![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
Day #249 of Corona Virus/Lockdown
There's a chart on FB asking where you currently are in the mental health arena during this thing...and I can't find the post. So never mind.
Mother (calling during Zoom church - which I was dozing off in the middle of anyhow): Is your doctor's appointment Wed or Tuesday?
Me: Wed. And at 10 Am, why?
Mother: Your father wants to send you flowers, so we're doing it via pro-flowers.
Me: That's awfully sweet of you, why? Feeling sorry for me?
Mother: No, your father is concerned about you - this is out of love and concern. From your father.
(I start to cry - seriously my father is charming me lately. Also, hormones.)
Me: Awww...That's so sweet. I'll be here all day Tuesday. When are they coming?
Mother: Tuesday, good bye.
Later...
Me: I thought I'd call you again since you hung up on me earlier (after I left the Zoom church service and everything)
Mother: Yeah, well, let's hope the flowers get to you. I made three different orders, then cancelled two and got one. So hopefully one went through - took me forever to figure the thing out.
Me: I didn't have any troubles with it...
Mother: Well, you're used to it. (No, my mother is a luddite. The computer makes no sense to her. I ordered chocolate for her from Amazon this spring because she couldn't figure it out for a bit. And I got my brother to get her face masks - because she couldn't figure it out. The parent who was adept at the computer stuff is the one who got dementia.)
I was rather touched by this. My family is concerned about me - because I'm by myself in NYC during the holidays. It's not that big a deal - I mean I might complain about having no social life, but I also tend to like to stay home and not see or talk to people for days anyhow. I like my personal space. Also, it's not exactly like I'm not interacting with people. There's the folks online, there's my extended family on FB, my parents who I call daily, my niece, my brother who I text message, Wales, who calls me about once a month, sometimes twice a month, my co-workers, and church zoom services and bible study. Add to that - I live in an apartment complex in the middle of a major city - it's kind of impossible not to see people. I spend most of the time outside my apartment attempting to avoid them with mixed results.
I figure doctor's appointment should be fine - going at an off-time, school will be out, and it's only a twenty minute subway ride, if that. I plan on stopping by the Union Court grocery store on the way home - pick up a gluten-free pie, and maybe some small items like vanilla, and whipped cream.
Grocery stores are safe in my area - they social distance, have masks, and limit numbers in them. If you go at off times - it's not an issue. I went today - when it had more people (mistake that) and picked up the rock cornish game hen. It's in the freezer now - I'll take it out to defaw on Monday night.
I'm not a big Thanksgiving fan - I don't like Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, not into football, and I find holiday problematic in some respects. Also gluten-intolerant - so there's that. My father, however, loves it. Wish I could go down and see him. He wanted to rent a private plane to fly me down. Also he's pushing mother to order gifts on Amazon and wrap them - because he keeps thinking Christmas is next week. I can't say I blame him. With all these people decorating online - I can see that. Although in my area - folks are just decorating and preparing for the Thanksgiving holiday.
This year - I have a plan, rock cornish game hen, green beans and garlic, small cesar salad, roasted root vegetables. I might - make acorn squash, with apples, pears, and raisins per the I Love NY Recipe. That may be the special treat. Although the metroformin (diabetes meds) has done bizarre things to my appetite. I don't really want to eat, and when I do, I can't really finish things. This may result in a loss of weight? Yes, please.
Haven't been sleeping well of late, so I'm sleepy during the day. As earlier stated, I kind of dozed off during the Zoom church service. It was about gratitude, and the hunger communion ritual.
Usually they fast - but they decided trying to do that this year - at home, via zoom, would be rather bleak. They also had a non-perishable food drive - where we could donate food items to the First Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn Heights - who operates a food pantry. (Our church doesn't have the space for it.) It was also doing an e-recycling drop off, and pick up of holiday pies and breads, as a fund raiser. I ignored all three - no car, and getting up there is kind of problematic at the moment. (It's by subway - don't get me wrong the subways are pretty much safe, it's the idiots who refuse to wear masks on them that are the problem. Actually they are the problem across the board.)
