My roommate Nicole has told me I seem to have an active (and hopefully interesting) internal monologue that might aid me well in writing and so, after a handful of attempts, scrapped drafts, word vomit, brainstorming, and journal entries I am committed to compiling some of my thoughts into coherent essays.  I’ve found some sources of inspiration (like Semi-Rad) that have given me hope that others might find my silly anecdotes and thoughts vaguely interesting.   

So I have committed to an “essay” a month. It might be short, it might not be well written, but the only way to get better at something is to do the thing, so that’s what I’m going to try.

Although no one seems to know the origin of the famous “main character” trend on tiktok, creator @ashlaward’s sound in this video became viral shortly after its creation in May 2020.   This sound, along with many others, created the #maincharacter trend that has been sweeping through the internet, and society, ever since.   Although the original sound is quite uplifting in its message stating, “You have to start romanticizing your life. You have to start thinking of yourself as the main character because if you don’t — life will continue to pass you by,” it’s easy to see how this mindset could lead to what some call Main Character Syndrome. Urban Dictionary defines Main Character Syndrome as, “When someone thinks they are the main character of their life. Usually comes with a side of individuality complex, quirky style and a self centered point of view.” 

Believing you are the main character is human nature and can lead to a positive sense of empowerment, especially in individuals who struggle to set boundaries and prioritize their own needs.   More often, it can cause people to be self-centered and treat others as less than or “side characters.”  In 2015, long before the TikTok trend, psychologist Michael Karson wrote, “As much as we like being the main characters of our stories, we react with anger when we are subordinated to a minor role. Of course we are capable of cheerfully fulfilling a minor role in any particular scene, but we balk at the message that our overall life is a minor one.”  This feeling is natural and yet completely unavoidable.  

I recently had a similar epiphany in my own life. While considering a difficult relationship in my life, I started to feel very frustrated with my treatment and I thought it was outrageous that I could be treated so poorly.   While considering this, I realized something: other people are not side characters in my life, and as much as I hate being treated as a side character, so do they.   Other people’s lives aren’t on pause when I leave the room, I am not the driving force of their narrative, in other words, I am not the main character.   

A protagonist drives the story, controls the narrative, and is the focus of everybody else and believing you are the main character deletes the validity of other people's problems, thoughts, and choices.  Realizing this has made me happier, I figure if I’m not worried about being the main character I can instead choose to be a really awesome side character.  This relieves pressure as it allows me to set lower expectations of myself and others.   I no longer believe my choices are the driving force of the narrative, and I allow others to exist, full of their own concerns and problems, even when I’m not around.   It’s a difficult mindset to adopt but it has helped me practice empathy and relieved anxiety in my life.   

Other Sources:

https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/im-the-main-character

https://i-d.vice.com/en/article/akzby4/tiktok-is-teaching-gen-z-what-it-really-means-to-be-the-main-character

When I started this essay I thought it would just be a research essay about the wonders of the Mojave Desert but I quickly realized there are many more comprehensive essays about that topic so I decided instead to write about what strikes me most about the desert, its resiliency.   

It’s been a rough start of the year for me, culminating into a *very rough* few weeks that I anticipate will continue.   My body’s been hurt, sick, injured, and sore and my mental health hasn’t been much better.   I’m positive things will improve but it takes time, energy, and discipline which is always a struggle. Through all the ups and downs my rock, what has allowed me to keep going and stay positive, has been the literal rocks (and plants/animals) of the Mojave Desert. The desert has provided a place for reflection, community, recreation, and peace during the struggles of life.      

Also known as the ‘high desert’ the Mojave desert is the smallest and driest desert in North America.   It averages 6 inches of rain a year and temperatures range from below freezing in the winter to over 100 degrees in the summers.   The plants and animals of the area are some of the most resilient in the world.   The living things of the desert constantly choose to survive in an almost uninhabitable place.   During periods of rain and hydration, like we’ve seen recently,  the desert truly blossoms and the colors dramatically change.  

Unlike its neighboring desert, the Sonoran, the Mojave desert lacks a large variety of cacti, including the iconic Saguaro, because it’s too dry. Saguaro cacti, along with many other plants, require summer rains to replenish their water for the dry seasons and the Mojave lacks the essential rain.   The climate here is too extreme for even other desert plants to survive, meaning that the plants that do thrive here have evolved to persist even in intense conditions. Many of the plants of the area are endemic (or exclusive) to the region, and I think this shows the plants have developed a love for this place, as have I.   

