Denise Goldberg's blog

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

think about this

Yesterday I watched a short video posted by Dr. Craig Spencer, the director of Global Health & Emergency Medicine at Columbia University Medical Center in honor of National Doctor's Day.

His words about COVID-19 were simple and direct, a good reason to practice social distancing.

The virus cannot infect you if it never meets you.

If you are interested in listening to his words, click here.

Monday, March 30, 2020

words matter

I believe that the words Elizabeth Warren used during her campaign for president apply equally to the battle against COVID-19.

I choose hope over fear.
I choose courage over cynicism.

I'm finding that it is easy to sink into depressing thoughts and that it is very important to find ways to lift myself back to optimism.

Getting outside helps. I plan to continue to feed my walking habit and to visit local parks as much as possible, always practicing social distancing.

I am staying in touch with the news but staying away from presentations by the current inhabitant of the White House. Hearing reality is good; listening to falsehoods and twisted facts is not. I am reading and sometimes participating in conversations on Cake with thoughtful people, sometimes talking about the current crisis, sometimes sharing photos and other fun things.

What helps you in these difficult times?

Elizabeth Warren: hope over fear, courage over cynicism

Sunday, March 29, 2020

wetlands

Yesterday's exercise walk took me by this scene. I love the sense of quiet.

wetlands

Saturday, March 28, 2020

food for thought

I spent some time this afternoon reading the article "How the Pandemic Will End" in The Atlantic. The article is part of the magazine's free Coronavirus coverage and is well worth a read. I found it to be thought-provoking.

Click HERE to read the article.


Friday, March 27, 2020

snowdrops

I headed to Maudslay State Park this afternoon with a friend. We practiced social distancing as we walked through the park, stopping to enjoy the flowers.

Some snowdrops agreed to pose for my camera.

snowdrops

Thursday, March 26, 2020

open

Crocus create a splash of color.

crocus

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

purple

I am delighted to see the early colors of dwarf iris.

It will be quite a while yet before the larger varieties of iris emerge. I just wandered through my galleries from last year to find that my first iris was captured on May 22nd.

dwarf iris

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

on the wall

There was snow overnight but warming temperatures today helped it to start to disappear. It was a day to walk on pavement trying to avoid puddles.

My photo for today is a mural created by Ben Jundanian that lives on the side of a building in downtown Andover, MA.

mural by Ben Jundanian, Main St., Andover, MA

Monday, March 23, 2020

social distancing

Yesterday a friend and I practiced social distancing as we walked on rail trail in Topsfield, MA. There were a fair number of people out walking, everyone careful to maintain their distance.

It was a pure blue sky day.

rail trail in Topsfield, MA

Even with the "stay-at-home" advisory issued in Massachusetts, walking outside continues to be encouraged:

"Residents can still go for a walk or go to the park, as long as people still adhere to social distancing."

Sunday, March 22, 2020

calming

Warm air and an outbound tide created good walking conditions at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. Smooth sand near the waters edge allowed for walking and for listening to the sound of the ocean.

My Friday afternoon visit provided a mental reset, a feeling of calm.

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge

Saturday, March 21, 2020

incompetent

Each time I see him speak I am more convinced of his incompetence. It appears that COVID-19 will be with us for a while yet everything this president says convinces me that he not only doesn't understand, he insists on using it as a platform to attempt to make himself seem important. He is not succeeding; he is totally incompetent.

I was appalled at his response to NBC News White House correspondent Peter Alexander who asked the following question during a press conference yesterday:

"What do you say to the Americans who are scared? Nearly 200 dead, 14,000 who are sick. Millions, as you witnessed, who are scared right now. What do you say to Americans who are watching you right now who are scared?"

Trump's response:

"I'd say that you're a terrible reporter. That’s what I'd say. I think it's a very nasty question and I think it's a very bad signal that you're putting out to the American people."

This was an unacceptable response. This individual doesn't seem to understand that he should be calming the country and speaking truth. That seems to be well beyond his capabilities.

I thought Rachel Maddow's comment toward the end of her show last night was perfect. It was directed to all news organizations:

"If Trump is going to keep lying like he has been every day on stuff this important, we should, all of us, stop broadcasting it. Honestly, it's going to cost lives."

Click HERE to watch the short segment of The Rachel Maddow Show that presented this comment.

Help to elect a new president in November; vote for the Democratic nominee!

Friday, March 20, 2020

listen...

I could hear the waves as soon as I stepped out of my car at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge this afternoon, even though the road is a decent walk away from the ocean.

