Life in has had its emotional effect on me. I feel blah. I am edgy, I am angry, fearful, and I am lonesome for my family and life as I knew it. And, I miss the freedom to come and go and simply be.

My belief that our Democratic way of life would never be threatened and that man is basically respectful and good is gone. I am beyond upset by the actions, lies, and unkindness of ‘the so-called higher-ups’ from Government, huge corporations, and those in all types of entertainment… all for self greed. Darling, I am appalled by the hate toward others displayed by gangs of thugs, many paid (again greed), to do the unthinkable with no conscience and no concern for the innocent. I watch in awe at the dismantling of our history and say to myself, “What right do these people and groups have to disrupt the lives of all decent Americans?” and I actually feel sick inside. That is a mouthful! But, that is how I am feeling.

The Day to Day

I feel uncomfortable that I am in this state of mind but rationalize that I did not bring any of this on myself. It is natural to feel the way I do. It’s emotionally healthy to express myself. No, I don’t lie in bed and bemoan the situation. Yes, I put on my red lipstick and spritz myself with Baccarat 540 before I leave our apartment in the sky with America. Yes, I am busy, busy, busy every minute of each day but often, with a sigh.

I also began first-time yoga lessons, started cooking in my Wok again, doing meet-ups on Zoom, watching lots of documentaries, learned to shop on Amazon, packed up my beloved Shangrila in California, and bid her a loving farewell and I am now unpacking. I have learned a lot and that is a biggie. After all, a woman has to be interested if she wants to be interesting! Right, darling?

New Chapters

For those of you who read my Sunday Story last week you learned we sold Shangrila; the secret name I gave our home. You know about the love I have for my little olive tree and my housekeeper for twenty years, Rosa. One of the many bonds I had with Rosa was our love for nature. So, on the last day before I left forever, my Olive Tree left Shangrila, too. She now sits in Rosa’s yard and I am beyond happy to know that she will be loved and cared for and Rosa will feel daily joy. You must remember darling, where there is a will there is always a way! I am smiling and not sighing as I tell you this.

Now back to sighing…

The Ages of Mankind and Potentially Habitable Planets

The Prehistoric Period was the first age in history. There was human life but no records to document human activity. The Prehistoric Age was followed by Early Civilization, then Classical and of course The Middle Ages led to the Renaissance and on and on. Every age saw positive change until the age I call–the “Elsewhere Age.”

Recent discoveries of exoplanets like GJ 251 c have marked a new era in our understanding of the universe. This discovery represents a significant milestone in the ongoing search for Earth-like planets that could potentially harbor life. For over two decades, astronomers have been using advanced technology to search for planets with a rocky composition similar to Earth, focusing on those located in the habitable zone. The habitable zone is crucial because it allows planets to host liquid water, a key ingredient for life as we know it. Data suggest that GJ 251 c, with its promising characteristics, may be capable of supporting life, though further verification is needed. The planet represents an exciting target for future exploration and study, as scientists hope to find life beyond our solar system. Current research is centered on identifying Earth-like planets that could harbor life, and the quest to find life continues to inspire both scientific and public imagination.

The COVID-19 virus was the culprit that moved the civilizations of the world into the Elsewhere Age. The virus arrived with a gust and literally caught the world population off guard engulfing every citizen’s life (except for the Chinese government and the scientists in Wuhan) with dread. Life in the world was changed dramatically. Unlike the other Ages that changed due to progress, has appeared to change due to a pandemic and the honest inability of governments and doctors and scientists to know how to handle this plague.

To this day the citizens of do not know if COVID-19 was accidental or an act of Germ Warfare, by the Chinese Government.

Fear in Elsewhere

I believe is in a state of decay, but, I have a positive outlook that the decent people of will win over COVID-19.

I am not old fashioned. Believe me, darling. I get what is going on as do you. Nothing outside our home life is normal or pleasant. Personally, I see my beloved America in a state of moral and physical decay. However, I have hope that out of bad will come good. The majority of Americans will not let this continue.

I remember one day in March the population of the world (7.594 billion people) was told not to leave their homes. A shiver went down my spine when everybody except the citizens of Sweden, who were told to continue life as they knew it with caution, obeyed. In the USA, 328 million of us did exactly what we were told.

What gives me the shivers is how government can control its citizens with one word… fear. We ran into our homes and life stopped. Just like that! Family life ceased. Businesses closed. Social engagement with friends was taboo and children were not allowed to go to school. All forms of entertainment–theatre, movies, and sports were not curtailed. Life as we knew it ceased to exist.

The Importance of the Habitable Zone in Elsewhere

In these days of living in “Elsewhere,” when so much feels uncertain and distant, I find it comforting—and a little thrilling—to look up and remember that we are not alone in our search for connection. Scientists, too, are searching for life, not just here on planet Earth, but on distant worlds circling other stars. Their quest centers on a magical region known as the habitable zone, or as some call it, the “Goldilocks Zone”—that just-right distance from a star where temperatures allow liquid water to exist on a planet’s surface. And as we all know, darling, where there is water, there just might be life.

