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Took a long walk around Greenwood Cemetery around three, after hunting Christmas gifts for my brother and his family online. The NY Times scared me. It's been doing that a lot lately. I'll read the morning briefing - which is really just a summary of the day's news and headlines, and think, damn, now I'm scared and angry. Frigging journalists like to keep scaring me.
This morning the article that scared me (among so many, it's hard to pick really), was that you better order your gifts online soon or they may not reach their destinations in time. Because there's expected to be over 800 million purchases happening online. Amazon and UPS increased their staff to cover the onslaught.
Mother informed during our chat after said walk, and before my uncle interpreted it, that my sister-in-law wasn't into Christmas. Mother sounded surprised by this.
Mother: Your brother tells me that she doesn't really decorate or get that excited about Christmas and never has. It surprised me.
Me: Well, kind of makes sense, considering she's Jewish.
Mother: Oh. That's right. She is.
Me: She's also not into holidays or birthdays, she barely celebrates the Jewish ones.
Mother: She did do Hannukka for your niece when she was a baby.
Me: Does she do it now?
Mother: No.
ME: Exactly. They aren't really into it. I'm not that into it. I bought decorations, small ones, this year - since I always visit you. And one year when I wasn't able to - and had none, I got bummed out. I already had a few of course. Just bought a few more. I'm procrastinating putting them up though - because I don't want to think about it.
Mother: I get that, neither do I. I am going to put up our tree though. (They bought a really nice fake one a while back.) And your brother does get one - but they sometimes wait too long..
ME: OR flee to Hawaii so they can ignore the whole thing, which is what they did last year.
My family was into holidays when I was a kid, but we've let traditions slide in later years. But this has been a hard year since I've not seen my family at all during it. Except via Zoom, or over the phone. Everything is remote.
From tonight's chilly walk to and around and from Greenwood Cemetery. See, Christmas decorations are up now! Also it's dipped into the thirties (I don't know what that is in Celsius. Sorry.)
Because it was chilly, there were less people, and everyone was wearing masks. I was able to walk for quite a while without one and alone, with just the trees, squirrles and graves for company. Not as many birds either, although the Canadian Geese were seen streaking against the sky. (I don't know if they are really Canadian Geese since they seem to stay in New York year round, we should just call them New York Geese.)
Anyhow, before said walk, I watched the Derry Girls do the Great British Bake Off, which was a treat. They were hilarious. Most had never backed before and were just figuring it out as they went. And the judges were incredibly gracious considering. Far more entertaining and comforting than the previous two Bake Off's that I watched.
And I did the Zoom Church Service which was weirdly comforting as well. It focused on seeing problems as opportunities and loving kindness. Even talked about a loving kindness meditation we could use. The readings and sermon were more Buddhist oriented this week - which I kind of prefer.
Here's the link to the meditation - Loving Kindness - it's a Buddhist meditation, where you first send loving thoughts towards yourself, then to those you love, then to those you are having issues with or feel rage towards or are struggling with, and finally to a group you care for.
Tomorrow, back to work again. [ETC - still remote. The cases are higher than the spring, there's no way I'm going back in there any time soon.] Hopefully I'll get a few things done. In a way the winter months will be easier to walk around during - less people out and about, and when they are? They'll be covered up in masks, hats, and scarves.
Be colder walking and I'll have less daylight. But I may be able to finagle a walk here and there, without it being much of an issue.
I know I'm not going back into the office any time soon. New York is spiking again. I honestly think we'll all end up locked down again in January and February.
What I'm currently debating is if I want to try and get a larger screen or larger computer for working remotely. The laptop has actually been working fine up to now...and its been what nine months?
It's quiet anyhow. Only the hiss of a radiator and the whirl of the air purifiers. Also the rumbling of my tummy signaling it is time to make dinner.
This morning the article that scared me (among so many, it's hard to pick really), was that you better order your gifts online soon or they may not reach their destinations in time. Because there's expected to be over 800 million purchases happening online. Amazon and UPS increased their staff to cover the onslaught.
Mother informed during our chat after said walk, and before my uncle interpreted it, that my sister-in-law wasn't into Christmas. Mother sounded surprised by this.
Mother: Your brother tells me that she doesn't really decorate or get that excited about Christmas and never has. It surprised me.
Me: Well, kind of makes sense, considering she's Jewish.
Mother: Oh. That's right. She is.
Me: She's also not into holidays or birthdays, she barely celebrates the Jewish ones.
Mother: She did do Hannukka for your niece when she was a baby.
Me: Does she do it now?
Mother: No.
ME: Exactly. They aren't really into it. I'm not that into it. I bought decorations, small ones, this year - since I always visit you. And one year when I wasn't able to - and had none, I got bummed out. I already had a few of course. Just bought a few more. I'm procrastinating putting them up though - because I don't want to think about it.
Mother: I get that, neither do I. I am going to put up our tree though. (They bought a really nice fake one a while back.) And your brother does get one - but they sometimes wait too long..
ME: OR flee to Hawaii so they can ignore the whole thing, which is what they did last year.
My family was into holidays when I was a kid, but we've let traditions slide in later years. But this has been a hard year since I've not seen my family at all during it. Except via Zoom, or over the phone. Everything is remote.
From tonight's chilly walk to and around and from Greenwood Cemetery. See, Christmas decorations are up now! Also it's dipped into the thirties (I don't know what that is in Celsius. Sorry.)
Because it was chilly, there were less people, and everyone was wearing masks. I was able to walk for quite a while without one and alone, with just the trees, squirrles and graves for company. Not as many birds either, although the Canadian Geese were seen streaking against the sky. (I don't know if they are really Canadian Geese since they seem to stay in New York year round, we should just call them New York Geese.)
Anyhow, before said walk, I watched the Derry Girls do the Great British Bake Off, which was a treat. They were hilarious. Most had never backed before and were just figuring it out as they went. And the judges were incredibly gracious considering. Far more entertaining and comforting than the previous two Bake Off's that I watched.
And I did the Zoom Church Service which was weirdly comforting as well. It focused on seeing problems as opportunities and loving kindness. Even talked about a loving kindness meditation we could use. The readings and sermon were more Buddhist oriented this week - which I kind of prefer.
Here's the link to the meditation - Loving Kindness - it's a Buddhist meditation, where you first send loving thoughts towards yourself, then to those you love, then to those you are having issues with or feel rage towards or are struggling with, and finally to a group you care for.
Tomorrow, back to work again. [ETC - still remote. The cases are higher than the spring, there's no way I'm going back in there any time soon.] Hopefully I'll get a few things done. In a way the winter months will be easier to walk around during - less people out and about, and when they are? They'll be covered up in masks, hats, and scarves.
Be colder walking and I'll have less daylight. But I may be able to finagle a walk here and there, without it being much of an issue.
I know I'm not going back into the office any time soon. New York is spiking again. I honestly think we'll all end up locked down again in January and February.
What I'm currently debating is if I want to try and get a larger screen or larger computer for working remotely. The laptop has actually been working fine up to now...and its been what nine months?
It's quiet anyhow. Only the hiss of a radiator and the whirl of the air purifiers. Also the rumbling of my tummy signaling it is time to make dinner.