Plants

Plants like the Creosote bush have learned to survive despite the harsh conditions.  The bushes must make it  three to five years in ideal conditions before their survival is even possible and after that if a plant loses all its leaves it won’t survive.   The leaves, which are bitter and waxy, deter many animals from munching but house many of the desert insects and mice showing that even the creatures of the desert must rely on each other. 

The Many Headed Barrel Cactus, unlike other barrel cacti, is extremely difficult to cultivate and flowers often don’t appear on the cactus for many years.   These cacti demonstrate the importance of letting growth happen naturally and being patient.   The flowers will come eventually but it may take time.   

Possibly the most iconic plant of the Mojave desert is the Joshua Tree.   This tree is a type of Yucca, a plant that can survive in almost any climate, but the Joshua Tree is located exclusively in the Mojave desert.   One of the keys to its survival is its deep root system that allows it to access water and withstand the desert winds.   It requires specific blooming conditions to flower including appropriate rainfall and a winter freeze.   Their new growth can only occur after a bloom, which doesn’t even occur every year because of the specific requirements.  The Joshua Tree teaches that it is essential to place deep roots for support and nourishment, and reminds, yet again, that growth requires challenge, perseverance, and patience.   

Despite the challenges the desert plants face they are some of the longest living species in the world- many living thousands of years.   They show that thriving is possible and beautiful throughout harsh conditions and challenges.  The plants are resilient through years without growth, seasons without rain, and dramatic temperature shifts.   Together the plants create an environment habitable to animals and cultivate the profound beauty of the desert.   

Animals

One of the most elusive and yet iconic animals of the Mojave desert is the Desert Tortoise.   The Desert Tortoise spends 95% of its life within burrows they dig to protect them from the extreme temperatures of the desert and prevent dehydration.  Although at first this sounds like a dark dreary existence the burrows are shared with other tortoises, mammals, birds, and reptiles.   The tortoise shows the importance of surrounding oneself with others to look after and support each other no matter the conditions.   

Bighorn Sheep are another iconic animal of the desert and can be seen in many areas throughout the Mojave desert.   They have developed many adaptations that allow them to survive in the desert including their easily identifiable horns and elastic hoofs that allow them to climb with agility despite their size.  One of the most impressive facts about the sheep is their ability to go weeks without visiting water as they are resourceful and able to collect water from plants and rock pools.   Their ability to lose up to 30% of their body weight and then recover from dehydration quickly are some of their most essential adaptations.   These sheep show that even after long droughts and loss, recovery is possible and can often be quicker than imaginable.   

One of the main predators of the Mojave is the Coyote.   The Coyote is known as one of the most vocal animals in North America and its howls can be heard throughout the desert from twilight until deep into the night.   Coyotes often walk between 3-10 miles a day and are also capable swimmers.   These animals' many talents allow them to adapt to a variety of climates and they live from Northern Canada all the way to Guatemala.  Unlike the other plants and animals in this essay the Coyote’s habitation beyond the desert shows that developing skills in many areas allows success in many areas beyond just the immediate circumstances.   

The animals of the desert survive and thrive in the incredibly harsh conditions because of their many adaptations and abilities.  The animals of the desert increasingly show that resiliency despite challenging and changing conditions is essential to survival.  Their contributions to the beauty, awe, and inspiration of the desert cannot go unnoticed.   

Through my time in the desert and observing the life there I have been reminded that no matter the challenges I face, the uncertainty, pain, or outside conditions I am more than capable of not just surviving, but thriving.  I hope one day to be as resilient, adaptable, inspiring, and beautiful as the life of the desert.   

All information about the plants, animals, and desert are from Wikipedia (the source of all truth).

I’m literally at my wits end with f*cking discussion posts.   For those of you in post COVID academia you know exactly what I’m talking about.   I’m in my last semester of my masters program and I swear every time I have to write another discussion post response a piece of my soul dies.   In fact, writing this is just a way to procrastinate writing discussion post responses.   

Hi [classmate’s name],

I found your discussion post really boring.  Obviously we all skimmed the same text and responded to the same prompt so, anything I had to say on the topic I already included in my initial post to meet the bare minimum word count requirements.  

