Day # 9 of the 60 Days of Gratitude Challenge

Day # 9 of 60 Days of Gratitude Challenge

The prompt? Name a place that you've traveled to that you are grateful for

Costa Rica - which I was finally able to visit for my birthday in 2017. It's absolutely beautiful - and I got to see an active volcano, as shown below:



I'd been wanting to visit it forever. Finally found a way through G Adventures - a environmentally sustainable group travel agency, out of Canada.

Day #13 of the 30 Day Book Challenge

Day #13 of the 30 day Book Challenge

The prompt is A book set in a different country other than England aka Great Britain or the United States or your own country, where you are residing - otherwise it would be too easy.

My choice:

A Town Like Alice by Neville Shute

Jean Paget, a young Englishwoman living in Malaya, is captured by the invading Japanese and forced on a brutal seven-month death march with dozens of other women and children. A few years after the war, Jean is back in England, the nightmare behind her. However, an unexpected inheritance inspires her to return to Malaya to give something back to the villagers who saved her life. Jean's travels leads her to a desolate Australian outpost called Willstown, where she finds a challenge that will draw on all the resourcefulness and spirit that carried her through her war-time ordeals.

I loved this book when I read it in the 1980s, in high school. Although I'm not entirely certain it holds up well now. The book was written in the 1950s and takes place in the 1940s, so is definitely a book of its time.

Also, keep in mind, while I do remember portions of it vividly, I have not read it since the 1980s. I picked it, because for some reason or other I remember it better than some of the ones I've read in the last twenty years.
What can I say, memory is an odd thing.

The book was better than the 1981 film.

Watch on YouTube

Day 238 - Corona Virus Diaries

Another beautiful day that I had to attempt to work through on a small lap-top computer. But the nice bit, which I'm exceedingly grateful - is I have a window that looks out on trees, cats, birds and rooftops and sky. I've been watching the seasons pass slowly outside my window - bit by small bit. I'm grateful for that. I'm also grateful for this apartment, with it's high ceilings, hard wood floors, and for the most part, uninterrupted quiet. It's not easy to find a quiet place to reside in the hustle and bustle of New York City, but I've managed to do so. I can forget I'm actually in a city at times. I don't hear any traffic for the most part. Rarely hear a siren. When they were doing all their banging, protesting, and cheering - I couldn't hear it. And while I did hear the occasional fireworks - they weren't that loud, and I got to see them in the distance.



My apartment has been a kind of unexpected sanctuary during this time. So, I'm patting myself on the back for choosing a good one - which I could afford and was for the most part safe, comfortable and low maintenance. It's far from perfect, and has its issues - but all residences do.

1. Figuring out the Holidays with COVID-19

Mother: So, we were talking with your brother...and, well, your father has decided to rent a private plane to transport you to either Hilton Head or to your brother's house in Hudson, NY for Christmas. We were discussing it with your brother today.
Me: Okaaay...I'm flattered that my father is concerned about me spending the holidays all by my lonesome stuck in NYC. Tell him, I love him too.
Mother: Your father is completely serious about this.
ME (laughing): Really?
Mother: We discussed it with your brother and he said there are private plane airfields.
ME: Of course I'd have to get to the plane..that would still be an issue. You know cab driver or air train or subway.. And I'd still be with other people en route.( and we keep going and going.. )

2. New York vs. the Corona Virus

Even NY is feeling the spike in cases. We're at 3 percent now, and the microclusters are at 5.59 percent (My area is no longer in it - it moved south to me.) Why? People are idiots?

I mean, I see people not wearing masks all the time. Saw four people come in and out of my building without masks. Also, they keep having gatherings.

Honestly, some people just refuse to take it seriously. They should. I know a lot of Covid-Long haulers. My brother's friend Sherri (the professional makeup artist from LA) tested positive way back in February, and is still suffering from severe complications.

( From the Governor's newsletter...now that election is over, he only discusses the Coronavirus )

3. NY Swan is rescued and taken by subway to Wildlife Shelter in Brooklyn

4. Amazon keeps sending me these questions about stuff I bought...which..

* Regarding the Gaiter's - was it made in China.

ME: I don't know or care. Why's it matter? The material is thin and doesn't protect you very well.

I honestly don't care where stuff is made. I'm not nationalistic and I'm not patriotic. I think nationalism is shitty, and patriotism is for idiots. Your mileage may vary. Nationalism and Patriotism = WAR and DEATH and NASTINESS. Very little good comes from either as far as I can tell. We're all human, we all live on this planet, we need to look past such trivial crap as what country we happen to live in or were born in. Honestly when we die - it won't matter.

I really hate nationalism. I've gotten into more fights over nationalism online than anything else.

* What are the measurements?

It's a gaiter...there are no measurements. I've no clue. I don't measure things. If I could measure things - I'd be making my own gaiter not buying it on Amazon.

I blame menopause for my irritability. Well that and COVID fatigue. Some people are taking long hikes around Prospect Park as if there isn't a pandemic. The park isn't exactly not crowded. And exploring New York City on foot - it's a city, and in a pandemic....

5. Some good news...

*The Democrats held onto the House - they reached the 218 majority needed to hold it. So yay.

Meanwhile the idiotic Republicans in the White House and in the Senate keep threatening to steal back the election. Which is why the Democrats getting a majority in the House relieved me a bit. I'm not the only one worried, so is mother. I'm considering donating to The Protect the Vote Campaign.

Although it is amusing in its blatant absurdity. Ten of the fourteen lawsuits filed by the idiotic Republicans have been thrown out of court. They are things like..

Trump Campaign Lawsuits Where Things Currently Stand

Judges have largely rejected the Republican challenges over the past week, when the campaign sought to interrupt the vote count as it leaned toward Biden. As one lawyer friend on FB stated - these are frivolous lawsuits that are akin to putting a heaping pile of flaming dogshit on a judge's front porch. (Her words not mine). It's all a marketing scheme.

* US Health Officials Detail How Many People May Start to Get Treatments & Once Authorized Vaccines.

6. Airlines are offering Travelers testing options prior to the trip
( Read more... )

I know the current policy in NY is - you have to get tested prior to re-entering the state, and get tested after you enter, and quarantine.
My problem with the test prior to leaving for anywhere - is you can get it after you got tested. It's why I haven't bothered to get tested - I've no symptoms and no exposure, I'm more likely to get it waiting in line to be tested or en route.

Workplace has all these testing sites now - that it keeps telling me about.
I'm working remotely, so I ignore it.