The discovery of exoplanets like GJ 251 c, a super-Earth nestled in the habitable zone of its star, is a beacon of hope for those of us who dream of finding life beyond our solar system. This exciting discovery was made possible by the Habitable Zone Planet Finder, a cutting-edge instrument at the Hobby-Eberly Telescope at McDonald Observatory. With its exquisite data and ability to detect tiny Doppler shifts in starlight—those subtle signals caused by the periodic motion of planets tugging on their stars—the HPF allows researchers to detect potentially habitable planets around nearby stars. The high precision data collected by HPF is crucial for distinguishing a planet’s signal from the noise caused by stellar activity. It’s a great example of how community investment and international collaboration can lead to breakthroughs that capture our imagination. An international team of scientists from multiple institutions worked together to achieve this discovery, highlighting the global nature of this research. Access to advanced instrumentation and dedicated telescope access is essential for making such high-precision astronomical observations.

But the habitable zone is more than just a simple ring around a star. It’s a complex region, shaped by the star’s energy, the planet’s atmosphere, and the delicate balance that allows liquid water to exist. The discovery of GJ 251 c, whose rocky composition and right distance from its star make it a promising target, represents a major step forward in our search for alien life. The HPF’s cutting edge instrumentation, combined with advanced data science methods, enables scientists to transform data into discoveries, even in the face of stellar activity noise and other challenges. The star surface itself can generate complex magnetic activity, creating noise that can mimic or obscure a planet’s signal, making detection even more challenging. The identification of a second planet in a system, especially within the habitable zone, further increases the chances of finding life-supporting conditions.

What makes this search so inspiring is that it’s not limited to our own solar system. The habitable zones of other stars, like the one hosting K2-18 b—a super-Earth exoplanet 124 light-years away—remind us that the universe is full of possibilities, and that other planets may also harbor life. With the next generation of telescopes, such as the James Webb Space Telescope, and future telescopes and future observatories, we’ll soon be able to study the atmospheres of these distant worlds in different wavelengths, searching for atmospheric signatures like carbon dioxide, oxygen, or methane—clues that could point to life. Scientists will analyze a planet’s atmosphere for these chemical indicators, as detecting an atmospheric signature is key to identifying potentially habitable environments. The process of detecting a planet’s signal relies on precise measurements and advanced analysis to confirm the presence of these distant worlds. When we are able to directly image exoplanets, observing their reflected light will help us study their properties, including atmospheric composition and potential signs of life.

As we wait for future exploration and the chance to directly image these habitable worlds, I can’t help but marvel at how the search for life elsewhere mirrors our own longing for connection and meaning here at home. The discovery of planets like GJ 251 c is not just a triumph of data sciences and cutting edge research—it’s a reminder that, even in the hardest of times, the universe is full of hope, and that the next exciting discovery may be just around the corner.

The Role of Telescopes in the Search for Elsewhere

As we gaze up at the night sky from our own little corner of Elsewhere, it’s comforting to know that the search for life is not just a dream, but a real, ongoing adventure—one powered by some of the most remarkable tools humanity has ever built. Darling, telescopes are our eyes into the universe, and they play a starring role in our quest to detect potentially habitable planets circling distant stars.

Take the Habitable Zone Planet Finder, for example—a marvel of cutting-edge instrumentation perched atop the Hobby-Eberly Telescope at McDonald Observatory. This instrument is designed with exquisite precision, able to capture the faintest whispers of infrared signals from nearby stars. By measuring the tiniest Doppler shifts—those slight signals caused by the gentle tug of a planet on its star—the HPF helps scientists detect subtle hints of super Earth exoplanets, even when those signals are nearly lost in the noise of stellar activity.

The recent discovery of GJ 251 c, a rocky planet with a promising location in the habitable zone, is a shining example of what’s possible when community investment, international collaboration, and the latest data science methods come together. The planet’s signal was first detected by the HPF and then confirmed by the NEID spectrometer at Kitt Peak National Observatory, showing just how powerful multi-disciplinary research can be. It’s a hard game, darling, to tease out a planet’s signal from the background hum of its star, but with the highest precision measurements and clever analysis methods, we’re making real progress.

What makes this all the more exciting is that telescopes like the HPF are not just looking for any old planet—they’re searching for those rare worlds where liquid water could exist, where the right atmosphere might allow life to flourish. The discovery of GJ 251 c represents one of the best candidates for future exploration, and its rocky composition and location in the habitable zone make it a prime target for the next generation of telescopes. Soon, with even more advanced instruments, we may be able to directly image these nearby super Earths, study their atmospheres at different wavelengths, and search for the telltale signs of carbon dioxide or other atmospheric signatures that could hint at alien life.

