June 15, from the bunker, er, umm.., Room 208

From the Zappa:"and in your dreams you can see yo'self..").."in the bunka"

"Humans somehow fail to recognize situations outside the contexts, in the bunker(sic), in which they usually learn about them."-Nassim Taleb, ANTIFRAGILE

Yet another great example of how necessary, even if ultimately wrong, or let's say, not so right, every postmodern movement is to challenge our comforts, and ultimately to evolve.

June 1, from room 208

1st death recorded in the county(R.Silva, FB, 12:56 today)

May 28(whoops), in Room 208

Butte County's at 34 cases, 0, still, deaths. Tensely awaiting the second wave what with much dumb-fuckery having taken place recently(listening to, and watching, what the hell's wrong with me, Charlie Carrell crooning, weirdly well, "Can't Help Falling In Love" is not helping).

April 14th, in Room 208

Butte County has 15 cases, 10 recoveries, 0 deaths. Dad and Mother-in-Law doing very well. The composer, Steve Reich, is pleasantly and 'minimal'-ly providing the background on a losing morning into noonishness.

April 5, in room 208

  March 11, the last time the U.S. women's team played, the last time I shook hands with someone. The last time I left my house to go out expressly to see my friends. Buffalo Wild Wings, not my choice knowing I was going in to say goodbye, but we're Rebels, we go where the game's on. Tim agreed with my fears and talked about taking his wife and dad up to the cabin in Almanor, Rick said he hadn't planned on changing anything. We laughingly agreed that he would report from the 'frontlines'. We joked about the possibility of games getting cancelled, Olympics pushed back. And then it really happened. Right then, in fact. The NBA announced suspension of games, as did MLB with spring training. I believe the soccer game and Indiana college hoops game we were watching were the last games played in front of a live crowd. What a difference a couple hours and a couple beers can make.

April 4, in room 208

  A total of 11 cases in Butte county; 0 deaths. We're very low relative even to other Norcal areas. Thus, it bears repeating and stands to reason: "The most important thing to do in your life is to not interfere in somebody else's life."- Frank Zappa
  I will bear the 'hero' tag in this crisis by staying in my hole. If before us was an imminent threat to individual freedom, or national autonomy, or some other like hazard, I would likely be on those front lines, carving my niche, writing my story of bravery. However, with an 87 year old dad and an 80 year old mother-in-law, and us being late 50's, I think it best to severely limit our physical presence in society, let others aid and battle for those most at risk. On the selfish side, we're not about to donate to hospital workers our supply of N95 masks that we purchased after the Paradise Fire. Nor am I volunteering to deliver food or materials as I did following that fire. On the responsible side, masks are on, and we're not meeting up with people socially. We're rarely going out for things, and then only when both parents and our needs are combined. Masks are on.  I'll happily applaud those individuals and actions from afar, re-join society in person(long after the all-clear has sounded), look all in the eye and then we'll see where that lands.

April 1, in Room 208

  'I believe that you can reach the point where there is no longer any difference between developing the habit of pretending to believe and developing the habit of believing.'-Eco, "F.'s Pendulum', pg386

March 21, 2020 in Room 208

  The country's on near total lockdown and I'm concerned about having been not careful enough about what I wished for. True, I'm afforded more reading time, lots more, but I've rarely had occasion to have much to complain about there. My current selection, Umberto Eco's FOUCOULT'S PENDULUM is very dense and slow going. It's easily sent me googling 100 time and I'm just over halfway through. Thinking I'll need a good baseball read from the several unread books in the den, though I did pick up the next Reacher book on my list, PERSONAL, and don't think I'm capable of leaving it sit for that long. However much I pride myself on the quality my reading choices, biographies, histories and well layered fiction, Lee Child has created a character study that I find myself jonesing for, especially in times of trouble such as these.

  Day 748(?) of the Plank Challenge, I can report that there's something to be said for self-discipline. Can't say I've got a abdominal six-pack, but at least it's remained roughly the same over the duration.

  Chico, in fact Butte County, recorded its first confirmed case of COVID-19 today. Oh, and the DOJ is requesting privileges akin to suspending the Constitution. I think James Madison might have contracted something today as well.