I walked by the ocean, listened to the waves, and tried to keep my feet dry.

tide outbound, Parker River National Wildlife Refuge

Thursday, March 19, 2020

across the river

On this gray and rainy Thursday I'm happy to share a blue sky and reflections from yesterday. Here's a view across the Merrimack River from a spot high above the water in Maudslay State Park.

looking across the Merrimack River

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

daffodil afternoon

It was a bright sunny afternoon, a good time for a walk at Maudslay State Park. Newly opened daffodils created a splash of yellow.

daffodils

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

BREAKING: The American Virus

I just watched the 2-minute film "BREAKING: The American Virus: We Will Prevail".

Eleven Films created this masterpiece, tying together our president's incorrect statements about COVID-19 with statements of truth from sane, smart individuals.

Watch it HERE.

BREAKING: The American Virus

Monday, March 16, 2020

green & blue

While the world is topsy-turvy with worries of COVID-19 I plan to continue to look for balance in the beauty around me.

This view of blue skies and evergreens caught my eye late yesterday afternoon.

trees, sky, water

Sunday, March 15, 2020

delicate

Iris have been a favorite of mine for as long as I can remember.

I'm delighted with the early spring arrival of dwarf iris; I love the color and the delicate nature of the design.

dwarf iris

Saturday, March 14, 2020

taking responsibility

Like many other people I am following the news of the Coronovirus outbreak with concern.

I watched and was disgusted by the president's press conference yesterday afternoon. Refusing to take responsibility for anything should be a strong sign to everyone that this individual should not be in office.

I don't take responsibility

There were two articles published yesterday that I found very interesting.

Click here to read Politico article 'I don't take responsibility at all': Trump deflects blame for coronavirus testing fumble.

Click here to read The Atlantic article The Trump Presidency Is Over.

Thursday, March 12, 2020

early iris

When I was walking yesterday I passed a garden that featured dwarf iris in bloom. I noted the location so I could return today with my camera.

There aren't a lot of flowers out this early in March; I was very happy to see these delicate beauties.

dwarf iris

Wednesday, March 11, 2020

look to the sea

I always find peace by the ocean.

It was high tide as I looked east from Salisbury Beach State Reservation, a good place for a walk on a cloudy day.

at Salisbury Beach State Reservation

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

seagulls sit

Seagulls sit on posts, all facing in the same direction.

What determines the direction? I would guess it's probably based on the direction of the wind or the sun - but could it be some type of special bird communication?

seagulls on posts

Monday, March 09, 2020

crocus

Last week I saw the first snowdrops of the season hiding under some bushes.

Today's warm air convinced me to head to Maudslay State Park with the hope of finding some crocus in bloom. When I reached the grassy hill where I usually see crocus I saw brown grass with a bit of green creeping in, no flowers. But oh! I looked again and found some crocus in bloom.

I welcome the small splash of color.

crocus

Saturday, March 07, 2020

sunshine

Even with a chill in the air, sunshine draws me to walk the trails in local parks.

trees & pond, Harold Parker State Forest

Friday, March 06, 2020

a woman in the White House

Did you watch Rachel Maddow's interview with Elizabeth Warren last night? It left me even more impressed by Elizabeth than I was before; she remains up beat in spite of suspending her campaign for president.

I especially loved the segment where Elizabeth stated "I know that we will one day elect a woman to the White House".

You can listen to that short segment by clicking here.

Elizabeth Warren on Rachel Maddow Show

Click here if you'd like to listen to the full interview with Elizabeth Warren on "The Rachel Maddow Show" on March 5, 2020.

Thursday, March 05, 2020

sad

It was a sad day today, the day that Elizabeth Warren suspended her campaign for president.

I have been volunteering and working for her for the last five months.
Supporting Elizabeth gave me hope.

Elizabeth's words from her thank you email are powerful.

"Choose to fight only righteous fights, because then when things get tough — and they will — you will know that there is only option ahead of you: nevertheless, you must persist.

You should be so proud of what we’ve done together — what you have done over this past year.

Our work continues, the fight goes on, and big dreams never die."


< Elizabeth Warren >
Elizabeth Warren

Tuesday, March 03, 2020

seeking snowdrops

Snowdrops are the first flowers I see outside each spring. I went looking for this cheerful sign of spring today.

Yes, I found some!

snowdrops

Monday, March 02, 2020

photos! Longwood Gardens

Photos from my "flower" visit last week can be viewed in the gallery Longwood Gardens :: 2020.

I visited during the "Orchid Extravaganza". While most of the flowers that posed for me were orchids, there are a few other varieties scattered through the gallery.

orchids

If you choose to visit the gallery and you'd like to view a slideshow please click the triangular icon at the top right of the gallery header.

Sunday, March 01, 2020

meteorological spring

Today is the first day of meteorological spring. While the temperatures have been on the cold side the forecast shows warming days ahead.

I wonder if we will see more snow.
I wonder when flowers will start to appear.
I wonder...

late day light