All of this is only possible because of the dedication of scientists, engineers, and data science experts who transform raw data into discoveries. It’s a great example of how community investment and access to world-class telescopes can open new windows onto the universe. As we look ahead, the next generation of telescopes and cutting-edge research will bring us ever closer to answering the age-old question: are we alone?

So, as we wait for the next exciting discovery, let’s remember that the search for life beyond planet Earth is not just about distant worlds—it’s about hope, curiosity, and the unbreakable human spirit that refuses to stop searching for connection, no matter how far we have to look.

Something to Think About… Alien Life

I was frightened when 328 million of us obeyed our Government instantly. And, I did not think our Government should go to the extreme of shutting down our entire economy. And now I know my instincts were correct because two days ago WHO, the World Health Organization said, “It is not advisable to have shutdowns.” (See article HERE) 

We still have not heard the last of masks. One minute it is “don’t wear a mask.” The next minute it’s, “Wear two!” Darling, we will learn to be smart from being dumb.

I am not blaming anyone in the medical field or government because COVD-19 is very much a mystery and medicine is a ‘practice’ and government officials listen to scientists and doctors. The culprit is China and they should be punished by every world government. It boggles my mind that China is not in the news.

Big Tech in Elsewhere

I know that everything I am doing on Social Media is being watched. They know where I live, what I wear, where I travel and certainly what I buy. I cannot stand their intrusion into my life.

Big Tech has shown its true self during this pandemic. There are only two industries that call their customers users, the illegal drug industry, and software companies! This is a social dilemma when 50 designers between the ages of 25 and 30-years-old are impacting the minds of 2 billion people. Big tech is a threat to our Democracy, to the minds of young and old and at no times have I experienced this blatant power grab happening than during the Elsewhere Age.

I Don’t Like What I’m Seeing on Social Media

These companies create social division by taking one side over another, often with misleading information. They have the power to turn our democratic society into a socialistic society; where the ruling class determines how all of us, except the very very rich, live. These companies are thriving on conflict instead of unity and on misinformation instead of solid truth. There are studies that show that false information or fake news gets six clicks over honest news or accurate news that often gets zero clicks. The attention-based business model of social media companies cares about one thing… driving up their advertising revenue.

These big tech companies, Facebook, Twitter, and Google should not be allowed to regulate themselves and play with our minds through their algorithms. I do have faith their wings will be clipped, big time.

By the way, I’m using incognito on Google and the app DuckDuckGo for privacy.

Watch the documentary, “The Social Dilemma” on Netflix. And also watch, “What Killed Michael Brown,” written by a Shelby Steele.

Shopping on Amazon

If it weren’t for Elsewhere I would not be shopping on Amazon because I like to walk into shops, talk to the salespeople and get their advice. And, I like to look and touch items and support shop owners. But alas, what is a girl to do when she is forced to stay home and shops are closed or have limited inventory? She can’t stop shopping, right darling? Admittedly, I love to shop on Amazon while using my Honey App on my laptop to save money; but with guilt and sadness for the shopkeepers.

Elsewhere is Not Social!

I love, like you, interacting with people in my family and friends and the taxi driver–I support taxis! And, I am a people person and I am sad to say I have gotten ‘house lazy’ not ‘stir crazy’ living in Elsewhere.

I have learned to do almost everything from home. Haven’t you darling? I can even see my doctor from home! I don’t, but many women do. As well, I have learned to shop for all my needs and for things I love. For food, I use the Instacart shopping and delivery service–I find this to be the best. I also use Amazon Prime’s free shipping.

I recently bought new dishes and satin hangers for my granddaughter’s first apartment. I also bought Zinc vitamins, a new 2021 calendar and was going to splurge and buy a newer model of my beloved Vitamix Professional Series (recommended by the Culinary Institute of America.) But, after making a smoothie for breakfast, I still love the one I already own.

As well, I shop at NET-A-PORTER, MatchesFashion, The Real Real… I can call any salesperson at any store and have a delivery in a matter of days. Unfortunately, I have become almost 100% self-sufficient staying at home.

Sounds marvelous but it is not healthy, mentally, and physically. We need daily fresh air, socializing with others; hugs and kisses from our families. We should be able to hail a taxi and go to the theatre or a football game and see one another’s face.

Some Final Thoughts on Elsewhere Living and Future Exploration

We are not living life as life should be lived. We are social animals hiding behind masks. And, the sad part of all of this is that after eight months of hibernation we are more or less getting conditioned to this. And, dear Dr. Fauci announces a few days ago that, “We may be able to spend Thanksgiving with our families in 2021.” What kind of positive statement is that to announce to an already depressed public?

If I use one word to describe what is missing in our all of our lives in Elsewhere it would be exuberance; that quality of feeling energetic, excited, and cheerful. I am as busy as ever but I am out of sorts because Elsewhere has deprived me of normalcy.

Do you feel as I do? Let me know in the comments at the bottom of this page. I want to hear your opinion. And remember, let’s be kind to one another. 

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