Year #2 - Day 119 (I Think)
Jul. 15th, 2021 08:56 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkatIn the office today. The commute to work wasn't all that bad, on the way home there were a few more people however.
New Yorkers don't know if they should wear masks or not any longer. So about 60% do, 10% don't and the rest are indecisive. I fall in the indecisive category at the moment - or confused category.
On the train ride to work - a man got on with his daughter and all their beach stuff, and no masks. (There's still a federal mask mandate in place to wear masks on all public transportation. But people are understandably confused - since you don't have to wear them in restaurants, bars, and other places.)
Co-worker informed me that our Crazy-Ass Governor's daughter's wedding is coming up in August. He apparently has a huge wedding planned, and wants the state to be completely open in time for it.
We're annoyed because there's variants wandering about.
Note, found out today that BYT Manager had contracted COVID in March of this year. She got a bad case - didn't end up in the hospital - but did get really sick with it. And it took a while for her breathing to get back to normal - about six months, also, lost her sense of smell and taste, and she's still struggling with the smell - it's off.
Me: So did you lose your sense of smell?
BYT: Completely - it was the weirdest thing. But it came back - yet how it does, is really weird. For awhile everything smelled like Pizza. I love the smell of fresh laundry - and it smelled like Pizza. I had to retrain my brain on it - with smell bottles of various scents. I'd smell them and get across what it was supposed to smell like. I'm still off in places. Also you have no sense of taste at all.
She had to wait 90 days to get the vaccine, so couldn't get it until June, and is getting the second shot this month. But all the major vaccine sites are being shut down now - so it's getting harder to get them, she informed me. The site she went to - informed her that for the second shot - she had to go to a separate site, since they weren't doing them any longer. It was located ten minutes away, the second one - was over forty minutes away.
That's, let's see, at least five co-workers now that caught it. One was asymptomatic, three had all the symptoms, two still have some of them, and the fifth one - I'm not positive about, but I think got it too. All of which I work closely with. And we were telecommuting.
Workplace was kind of deserted today - it was just six of us, maybe eight if that. I did talk to people. One guy, who retired way back in 2019, visited us. He's another book buddy.
Book Buddy: I've done nothing but read during the whole pandemic. So, I got lots of books to talk to you about.
ME: I on the other hand haven't read much of anything, been doing the audio books.
Book Buddy: Have you read The Brothers Karamazov??
Me: No.
Book Buddy: You need to read it immediately. I'll give you my copy.
Me: Eh, I have my own copy and I can't focus on it right now. [Nor do I want to read it at the moment. I just want fluff or audio books.]
Book Buddy apparently grew out his beard over the pandemic, then finally got around to shaving it in time for a doctor's appointment. It was down to his navel. He showed us pictures. He looked like a giant Dwarf from the Lord of the Rings, complete with bald head.
Breaking Bad: You should have braided it.
Book Buddy: Way ahead of you - I did.
At lunch I took a brief walk around the air train station. Got myself a drink and a kind energy bar. While I was up there - it's up several flights of steps, and kind of overlooks the tracks - I saw this huge suite case that appeared to be abandoned up on deck over looking the tracks and connecting the train station to the air train station. It was sitting there by itself, and looked full. Also on the stairs leading down to the lobby far below - was a woman curled up sleeping on one of the ledges.
I'm a New Yorker - you learn over time to do nothing about these sort of things. Because if you do - you bring all sorts of trouble down up on yourself. But I felt the need to tell someone about the suitcase, so when I ran across two Port Authority Police Officers (the Port Authority runs the Air Train Building), I let them know and they promised to check it out. Neither were wearing masks by the way. I've not seen a police officer wear a mask in the last twelve months.
Other than that - I'm getting used to going into the office periodically, and actually kind of enjoy it. Today - I needed to go in - in order to print stuff off. And discuss the things I printed off with BYT in person. It helped in a way to discuss in person - the human contact was helpful. I've been doing so much in writing and by phone for so long now...that I've forgotten how much I miss interacting with people in person.
