ABSILVER's World

So, I started again to write and came up with the idea of a COVID survival kit.   I have had some challenging days around the pandemic.  I am not the easiest person to live with during normal times and am sure a greater challenge during the pandemic.  But, overall, we have weathered the storm so far pretty well, I think.  We are in our tenth month of being somewhat locked down, and I thought I would share some of what has helped me as it might help others.  So, here it goes, we have been officially locked down since March 7th.  I know that date because it was the day I flew back from Savannah.  In the beginning, we stored up on essentials, not knowing what this meant.  Would the stores run out of toilet paper, and we even bought enough dry beans to store to be extra safe.  After trial and error, here are some of the tips that have helped me survive the pandemic. Find space in your home to be alone . It is not just for your peace of mind but for others.  I have an "office" as

As many of you know, I have been working with two colleagues and friends to start a new consulting company that has taken a great deal of my time and exhausting my writing talents. But, I keep thinking there must be something to contribute to my own blog. This morning I thought about the top ten lessons from the pandemic. 1) Does it really matter?  Does it matter what car you drive?  Does it matter how many square feet are in your home?  Does it matter which celebrity you ran into at Starbucks? Does it matter whether you are the president or a kid in school?  It doesn’t matter at all to COVID, as it doesn't discriminate. Hopefully, as we look forward, we will all remember our change in priorities learned during the pandemic.  I hope to keep my focus on human relationships, health, safety, and happiness compared to the desire for material goods and power.   2) The digital divide in this country is getting larger.  Like it or not, there is a divide between those who are leading a d

I sit here on the cusp of another Thanksgiving holiday. As I can figure this is number 56 as I was born the day before my first. I started to write about Trump, COVID, and how we got to where the world and our country are and I thought who in the hell needs to read about that!  So, I thought maybe the right thing to do, in honor of Thanksgiving, is to make a list of what I am grateful for. First, I am grateful for Frank, DaisyBelle, and Lucky.  We may not have the textbook family, but we definitely have found a home together.  I am honestly not sure how others survive without pets in their home when the humans we love have to put up with us every day.  Second, I am thankful we moved from Austin to Longview, TX.  We may miss Central Market, and even miss the walk around Lady Birdy Lake and our neighbors, but being in Longview near family is a joy.  It also took the pressure out of our life when the world decided to go a bit haywire.  We have a nice home, nicely updated with Frank's

I sit here the evening before another presidential election.  Four years ago, I was excited.  I had voted for Hillary, proudly, and was watching the polls and thought this was a great day for America.  I have to confess to waking up Tuesday morning with a gut feeling that something in the universe was not going the right way.  Without any doubt, I still am sure she would have been the better president and more qualified if not the most qualified president in my lifetime. So, although the polls all show Biden in a stronger position than she was, I worry.  Ok, it is my inclination to worry, but there is still a concern not only about what happens tomorrow but how difficult the current president will make certifying this election if it doesn't go his way.   Then, I wondered what could I do?  There may be 1 person in my network on Facebook who is undecided, maybe one more blog post would sway them the right way. Here it goes.. let’s make this simple.. here are the questions that I woul

We all can learn from DaisyBelle, about bias and tolerance. For many people, across the street or walking the trail, she is a mix of American Bulldog and Pit Bull.  There are words often repeated, about these dogs being violent and biting people and getting into tussles with other dogs.  Let’s be clear, she is a strong dog and we know it.  All dogs can be trained to bite and be aggressive from the chihuahua to the largest German Shepherd but these dogs of late are judged as rottweilers were in my youth.  But, there is another side of her.  Her breed was bred to be nannies and caregivers.  If you paid attention walking her you would notice how her ears perk up when she hears children.  You would see her gentleness and her joy in being pet by children or getting a chance to kiss them as we walk down the trail.  You would see her kindness with Lucky, our cat that she helped find, and how she runs into the yard to protect her if she thinks there is a threat outside.  You might be surprise

I sit here on a Saturday morning, in Longview, TX where there is a chill in the air, 47 degrees.  I realize for the first time in many years we are experiencing fall.  We lived in South Florida where the sign of fall is the beginning of early snowbird migrants for the winter.  In Austin, a bit south of, I don't remember the fall weather as sharp and crisp as it is here in Longview.  Daisybelle chose a shorter walk this morning in the chill, and we are all enjoying the change of temps as the leaves on the trees are beginning to show it is time to prepare for winter. It was around this time last year we decided to make a move.  We enjoyed Austin.  Work had been productive and our home and neighborhood were quite special, but Austin was changing quickly.  I felt the energy was more akin to San Francisco and that caffeine driven energy that I had experienced over the years.  I appreciate the energy it drives, the innovation, and creativity but honestly, I don't think it always dri