Day #300 - We've hit a milestone!!!

[shadowkat]

*[Note I can't do a book of the photos I took around Greenwood Cemetery or sell them - for two reasons 1) I need Greenwood Cemetery's approval, and 2) there's a lot of professional photographers in that cemetery with real cameras, not iphones.]

I got frustrated today and took a walk around Greenwood Cemetery after work, also I've been walking down the medium in front of my apartment complex..at lunch time.



Been trying to walk twice a day now - mainly because I'm no longer getting the exercise I did while I was commuting (I walked two miles to three miles a day while commuting). And I need to get outside and get sunshine. The pandemic has resulted in more time outside. I spent so much time walking around Greenwood Cemetery in the Spring, Summer and early Fall - that I got a tan. My body as a result doesn't have a vitamin D deficiency at the moment.

Some good news? Mother informed me that she had a long conversation with my Dad's occupational therapist at The Arbor (which is the portion of the Rehab/Memory care facility housing my Dad at the moment) and it appears that he may not have to stay there permanently. Also he is social and interacting with people, and moving around. So maybe not all hope is lost?
Maybe I'll get to see him again? Fingers crossed.

Mother is doing PT three times a day. Poor tired Mama. She's either doing that or talking to folks on the phone.




I'm posting photos because I figure you can ignore what I say and just look at the pictures (as long as they last, that is).

Crazy Company vs. the Corona Virus

Gabe: I'm staying sane.
Boss: When you get a chance, if you could let the rest of us know how you are achieving that - it would be appreciated.

Apparently, my sense of humor is catching.

I asked about the vaccine. Crazy Company is vaccinating their employees - because we're in a transportation agency, and about 50% are frontline essential workers. A friend from NYCT informed me on FB that she was getting her vaccine on Saturday. While she's younger than I am, she's also high risk - possibly even more high risk than me. (About 100 pounds heavier than I am, shorter, and with a kid in elementary school.) So, I'm glad she's getting the vaccine. But, I got confused by the conversation - she registered and immediately got an appointment. So, asked Boss. Boss told me that they'd determined the Warehouse workers in our department, who interact with people daily in close quarters should be considered frontline - and would go first, then it would go down by the CDC guidelines. However, if you are contacted by someone outside the agency to get the vaccine and can do so - go ahead, and just let us know and we'll remove you from the list.

I told him that's not happened, and I agreed with his approach, and was willing to wait. (I am. I couldn't live with myself if I got the vaccine and someone in a higher risk category than I am and a frontline worker didn't because I cut in line.)

My area isn't that bad - we fluctuate from 4-8%, at the moment we are at 6%. It's residential, most people are wearing masks now. And for the most part, the idiots who refused to wear masks and kept congregating over the summer - got it already.

But it's horrible out on Long Island and Queens. Co-workers were reporting that lots of people that they knew had gotten it. Babs son had gotten a very mild case. And Breaking Bad's neighbors had it.

And my parents - Beaufort County in South Carolina is at 21% right now. Mom doesn't know what to do. If she put herself on the list - she'd not get it until March. South Carolina is doing a horrific job of distributing the vaccine - every Republican run state is.

To make matters worse? The variants from South America, South Africa and the UK make it unsafe to travel at the moment. They stated it probably wasn't a great idea to fly right now.

New York City, and various others vs. The Republican Party and Trump

Well, the list of corporations halting donations, canceling contracts and yanking funding is growing. Best Buy, McDonalds, Disney, TMobile, Spotify, Deutsch Bank, Walmart, Costco, Microsoft...have added themselves to a lengthy list. I have a feeling after what happened today - it's going to get even bigger.

NYC just terminated its property management and construction agreements with the Trump organization. Invoking the Termination for Cause - Clause - or their right to terminate if the organization has committed a crime. This would cost the Trump group over $17 million annually. The contracts included a golf course management in Queens, a Carousel in Central Park, and something else in the Bronx. Trump's kid is swearing they'll sue and win. (Not from prison you won't buddy, and I have a feeling that's where you are headed. Also, you are going to have enough problems with all the other lawsuits headed your way.)

Meanwhile on Monday, State Senator Brad Hoylman, a Manhattan Democrat, made a request to the state court system to begin the process of stripping President Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, of his law license. The call came hours after the New York State Bar Association said it was investigating Mr. Giuliani, the former New York City mayor.

This old evil man who funded the far right for decades finally died of lymphonic cancer at 87.
That means a major funding source is gone.

And the House of Representatives impeached Trump for the second time. They also passed the resolution to request invocation of the 25th Amendment - but Pence refused on the grounds that Trump isn't incapacitated. It's the first time in American History that a President has been impeached twice. This time a handful of Republicans voted for it as well. The others are scared of him or still supporting him to the annoyance and rage of pretty much everybody. Meanwhile McConnell still refuses to bring the Senate back any earlier than January 19 - possibly because he wants Schumer to deal with it. Biden has asked if they can have the trial in the morning, and handle his nominations in the afternoon. (Biden has known McConnell for years, and knows how to bargain with him. I've been reading O'Bama's book and he references it. )

I was going to write about what I read on the Corona Virus in the NY Times, but...after a bit, I felt kind of overwhelmed and numbed by it. So, I don't wanna. I don't wanna. I don't wanna.

