Posing for a photo with Joe!

Joe Biden and me, circa 2012

See the photo of my desk used as background of the blog title? In that photo, see the framed photo of Joe Biden, the former Vice President and the presumptive Democratic nominee for President this year,  and me? The photo was taken in 2012 when President Barack Obama and Biden were running for re-election. His handshake was firm; his smile was genuine. I had just offered a personal compliment.

It was the second time Joe and I posed together for a photo that election season. The first was at a fund-raiser at the Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill. The second (the photo in this blog) was at a home inside the Raleigh beltline, in a pricey neighborhood. Both were at Democratic fund-raisiers with Biden as the main attraction. To my good fortune (no pun intended), I did not have to make a financial contribution to attend those events.

At the second of the two fund-raisiers, I was trying to mingle with several elected officials and donors (all Democrats, of course) when we were instructed to line up for individual photo shoots with the Vice President. Joe Hackney, then the minority leader in the North Carolina House of Representatives and previously the Speaker of the NC House but who was not seeking re-election, was just behind me in the line. "Why not," I asked about his decision not to seek re-election. "It's not fun any more," said Hackney, a Democrat. "When your party is not in power, it's just not fun to be there."

As we inched toward the VP for the photo-opt, I ease-dropped on conversations between Biden and the photo-opters, Most were offering comments of praise about Obama's policies. "I really like what y'all are doing about (fill in the blank)" and "I like your policy on (more blanks to fill)" and stuff like that. When it was my turn, I shook his hand, quickly reminded him of the Chapel Hill rally and photo, which he said he recalled but probably didn't, looked him square in the eye, and said, "You look as if you've lost weight since then." He took that as a compliment. "Thanks!" he said with that wide grin as we turned to the camera for one quick camera snap. The photo op was over in a flash.

The photo has been sitting on my desk ever since. I agree with many but not all of his policy ideas, but I'm very sure he will be a better President, many times over, than the guy now occupying the White House. As far as our weights, I was about 215 in 2012. Today, I'm around 185+/-. Better eating and lots of exercise. Not sure about Joe's weight then or now.

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Speaking of elections, I'm for vote by mail instead of voters congregating at the polls in November unless there's a vaccine for the coronavirus. Imagine a three part form (all one page with perforation between sections) mailed from the State Board of Elections to all registered voters. Each section would include the same identifying number. The entire form would have watermarks to prevent counterfeiting.

The top part (front and back) would be the ballot. The middle section would include a statement that confirms I am who I say I am, which I would sign and date. The third part is similar to the second but I would remove the third part and save it for confirmation at a later date, if necessary. There would also be a postage-paid envelope to return the ballot and the second section (must remain attached to the ballot).

Once received by the State Board of Elections, the number on the ballot and on the second part would be compared. If the same, the second part is removed and stored while the ballot is fed into a scanner for counting the votes. All ballots would have to be post-marked no later than the official election day, November 3. It's a simple system, and it's better than social distancing. It would eliminate all those campaign signs and volunteers from voting sites.

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Do you know who becomes President if for some reason the 2020 general elections are postponed through inauguration day in January 2021? You may be surprised! Read this: If 2020 elections are not conducted, who becomes US President? 

Let's Take A Walk!

Apex Lake

Face it. Taking a walk today is not nearly like it was just a few weeks ago. Then, we had a nice circuit at Apex (NC) Lake, a greenway trail that circled the lake and officially called Lake Pine Loop. It is about 2.2 miles around the lake which once was the main water source for Apex. By the time we walked from our home to the trail and took detours through adjoining recreational areas (youth baseball fields, tennis, basketball and volleyball courts, and playground equipment for the youngsters) before returning home, our walk was about four miles. It took about an hour.

We said hello to everyone we passed in both directions. Some returned the greeting; others grunted or stayed silent, refusing to make eye contact. We made it a game, guessing the reaction to a simple "good morning" or "good afternoon" or a nod of the head and a smile. Friendly people; grouches.

We wondered if the oncoming traffic, usually two side-by-side but sometimes three or four across, would edge over a little or walk single file so there was room for everyone on the six to seven feet wide pavement. Holidays and weekends increased the greenway users. It became crowded which made us rethink our route.

Today, we're street walkers, staying clear of the lake trail because of COVID-19 and social distancing. We obey and walk single file when approaching on-comers. We walk off the path to create more space, but there are too many people there now who think otherwise. They are not social distancing, hogging the trail as we dart into the flora and fauna. A request for approachers to walk single file yields harsh reactions.

We have several neighborhood routes routing us by many beautiful homes, along busy streets, through older neighborhoods, in front of apartments, and behind commercial shopping centers, all on wide paved streets, some with sidewalks and others without. Being able to social distance is easy. In most cases we cross to the other side of the street when others approach.

Now we encounter runners and bicyclists who come up on us from behind offering little warning to move aside, They seem to demand the right of way. Some, but not all, runners run as if they own the path. Most of the streets have bicycle lanes but the two-wheelers are determined to use the sidewalk. We're not hard to get along out there. We take precautions. But many, but not all, runners and bicycle riders do not. Late Night host Seth Meyers knows what I'm talking about. Click on this Seth Meyers YouTube link.