Instead, I donated funds to Food Bank of NY - enough to feed 1500 families.
I've donated to Food Bank of NY, City Harvest, God Loves, First Responders,
Church Emergency Fund for People In Need, KWT - community - people in need,
and to Greenwood Cemetery - who was by far the most appreciative, all the others just want more money. It's like feeding a well.
The sermon, which mother's phone call interrupted, was informing me that the gratitude industry was wrong and we shouldn't be grateful for all the material crap we have...and instead should be thankful for other things - and how a capitalistic industry has been built on this. Basically it made me feel guilty for doing my Gratitude Meme, annoyed, I decided to take mother's phone call skip their congregational meeting, and leave the service before the sermon concluded.
After, Wales called - and we had a pleasant chat, until it drifted towards work and Wales began to rant. She hates her work place, which she's been at for well on twenty years. It's a conservative Jewish Law Firm. And she felt the need to bring her political stance with her to work, never a good idea. She's a legal secretary and actually really good at her job - good enough that they've made allowances. And yes, this is the same job she left last year in a huff, only to be begged back - it was kind of mutual begging.
And she doesn't get along with her family - they are Trump supporters, outside of her father. So, issues.
Last night, spoke with niece - after I watched David Byrn's American Utopia directed/filmed by Spike Lee - this is the film of the stage production. Talking to Wales, I found out that Byrne has Ausperbergers' Syndrom - which kind of explains Byrne, and his songs. Not to mention the show. Knowing that kind of puts a whole new spin on things. Wales asked what I thought of it - just as niece asked. I said mixed. Wales is over Byrn and the Talking Heads.
Wales: I'm over David Byrne.
Me: Well, I've not exactly listened to him or the Talking Heads since the 1990s.
I told them both, separately, that it would probably work better in person. Byrn is a conceptual performance artist. And for the most part, the songs and performance was the same. I dozed off during it. Then kind of jerked away to notice there was this weird light show, and I thought, oh, it got interesting all of a sudden. So the first half is kind of boring, the second half is really cool. I went to sleep during the first half. I did dance during part of it.
Niece was underwhelmed. She'd watched a cute somewhat cheesy holiday romance on Netflix. (Dash and Lily, which she rec'd to me with reservations.) She's kind of bummed out, and I worry about her. Last year at this time - she was engaged and excited about school - now, she's kind of bored with it, and annoyed with her teachers. Apparently the poli-sci teacher isn't very good. Since she's doing Zoom - her parents can listen in, and her mother hates her poli-sci teacher more than she does. The teacher goes off on rants. (I think the pandemic may be getting to the teacher, who I was told is liberal.) The only class she's enjoying is the sociology course. Hates French. Hates driving (not a class, just dislikes it and finds it highly stressful - which I conveyed to Wales, Wales response was that she's definitely my niece. Wales loves to drive - and knows I hate it. (Wales is a frightening driver - in Kansas City ages ago during I think New Year's Eve, she drove the wrong way down a street in Westport, giggling the whole way - I was certain we'd die.) Anyhow I worry about niece - her attitude towards driving, school, and where she's living is the polar opposite from last year.
Niece: at least you see people, all I see are deer out my window.
Me: I wouldn't mind seeing deer. Most of the time I watch birds, squirrels, occasional neighbors, and feral cats.
Her last night with friends was on Thursday - they go full on remote until sometime in January. She thinks we're going on lockdown again soon. (Probably, people are stupid. Biden may have to take us all on full lockdown in February and March - so he can contain the crazy virus until the vaccine can be distributed.)
Gloomy day. My exercise was going grocery shopping - which is just under a mile round trip, includes lifting weights. I've been lifting five pound weights (at least I think they are five pound weights, they might be ten pound - it doesn't say.) And doing wall scrunches, planks, wall pushups, downward dog yoga moves, and stretches, when I'm not walking to the grocery store, around neighborhood or the cemetery.
It was too gloomy for the cemetery - and I thought it might rain.
