April 9, 2020 - Thursday Thoughts - 100 Thoughts (or more) After 100 Days of 2020

Here are a few random observations, thoughts, and memories from the first 100 days of 2020.

1. I really miss those fried dill pickle chips at Memphis Mojo Cafe. 
2. My home is cleaner than it ever has been. 
3. The weather folks can be fun TV watching especially when they start speaking their "weather lingo". 
4. Did the Grizz make the playoffs?
5. Did Ja win Rookie of the Year?
6. NFL free agency was one of the last fun sports events to occur.
7. Did Tom and Bill breakup? 
8. If there is so much fake news out there then maybe Tom and Bill really didn't win all of those Super Bowls?
9. Did Penny and the Tigers make it to the NCAA tourney?
10. I heard the Jayhawks won another title. Sorry Tiger fans.
11. We could really use some classic ESPN commercials with Big Red in them right now. 
12. I jumped a barbed wire fence a few weeks ago down by the river. There was no blood shed in this event. 
13. In regards to #12, I still didn't get those awesome pictures I thought I was going to get. 
14. This too shall pass. 
15. Have some faith. Have a lot of faith. 
16. This social distance thing is hilarious when walking or running through the neighborhood. 
17. Some folks won't even make eye contact with you. 
18. It's not my fault their stuck in quarantine. 
19. I met my neighbors today. They live two doors down. 
20. Ruth was chasing squirrels in their yard and they called the microchip company. 
21. Ruth doesn't understand why the squirrels on those high power lines won't came down and say hello to her. 
22. Ruth gets very emotional about this. 
23. I started writing letters last week. I thought I was gonna get that carpal tunnel thing in my wrists from it.
24. I would love to eat out for one whole day. 
25. Thank you Costco for getting a head start on this social distancing thing. 
26. When was the last time gas prices were this low?
27. I filled my tank up for less than $20 at Costco a few weeks ago.
28. It's a bummer I have not left Shelby County on that gas tank. 
29. I am so thankful that my church has daily devotions via Facebook Live. I have been loving it.
30. I would even love some pizza right now.
31. Maybe even a blueberry cake doughnut. 
32. My Instapot made enough red  beans and rice last week to feed a family of four John Tower-type eaters for two meals. 
33. I made corn bread in the air fryer again last week to go with the above mentioned dish.
34. Honestly, I made corn bread for the first time last year. 
35. I am tired of opening my freezer. 
36. I would love some cobbler or maybe even some apple pie right now. 
37. Banana puddin' in a jar? 
38. I have a birthday in a few weeks. If you find #37, I might hug you, if it is socially acceptable at that time.
39. There are about a 100 people I would love to hug right now, and you might be one of them. 
40. My dog has come to expect me to play fetch with her every night our home. Thankfully the hallway is long enough for it.
41. I went to the Walmart in West Memphis a few weeks ago just so I could feel like I went out of town. 
42. Shutterfly seems to have taken some of my self quarantine funds lately. 
43. Letter writing is fun. Especially when you do it in cursive. 
44. Part of me wishes we would have a few days of rain again. 
45. Maybe more folks will stay indoors as a result of it.
46. My old man is going super stir crazy. 
47. My old man has done everything he possible can in the yard.
48. It is a great time to get a bike out and go for a ride. 
49. Oh yeah, I love running on a sidewalk and seeing someone 50 yards ahead coming the opposite direction. Seconds later that person is already running in the street. 
50. Let's keep this kindness thing going, FOREVER.
51. This is been an interesting experience. 
52. I would not wish for anyone to ever go through this again. 
53. I almost toward the goal off 100.
54. I wish Tropical Smoothie was much closer than it is. 
55. The mosquitoes were happy to see me out tonight. 
56. There was a super moon a few nights ago. Did anyone see how "super" it was?
57. A gentleman came to get a few camera accessories from me at work the other day. He asked me, "what are you shootin' with?'. I guess that is photographer folk lingo. 
58. I sometimes wonder how I used to get stuff done when I actually watched TV.
59. Is Drew Brees still playing football this year?
60. I heard the Saints and Falcons were on Monday Night Football this past Monday. #neverpunt
61. Every time I see a blue jay and a cardinal. . . you guys know where this one is going. 
62. I would love a huge stack of Sunday morning pancakes. I take that back I would love a huge stack of pancakes at any given moment right now. 
63. I am not good at making pancakes, however I have had Waffle Wednesday the last two weeks. 
64. Is it going to snow this weekend?
65. At least we would all be stocked up and ready if it did actually snow. 
66. Check on folks. Yeah, I need to get on that one too. 
67. Tell people you love them. They may or may not think you are weird, and that's cool.
