Day #59 of Self-Isolation in Epidemic Central

After a difficult week, I decided to take a 3.8 mile hike through Greenwood Cemetery. This round I asked for a map.
( walking through Greenwood Cemetery again )

Taking my life in my hands to go to a pharmacy for disinfectants

Perhaps the most dangerous thing I did today or all week for that matter, was go into a corner pharmacy hunting disinfectant. Honestly, you know the world has gone insane when going into a pharmacy feels akin to attempting a high adrenaline sport like bungee jumping. ( Read more... )

Talking to Mother

Mother has decided that the reason I ached yesterday was the five hour negotiation session from hell the day before. Most likely true. Also I'd taken a three mile hike afterwards to get rid of the stress - only to get lost, which really does not help with stress. Kind of counter-productive actually. So, of course, I hurt the next day. That and the fact that I'm hunched over a laptop computer on a small computer desk and in a halfway ergonomic chair - which I'd not bought to sit in for 8 hours a day. More like one or two. I've decided I need to get up more frequently, and move about.

My eyes were bloodshot the last two days from staring at a computer from roughtly 8 am to 9pm, with intermittent breaks. I'm thinking I need to watch more television at night and write less in this journal. Or do shorter posts?

She also gave me a few exercises to do to prevent frozen shoulder syndrom. My left should may well go in that direction soon, if I'm not careful. I call it 2020 shoulders. This started in January of 2020. I thought it was the new backpack I got - it's not the backpack.

New York vs. the Coronavirus

Well the Governor managed to scare the beegesus out of me today, not sure if he did anyone else? How did he scare me? He said that we should not underestimate this virus - that the virus has been ahead of us since day one, and the facts regarding it keep changing. Also, he could be asymptomatic and have the virus without knowing it - if he touches this table and you come back an hour later and touch it - you get the virus.
And if it's stainless steel - in a retail store - and someone who doesn't know they have the virus touched it, and you come in the next day and touch it - you get the virus. Doesn't matter how diligent they are - you can get it. Fuck.

I'm running out of disinfectant sprays. Oh well, I do have rubbing alcohol.
I have enough to maybe last a couple more weeks.

I use the disinfectant sprays to disinfect boxes that are delivered and groceries. Also, I'm thinking I need disinfectant wipes - if I travel by subway - which I may have to do for a doctor's appointment on June 16.

Hmm. I am going to take this one day at a time.

On a more positive note? I think I scored Toilet Paper finally? I bought some quilted Northern Toilet Paper from Amazon. It was rated high. This is after I cancelled the order of toilet paper from some weird company that never arrived. I was told I could get a refund if it never arrived - and it never did, after two months of waiting for it. This should last me the rest of the summer. It's twenty-four thick rolls, or so I'm told.

This is what New York is doing in it's ongoing battle against the Coronavirus...

( New York vs. the Coronavirus )

They are opening the beaches on Memorial Day, because if they don't - the crazy New Yorkers will flood the New Jersey and Conneticut Beaches.

Meetup Groups vs. the Coronavirus

Oh I forgot to mention - this week I got an email from one of the Meetup Groups that they are hosting a hiking trip to the Catskills for $85. ( Read more... )

I have to say if it weren't for Greenwood Cemetery - I'd go nuts. It's my natural refuge during the storm.

She Who Walks Through Cemeteries...

During pandemics. Maybe I should change my name to "she-who-walks-through-cemeteries"? No, too long, and I have troubles spelling cemetery. I keep wanting to spell it with an "a" for some reason.

I took two walks through the cemetery this week. The first? I got lost.
My mother found this amusing. As did I in retrospect. In my defense it is relatively easy to get lost in Greenwood Cemetery...it's basically endless rolling hills, trees, graves, flowering bushes, and pounds. You can, if you go deep enough into it - forget the outside world entirely. Prospect Park is similar - but far more crowded and much harder to avoid pesky people who insist on putting my life in danger. Greenwood - has gates and tends to restrict who enters. Prospect Park lets anyone inside -- so as a result, there are encampments, and people doing whatever they dang well please. For example? I couldn't take a walk in the woods without running into : bicyclists, an oil painter, a professional photography club, several joggers, people doing exercise routines, a couple making out, and a bunch of people smoking pot. I'd recommend avoiding it at all costs...at least for the time being. You can also get lost in Prospect Park, by the way.

The second? I got a map. Both were very long walks, with lots of cool vistas.

Anyhow, take a walk through Greenwood Cemetery with me...and watch me have fun with photography in the process. I never really enjoyed taking photos until I got the Iphone.

( It's safe, don't worry, see no people on the streets in...and look a sign )

Now on to the good stuff...

( path into the graves )

( tree I fell in love with )

( lady death weeps or bows her head )

( another shot I fell in love with near Dell Pond )

( Dell Pond - one of two turtle ponds )

( tree and sunlight )

( interesting graves... )

( the walk to the lake and the view from above.. )

The trick is to pick off times, and to steer clear of the popular paths. For example? I just walked up to the pond and left. Also I didn't go down to the lake - which is very popular. I tended to meander on the less walked paths at all possible. I saw people - but it was about ten, maybe fifteen if that, and not together. And not close. I was as if not more far apart from them - than I am when I leave my apartment building at times.

These walks are helping me stay sane. They clear my head. And they are perfectly safe - far safer than getting food deliveries or doing laundry, or taking out the trash - which are kind of essential activities.

And how weird is it that I feel the need to defend walking in the evening around a cemetery? Greenwood extended their hours at all their gates during the crisis - to help people and provide them with a place to stroll, and a means to visit their dead. The previous hours were 10-4PM on weekdays, and 10-3pm on Sunday. It's why I rarely went - you'd have to go on Saturday.
Now? They are open weekdays from 11 am - 7pm, and 8am to 7pm on weekends.
Although the gates at Fort Hamilton and Park Slope entrances are close to cars during the weekdays. And in the evening hours.