggestions for the president’s prepared remarks before the daily briefings, but that Mr. Trump ‘almost always’ ignores them.”
— New York Times

Another week, another out-of-studio session for the Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast. But hey, I showered this week, so bonus.

The majority of the program was devoted to buying a car during COVID-19. Is it even possible? It is, actually. Joe Wiesenfelder from Cars.com joined us for our middle segment and discussed how dealers are doing virtual consults as well as doing at-home delivery and, in some cases, at-home test drives.

We also talked about if there are any deals to be had right now. According to an article on The Car Connection, there are. But as Wiesenfelder pointed out, you have to qualify.

This week’s #cardujour is the Subaru Outback, and we wax poetic about the Cinnamon Brown Pearl paint and how comfortable it is.

While I will continue to post the podcast to my blog each week, you can subscribe to the Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast on any podcast subscription service or visit the Buzzsprout link. New episodes are usually posted on Friday, and then the show itself airs on WCPT 820 AM on Sundays from 1 to 2 p.m.

Be sure to let us know if you have questions or if there are any topics you’d like us to cover on future podcasts.

You can follow us on social at:

• Jill: @jillciminillo (instagram/twitter)
• Tom: @car_guy_tom (twitter)
• Damon: @DBell72333786 (twitter)
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I want to preface this by saying that every child is different, so every walk will be different.

When my daughter was almost two years old, we often took strolls through our typical suburban neighborhood. Sometimes we didn’t get very far. Here’s what happened, one day, on a 45-minute walk in our front yard. (Yes, that’s right. The entire 45-minute walk took place in our front yard.) I had decided to go at her pace. After all, how many times a day did she rush, rush, rush to follow me?! To the grocery store, to the bank, even just to the car.

Letting her be the leader was not as easy as it seemed, for I was used to the world of adults—the world where everything moves quickly. We literally only moved from one side of our home to the other. Yet, she investigated everything. There was no question in my mind that she was learning.

During her walk, she explored so many things.

First, she experimented with the lawn. For example, she delighted in smelling the grass and then touching it. She giggled with delight as she felt pieces of grass on her arms, her legs, and even her chin. She grabbed a bunch of blades in her chubby fist, closing it tightly. I wondered, is she playing hide and seek with the grass? Hmm, I thought, perhaps, she’s seeing if she could change its shape? I remembered reminding myself to stay quiet. This is her turn to seek the questions and answers for a change. NOT MINE.

Next, after what seemed like an eternity to me, she moved s-l-o-w-l-y, a few inches ahead, to a tree. Under the tree she found a twig. She clutched the twig in her fist and pushed it around into dirt. She persevered at this and followed the movement of the dancing dirt intensely.

Then she touched the roots of the tree; she seemed to find them fascinating. She felt the bark on the tree with hands, rubbing every so softly, then a bit rougher. Then, for a bit, she sat under the tree, quite contentedly. I joined her. She seemed to know what she wanted. It was NOT easy, but I waited and waited for her to decide what came next.

After some time, she put down the twig. She came to some flowers. She carefully smelled a flower…then the next…then the next. She touched many soft petals. She was gentle.  Wow, I remember thinking, I didn’t know she could be that gentle. We slowly continued her journey.

I observed her and often mirrored her by doing exactly what she was doing. Rarely did I speak, for I did not want to interrupt her concentration, her studies.

Once in a great while, when she seemed quite satisfied with what she was studying, I’d say one word, at the most. For example, after she had smelled a few of the flowers, I said “sweet.” More often, I said nothing.

I know my daughter investigated that day. She had a chance to experiment with her senses, expand her appreciation and caring for nature, and increase her independence and her ability to make decisions. These are only a few of the learnings I bore witness to on that 45-minute exploration.

Where I learned about The Walk

I saw the beauty of “a walk” when I studied at the Pikler Institute, in Budapest, Hungary. I saw toddlers (orphans), two at a time, taking a walk with a caregiver. I watched as the caregiver followed the children’s lead. I was inspired. I have seen a lot of toddlers around the world, before and after that experience, in a lot of settings. Never have I seen two young children exploring so purposefully.

Conclusion

Once again, I find myself pitching the idea of getting outside. At the Pikler Institute, 50% of the time is spent outside.

As the weather starts getting warmer, it is important to get some fresh air for mental and physical health. Children, even the very youngest, pick up the negative energy that is all around us in challenging times such as these. Help them get outside. Many of you worked all week. You deserve to see how much your young children are learning and how observant they are when given the chance. They know how to investigate; we just don’t let them do that most of the time. Be brave and challenge yourself. As hard as it may be at first, to slow down and follow your child’s lead.

With my next post, I plan to return to the topic of how to work from home when you have young children needing attention. Please send questions and comments.

Signs of spring are everywhere now, and the moon grows fat and full.  Tuesday, April 7 will be a full moon, the first full moon after the vernal equinox.

The full moon on Tuesday night is also called the Pink Moon, the Sprouting Grass Moon, Egg Moon, Fish Moon, the Passover Moon, Paschal Moon, Hanuman Jayanti, and Bak Poya.  

It will also be a supermoon, which means the moon will be at its closest point to earth in its orbit.  The moon will appear bigger and brighter. You can read more about supermoons here.

While a supermoon  is a spectacular sight, the first full moon of spring  has been celebrated for thousands of years and is special to many cultures.  You can learn more about this full moon here on NASA website.

The moon will appear full Monday night through Thursday night.  May we celebrate and share this moon, and the hope of spring and life returning.