**
Spoke to mother today, and I'm worried about both my parents. My mother is not a good advocate. And I'm not sure how to help. Every time I've tried to advocate for my parents - they've shut me down. She needs to be a better advocate for my Dad, who is in a nursing home - and has a UTI, which still hasn't been treated. They asked her today - how he reacted to Pencillin.
Mother: I don't know why they asked this. Usually they use anti-biotics. Why do you need pencillin? Anyhow they asked what the side-effects were - did he just break out...etc.
Me: And?
Mother: The last time he pencillin his face swelled up.
I told her to get her primary care doctor involved - whom she's paying quite a bit for - outside of medicare. They pay their doctor a kind of extra fee for more attention to care. I don't understand it exactly. The doctor who visits the nursing homes in the area - isn't very good apparently. But the nursing home that my father currently is in - is among the best in the area.
Mother keeps beating herself up for not being able to continue taking care of my Dad at home. But honestly, even if she was well, I don't see how it could have continued. She's not in the best of shape herself, even before the fractured hip - she was struggling with him. I am terrified her hip isn't going to heal. Please send warm thoughts and prayers her way for her appointment on Tuesday, if you can. That's when the trauma specialist looks at her fracture and determines what can be done, if anything.
***
Crazy Workplace informed us that there was a heat advisory in effect today and tomorrow - along with an air advisory. But there would be no schedule changes or changes regarding work outdoors or indoors. My heart goes out to the poor souls who had to work outside today and tomorrow. Although there was a breeze in Queens and Brooklyn - so it wasn't quite that bad, and the humidity wasn't quite as bad as the previous days. Still felt steamy, but not quite as bad as usual.
***
Covid
Per the Governor's email...things are holding steady in NY, but the Delta Variant is now the predominant one in the state.
1. COVID hospitalizations are at 340. Of the 81,951 tests reported yesterday, 956, or 1.17 percent, were positive. The 7-day positivity average was 1.04 percent. There were 75 patients in ICU yesterday, down four from the previous day. Of them, 34 are intubated. Sadly, we lost three New Yorkers to the virus.
2. As of 11am this morning, 73.5 percent of adult New Yorkers have received at least one vaccine dose, per the CDC. Over the past 24 hours, 38,027 total doses have been administered. To date, New York has administered 21,685,467 total doses with 67.0 percent of adult New Yorkers completing their vaccine series. See additional data on the State's Vaccine Tracker.
3. Remember that masks are required on the MTA and public transit. Even though New York's COVID restrictions have been lifted, federal CDC guidance remains in effect. Masks required for all riders on public transit, and in certain additional settings, such as health care, nursing homes, correctional facilities, and homeless shelters.
4. To date, New York has conducted over 59 million tests. Getting tested for COVID regularly is a great way to ensure your health and the health of those around you. If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID or believe you may have been exposed to the virus, get tested. Find a testing site near you. You can also call 1-888-364-3065 to make a free appointment at a New York State-run testing location.
BYT told me that she knew a 14 year old who had lost both parents to COVID this year, and was living with his grandparents.
I'm grateful I don't know of anyone who is in this situation. Also, the NY Times briefings tell me that if you are fully vaccinated - you don't have to worry about Long COVID, and you are protected against the variants. This is reassuring. The Northeast and upper Midwest who have high vaccination rates, are actually showing a decrease in cases. The states with the outbreaks or increase in cases are those with the lowest vaccination rates.
The US sent Haiti its first series of vaccinations - 500,000 doses. It's also sent the FBI to help Haiti investigate the assassination, since meetings were held in Florida, and American citizens were involved. The US is helping Haiti.
***
I want to go to the movie theater and see Black Widow, but am uncertain about it. The whole idea makes me twitchy. I'm sure its fine. But still - twitchy. I may just wait and watch on my big-screen tv. But watching superhero action flicks in a movie theater is a rare treat. (If you are into that sort of thing, of course. And I am.)
