Hop's Thoughts

I am in no way a conspiracy theorist. I believe in examining facts, even if it's a little too late, then making my conclusions based on what is known. These odd circumstances find us all wondering a little more than usual. Wondering about how, wondering about why, and without a doubt wondering about when. When will we return to normalcy? Facebook has been filled with these little games. Some ask you to name a band, some as you to show photographs, some ask you something that you believe projects who you are in a special way while showing interest in how your friends might answer similar questions. They are all harmless fun. What if they're not. What if the questions and answers themselves aren't what is being gauged, but simply will you do it and will you promote it. What if the concept isn't to find your favorite music genre, but to find out which of you will join in the herd mentality that is needed to end this quarantine and social distancing as soon as possible? I

I don't have much flowing through my mind this morning. I have tons hidden in the back, on shelves, waiting to be dusted off, until the time someone asks. It's funny. I wonder if the handful of people I encounter daily understand what it's like to be chained inside. Not physically, but mentally. Being surrounded by people who think they know, but don't even know all, but don't even know themselves, let alone me. I have outlets, but they are few. My most intelligent conversations, in-person, have been with a cat and a dog. I long to talk about great movies, philosophy, children, sports, literature, serious social issues. Anything but headlines about a virus most fear, but are too lazy to investigate on their own, simply trusting those that share will prove smarter than they. This silent disease has become our religion. Unexplained, unrepenting, and one we've somehow gather communally to show our faith, not in its word, but in its destruction. A fox shrieks and so

I'll keep this brief, as I'm sure there are people, at this moment, writing a thesis on this very topic. With all tragedy and success, we look to blame and we look to give credit to those we believe are responsible for how this affected us. Not us, in terms of the world, the country, or even our small region of the world, but us as individuals. We find out specific news sources, which cater to our specific ideology, and it fills us with a warmth that we are correct in our judgments. We then share this with others, hoping those who view their tiny worlds as we do, will agree. Very rarely do we care about the best scenario or outcome for the most people and very rarely are we concerned with credit going elsewhere or critical comments befalling our politicians or anything else that may conflict with what we had predetermined before doing our "research." This isn't helpful and this surely isn't the way Americans think. For the first time since 9/11, we are thrus

I don't really know if this is more of an opinion or a question, because my entire field of study has been two people I've seen in person and what I can surmise from people's posts on Facebook. My inclination is to say that people have become more selfish based on what I've viewed, but common sense says the very fact people are staying inside with the exception of going out for essential life needs tells me most have shown a major level of selflessness. Is it possible though that we've become less selfish only because it is demanded of us? Is it possible we've become less selfish to strangers but more so to those we see every day? I do not truly know the answer. I've not been affected in any way other than the increased amount of time I have to consider these types of questions. I have seen a neighbor use his time to be with his family, but I do not know what the quality of that time is. I've watched a roommate become more consumed with her already self-

At times, it's easy to forget Your neighbors are annoying You miss your friends Your spouse and children are driving you crazy You're bored Anything is better than this Your neighbor passed away Your friends are gone Your spouse and children are deceased You're lying in a hospital bed dying alone Anything is better than this

“It is what we make out of what we have been given, not what we are given, that separates one person from another.” The above quote is attributed to Nelson Mandela. It is something we can all take from during these odd times. Over the last few years, I've lived a simple life. A bed, a table, a laptop, my clothes, a bedroom, a phone, a car, and a feline friend named Swag who has reminded me of my value. I've lived in five different places in the past three and a half years It's been much longer than I've felt at home anywhere. I have food, security, shelter. I am content with that. I have two jobs, albeit they are part-time, and, in general, I have my health. I have family, albeit some strained, friends, and some intimacy. I have freedoms, respect for and from those I care about, strength from within and from others, and at times, recognition. I am a better person than I was five years ago. I eat healthily, despite quite a bit of drinking. I get more exercise, I'

Please realize, this is a vastly abridged and oversimplified version of my thoughts earlier this morning. That being said, we need to look at what is happening to our society, not as a whole, but as individuals placed in a unique situation and how varying situations lead to a plethora of mixed results. Much like the prisoners within the United States Correctional System, many of us feel trapped by the rules put in place to protect us. Unlike prisoners, most of these demands are mere suggestions, placing the onus on the individual to protect themselves and others. The spread of this virus has shown us that many shirk accountability when not being supervised. So how does this translate to the penal system? Incarceration for crimes in this country is meant to serve four principles. Retribution - Paying for one's crimes Incapacitation - Removal of the criminal from society as a means to protect the innocent. Deterrence - The hope that withdrawal from society prevents future crimes

I've mentioned to many how ironic this social distancing coinciding with Lent has been. The irony, of course, is that so many faithful fail to see the parallels between their own isolation and Jesus' during his journey of solitude. While we gorge ourselves on baked goods, Christ was tempted to turn stone into this very thing, choosing to fast instead. Most years, we'd gather together, in large groups, celebrating the unofficial beginning to Spring. Whether it be in churches, temples, or seated around a family table, togetherness marks this time. This year, the crowds will dwindle and for many of us, we will mark this time alone. It's important to note, especially for those who practice their faith, to understand that combatting loneliness is a recurring theme in The Bible. Even with our families, some feel alone. Whether it not seeing friends, neighbors, or family who normally travel to or wait to greet us, we're all feeling the same thing. Religious books almost