Instead I'll post another picture that will most likely disappear in a month if not sooner - enjoy it while it lasts.

Comments

[mtbc]

Both the words and the photographs are welcome.

[shadowkat]

Thank you. It's helping me stay sane at least.

[wendelah1]

Gorgeous photo. Glad to hear your dad and mom are doing better.

[shadowkat]

Thank you. One day at a time. It's hard right now - because of COVID and distance, my Mom can't get the family emotional support she needs close to her.

[atpo_onm]

*[Note I can't do a book of the photos I took around Greenwood Cemetery or sell them - for two reasons 1) I need Greenwood Cemetery's approval, and 2) there's a lot of professional photographers in that cemetery with real cameras, not iphones.]

1) And are you sure you couldn't get it? Hm?

2) It isn't the camera, it's the photographer. There were many famous photographers in decades long past whose equipment was staggeringly primitive by today's standards and yet they took brilliant, unforgettable images with it. The camera I use is this one, bought well over a decade ago, maybe two:

https://www.amazon.com/Nikon-Coolpix-Digital-Camera-Optical/dp/B000I1VEWO

I think I paid maybe $250 bucks for it, and it's essentially a 'point'n'shoot', with minimal adjustments available. I've made prints up to 13 x 19 inches with it, and they look quite good. Your phone is probably technically better than my camera in some regards.

You have the eye, that's all that matters. Trust me on this, OK?

BTW, liked all the pics here, but the one on the medium? Superb. The two trees on left and right, where they're touching in the middle, like fingers? Did you notice that when you were framing the shot? See, I do stuff like that from time to time... I see a shot, take it, and only realize later on when I pull it up in the editing software on my monitor, and notice... Oooo! Isn't that cool... just now realized what I did there!

It's not the camera.

[shadowkat]

1. Per the website - they state that "commercial photography" is prohibited without prior permission - although whether that includes doing personal photos and publishing a book with them...not certain.

Anyhow, it's irrelevant. I won't do it anyhow. Too much work and little to no return on the investment. To justify a book you need at least 100,000 people loving what you are doing...possibly more. My sister-in-law did a craft book with a $60,000 advance because she was moderating a Get Crafty discussion board, that she ran, off her work website - and had over a million people on it. She sold maybe 60,000 copies if that. And made very little on the book as a whole.

Publishing books are expensive. One without images - and on-demand printing/e-book cost about $3,000. I got maybe $1,000 if that back.

People romanticize it - but it's not what you think.

2. Thank you ;-)

I see something that looks amazing to me, and feel compelled to take a picture of it and share it with folks. That's about it. I don't tend to look at them again or print them off. I just want to share the experience - if that makes sense?

[atpo_onm]

I don't tend to look at them again or print them off. I just want to share the experience - if that makes sense?

Yep, that's absolutely fine, every artist has their own motivations. For me, the physicality of the print is important, so if I get a shot that I think is really exceptional-- or even just very interesting-- I like to make it physically substantial, like a painting or drawing.

You paint and draw, as I recall? See, I can't, so for me the pictures are what I can do.

[shadowkat]

You paint and draw, as I recall?

Yeah. I come from a family of artists.

We do everything - paint, draw, photograph, do ceramics, etc. My brother and sister-in-law met at a summer Photography seminar at Rhode Island School of Art or RISDI. And both have a Masters in Fine Art. They were film majors prior to shifting to conceptual art, then finally to graphic art and design. They have taught art classes at Princeton, Yale and RISDI. Also, I've taken art classes (just not photography) throughout. My niece is also an artist and photographer - she has taken a lot of courses.

And my brother and I don't tend to keep any of our own art or hang it. My mother keeps our art, we just don't. I think I framed one oil painting and hung it on a wall - and then gave it to my mother. I don't know why we don't exactly. My sister-in-law is also an artist.

But I've always felt odd doing it. So my art is either on someone else's wall or in a closet. LOL!

I think I'm very critical of my own work - so don't tend to want to see it once its done. I rarely re-read anything I've written for somewhat the same reason. (People who are critical are often the most critical of themselves.)

Anyhow, I do art because I find it meditative and relaxing. And enjoy sharing it.

[kerk_hiraeth]

I wish you could do a book; you take beautiful photographs.

kerk

[shadowkat]

Thank you.

[yourlibrarian]

That last pic is so striking!

Hadn't heard about Adelson's death. One hopes, of course, but it depends who inherits.

[trepkos]

Good riddance to evil old men - let's hope their fortune doesn't go to fund more evil.