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Y2/D353...
Mar. 4th, 2022 09:51 pmGlad it's Friday.
Everyone is still wearing masks on trains, subways, outdoors, public places, and in the office. There are folks who aren't of course, but there always have been. There's also signs stating that you don't have to wear them in the office - but you do have to respect your co-workers choices in the matter. (We've moved from getting angry at people for not wearing them, to chastising people for bully those who do.) And there's apparently free COVID testing at one of the local pharmacy's with results in 24 hours.
Noticed on FB Neighborhood Page that there have been more than on effort to send aid to the Ukraine. One collected oodles of supplies, and more volunteers than they knew what to do with - to sort through it all and send it. (I was oblivious to it until now, also I've been busy work wise - so no time. I've not exactly been on FB - and discovered since going off it and Instagram, and news for the most part, blood pressure went down. So there's a direct corollary.) I also found a cool FB group, and it's a group worldwide with an app - entitled "Buy Nothing". I think I may have figured out a way to get rid of my DVD player (that I'm not using and can't hook up anyhow, and all the DVD's. ) I want to give stuff to people - but the logistics is kind of getting the way.
Is Daylight Savings Time this weekend or next? I really hope it is next weekend.
It's cold today.
On the way home from work saw four fire trucks, a cop car, and an ambulance. Apparently a car blew up and was on fire on third and Beverly.
( pictures )
I didn't take the photos, someone else did and posted them on FB. I walked by it post fire, and post explosion. By the time I was walking by, the fire was put out, folks were standing around chatting, four fire engines were around it blocking off the streets, along with a police car and EMT. Why we needed four fire trucks, I've no clue. I think they get lonely and have to travel in packs. Or the fire houses are competing for action.
I asked what happened, but no one appeared to know. Just that a car caught fire or exploded, and they had to put it out.
This is what I saw - hopefully you can see it to. If not, there's nothing I can do about it.
( ugly picture of the burned out car )
Facebook: "Happening now on Beverley and E 3rd. FD was quick to respond and had the fire out in minutes. I don’t think anyone was injured. It looked like the trash caught fire and there were several small explosions from the garbage. It seemed as though something flammable was in the garbage. Then the car went up. Feel bad for whomever’s car this was."
Someone else commented that the Flatbush Fire Dept had it out in five minutes.
I should hope so, considering four fire trucks showed up. It would be sad if it took longer than that.
[Oh, saw in another photo that some kind soul had in fact cleaned up the trash and was putting it in trash bags. Apparently the trash caught fire and the car exploded into flames. Second car in the last few weeks according to FB.]
**
Oh, you know that mural I keep posting on my journal every once and a while, when I get bored? It won a prize. The group behind it is Groundswell
"React, Respect, Intersect was designed to promote traffic safety at the location of a dangerous intersection in Kensington, Brooklyn. Teen artists worked with Yana Dimitrova and Adam Kidder to conduct studies on local traffic patterns and strategize ways to promote safety and respect amongst the many communities present in the neighborhood. This project was created in partnership with the New York City Department of Transportations Office of Safety Education and its Urban Art Program division. The team investigated what makes the intersection dangerous, tracked the speeds of passing cars, conducted a neighborhood survey, and studied local signage designed to control traffic. The mural highlights a large central figure of a young girl holding her hand up as if to say, Stop! With its bright colors and vibrant imagery, the mural is a visual speed bump that grabs the attention of passing drivers and reminds them what is at stake when they break traffic laws and endanger others."
Just in case you forgot what it looked like? Here it is, again:
By the way, NYC is awash in murals. They are everywhere. It's kind of cool. I love cities. I love the country-side. Suburbia - I could do without.
I got tired of feeling sorry for myself. Work is frustrating me, or more to the point, the new organizational effort is, and that frustration seems to be permeating my life. I need to let it go and stop trying to control it. It too shall pass. Nothing is forever.
Told Babs today that I was just trying to do the best job possible no matter what. But it's hard sometimes.
Good news is various physical ailments have gone away. My sciatic nerve is gone, my back pain is gone, my hot flashes seem to have abated completely,
along with the night sweats, I no longer sweat profusely whenever I walk anywhere, no more migraine/vertigo headaches, haven't had a bad headache in a while actually, sinuses are doing better...
Also not had a period in 160 some days, last one was in September.
Add to that...mood swings have stopped. I no longer cry at the drop of a hat or feel as if I'm going insane.
If this is menopause? It's a lovely thing. Perimenopause was hell and it lasted forever.