I wrote this as a Facebook post, so between that and this site, possibly 9 people may read it. Most will disagree. They usually do.  I often wonder how many people are using this time to improve our future. I don't mean the sheep on Facebook who post the same things everyone else posts, I mean leaders of industry and our country. If these past four weeks have taught us anything, it's that most of us are incapable of change and guilty of willful ignorance. The strangest, and possibly saddest truth from four weeks of change, is that we appreciate what we don't have more than what we do. All that being said, it has taught us some valuable lessons. Many people have become handy, making masks, sanitizers, and other cleaning products with household items. Some have invented new ways to teach. We have a ways to go through this, but I also hope that some of those who make decisions for the rest of us are watching and listening. It is abundantly clear that a four-day workweek wit

I've made my feelings about Bernie Sanders for years. I sincerely believe him to the be left's version of Trump. A selfish old man who, to some, possesses a charisma that hides his true intentions. The only real difference between the two is that Trump's base loves what makes him horrible and Sanders' base chooses to ignore it. All that being said, I have some pretty straight forward questions for those supporters. Being that I rarely receive responses, I'll call them rhetorical. 1. Did anyone in their right mind really envision a situation in America where a self-declared Socialist (if you know anything about Socialism, you'd know he's not at all a Socialist) would be President of the United States? 2. If you hated Trump for his "vote for me now, I'll explain what I'll do later" campaign, how could you possibly embrace Bernie Sanders for all of his lofty goals, without ever, not a single time, explaining how he planned to structure, pa

I'll save all five of you the long drawn out psychological babble and just list them We're Americans! We like simplicity and lists. Solitude is not bad if you like yourself and vice versa. Anger is the most common emotion displayed on social media. Animals are more appreciative of your time than humans are capable of showing. The most untruthful people I know have relied on news, the most truthful people I know have relied on science. Parents underestimate the long-term effects the incessant posting of pictures of them drinking will have on how people view them, how it reflects their parenting abilities, and most importantly, how their kids will be affected by this.  Teachers: see #5 The kindest people I know have not directed a single person to be kind. I've been waved and smiled at more in the last twenty-five days than I was in the previous 25 weeks. The respect for doctors and nurses is well-deserved, but the respect for grocery store clerks and other essen

Dawn Birds Chirping Dew lifting Open windows Me Swag Breakfast Coffee Lawn Chair Cool Morning Air Helmut Whooza Late Morning Warmth Lunch A Book The sounds of children playing Snacks Vodka A short dog walk Homecooking Sunset Crickets Night

When 9/11 occurred, many felt they needed to point out the fact that when catastrophe struck, we should all look towards who is running towards the problem. The good people of the world were already aware. These same proclaimers of the obvious then started expressing their "faith," soon after denouncing others, seemingly unaware they worship the same god.  Now we're facing an invisible force that is sweeping across the world. Our nation, which is handling it about as badly as one could (politically, not those on the front lines), is filled with people telling others to do much like Jesus would have done, but missing the entire point of what Jesus did for them. No, this is not a biblical lesson on Christianity, but is simply an editorial on faith. Faith, in its most simple form, is belief without reason. In other words, it's simply a strong belief in something that cannot be proven, but with the hope it is true. In more religious terms, it is a sincere belief that Go

Long walks, deep thoughts, standard routine, craving information, day-drinking, cat cuddles, playing fetch, communicating with those I crave, avoiding those I don't, trying to change the bad, trying to embrace and hold onto the good, having realistic expectations, facing reality, being accountable. To be completely honest, the effects on daily life have been minimal. I miss work and the weekly cocktails with some new friends, but all-in-all, life is pretty much the same for me. What has changed, is the world around me, and let me tell you my friends, this blip on the radar, in what is our entire lives, is causing havoc on those whose inability to cope with everyday life and lack even the slightest ability to adapt to minuscule hiccups, is causing them to change overnight. That being said, this horrible time is doing us an odd little favor. It's bringing out the good in those we may have brushed off and bringing out the bad in those we often gave the benefit of the doubt. I h

I've not done this in a while and being that we've all been in some unfamiliar territory over the last few weeks, I have a load on my mind. So maybe, the best therapy is to just get stuff out. Who knows? I'm going to rant for 10 solid minutes. We'll see how this works out. Dog walks. This has been the way I've maintained my health, my sanity, and my joy. That, and the immense and pleasurable time I've spent with Swag. Well, other than his waking before the sun comes up and his new habit of trying to break free from the bedroom like it's Alcatraz. I guess for all animals, the home gives safety, security, and shelter, except when it is forced upon us. Funny, heh? I have enjoyed the serenity of the walks, the built-in social distancing, and the slight smiles. It's also dawned on me that people who walk, every day, rain or shine, look a lot better physically than you and I, well most of us. People with pets are happier, It's science. Some walks are bet