2ndclepunkbuddha

The COVID virus caused a change in the the world in ways we were not prepared for in 2020.  This was felt all across the world in so many ways as we had to cope with the new normal.  Travel was restricted, we could not gather in groups of more than 10, and we had to wear masks at all times.  We were socially distancing ourselves to prevent the spread of the dreaded virus.  This of course, applied to many things we usually take for granted.  We were no longer allowed to gather in any public places to partake in activities we would usually with mass crowds (professional sports events, restaurants, attending church, etc.) without temperature recordings, excessively washing hands, and disinfecting everything in sight.  I think that since the advent of contact lens solution and hand sanitizer the oceans of the world have gone down about two feet since, but that's another story.  One of the things, of course, that took its toll on business and the entertainm...

 Today I did a test run in my endless passion for teaching with another unique situation : I am becoming a driving instructor.  With a private company in my city, I am going to be riding in cars with high school kids as they are in their quest to obtain their first driver's license.  A rite of passage for all of us.  Today, with the owner of the company in tow to observe both me and the driver, we pulled into a high school and picked up a junior.  He was there to do his summer practice for his participation in cross country running.  He also said he participates in swimming as well as track, but due to the Corona Virus he was not able to do his swimming as planned.  I was very lucky, he was really a great driver and didn't seem nervous or unsure of things as he said he had driven quite a bit in the past.  I was pleased to see that this was the case over time as we coasted over country roads with waves as dips.  We also passed the westside mai...

Valentine's Day is once again upon us.  This is not a blog that will be all snarky about my hatred of this holiday like countless others will be, because that's lame.  This will be a stream of conciousness about how and why this holiday is simultaniously loved and hated by others, including me. Even though it was a long time ago now, I can recall what Valentine's Day was like when I was in kindergarten.  Like a lot of others no doubt, it was just so simple, when it was a public holiday and introduction.  Everyone was to bring in a mailbox in which to collect a card from every student in the class, and everyone participated.  I somewhat remember the shoe box I brought in, like everyone else's it was pink, red and white in some way and covered in hearts and lace.  Plus I remember putting a valentine in the box of a boy named Brian's, and his box was blue.  My childhood friend C was across the room.  Since they arranged us alphabetically, I could s...