***
Revising the 800 page contemporary romance novel. It's kind of interesting. I'm killing a lot of my darlings in a red-line. Taking out the stuff that the reader doesn't need to know or doesn't want to read/know. That was Elmore Leonard's advice - don't write what the stuff the reader skips over.
***
Chidi did a happy snoopy dance today. No, I mean it, he literally did the happy snoopy dance - he could have given Xander a run for his money. Actually I liked his Dance better than Xander's. It had soft shoe in there.
That boy missed his calling.
Me: You seem happy.
Chidi: I am. (Does the dance) Guess where I am going this weekend? (Dances again)
Me: I don't know. A nightclub?
Chidi: No! You can guess, I know you can - what place do I love most -
Me: Ah the movies.
Chidi: But what movie?? You can guess you should get this right off the bat.
Me: Uh, unlikely, since I have no idea what is in theaters at the moment.
Chidi: Come on!
Me: No, I really have no idea. I've not been following it.
Chidi: Batman! I'm seeing Batman! (He does the jig again.)
Me: Ah - you're right, I knew it was out and should have guessed that one. But I didn't think you liked superhero films.
Chidi: I don't like the MCU or the brightly colored campy stuff - I like the dark -
Me: Film geeky noir stuff like Nolan and Snyder. You should check out the Snyder films...
Chidi: Exactly.
It's ironic, most of the POC folks that I know actually loved the Snyder DC films more than the MCU stuff. Meanwhile my brother, and various white folks have decided Snyder is too white conservative and fascist for their taste.
In a way, I guess my insanely diverse workplace and apartment complex are gifts - I've learned people are just people. With individual tastes and concerns. Protective of their privacy. And defy categorization.
***
Talking to mother about father is excruciatingly painful at the moment. It's why I've stopped posting about it. My father wants to go back to his home, and she can't bring him there. It's not possible. And he blames her for it - when he's not in his right mind. And she blames herself.
I blame Alzheimer's, the pandemic, and our idiotic society which has made both harder than they need to be - and has not provided more for those afflicted with either. Did a donate to Alzheimer's Post on FB - as a kind of salve, not that I expect anyone to donate, but you never know.
I want a blanket. But god knows where I'd put it. It's not like I have a shortage already. I think I might get a body pillow instead. And maybe some new clothes, and socks.
***
Here's a picture...or rather a nicer one, at any rate.
Everyone is still wearing masks on trains, subways, outdoors, public places, and in the office. There are folks who aren't of course, but there always have been. There's also signs stating that you don't have to wear them in the office - but you do have to respect your co-workers choices in the matter. (We've moved from getting angry at people for not wearing them, to chastising people for bully those who do.) And there's apparently free COVID testing at one of the local pharmacy's with results in 24 hours.
Noticed on FB Neighborhood Page that there have been more than on effort to send aid to the Ukraine. One collected oodles of supplies, and more volunteers than they knew what to do with - to sort through it all and send it. (I was oblivious to it until now, also I've been busy work wise - so no time. I've not exactly been on FB - and discovered since going off it and Instagram, and news for the most part, blood pressure went down. So there's a direct corollary.) I also found a cool FB group, and it's a group worldwide with an app - entitled "Buy Nothing". I think I may have figured out a way to get rid of my DVD player (that I'm not using and can't hook up anyhow, and all the DVD's. ) I want to give stuff to people - but the logistics is kind of getting the way.
Is Daylight Savings Time this weekend or next? I really hope it is next weekend.
It's cold today.
On the way home from work saw four fire trucks, a cop car, and an ambulance. Apparently a car blew up and was on fire on third and Beverly.
( pictures )
I didn't take the photos, someone else did and posted them on FB. I walked by it post fire, and post explosion. By the time I was walking by, the fire was put out, folks were standing around chatting, four fire engines were around it blocking off the streets, along with a police car and EMT. Why we needed four fire trucks, I've no clue. I think they get lonely and have to travel in packs. Or the fire houses are competing for action.
I asked what happened, but no one appeared to know. Just that a car caught fire or exploded, and they had to put it out.
This is what I saw - hopefully you can see it to. If not, there's nothing I can do about it.
( ugly picture of the burned out car )
Facebook: "Happening now on Beverley and E 3rd. FD was quick to respond and had the fire out in minutes. I don’t think anyone was injured. It looked like the trash caught fire and there were several small explosions from the garbage. It seemed as though something flammable was in the garbage. Then the car went up. Feel bad for whomever’s car this was."
Someone else commented that the Flatbush Fire Dept had it out in five minutes.
