I'm still here!

I owe all of you who look at this blog an apology.  Actually I doubt anyone sees this but me but I'm not giving up.  :)

When it's been years since the last post it's been too long.

    I started keeping a hand written, personal journal last year and have just filled up the first volume.  Most of what's in that is content that will never hit a public page like this but surely some of it is suitable for here.  I am also starting to write fiction again.  I ought to be able to throw some of it up here.

    Of course, a major thing that is on most of our minds right now is the coronavirus pandemic we are in the middle of.  Just to make my position on things clear:  I understand the seriousness of this.  I do not take it lightly.  I have lost someone I grew up loving and considered to be family even though there was no blood or marital connection between our families.  I am practicing social distancing and am staying home when I don't have to go out but am still working.  I am regularly working 60 hour weeks and have even worked 72 hours on one of them.  I don't want to get this mess and, if I do, I want to minimize the chances of spreading it.  It has been suggested that I might have had it in December but I'm not willing to pay for the antibody test (my insurance won't pay for it).

    I do, however, believe that there are  many people in government who are exploiting this for their personal gain (both authority and financial).  I believe many saw it a a crisis that shouldn't go to waste.   I know this will get me hate mail.  If you are inclined to send such, know it will be deleted and not replied to.  I am entitled to my opinion just as you are. 

    Along with everyone else I am ready for things to get back to normal, or at least the new normal.  There has been so much damage to our economy and lifestyles because of the virus that I don't think the recovery will be quick.  I know that I, and most people I have discussed this with, will be behaving differently in the future when it comes to going out and joining in public gatherings.  Sitting at my favorite coffee shop for hours and nearly overdosing on caffeine has been a favored activity of mine for a few years now but I'm not sure when I'm going to start going back.  The two shops I frequent are open with, at least, seating outside. 

    On a lighter note, with all of the extra time at home I have fallen back into a previous addiction:  The Legend of Zelda:  Breath of the Wild.  This is my second time to play through the game.  I remember enough that it helps but have forgotten enough that it's not a cake walk.  My current journey through the game is very different from last time. Since it is an open world game and doing everything is not required I am finding things that I did not find before.  I am using on-line guides for some of the shrines and locations, not because I can't find them but because I can't remember certain details and don't want to waste time beating my head against a wall to solve the puzzle or locate that one spot I need to go to.  No, I'm not cheating.  I've done it before.  I look for enough info for a general strategy, not a step by step solution or directions.

    Once I finish this I'm going to dive into Trials of Mana for the first time.  I played Secret of Mana on the Super Nintendo when it was new but have never played the sequel.

I'll post more thoughts soon.  Will try to get something more positive and hopefully humorous.