I somehow need to both feign interest in what you had to say, and come up with a new idea related to the utterly dry topic so that I can get points for providing a ‘substantial response.’  We both know no one besides the professor is ever reading this response which makes this a useless substitute for true academic discourse but at the same time none of us have the energy to come up with anything even mildly thought provoking to say.   

Despite all that, I’m still going to tell you I appreciated your post and that ‘I thought you had a unique perspective’ because I’m struggling to reach the required word count for my response.   

Thanks for posting!

Emma Stratton

Thought it would be a good time to work on my comedy writing (something I’d love to get better at). March has been busy, I have 15 pages of writing to do for my masters and although I really wanted to write something for Women’s History Month I didn’t feel like my drafts were doing any justice to such an important topic. 

Designed after the German Doll, Bild Lilli, Barbie was one of the first dolls of her kind. Prior to her existence, dolls were primarily depicted as babies and promoted traditional gender roles. The creation of Barbie marked an opportunity for girls to have a toy that depicted and promoted other roles for adult women.   From the beginning Barbie was a feminist.   By 1963, only four years after her creation, Barbie was already a ‘Career Girl’ and a college graduate, in addition to many other roles including a model, flight attendant, nurse, and singer.   In a world where less than 8% of Americans had a college education and only 32% of the workforce was women, Barbie was ahead of the curve and helped show girls that women could pursue roles other than wife and mother.   Becoming an Astronaut in 1965 made her the first female Astronaut in America, beating Sally Ride by four years, and yet again proving herself as an independent, progressive woman.  

Barbie’s “on-off romantic relationship” with Ken is one of the least interesting things about her, an usual feature of girls' toys and stories that are so often centered around men.  Bratz, Disney Princesses, and other life-like dolls have tried to compete with Barbie in the toy market but none have competed as progressive role models for women.   Despite this Barbie has faced intense scrutiny over the years, culminating in the early 2010s when Barbie received criticism over her appearance.   The public felt she was promoting unhealthy, and unattainable beauty standards for young girls.  No other toys on the market faced similar scandal, not Bratz and Princesses with their equally unattainable bodies, or male action figures, not even Ken, a well chiseled alpha male, faced criticism for his appearance.   The criticism was solely for Barbie, the only progressive adult woman depicted in the toy aisle. 

So Barbie evolved and in 2016 Time magazine published a Barbie cover story, “Now Can We Stop Talking About My Body?,” addressing the controversy and announcing an expansion of Barbie’s figure to include curvy, petite, and tall.   The increased focus on body positivity and inclusivity is undeniably a good thing but it’s important to recognize that this criticism was reserved only for female toys, and more specifically Barbie.   Likely because of her accomplishments, both as a character and as a toy (having held 90% of the doll market until the 2000s) she faced backlash as so many accomplished women do.     

This isn’t to say Barbie is without flaws, sexism, or valid criticism (even about her uninclusive appearance) but she represents the way women face different expectations and criticism then men.   Barbie is simply a microcosm of what happens to women everywhere.  Successful women face different challenges then men in almost all areas of life.  When applying for typically male jobs attractive women are perceived as less likely to possess the needed characteristics to do the job. One professor, who studies gender dynamics, states,  "Once women get into managerial positions, positions of leadership, positions of power, beauty becomes a liability because our stereotypes around beauty are that they're incompatible with capability...So if you're too beautiful, maybe you're not that competent. Maybe you're a 'dumb blonde.' That's a lot more true for women than it is for men."  These patterns, which are similar to those represented by Barbie, have real consequences for women and their success.  At first glance Barbie may just be a doll, but before critisizing what you perceive to be a superficial, attractive women think about how that criticism is a reflection of societies real sexism and the effect that has on girls and women everywhere.   