Covid
The Governor came on around noon to discuss the uptick of cases in NY. Staten Island is a problem (over 5% uptick) - no big surprise - its conservative and the conservatives don't believe in the virus. You can sort of figure out where the virus is - just by the politics of the region. The more conservative the population of the region - the higher the infection rate. It's not that the virus necessarily cares about our politics, so much as the conservatives are stupid and most likely dropped on their heads at birth. Only an idiot would vote for Trump or believe a word he says - and hello, they are getting the virus. It's almost enough to make one want to root for the frigging virus, almost.
The Governor is concerned, but not quite terrified yet - because the total numbers are sill relatively low. We only had 30 deaths, and 1800 or so hospitalizations, and 2,800 cases. The state average is still way below what it was in the spring. Also we're at 2.76 infection rate, and the fourth lowest next to Maine, Vermont, and Conneticut (I think). Mass and New Hampshire are above us, as is New Jersey. But he feels safe since the surrounding states are also low. It's the midwest and northwest that is having issues. Wyoming is at 55%, Kansas at 33% and Missouri at 23%.
He also stated that we wouldn't know the consequences of the holiday season until January and February. The State goes by the first positive test, not the second. If you get two positive tests in a row - the state counts just one, the city counts both. Here's the weird thing about New York, we have State and City regs, and State and City agencies, and they do NOT get along nor do they agree on anything. The problem with the MTA is it is City, State, and Federal funded. And the three funding sources are seldom in agreement. The City sometimes thinks of itself as its own independent entity. So they had this confusing discussion with the reporters regarding the city closing the NYC Public Schools. The State believes they should stay open, the City wants to close them. The State sees a 2.7 % to 3% infection rate in the whole city - not being that bad. And that only some areas have upticks. The City disagrees and believes it is higher.
It's headache inducing. I'm glad I don't have kids. Although I agree with the Governor - the kids are safer in school then out and about in their communities.
Mother (calling during Zoom church - which I was dozing off in the middle of anyhow): Is your doctor's appointment Wed or Tuesday?
Me: Wed. And at 10 Am, why?
Mother: Your father wants to send you flowers, so we're doing it via pro-flowers.
Me: That's awfully sweet of you, why? Feeling sorry for me?
Mother: No, your father is concerned about you - this is out of love and concern. From your father.
(I start to cry - seriously my father is charming me lately. Also, hormones.)
Me: Awww...That's so sweet. I'll be here all day Tuesday. When are they coming?
Mother: Tuesday, good bye.
Later...
Me: I thought I'd call you again since you hung up on me earlier (after I left the Zoom church service and everything)
Mother: Yeah, well, let's hope the flowers get to you. I made three different orders, then cancelled two and got one. So hopefully one went through - took me forever to figure the thing out.
Me: I didn't have any troubles with it...
Mother: Well, you're used to it. (No, my mother is a luddite. The computer makes no sense to her. I ordered chocolate for her from Amazon this spring because she couldn't figure it out for a bit. And I got my brother to get her face masks - because she couldn't figure it out. The parent who was adept at the computer stuff is the one who got dementia.)
I was rather touched by this. My family is concerned about me - because I'm by myself in NYC during the holidays. It's not that big a deal - I mean I might complain about having no social life, but I also tend to like to stay home and not see or talk to people for days anyhow. I like my personal space. Also, it's not exactly like I'm not interacting with people. There's the folks online, there's my extended family on FB, my parents who I call daily, my niece, my brother who I text message, Wales, who calls me about once a month, sometimes twice a month, my co-workers, and church zoom services and bible study. Add to that - I live in an apartment complex in the middle of a major city - it's kind of impossible not to see people. I spend most of the time outside my apartment attempting to avoid them with mixed results.
I figure doctor's appointment should be fine - going at an off-time, school will be out, and it's only a twenty minute subway ride, if that. I plan on stopping by the Union Court grocery store on the way home - pick up a gluten-free pie, and maybe some small items like vanilla, and whipped cream.