I think I've rambled long enough for tonight. Thanks for reading.
New Yorkers don't know if they should wear masks or not any longer. So about 60% do, 10% don't and the rest are indecisive. I fall in the indecisive category at the moment - or confused category.
On the train ride to work - a man got on with his daughter and all their beach stuff, and no masks. (There's still a federal mask mandate in place to wear masks on all public transportation. But people are understandably confused - since you don't have to wear them in restaurants, bars, and other places.)
Co-worker informed me that our Crazy-Ass Governor's daughter's wedding is coming up in August. He apparently has a huge wedding planned, and wants the state to be completely open in time for it.
We're annoyed because there's variants wandering about.
Note, found out today that BYT Manager had contracted COVID in March of this year. She got a bad case - didn't end up in the hospital - but did get really sick with it. And it took a while for her breathing to get back to normal - about six months, also, lost her sense of smell and taste, and she's still struggling with the smell - it's off.
Me: So did you lose your sense of smell?
BYT: Completely - it was the weirdest thing. But it came back - yet how it does, is really weird. For awhile everything smelled like Pizza. I love the smell of fresh laundry - and it smelled like Pizza. I had to retrain my brain on it - with smell bottles of various scents. I'd smell them and get across what it was supposed to smell like. I'm still off in places. Also you have no sense of taste at all.
She had to wait 90 days to get the vaccine, so couldn't get it until June, and is getting the second shot this month. But all the major vaccine sites are being shut down now - so it's getting harder to get them, she informed me. The site she went to - informed her that for the second shot - she had to go to a separate site, since they weren't doing them any longer. It was located ten minutes away, the second one - was over forty minutes away.
That's, let's see, at least five co-workers now that caught it. One was asymptomatic, three had all the symptoms, two still have some of them, and the fifth one - I'm not positive about, but I think got it too. All of which I work closely with. And we were telecommuting.
Workplace was kind of deserted today - it was just six of us, maybe eight if that. I did talk to people. One guy, who retired way back in 2019, visited us. He's another book buddy.
Book Buddy: I've done nothing but read during the whole pandemic. So, I got lots of books to talk to you about.
ME: I on the other hand haven't read much of anything, been doing the audio books.
Book Buddy: Have you read The Brothers Karamazov??
Me: No.
Book Buddy: You need to read it immediately. I'll give you my copy.
Me: Eh, I have my own copy and I can't focus on it right now. [Nor do I want to read it at the moment. I just want fluff or audio books.]
Book Buddy apparently grew out his beard over the pandemic, then finally got around to shaving it in time for a doctor's appointment. It was down to his navel. He showed us pictures. He looked like a giant Dwarf from the Lord of the Rings, complete with bald head.
Breaking Bad: You should have braided it.
Book Buddy: Way ahead of you - I did.
At lunch I took a brief walk around the air train station. Got myself a drink and a kind energy bar. While I was up there - it's up several flights of steps, and kind of overlooks the tracks - I saw this huge suite case that appeared to be abandoned up on deck over looking the tracks and connecting the train station to the air train station. It was sitting there by itself, and looked full. Also on the stairs leading down to the lobby far below - was a woman curled up sleeping on one of the ledges.
I'm a New Yorker - you learn over time to do nothing about these sort of things. Because if you do - you bring all sorts of trouble down up on yourself. But I felt the need to tell someone about the suitcase, so when I ran across two Port Authority Police Officers (the Port Authority runs the Air Train Building), I let them know and they promised to check it out. Neither were wearing masks by the way. I've not seen a police officer wear a mask in the last twelve months.
Other than that - I'm getting used to going into the office periodically, and actually kind of enjoy it. Today - I needed to go in - in order to print stuff off. And discuss the things I printed off with BYT in person. It helped in a way to discuss in person - the human contact was helpful. I've been doing so much in writing and by phone for so long now...that I've forgotten how much I miss interacting with people in person.