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbie#

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbie%27s_careers#cite_ref-146

http://www.barbiemedia.com/images/careers.html?sort=4

https://www.statista.com/statistics/184260/educational-attainment-in-the-us/

https://fraser.stlouisfed.org/files/docs/publications/women/b0284_dolwb_1962.pdf

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/people/1760/sally-ride-1951-2012/

https://time.com/barbie-new-body-cover-story/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749597814000715#b0200

https://money.cnn.com/2017/09/20/pf/women-attractiveness-work/index.html

**I read probably 25+ articles about Barbie before writing this and literally now know so many obscure Barbie facts from the history of Andy Warhol’s painting to the litigation surrounding Barbie Girl by Aqua.  If you want to talk to me about Barbie lmk ;) ** 

While at coffee with a friend, we were discussing rock climbing (as often seems to happen with me nowadays) and the conversation turned to both our upcoming breaks from the sport.   During this conversation he said, “breaks are good for your relationship with the thing.” That really resonated with me and made me consider the effect of breaks in my life.    

As a teacher my job offers the privilege of a 10-week break and as I have neared my summer break I’ve been pondering what my friend said and the anticipation I have for a break from many things in my life. Summer provides the opportunity for me to take a break from many things including: my routine, job, friends, hobbies, Vegas, and more. It’s an opportunity I am very appreciative of as it allows me to create a healthy, sustainable life. 

I have come to look forward to the break, even from things I love, because it allows me to feel more connected, rejuvenated, and grateful. It also allows me the opportunity to explore, be curious, and discover new things. Traveling and vacations are shown to increase creativity, mindfulness, and increase ‘aha’ moments.  A break from routine, and change in environment, “is an opportunity for most people to be more fully present, to really wake up” (source). 

Breaks from work, both long and short, have many positive benefits both on wellness and productivity. ‘Micro-breaks’ or short work breaks throughout the day have been shown to have many benefits such as decreasing fatigue, increasing performance, and reducing the need for long recovery at the end of the day (source).  Although many studies are applied only to the workplace I bet similar principles regarding breaks could be applied to other aspects of life as well.  Taking micro-breaks from hobbies, friends, or social obligations could likely have similar effects on our well-being and benefit our relationships.   

Breaks from prominent hobbies, jobs, and other identity forming things in our life is essential to our wellness and helps ensure that if we ever need to take a break we still have self-identity outside of those things. In an article about youth sports a family doctor wrote, “What we hear from professional athletes at the highest level is that their mental health struggles felt overwhelming because the only way they could think of to navigate their depression was to take a break from their sports, but if they took a break from their sport, they disappeared”(source).  This lack of identity can increase mental health crises when we’re forced to take breaks or if we change careers, relationships, or friends.  

Within relationships it’s also important to take breaks. One couples therapist says that “distance is an important part of intimacy” (source). This doesn’t mean break-ups or separation are essential to a healthy relationship, but making sure some distance and time is taken away from loved ones can often improve the intimacy and closeness of a relationship. Many couples counselors and therapists agree that breaks can often allow for a re-balancing of relationships, help avoid codependency, and allow people to focus on other issues (like mental health) without negatively affecting their partner. These benefits can apply equally well to non-romantic relationships and our relationships with things.   

For me the break from work is the catalyst for my other breaks, as it is my job that keeps me in one place and stuck in similar routines. The break from work is good, and as a school teacher, maybe even essential, but it is the break from other areas of my life that I think will be most beneficial. One of the most important breaks I’m taking this summer is a break from Vegas.   Living in one place can be intimidating, difficult, and boring. A break from the city this summer will help me stay excited and happy to live in Vegas. In addition, a break from close friends and roommates will help me to maintain positive healthy relationships with those I love.  Although I know my position and ability to take such a long break is unique, I encourage everyone to find ways to take breaks. It can be challenging, but ultimately can improve your life and your health.  

**The articles linked in this paper are only a small handful of the ones I read but many have ideas for how to take breaks and include lists of the many other benefits including improved physical health**

My travel plans are almost exclusively determined by serendipity.  My lack of research and preparation almost always lead me to my most memorable and fulfilling activities. By happy accident, as I never check the weather, I hit what locals will tell me is “the best weather we’ve had this year” or I’ll narrowly avoid thunderstorms, weeks of fog, or fires. My paths cross with some of the most amazing and interesting people, who are also on their own unplanned adventures.   

I think that’s what I’ve found most interesting, when serendipity collides.   

About a year ago I found myself chatting with a young German in my local Las Vegas climbing gym. They had just begun a stateside climbing trip and bought a new pair of shoes.  This was an unotable, and almost completely forgotten, experience. 

