Charest Family on the Web Posts

Congressman John Lewis
Congressman John Lewis

Yesterday we had the extraordinary privilege of one great man praising another great man. The man doing the praising was former President Barrack Obama. The man being praised was the late Congressman John Lewis, who sadly passed July 17, 2020.

Opinions & Commentary

Senator Hillary Clinton during her 2016 Presidential Campaign
Hillary Clinton During Her 2016 Campaign

One adage I use often is “Careful What You Wish For.” It has a lot of significance for me, a reminder that too often the one thing a person thinks they really want, really need, and work hard to obtain turns out to be the curse that keeps on giving.

In this case, I think the adage applies to the Republican Party as a whole. It applies to the 2016 election as they collectively worked hard to get trump “elected” to office. It applies to the years since, as one after another key republican officials have sworn undying loyalty to trump as the far better 2016 presidential candidate over the She-Devil BENGAZI! email-abusing tyrant-in-waiting Hillary Clinton. It just seems to me; the Republican party would be far better off right now if Clinton had become president.

Not to mention, the entire country.

Opinions & Commentary

Fourth of July Ribbon!
Fourth of July!

So another July Fourth celebration has come and gone. This year, the year of the pandemic, was a rather muted celebration. We had the obligatory fireworks in my neighborhood, but there were no concerts I know of anywhere around. No big celebrations south of Washington, D.C.

But of course, in Washington, the Mango Mussolini had to have his party, just because. I wish those party-goers well.

Just For Fun

This And That - Catching Up On Family News
This And That

So today is day one hundred-eleven (111) for staying safer-at-home against the novel coronavirus that’s taking over the world. Or more properly, the novel coronavirus that has taken over the world. I can’t help noticing that 111 plus 888 equals 999, which is supposed to be the symbol of the beast. There might be something numerologist about this, but I really don’t want to spend too much thinking about it.

I really just want this zombie apocalypse pandemic to end.

Family Stories

A Violin is a thing of beauty even before it's played.
A Violin in the Hands of a true artist approaches musical perfection

I’ve written before about the violin-playing Goddess that is Vanessa Mae. In this post, I’m writing about her again, and about one of her many violin pieces that is also a good match for these times and the approaching storm.

Just For Fun

Tearing Down the Walls of Athens
No One Loves Walls

“Before I built a wall I’d ask to know
What I was walling in or walling out,
And to whom I was like to give offense.
Something there is that doesn’t love a wall”

Mending Wall – by Robert Frost

Something I’ve been thinking about these past few days is how walls don’t necessarily work out all that well. At least, people always seem to find ways of making walls do things that weren’t planned for.

Opinions & Commentary

trump as a small man and coward.
This Is Our President

I haven’t wanted to blog about the riots sweeping across America simply because it’s too painful. But, after yesterday I feel a need to write. Not so much about the protesters or the out-of-control cops, but about leadership. Actually, about the lack of leadership at all levels of government. And in particular about the lack of leadership from a very small man in particular.

This very small man would be the person occupying our White House, a man expected to provide leadership during difficult times.

Opinions & Commentary

Coronavirus Day Eighty Stay-at-Home
Still Living in Interesting Times

So today is day eighty of my Coronavirus pandemic stay-at-home adventures. It’s been an amazing time of watching the world from my at-home window while trying to make sense of everything. Along with my need to understand what was happening came my dual need to feel gainfully occupied. From my vantage, it looks like things are opening up but in a new and very different way.

Coronavirus Diaries Family Stories

A CDC Coronavirus image, used to illustrate my COVID-19 Timeline Project

Here is my current iteration of a COVID-19 Timeline project, capturing all key events of our rapidly developing pandemic. The actual timeline is embedded into this post, so please click the lower headline to access it.

My COVID-19 Timeline Project Charest Family Portfolio Logo

More information below the fold.

Note: This post will remain at top of my blog for the foreseeable future.

Coronavirus Diaries

Essential Supply Chain Workers
Who Is Really An Essential Worker?

There’s been any number of articles lately about essential workers. This pandemic, with the related nearly-global lock-down of “non-essential personnel” should cause us to rethink our assumptions on labor.

Career Management