68. I go to a huggin' church. 
69. I can't get Ruth into this whole worship from home thing. 
70. Ruth just wants the Lord to tell the squirrels to be nice to her. 
71. I am thankful for the folks that the Lord has put  in my life over the last few years. 
72. This too shall pass. Just in case you need a reminder. 
73. If you need something, let me know. I'll go to Costco. Or I'll pray with you. Or do both, and anything else you need. 
74. I bought one of those boxes from Costco that has two 5 lb bags of oatmeal in it. That was around the first of March. I am halfway done with the second bag. 
75. I miss eating the baked goods at the Vegan place near work. They have some awesome stuff. 
76. To all those essential folks who are truly essential. THANK. YOU. FOR . EVERYTHING. 
77. What are you going to do when your quarantine time ends? Yeah, there could be some very interesting answers to this one. 
78. What will your first post quarantine meal be? I guarantee it will not be in your own kitchen. 
79. I found some amazing gelato stuff a few weeks ago. Google does not understand the word gelato. That's weird. Use Google and search Talenti Gelato Layers. You are welcome. 
80. I think Summer is almost here. 
81. It always feels like Spring comes to Memphis for maybe 30 days. If it is really interested it will stick around for 45 days. 
82. I would love to be able just give someone a fist bump right now. Without wearing gloves. 
83. Mexican Ice Cream sounds amazing right now. 
84. I have really enjoyed using Nextdoor. If you don't have it, you should check it out. It is kind of fun to interact with your neighbors. 
85. Ruth is getting a little anxious these days. She didn't realize there were this many dogs in her neighborhood.  
86. Her human didn't realize there were this many people that lived in the neighborhood. 
87. I am trying to do this in under 100 minutes. 45 minutes ahead of schedule. 
88. I had an awesome time playing Jenga with Austin a few weeks ago. He beat me every time. It's hard to imagine it was only a few weeks ago. 
89. Is it time going by faster or slower with all of this? 
90. Jesus tells us to Love Thy Neighbor. It is amazing how so many folks out there have just randomly decided to pull that card of their back pocket over the last few weeks. 
91. Let's keep making awesome stories to cover up all the negativity out there. 
92. Sometime at work I just want to yell "SOCIAL DISTANCE" to some of these goofballs. Maybe I should yell " you know COVID-19?", because I do not want to know it either. 
93. My street has been much quieter at night. That has been so nice and pleasant. We still have occasional fools that want to go drag racing though. 
94. Get your paper towels and toilet paper yet? I'll hook you up. 
95. Let's hope some of out there don't suffer from some illness in ten years that results from spraying Lysol so many times in a day. 
96. Lysol has become my BFF at work. 
97. The EPA has this list of chemical products that can kill off Corona. I can definitely hook you up there. One must pay attention to how much contact time you need though. That is very important. 
98. Be grateful for your blessings , no matter how this is affecting your life. We all have some things, and some people to be grateful for. 
99. If you are struggling, keep fighting, and fighting some more. It can't be easy but be sure to reach out. There are plenty of us that will fight with you and for you. 
100. Why did I have to hear someone rolling out their garbage can while I was typing this one. Oops. 
101. KLove reminded me of something earlier this evening. The first Easter was very similar to what this Easter will be like. 
102. The Lord has spoken some things to me through this time. As Brother Phil told me it could come at a cost, but there is a purpose to be accomplished. 
103. I never thought I would have a really keen eye for good photography. Take that and then tell me I would be adding scripture to some of my photography. Thy will be done. 
104. Remember the words of 1 Corinthians 13:13 - "And now abideth faith, hope and charity (love) these three; but the greatest of these is charity." I end with this for a reason. We need all three of these in enormous amounts. But for this to pass the way we need it to pass, we must fully arm ourselves in love. That's how communities band together. Remember 9/11. We are replicating that so much and it so darn awesome to see. 
105. Last one, I promise. If you have to turn on your devices for Easter services then do so, because you should. On Sunday I challenge you and myself to shut off data, WiFi, and Bluetooth for at least two hours during the day. It is Easter. Even if you are needing to be socially distant from family, you can still call and text them. Heckfire, shut off for the whole afternoon. Unless it the weather is just going to be awful, then forget it. Actually, I take that back. Books, puzzles, movies, you guys have probably turned off your technology a little bit as it is lately.    

Goodnight