While in Yosemite I decided to hike the Upper Yosemite Falls trail, and through a few unexpected hiccups got started a bit later then I intended.  While hiking up I ran into a few solo hikers, one of whom invited me to join him at his site in Camp 4 for some s’mores later.  I stopped by that night and listened as his camp-mates discuss their upcoming plans to climb The Nose.   One of the climbers had come solo but the other’s partner had gotten unexpectedly injured, they had met through a mutual friend.   

At some point during our campfire discussions we discovered that through one of these unpredictable serendipitous collisions the climber whose partner was injured was the German I had met almost a year ago in Las Vegas.   

It’s impossible to fully express the number of events, decisions, connections, and even unfortunate incidents that needed to occur to lead us to reunite around that campfire.   We didn’t exchange contact info when we met originally, or around the campfire that night, and a year ago I would’ve said that we would never see each other again, but now, who knows? 

Such acts of chance, happy accidents, and coincidences feel meaningful, even if it’s impossible to identify what the meaning is.   

Even the small moments of serendipity can feel meaningful.   

Over the past 2 years I have spent almost 100 nights alone in my car.   I’ve been to two dozen National Parks and driven over 10,000 miles by myself.  The hours alone with my thoughts, solving problems, and dealing with setbacks has allowed me to learn more than I ever have before and helped me to become an empowered and self-sufficient person.  I’ve seen countless beautiful places, enjoyed time disconnected, sought out secluded camp spots, and slept in many parking lots.  

I remember my first few solo road trips.   I felt nervous, losing cell service made me feel uncomfortable, I had done tons of research and way over-prepared.   The thrill and excitement of simply being alone and getting to make all the decisions myself was enough to keep me engaged and interested the whole trip.   I’ve loved watching my car set-up evolve and my gear get upgraded as I’ve decided what is important to me, my meals have changed, my routines have been established, and I now feel just as comfortable (sometimes even more comfortable) living in my car as I do at home.  When I first started I would make sure I had campgrounds picked out well in advance and get there before dark to ensure everything went smoothly.   Now I often don’t even start to think about where I’m sleeping until after sunset.   I’m at peace with the spontaneity and comfortable going with the flow of the trip.   I’ve met countless interesting people to chat with, but I’m also rarely bothered by the silence of my own company.   More than anything I’ve learned from my solo traveling I’ve learned to trust my intuition and over the last few months my intuition started whispering and then screaming that my solo road trip era is coming to an end.

The comfort of my car and the hours alone has lost the thrill it had.   I’ve spent more hours this summer in my car feeling anxious, crying, or lonely than I ever have before.   I feel exhausted by the pressure of having to make every decision and solve every problem. The joy of the beautiful sights I’ve seen this summer always feel a little shadowed by the desire to share these memories and places with others. I often found myself thinking “wish you were here” not about any particular person but just about people in general. I think more people deserve to see awe-inspiring places and have incredible experiences and it has started to feel almost selfish to be doing these things by myself.

Does this mean I will never travel alone again? Absolutely not. There is still value there. There are many places to see, people to meet, and things to do and I won’t let being alone stop me. I also strongly believe that spending time alone is essential to cultivating a healthy relationship with self but, my travel habits will no longer include weeks of epic multi-thousand mile solo road trips.  

Trust your own intuition. If you feel called to solo travel, particularly road trips, I encourage it. For now you’ll find me living a fulfilled life at home in Vegas, and hopefully talking friends into taking trips with me :) (If you’re interested hmu)

August 2023: Taking my advice from May and taking a brief break, come back at the end of September for a new essay :)

In the last three weeks I’ve climbed more than 2000 ft.   It means weekends packed full of climbing and car to car adventures.   This past weekend I put in 20 hours of rock climbing and then showed up to work on Monday feeling more hungover than if I’d drunk myself silly.   Climbing, and the way it consumes mine, and so many others, thoughts, time, and desires, is difficult to explain to someone who’s never experienced it, and generally I don’t even bother.  But as it does consume every thought, I decided I might as well try.

Some people say they climb for the satisfaction of reaching the top, the views they get to see, or the feeling they get when they finish, and maybe for them that’s true, but climbing is truly a sport about the journey more than the destination.   The success of a climbing session can be measured in so many different ways that even when conditions are terrible, we’re forced to bail, or something goes awry, as long as everybody is safe, I walk away with some sense of satisfaction.   

