Wash Hands, Don’t Touch Face

Everyone seems to be talking and concerned about the coronavirus.

Today, one of the people that clean the office told me to be careful and said:

Wash hands.  Don’t touch face!

Someone also questioned where fundamentally did this new killer virus come from:

Is this new virus really from eating exotic animals like they say or is it really something that escaped from a Chinese biological laboratory?

Since we are dealing with an origin of the virus that is from a Communist county that represses freedom of information, the Wall Street Journal raised doubts about the information we are getting:

As the outbreak was already under way, the local government did what Communist governments always do: cover up…[and even] China’s president cannot trust the information he is getting. The lack of trust mean he must make decisions in the dark. No institution can function effectively this way.

With coronavirus more contagious than even SARS or MERS, perhaps the most important immediate questions is how far and deep will it spread?

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Long Nails

Ran into this lady in South Florida. 

Couldn’t help but notice the nails. 

She told me she’s been growing them like this for 29 years!

I asked if she had any difficulty typing, driving, or anything. 

And she told me she does everything with them.

No, I don’t think that I want to touch these things. 

I’m only getting as close as the camera. 😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Don’t Worry–Be Happy!

Happy Friday everyone!

Yesterday, someone gave me a couple of these bright yellow smileys–one on the back of each of my hands. 

I was going around waving these happy faces all day.  

Of course, sitting in meetings was a little weird with these on, but then again, maybe that is part of setting a colorful and happy tone. 

It’s funny how a little smile sticker can make the whole world seem right again. 

Maybe we can learn to live life, love life, and make the most of every single day. 

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Creative Washing Sign

Ok, this is not your typical handwashing sign.

Usually these signs that are mandated by health regulations in food establishments remind employees to wash their hands before returning to work.

Of course, given all the Clostridium, E. coli, Hepatitis, Listeria, Norovirus, and Salmonella out there, we know that unfortunately many food workers are not following these instructions very well…yes, yuck!

Here, someone “sanitized” the sign, and rubbed out the “h” and the top part of the “d” in hands and left the crude word, “anus.” 

Now employees must wash not their hands, but their anus (does that help in food preparation?)!

Perhaps, whoever did this are lobbyists for some sort of bidets in this country. 

Given all the political crap that goes on around this town, this may be a very good idea. 😉

(Source Photo: Dannielle Blumenthal)

Happy Hamsa

I took this photo in the local Judaica store.

It is a Hamsa–a palm-shaped amulet symbolizing the hand of G-d–and it is supposed to bring good luck, blessing, and protection. 

This particular hamsa was decorated in a more homey flower theme, which made it different and interesting from the others that I have seen which are traditionally either deep blue with a single watchful eye or others that are multi-colored and jeweled. 

This hamsa should bring us all good fortune and much happiness. 😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

 

Walking Off Into The Sunset

My daughter snapped this photo of my wife and I while we weren’t looking. 

When we got home my wife titled it “Walking Off Into The Sunset.”

We both cried when we saw it!

So full of meaning…

Two people, different, but hearts and hands together.

Walking into the future, not sure where it is going to take us. 

Some day we’ll be old, and we’ll look back at all the times. 

Hopefully, all for the good, but always trying to make the best. 

We’ll walk off into that sunset sometimes with tears, but always with joy. 

(Source Photo: Michelle Blumenthal)

Who Do You Want To Be?

Walking through the halls of one of the local schools, there was this awesome display of cutout hands.

Each hand, done by a student, was supposed to represent who they wanted to be as people.

In the center of each was a core saying/belief of the student written on the palm.

And then on each of the five fingers was their personal aspirations:

Emotionally
Physically
Socially
Intellectually
Spiritually

I thought this was a really cool assignment to think and focus on where we’re going with our lives and what our personal goals are.

Like a mini-personal architecture, these hands are the hands of our young people who have their lives ahead of them and the energy and opportunity to shape their futures.

No, none of us has control over the future, but we can do our part to shape who we are as human beings, as this student says:

“I am who I want to be.”

Of course, we have to choose wisely, work hard, and go for it!

We never know if there are any true second chances. 😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Do NOT Wash Hands

This was a funny picture that my wife took at the Department of Commerce cafeteria.

It’s a drinking fountain and says: “Please do not wash your hands. Thank you.”

So somebody wrote underneath it “here.”

And somebody else crossed that out and wrote “ever.”

I guess people are fed up with all the signs reminding them to wash.

Seems like we have a hygiene rebellion on our hands! 😉

(Source Photo: Dannielle Blumenthal)

Still In Love After 58 Years Together

My mom and dad are still in love after almost 58 years of marriage.

While I already knew how special they were to each other–through thick and thin–when my mom took my dad’s hand at the table, and said he has always been the love of her life, it was just beautiful.

Their life has certainly not been easy–escaping from Nazi Germany as children, losing most of their education, and coming to this country with literally nothing. But they worked hard, worshipped G-d dutifully, gave charitably, and greatly valued their family and friendships above everything else in this world.

They are good people and a wonderful role model to all of us, and we have always been like one extended family.

I’ll always remember when my mom took his hand and said how much he meant to her–it was awesome!

May God bless them both, always. 😉

(Source Photo: Rebecca Blumenthal)