Day #130 - Muggy Rage Walk Through Greenwood Cemetery

[I posted this on Instagram with the tagline - how I'm feeling right now with a sense of overwhelming despair. Niece, a photographer in her own right - who follows me on Instagram and likes every photo I post, immediately texted me to see if I was okay. "Hi, auntie, how are you doing?" ( Read more... )

If difficult to rage walk through a muggy cemetery. Kind of like trying to stride through molasses. Sticky doesn't begin to cover it. It was 77 degrees and 100% humidity. Felt like walking through sweat. And the mosquitoes were out in force. I ended up with five welts, that eventually went away, on my calves - didn't really itch that much, just got red and splotchy for a bit.

Overall a good meditative walk. Although, during it, I kept pushing aside thoughts of bone-crushing despair and rage. This overwhelming sense of futility.



Me vs. Crazy Union

( where I attempt with little success to convince various people that sending myself and my colleagues back to the office on August 3 is a colossally bad idea )

We'll see what happens. But I find myself feeling despair at the moment. I feel as if there's a lot of crazy egotistical bullies in charge of my future and I can't do anything about it. I feel crushed by the weight of it.




New York vs. The Federal Government & the Coronavirus (but mostly the Federal Government which NY would really like to file criminal charges against, if it could get away with it

The Governor was on again today, partly to announce a few things, and partly to rail at the Federal Government for causing the Coronavirus to hit NY and for taking credit for finally removing the Global Traveler Ban - that they had put in place at the beginning of the year. The Governor felt the need to point out in detail how badly the Federal Government had screwed New York with this ban.

See? I told you that NY has not forgiven the Federal Government for what happened in February and March. ( Read more... )

That said, NY, New Jersey and Conneticut are apparently the only three states in the nation that have successfully re-opened.

New York is one of only three states that meet criteria to reopen and stay safe. According to an analysis by Vox, only New York, Connecticut and New Jersey currently have strong enough testing and tracing systems to reopen safely. Additionally, our tri-state region has seen falling Coronavirus cases along with a very low percentage of daily new cases per 100,000 people. (source the Governor's email)

I'll say this much for NY, it is not beyond patting itself on the back, repeatedly. Also, the reason those three re-opened safely, is they formed a coalition and enacted the same protocols at the same times together. One by one. Very slowly.

New York Hosts Major League Baseball

New York has found a way to convince Canada to let the Toronto Blue Jays participate in Major League Baseball.

(Canada up until this week was refusing to let the Blue Jays leave Canada.) The Toronto Blue Jays will play their home games at Buffalo's Sahlen Field this season. I spoke with the MLB Commissioner this morning and we are excited to host the Blue Jays this year. The Blue Jays were denied approval to play at their home ballpark due to concerns about baseball teams crossing borders amid COVID.

Reporters: Okay, why did you say yes to this and why us, when Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and everyone else said no? Even Canada said no?
Governor: Because there's no problem in doing it. They aren't that far from Buffalo. It'll be good for Buffalo and its economy. It's good for people stuck at home - they need something to enjoy and look forward to.
And we're doing it without fans. More teams, better play. We have 16 now. It means we will actually have a Major League Baseball Season.

[Honestly, have these Reporters met our Governor? Who has decided to act as President of the United States. I apparently live in the United States of New York.]

Hmmm..tempted to post to FB, but my uncles are fighting over whether or not this is a real baseball season. And I honestly don't care.
( uncles fighting over whether it's a real season )

* New York vs. Party-Goers or Virus Spreaders

Governor in his email to me tonight: "We continue to make progress against the virus—yesterday, hospitalizations were at the lowest level since March 18th and there were 156 patients in ICUs, the lowest since March 16th. As we enter the weekend, once again I remind all New Yorkers to act responsibly. Avoid parties and crowds. Wear a mask. Set an example for others. And twenty somethings—this means you."

In his live briefings yesterday and today, he reiterated - "yes, I fully defend your right to party, but don't do it now with COVID-19. Or do it in smaller numbers, please."

[I'm restraining myself from telling him that I'm not the audience for this refrain. I'm not in my twenties, and I'm no longer interested in partying. I don't want to return to my office and am dreading people working in my kitchen next week. I barely go to grocery stores.]
( NY's State Liguor Authority and State Police Task Force issued 37 violations last night to bars and restaurants )

Some good news..

The number of total hospitalizations continues to decline. Yesterday there were 650 total hospitalizations—the lowest since March 18. The State conducted 76,507 tests, of which 753, or 0.98%, were positive. Sadly, we lost 9 New Yorkers to the virus.

Considering we were at 800-900 deaths a day, and over thousands of cases...this is pretty good. Still, I don't feel safe with these frigging numbers. But hell, I haven't felt safe since 9/11, I kind of getting used to it. Today, I thought, I don't care if I get COVID any longer - frigging tired of worrying about it.



At the end of the day, Wales called. I was in the middle of playing with my photos on my phone. Sometimes the shots are perfect, sometimes they require tinkering.

Wales: Can we hang out tomorrow?
Me: No. Covid. Social distancing. I'm here, you're there.
Wales: Ohhh...I miss my friends. I want to see them.
Me: I hear you. I really do. Look I've had horrible day...and I've not eaten.

The rest of the conversation gave me a headache. Although we were laughing at the end - mainly because much like J, Wales finds my dry wit, hilarious.

( Read more... )

Friendship is difficult. Relationships are difficult. People are difficult. This is why the world made nieces (and huge pussycats are an added bonus).

I know that I posted this picture before...but you are getting it again. Huzzah! (You can blame my overuse of that word on The Great - ever since I watched five episodes of that series I cannot get it out of my head.)