Admittedly, at times there isn’t a ton of obvious “fun” to the activity.   Which makes it  hard to explain what’s so great about rock climbing. It definitely doesn’t always seem amazing when I’m sitting on the edge of a rappel ledge peeking over and hoping that my rope will be long enough to get me to the ground without down climbing.   Even I start to question my decisions when I’m straining my ears hoping to hear the call from my partner that tells me I’m safe, or when I’m looking up at a pitch thinking “I hope this is easier than it looks” (thankfully it generally is).  And yet.  .  .   

There’s nothing like the sensation of looking down across the expansive desert landscape below, the ground unusually green from the recent rain.  The pure joy of reaching up the next hold and finding the coziest jug you’ve ever grabbed and the security and pride of a well placed piece of protection.   The beauty of the peaks, canyons,  and buttresses towering high above.  Climbing helps you develop skills, build confidence, and forge unbreakable connections.   The thrill of pushing yourself to the physical and mental limits and safely completing such a dangerous activity is truly indescribable.   

The euphoria of a good climbing adventure contrasts the regular day-to-day of life so dramatically it leaves normal days feeling drab and uneventful.   My partner and I have taken to calling rock climbing “real life” and everything else is The Matrix.   Despite how extreme this sentiment seems it’s not even a unique sensation, this feeling is the reason so many climbers chase the dream of “dirtbagging,” leaving life's responsibilities and traveling around in a car (or in some cases a van) and filling the days with climbing, when regular life ceases to feel real suddenly it seems easier to leave it all behind.  

Why should you zero your inbox?

Many productivity experts agree that keeping the time you spend on email short and efficient helps increase your productivity and decreases your stress at work.   

Unfortunately data shows people receive an average of 304 business emails a week which can make it difficult to keep up.   Here’s my foolproof way to zero your inbox in seconds:

1.   Open your email

2.  Click the open check box button 

Sometimes life gets dark.   A gloomy fog covering the way you see the world around you.   You understand things aren’t that bad, you know things will get better, but it doesn’t change the way it feels.   

Life feels bleak and uninteresting.   You keep doing what you’ve always done, but it doesn’t feel the same.   The things you love lose their sparkle.   You try new things, but they also don’t glow.   

Friends and family surround you, but loneliness crushes you anyways.  You feel disconnected.  All the things that should bring you light can’t overcome the darkness creeping in.   

Purposeless you wander through the darkness.   You feel unwell, but the medicine isn’t working.   

But then, finally, the clouds clear and the sun appears.   Nothing has changed somehow everything feels different.  The warmth reenters the frozen landscape and life is bright once more.   

The weather will shift again, as it always does, but for now you feel content.

I thought I watched someone die.  

We got to the BLM land Tuesday night, nervous but excited to climb in Joshua Tree.   Wednesday morning we got a comfortable slow start and got to Intersection Rock in the late morning to start climbing.   The unique energy of Joshua Tree surrounded us as we got out of our car and started racking up.   High liners could be seen across the way and a train of five free soloists scurried over Intersection Rock to the awe of the tourists watching from below.   

After hopping on an easy single pitch to shake off the nerves and get used to a different rock type, we picked a two pitch climb to take us to the top of Intersection Rock.   Next to us a partnership was climbing a hard looking single pitch with bolted anchors.   My partner began leading our line and about 12 feet up I heard the belayer next to me call “off-belay” to his partner, indicating his partner had reached the top and presumably was setting up to rappel down. I glanced over briefly but nothing seemed amiss, until I heard screaming.   I look back over to see a climber free falling past me head first into the ground.   He fell 95 feet.   

The belayer, without thought, positioned himself beneath the climber protecting his head and bringing them both to the ground.   The sound of the crunching was disturbing, but the belayer seemed uninjured as he scrambled on top shaking and screaming the climbers name.   My partner called me out of my shock and into the real world quickly asking me to lower him, where he rushed over to administer initial first-aid while I tried to call for help.   

The climber survived, with many injuries (although no head or neck injuries after being caught by his belayer), and was life-flighted out of the park.   

There is obviously more I could say about this incident, many more details, the aftermath, the emotional repercussions, my climbing since, and so much more, but I wish simply for this story to live here as I witnessed it without additional commentary.   Stay safe friends.