But we press on. Yes, walking today is unlike walking a few weeks ago. It borders on being unhealthy, even with the exercise. We are aware of the issue of spreading the coronavirus, but there are many out there who seem not to give a damn. We've found our routes which avoid Apex Lake, and that's unfortunate.

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CLARIFICATION: Yesterday, I wrote about taking part in the Sunday School class, "I'm instructed to ask no questions and offer no comments." Just to clarify, that request did not come from the Church or classmates. It was a home appeal.

Getting started: Jim's COVIDiary

Yesterday and today, I sent emails to The News & Observer asking that in the print edition the acronym COVID-19 (COronaVIrus Disease-2019) not be hyphenated/broken at the end of a line. Throughout the newspaper, you'll find CO- on one line and VID-19 on the next. Hyphenation of acronyms is a no-no. Imagine if JFK (John Fitzgerald Kennedy), USA (United States of America), NCSU (North Carolina State University) or, of all things, The N&O (News & Observer) were hyphenated. Would the latter be N- &O or N&- O?

Maybe I have too much time on my hands, especially when when I have time to send corrections and complaints to the newspaper editors. On another website, I wrote about The N&O's Op-Ed editing policy, especially of renown columnists: All The News That's Fit or All The News That Fits.

Being retired during times such as now is not a bad gig to have. I keep busy with lots of odds and ends including a handful of freelance writing assignments for Business North Carolina magazine in Charlotte NC and Textile Services, a magazine for a trade association in Alexandria VA. Every now and then I submit a story to The N&O which publishes it for free! I get paid for my effort from the first two publications; writing for the latter is for my enjoyment and hopefully for the readers of The N&O. Here's one of my latest as published in The N&O and on a blog on another website: Former Wolfpack football coach Dick Sheridan elected to College Football Hall of Fame.

Lonnie Poole Golf Course at NC State University
over-looks uptown Raleigh from the 11th hole tee.

So, with time on my my hands, golf at Lonnie Poole Golf Course on the NC State University campus two to three times a week is on the schedule. I walk the course, pushing my bag on a cart up and down hills to the tune of about five miles a round. Our groups social distance six feet or more throughout the round. We follow the course restrictions. We do not compete for prizes or money. I love golf. Been playing for over 60 years. But during this unusual time, it's not been nearly as much fun as it was when we all put $6 in the pot, walked and talked in close proximity, and played net skins or net Stableford scoring. Maybe we'll figure out something to return to the competitiveness. Someday the post-round lunch, beers and lies about that day's play will be back.

The New Yorker jigsaw

In the past month, I've completed three jigsaw puzzles with 500 pieces each: A The New Yorker magazine cover; a Triazzle JigSaw; and, an Endangered Species Sea Otter. Thanks to our daughter and the wife of my brother-in-law for providing the distractions. We have three puzzles waiting in the wings, one with 750 pieces.

There's FaceTime with Samuel, our grandson born December 18, 2019, and talking with our granddaughters—Livy and Sophie—on Hangouts or FaceTime. My wife loves long walks, 4 to 5 miles at a time. On days I do not play golf, I tag along. It's good for my health and to accommodate my beer habit. I'm two years into piano lessons, now 45 minutes via FaceTime. I took lessons in my early childhood. It's gradually coming back to me. And, there's yard work and binge watching television shows to use some of that time on my hands.

Triazzle JigSaw puzzle

Attending First United Methodist Church Cary service Sunday is out of the question so we "go" by watching the live stream on our computers and smart phones. Though the fellowship is lacking, the service is quite good. Short and to the point. That's important with so many at home distractions. Then we have a Zoom meeting with our Sunday School class with 35-40 attending. Lots of food for thought; maybe too much. I'm instructed to ask no questions and offer no comments. I must be the Doubting Thomas or the Devil's Advocate in the class. Having Sunday church service, Sunday school and other church gatherings during the week electronically makes you wonder about the need for large church facilities. If the church is taking care of the congregation only and not the community, smaller facilities may be required. FUMC Cary offers much care to the Cary community, which is reason for the current expansion project.

Endangered Species
Sea Otter Jigsaw

I do the grocery shopping, trying to limit it to once a week, a quick run through the local Harris Teeter, carefully avoiding other patrons. Knowing what you want and where it is helps. Occasionally, we order takeout for lunch from Rukus Pizza, Pasta and Spirits in Apex, about two miles from home. We support Cary's Bond Brothers Brew Co., just as we have since it opened a few years ago. Now, instead of sitting at the bar or on the outside patio, we order for Saturday drive thru pick-up, buying local craft beers, some by Bond Brothers, others by other area breweries. Every now and then, we buy a case of wine from the Wine Merchant  in Cary. We should support more local establishments, but we also want to save though retirement is treating us well.

Sleeping these days is not easy. Too many worries, especially when thinking of our son and his family, our daughter and her family, and my 90-year-old mother-in-law, all healthy but frustrated with necessary restrictions to stay healthy. I get through these trying times by being thankful our family is in good health, physically and financially, and we have things to keep us busy, such as writing periodically to the editors of The N&O.

And blogging this diary: Jim's COVIDiary. Enjoy. It will not be as long next time.