Grocery stores are safe in my area - they social distance, have masks, and limit numbers in them. If you go at off times - it's not an issue. I went today - when it had more people (mistake that) and picked up the rock cornish game hen. It's in the freezer now - I'll take it out to defaw on Monday night.
I'm not a big Thanksgiving fan - I don't like Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, not into football, and I find holiday problematic in some respects. Also gluten-intolerant - so there's that. My father, however, loves it. Wish I could go down and see him. He wanted to rent a private plane to fly me down. Also he's pushing mother to order gifts on Amazon and wrap them - because he keeps thinking Christmas is next week. I can't say I blame him. With all these people decorating online - I can see that. Although in my area - folks are just decorating and preparing for the Thanksgiving holiday.
This year - I have a plan, rock cornish game hen, green beans and garlic, small cesar salad, roasted root vegetables. I might - make acorn squash, with apples, pears, and raisins per the I Love NY Recipe. That may be the special treat. Although the metroformin (diabetes meds) has done bizarre things to my appetite. I don't really want to eat, and when I do, I can't really finish things. This may result in a loss of weight? Yes, please.
Haven't been sleeping well of late, so I'm sleepy during the day. As earlier stated, I kind of dozed off during the Zoom church service. It was about gratitude, and the hunger communion ritual.
Usually they fast - but they decided trying to do that this year - at home, via zoom, would be rather bleak. They also had a non-perishable food drive - where we could donate food items to the First Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn Heights - who operates a food pantry. (Our church doesn't have the space for it.) It was also doing an e-recycling drop off, and pick up of holiday pies and breads, as a fund raiser. I ignored all three - no car, and getting up there is kind of problematic at the moment. (It's by subway - don't get me wrong the subways are pretty much safe, it's the idiots who refuse to wear masks on them that are the problem. Actually they are the problem across the board.)
Instead, I donated funds to Food Bank of NY - enough to feed 1500 families.
I've donated to Food Bank of NY, City Harvest, God Loves, First Responders,
Church Emergency Fund for People In Need, KWT - community - people in need,
and to Greenwood Cemetery - who was by far the most appreciative, all the others just want more money. It's like feeding a well.
The sermon, which mother's phone call interrupted, was informing me that the gratitude industry was wrong and we shouldn't be grateful for all the material crap we have...and instead should be thankful for other things - and how a capitalistic industry has been built on this. Basically it made me feel guilty for doing my Gratitude Meme, annoyed, I decided to take mother's phone call skip their congregational meeting, and leave the service before the sermon concluded.
After, Wales called - and we had a pleasant chat, until it drifted towards work and Wales began to rant. She hates her work place, which she's been at for well on twenty years. It's a conservative Jewish Law Firm. And she felt the need to bring her political stance with her to work, never a good idea. She's a legal secretary and actually really good at her job - good enough that they've made allowances. And yes, this is the same job she left last year in a huff, only to be begged back - it was kind of mutual begging.
And she doesn't get along with her family - they are Trump supporters, outside of her father. So, issues.
Last night, spoke with niece - after I watched David Byrn's American Utopia directed/filmed by Spike Lee - this is the film of the stage production. Talking to Wales, I found out that Byrne has Ausperbergers' Syndrom - which kind of explains Byrne, and his songs. Not to mention the show. Knowing that kind of puts a whole new spin on things. Wales asked what I thought of it - just as niece asked. I said mixed. Wales is over Byrn and the Talking Heads.
Wales: I'm over David Byrne.
Me: Well, I've not exactly listened to him or the Talking Heads since the 1990s.
I told them both, separately, that it would probably work better in person. Byrn is a conceptual performance artist. And for the most part, the songs and performance was the same. I dozed off during it. Then kind of jerked away to notice there was this weird light show, and I thought, oh, it got interesting all of a sudden. So the first half is kind of boring, the second half is really cool. I went to sleep during the first half. I did dance during part of it.
