A good Saturday morning all.

Sorry for the late post. While I was preparing the Ramblings, Marcia spotted a bicyclist falling hard right here on the corner of Chaos & Mayhem. The rider was banged up but OK. I ended up driving bicycles, hubby, and her back to their home for cleanup, etc.  So, lets get ‘rolling’ (pun).

The dog days of summer are upon us, at least in these parts. The good news being that we’re getting (almost) a daily dose of ‘pop-up’ showers. A few of those ‘pop-ups’ have chased me down, including one on yesterday’s morning walk. To beat the rain and lightning coming at me I cut across the campus of Xavier University as a shortcut. The view was amazing.

Earl Pitts – had some thoughts. Our ‘voice in the wilderness’, Earl Pitts has been stewing. It seems that he feels he’s lost his manliness during the lockdown – resulting in some scary moments. Here, I’ll let him explain it himself:

Traffic Lights? – Our governor has re-invented the traffic light, this one for the virus. Coming out with a slew of mumbo-jumbo numbers (which really are incomprehensible) during the regular ‘whining with DeWine’ hour it was announced that our county now falls in the ‘red’ zone – mandatory masks when outside.

“When I watch terrified people wearing facemasks…in the outdoors…alone with nobody else around…I think “television is the world’s most dangerous drug” ~ Martin Geddes

So much for the original “two or three weeks to Flatten the Curve then ‘herd immunity’ will take hold” (that was last March). What’s happening now is beyond just a health matter when we have a 99.85% survival rate. Yesterday the first lawsuits had been filed.

Why all the hoopla about just wearing a mask Dirk? Well, I took college level chemistry way too many years ago but still remember what a ‘petri dish’ looks like. And, as someone smarter than me wrote;

“If you want to catch the ‘rona, I recommend wearing a moist, a sweaty, germ-trapping mask over your nose and mouth everywhere you go. Be sure to touch your face, adjusting your moldy mask frequently too.”

Fresh air, sunshine, distancing, and frequent hand washing will totally suffice, thank you very much.

Actually, I am following “the science” listening and following the pronouncements made early on by our Surgeon General Jerome Adams, Dr. Birx, and Dr. Fauci who then stated masks were not warranted; that was a time when they were still talking science, unencumbered by politics.

Our weekend vacation – Last weekend we went to a B&B about 45-minutes from our corner of Chaos & Mayhem. Staying in Rising Sun, Indiana, a part of that state we’d really never explored. That was then capped by a ferry-boat to cross the Ohio River to Rabbit Hash, Kentucky and back home. Not being being ‘G’ folk (golfers or gamblers), there was nothing to do; this meant we had the BEST time in a long time. A weekend of just watching the river glide by, visiting some quaint shops, eating the best made – plain country – food, and meeting the nicest people. Since the county we were in had only experienced a single virus case early on, life was now back to normal, and that was both very obvious and welcome. Where else could an after dinner drink complete with good folk and a cigar be enjoyed inside at the bar. It was grand!

Rabbit Hash – population about 300 is a complete throwback to the early 1800s and driving there is a motorcyclist’s paradise. The town’s Mayor, Brynneth Pawltro, a Pit Bull, was still sound asleep when we were walking around.

What became my highlight was crossing the Ohio to Kentucky. I was invited to run the car Ferry (holds about 7 to 9 cars). No fear, I was supervised by a Master pilot — and no, that wasn’t Marcia. The job, on one hand, is simple. On the other, considering the river’s current, ramp angle, etc., it’s also more difficult than I at first thought. It was a BLAST!!

Fini – Happy Birthday this past week to Marin. He’s so busy that we’ve yet to see him in person to wish him another great year.

Tomorrow it’s brother Pieter’s Birthday. And for those wondering, he still hasn’t caught up to me.

Since ‘Hamilton’ is still the hottest musical around. Today early in the morning in year of 1804 in Weehawken, New Jersey, Vice President Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton had their duel. Hamilton died the next day.

Today is also the Birthday of two lookalikes – at least by facial images. Popular actor (The King and I) Yul Brynner (1920-1985) and Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland (1274-1329).

To show how malleable our language is, here is how Robert the Bruce’s name has appeared over the years; Medieval Gaelic: Roibert a Briuis; modern Scottish Gaelic: Raibeart Brus; Norman French: Robert de Brus or Robert de Bruys; Early Scots: Robert Brus; Latin: Robertus Brussius. For some reason this stuff has always fascinated me.

During this time of upheaval and extremist mob activity appreciate and keep the members of the thin blue line in your thoughts.

Make it great week, keep the peace, stay safe, and be healthy! Remember; All Lives Matter.

Dirk