**
Spoke to mother today, and I'm worried about both my parents. My mother is not a good advocate. And I'm not sure how to help. Every time I've tried to advocate for my parents - they've shut me down. She needs to be a better advocate for my Dad, who is in a nursing home - and has a UTI, which still hasn't been treated. They asked her today - how he reacted to Pencillin.
Mother: I don't know why they asked this. Usually they use anti-biotics. Why do you need pencillin? Anyhow they asked what the side-effects were - did he just break out...etc.
Me: And?
Mother: The last time he pencillin his face swelled up.
I told her to get her primary care doctor involved - whom she's paying quite a bit for - outside of medicare. They pay their doctor a kind of extra fee for more attention to care. I don't understand it exactly. The doctor who visits the nursing homes in the area - isn't very good apparently. But the nursing home that my father currently is in - is among the best in the area.
Mother keeps beating herself up for not being able to continue taking care of my Dad at home. But honestly, even if she was well, I don't see how it could have continued. She's not in the best of shape herself, even before the fractured hip - she was struggling with him. I am terrified her hip isn't going to heal. Please send warm thoughts and prayers her way for her appointment on Tuesday, if you can. That's when the trauma specialist looks at her fracture and determines what can be done, if anything.
***
Crazy Workplace informed us that there was a heat advisory in effect today and tomorrow - along with an air advisory. But there would be no schedule changes or changes regarding work outdoors or indoors. My heart goes out to the poor souls who had to work outside today and tomorrow. Although there was a breeze in Queens and Brooklyn - so it wasn't quite that bad, and the humidity wasn't quite as bad as the previous days. Still felt steamy, but not quite as bad as usual.
***
Covid
Per the Governor's email...things are holding steady in NY, but the Delta Variant is now the predominant one in the state.
1. COVID hospitalizations are at 340. Of the 81,951 tests reported yesterday, 956, or 1.17 percent, were positive. The 7-day positivity average was 1.04 percent. There were 75 patients in ICU yesterday, down four from the previous day. Of them, 34 are intubated. Sadly, we lost three New Yorkers to the virus.
2. As of 11am this morning, 73.5 percent of adult New Yorkers have received at least one vaccine dose, per the CDC. Over the past 24 hours, 38,027 total doses have been administered. To date, New York has administered 21,685,467 total doses with 67.0 percent of adult New Yorkers completing their vaccine series. See additional data on the State's Vaccine Tracker.
3. Remember that masks are required on the MTA and public transit. Even though New York's COVID restrictions have been lifted, federal CDC guidance remains in effect. Masks required for all riders on public transit, and in certain additional settings, such as health care, nursing homes, correctional facilities, and homeless shelters.
4. To date, New York has conducted over 59 million tests. Getting tested for COVID regularly is a great way to ensure your health and the health of those around you. If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID or believe you may have been exposed to the virus, get tested. Find a testing site near you. You can also call 1-888-364-3065 to make a free appointment at a New York State-run testing location.
BYT told me that she knew a 14 year old who had lost both parents to COVID this year, and was living with his grandparents.
I'm grateful I don't know of anyone who is in this situation. Also, the NY Times briefings tell me that if you are fully vaccinated - you don't have to worry about Long COVID, and you are protected against the variants. This is reassuring. The Northeast and upper Midwest who have high vaccination rates, are actually showing a decrease in cases. The states with the outbreaks or increase in cases are those with the lowest vaccination rates.
The US sent Haiti its first series of vaccinations - 500,000 doses. It's also sent the FBI to help Haiti investigate the assassination, since meetings were held in Florida, and American citizens were involved. The US is helping Haiti.
***
I want to go to the movie theater and see Black Widow, but am uncertain about it. The whole idea makes me twitchy. I'm sure its fine. But still - twitchy. I may just wait and watch on my big-screen tv. But watching superhero action flicks in a movie theater is a rare treat. (If you are into that sort of thing, of course. And I am.)