Niece was underwhelmed. She'd watched a cute somewhat cheesy holiday romance on Netflix. (Dash and Lily, which she rec'd to me with reservations.) She's kind of bummed out, and I worry about her. Last year at this time - she was engaged and excited about school - now, she's kind of bored with it, and annoyed with her teachers. Apparently the poli-sci teacher isn't very good. Since she's doing Zoom - her parents can listen in, and her mother hates her poli-sci teacher more than she does. The teacher goes off on rants. (I think the pandemic may be getting to the teacher, who I was told is liberal.) The only class she's enjoying is the sociology course. Hates French. Hates driving (not a class, just dislikes it and finds it highly stressful - which I conveyed to Wales, Wales response was that she's definitely my niece. Wales loves to drive - and knows I hate it. (Wales is a frightening driver - in Kansas City ages ago during I think New Year's Eve, she drove the wrong way down a street in Westport, giggling the whole way - I was certain we'd die.) Anyhow I worry about niece - her attitude towards driving, school, and where she's living is the polar opposite from last year.
Niece: at least you see people, all I see are deer out my window.
Me: I wouldn't mind seeing deer. Most of the time I watch birds, squirrels, occasional neighbors, and feral cats.
Her last night with friends was on Thursday - they go full on remote until sometime in January. She thinks we're going on lockdown again soon. (Probably, people are stupid. Biden may have to take us all on full lockdown in February and March - so he can contain the crazy virus until the vaccine can be distributed.)
Gloomy day. My exercise was going grocery shopping - which is just under a mile round trip, includes lifting weights. I've been lifting five pound weights (at least I think they are five pound weights, they might be ten pound - it doesn't say.) And doing wall scrunches, planks, wall pushups, downward dog yoga moves, and stretches, when I'm not walking to the grocery store, around neighborhood or the cemetery.
It was too gloomy for the cemetery - and I thought it might rain.
Covid
The Governor came on around noon to discuss the uptick of cases in NY. Staten Island is a problem (over 5% uptick) - no big surprise - its conservative and the conservatives don't believe in the virus. You can sort of figure out where the virus is - just by the politics of the region. The more conservative the population of the region - the higher the infection rate. It's not that the virus necessarily cares about our politics, so much as the conservatives are stupid and most likely dropped on their heads at birth. Only an idiot would vote for Trump or believe a word he says - and hello, they are getting the virus. It's almost enough to make one want to root for the frigging virus, almost.
The Governor is concerned, but not quite terrified yet - because the total numbers are sill relatively low. We only had 30 deaths, and 1800 or so hospitalizations, and 2,800 cases. The state average is still way below what it was in the spring. Also we're at 2.76 infection rate, and the fourth lowest next to Maine, Vermont, and Conneticut (I think). Mass and New Hampshire are above us, as is New Jersey. But he feels safe since the surrounding states are also low. It's the midwest and northwest that is having issues. Wyoming is at 55%, Kansas at 33% and Missouri at 23%.
He also stated that we wouldn't know the consequences of the holiday season until January and February. The State goes by the first positive test, not the second. If you get two positive tests in a row - the state counts just one, the city counts both. Here's the weird thing about New York, we have State and City regs, and State and City agencies, and they do NOT get along nor do they agree on anything. The problem with the MTA is it is City, State, and Federal funded. And the three funding sources are seldom in agreement. The City sometimes thinks of itself as its own independent entity. So they had this confusing discussion with the reporters regarding the city closing the NYC Public Schools. The State believes they should stay open, the City wants to close them. The State sees a 2.7 % to 3% infection rate in the whole city - not being that bad. And that only some areas have upticks. The City disagrees and believes it is higher.
It's headache inducing. I'm glad I don't have kids. Although I agree with the Governor - the kids are safer in school then out and about in their communities.
no subject
Not all, mind you, but... seems like most.
Happiness / Is a warm gun / Bang bang / Shoot shoot
~ sigh ~
no subject
Wales, as you may have gathered ...is not the most mindful person on the planet.
But you are right, a lot of people who love cars and driving aren't necessarily the best drivers - which is actually one of the reasons why I hate driving and its so stressful - other drivers. I'd be fine if they weren't on the road. And there's a ton of them in NY. My God, New York has the worse drivers on the planet.