I should hope so, considering four fire trucks showed up. It would be sad if it took longer than that.
[Oh, saw in another photo that some kind soul had in fact cleaned up the trash and was putting it in trash bags. Apparently the trash caught fire and the car exploded into flames. Second car in the last few weeks according to FB.]
**
Oh, you know that mural I keep posting on my journal every once and a while, when I get bored? It won a prize. The group behind it is Groundswell
"React, Respect, Intersect was designed to promote traffic safety at the location of a dangerous intersection in Kensington, Brooklyn. Teen artists worked with Yana Dimitrova and Adam Kidder to conduct studies on local traffic patterns and strategize ways to promote safety and respect amongst the many communities present in the neighborhood. This project was created in partnership with the New York City Department of Transportations Office of Safety Education and its Urban Art Program division. The team investigated what makes the intersection dangerous, tracked the speeds of passing cars, conducted a neighborhood survey, and studied local signage designed to control traffic. The mural highlights a large central figure of a young girl holding her hand up as if to say, Stop! With its bright colors and vibrant imagery, the mural is a visual speed bump that grabs the attention of passing drivers and reminds them what is at stake when they break traffic laws and endanger others."
Just in case you forgot what it looked like? Here it is, again:
By the way, NYC is awash in murals. They are everywhere. It's kind of cool. I love cities. I love the country-side. Suburbia - I could do without.
I got tired of feeling sorry for myself. Work is frustrating me, or more to the point, the new organizational effort is, and that frustration seems to be permeating my life. I need to let it go and stop trying to control it. It too shall pass. Nothing is forever.
Told Babs today that I was just trying to do the best job possible no matter what. But it's hard sometimes.
Good news is various physical ailments have gone away. My sciatic nerve is gone, my back pain is gone, my hot flashes seem to have abated completely,
along with the night sweats, I no longer sweat profusely whenever I walk anywhere, no more migraine/vertigo headaches, haven't had a bad headache in a while actually, sinuses are doing better...
Also not had a period in 160 some days, last one was in September.
Add to that...mood swings have stopped. I no longer cry at the drop of a hat or feel as if I'm going insane.
If this is menopause? It's a lovely thing. Perimenopause was hell and it lasted forever.
***
Revising the 800 page contemporary romance novel. It's kind of interesting. I'm killing a lot of my darlings in a red-line. Taking out the stuff that the reader doesn't need to know or doesn't want to read/know. That was Elmore Leonard's advice - don't write what the stuff the reader skips over.
***
Chidi did a happy snoopy dance today. No, I mean it, he literally did the happy snoopy dance - he could have given Xander a run for his money. Actually I liked his Dance better than Xander's. It had soft shoe in there.
That boy missed his calling.
Me: You seem happy.
Chidi: I am. (Does the dance) Guess where I am going this weekend? (Dances again)
Me: I don't know. A nightclub?
Chidi: No! You can guess, I know you can - what place do I love most -
Me: Ah the movies.
Chidi: But what movie?? You can guess you should get this right off the bat.
Me: Uh, unlikely, since I have no idea what is in theaters at the moment.
Chidi: Come on!
Me: No, I really have no idea. I've not been following it.
Chidi: Batman! I'm seeing Batman! (He does the jig again.)
Me: Ah - you're right, I knew it was out and should have guessed that one. But I didn't think you liked superhero films.
Chidi: I don't like the MCU or the brightly colored campy stuff - I like the dark -
Me: Film geeky noir stuff like Nolan and Snyder. You should check out the Snyder films...
Chidi: Exactly.
It's ironic, most of the POC folks that I know actually loved the Snyder DC films more than the MCU stuff. Meanwhile my brother, and various white folks have decided Snyder is too white conservative and fascist for their taste.
In a way, I guess my insanely diverse workplace and apartment complex are gifts - I've learned people are just people. With individual tastes and concerns. Protective of their privacy. And defy categorization.
***
Talking to mother about father is excruciatingly painful at the moment. It's why I've stopped posting about it. My father wants to go back to his home, and she can't bring him there. It's not possible. And he blames her for it - when he's not in his right mind. And she blames herself.
I blame Alzheimer's, the pandemic, and our idiotic society which has made both harder than they need to be - and has not provided more for those afflicted with either. Did a donate to Alzheimer's Post on FB - as a kind of salve, not that I expect anyone to donate, but you never know.
I want a blanket. But god knows where I'd put it. It's not like I have a shortage already. I think I might get a body pillow instead. And maybe some new clothes, and socks.
***
Here's a picture...or rather a nicer one, at any rate.