I think I've rambled long enough for tonight. Thanks for reading.
no subject
Date: 2021-07-16 06:37 am (UTC)Me too. One good sign in my area is that the theaters now seem to be listing later start times for some films (usually the biggees like B.W. or F9). Even before COVID I intensely dislike even a moderately crowded theater, to which my solution was to go to the latest showing available, like 10 PM or later. (I did usually wait a few weeks until the initial frenzy dies down a bit) I have seen some films where literally there were 6 to 10 people in the entire screening room. Maybe could work in your area too?
Like that last pic. What is it? Seems like a walkway to nowhere!
Best wishes for your mom, hope there is some good news. I find it hard to believe with our advanced state of modern medical technology that they can't come up with a fix for her.
no subject
Date: 2021-07-17 03:18 pm (UTC)In the city - they are often the crowded showings with the unruly kids. Actually the best time to see a movie is on a Sunday in the morning or a Saturday in the morning, or on weekday in the early afternoon or morning. I've gone at 10 Am or 11 Am - and it tends to be fairly empty.
The worst or most crowded times are any time after 7PM.
Also afternoons aren't the best - if you want to avoid kids.
Depends on the theater of course.
If I want to see it with another person - I have to go in the evening or afternoon.
**
Last pic is the top of the sign-age on the side of a building. It was the signage on the side of the facility housing the Van Gough Immersive Experience.
Thank you, regarding my mom. I'm praying for the best.
no subject
Date: 2021-07-18 01:21 am (UTC)The weekday thing is my second choice, but only in the fall, winter or spring, when kids are in school. I'm often amazed that many theaters run regular afternoon showings outside the summer, they're almost always sparsely attended.
Your point about personal safety at very late showings is a good one, even though my city is reasonably safe overall crime-wise. Nevertheless, being male and elderly makes you a more inviting mugging target, so I'm always careful to scan the area when I leave the theater. So far, not had any problems. YM obviously V's.
Depends on the theater of course.
Indeed. Ironically, I live less than a half-mile from a multiplex and could literally walk there or back in ten minutes. But-- I don't like the theater, it's a chain outfit, and they "remodeled" the place about three years ago, and I hate what they did. Like-- they put these lights along the steps inside the screening rooms, but they don't dim them when the movie starts, causing a constant visual distraction if you can't get seated in just the right spot. There's other dumb things, won't go into them.
But-- even though the city is fairly safe, I still would be hesitant to walk that 10 minutes from the theater to my house at 1 AM. You never know...
Another issue you would likely have is transportation. My preferred theater, a really excellent one, is about a 20-25 minute drive north of the city, out nearby the airport. So, I just get in my car and go there, and traffic ls way less late at night. Even if you could drive, your population density would likely make that a miserable option.
I used to have a movie buddy back in my late teens and most of my twenties, and concerts also-- we shared a love of both film and music. But, he married and had kids and eventually moved away up to Tioga county, about as rural as you can get in PA. Other friends and work people are just casual movie folks, not "into" them.
So! It's great to have online peeps like you or cjl and others who get it, at least remotely. I do put a lot of credence in your film and TV thoughts, both for theater viewing or via DVDs.
Speaking of DVDs, bought Soul and Raya and the Last Dragon about a month ago, loved 'em, both. Seriously excellent animation work, great stories. Would have really loved to see both in a theater, hope maybe in a local second-run might sometime.
TV is OK, but no substitute for the big screen and surround sound for many films.
no subject
Date: 2021-07-18 02:17 am (UTC)Ah good, you were able to see Soul and Raya, I'm glad you enjoyed them. They were by far the best animated films I've seen in quite some time - and as you know, I'm very particular when it comes to animation. Not just any animation will do. I also thought both films were scored well, and handled music well - while neither were "musicals". Smart choices there. Characters bursting into song - which I'm certain was tempting - would have destroyed both films. In Soul - the music was handled well and organic to the character, while in Raya, it was the score.
Movie Buddy is cjl. We don't do it that often - because he's married with a kid, and lives about 35 minutes away by car. But we do it every once and a while. I also see films with Wales. But I prefer CJL, mainly because he's not crazy. LOL! Wales drives me nuts at movies. The last one I saw with her - she left in the middle of - because she thought for reasons that escape me that the main character reminded me of her. (It was Emma, and Wales is nothing like Emma. They are polar opposites.)
Unfortunately both are much shorter than me - so the concept of leg room in a theater is lost on them. I had a tall movie buddy for a while - but she moved to Martha's Vineyard and hooked up with a guy. Also, she wasn't into discussing the films and analyzing them, which made them kind of a weird solo affair.
I like to analyze the movie, figure out what worked, what didn't, and why. I'm a film geek. And a superhero comic geek. And a superhero/action flick geek. So I need a movie buddy who can do that - otherwise there's not point. I might as well go by myself.
CJL is great to see movies with - and discuss them with afterwards.
no subject
Date: 2021-07-16 01:12 pm (UTC)You need to read it immediately.
I know he wants to talk about it with someone, but being in a hurry to read Brothers Karamazov just sounds funny to me. Dostoevsky's later psychological dramas were a bit tedious and slow for me to read. It's dyslexia saying, "This is boring. do something else!" Not a bad book just not the easiest thing for me to read!
no subject
Date: 2021-07-16 01:53 pm (UTC)It's dyslexia saying, "This is boring. do something else!" Not a bad book just not the easiest thing for me to read!
Yep, I'm compensating for it all day long. It requires a lot of focus to read a book like Brothers Karamozov. I am reading fluffy books right now - that can be skimmed and don't require much focus. Or listening to non-fiction and some fictional novels that require more focus on audio books. I'd not have made it through Amor Torres - Rules of Civility and Gentleman in Moscow if it weren't for audio books, for example.
Book Buddy is wonky - he's a frustrated English Lit Professor who made a living editing technical scopes of work for a Defense Contractor and the Railroad. He loves to brag about his reading binges to me - like he read all of James Joyce's novels, and even contacted Joyce's remaining relatives (LOL!), then he read all of Faulkners, then all of Oscar Wilde during the pandemic.
And I'm like - I am kind of paralyzed with not caring all that much - but okay. LOL!
I can barely remember all the literary books I've read.
no subject
Date: 2021-07-16 01:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-07-17 03:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-07-16 02:24 pm (UTC)That's what I gathered, which is that by and large none of them wore it through the pandemic.
no subject
Date: 2021-07-17 03:21 pm (UTC)Granted I've not exactly been outside my area that often. But I do see them here - from time to time - and no they aren't wearing masks.
The police are very conservative politically speaking, and as a result of that the NYPD was hit hard by the virus at the beginning of the pandemic.
no subject
Date: 2021-07-16 04:08 pm (UTC)If you wanna, I can meet you for a movie night.
no subject
Date: 2021-07-17 12:07 am (UTC)I'm leaving town next Friday by Amtrak to see my brother and his family in upstate NY. Also, in the office on Tuesday. And Wales asked to do dinner out. And Crazy Workplace is dumping last minute emergency work in my lap.
I don't know why this always happens - I go months, possibly longer, with nothing. No plans. Zippo. Then, I finally, after months of procrastinating, plan a trip to go visit family. It's not even for that long or really that far. It's also the first trip I've planned since 2019. Kind of worried about it. And everyone decides to ask me to do stuff that week - the Universe is like let's see if we can stress and overwhelm sk? It will be fun.
I swear the Universe and I are going to have words very very soon.
no subject
Date: 2021-07-17 03:37 pm (UTC)My alternate plan was to see Summer of Soul at BAM. (I really want to see that in a theater...)
no subject
Date: 2021-07-17 03:54 pm (UTC)Thanks. I think I can do the movies around August or after July 26.