Author: mitchellsthoughtsphotosetc

If you grew up on the south shore of Staten Island and certain parts of Brooklyn you probably remember people driving their Caddys, Camaros, Trans-Ams and Vettes with their foot out the window, an arm on the roof and fuzzy dice hanging off the rearview mirror. Many of the students in my high school and neighboring schools drove like this. Music was blasting out of their cassette players. Usually, Madonna, Prince or some dance music. You had your headbanger music, too. New wave was the best. Many of the fuzzy dice drivers were clad in their Z. Cavaricci’s, parachute pants, spandex and leg warmers. Chains with their names and religious medallions added to the touch. Let’s not forgot the cigarettes and the big hair.

The fuzzy dice was the trademark. So many students cruised around in their daddy’s Caddy’s. Who am I to talk? I had one, too. I never had fuzzy dice or anything off the windshield. I played new wave and wore a lot of black. Still do.

The origin of the fuzzy dice is traced back to air force fighters, who placed it above flight instruments during World War II. It was supposed to represent the high degree of risk during the flight and was for good luck.

In many states, it is illegal to have them or anything hanging off the rearview mirror. It is considered a distraction. Many of the aforementioned drivers had air fresheners and religious emblems hanging with their dice.

Thanks to Covid-19, I’ve noticed many cars with masks hanging off the rearview mirrors. Instead of driving with their foot out the window, people are driving with the masks on and the windows closed. Sometimes they open them. Bear in mind, I don’t live on Staten Island anymore. I do miss it. I’ve seen memes saying that people who drive with masks on with the windows closed have the same intelligence as the people who need the instructions for cooking a Pop-Tart. I never liked them.

The pandemic has caused us to witness fashion changes, people growing beards, coming to work in your PJs and doing our work and play via video conferencing. With all the changes, I guess our driving statements can change, too. Just be safe.

Other posts can be viewed at:

“Pandemic Watch: How will we be entertained?”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/06/08/pandemic-watch-how-will-we-be-entertained

“Pandemic Watch: Communicating via video,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/06/03/pandemic-watch-communicating-via-video

“Single Life,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/06/02/pandemic-watch-single-life

“Pandemic Watch: Seniors and lifesaving phone calls during the pandemic or other times,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/06/01/pandemic-watch-seniors-and-lifesaving-phone-calls-during-the-pandemic-or-other-times

“Pandemic Watch: There are places I remember.”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/28/pandemic-watch-there-are-places-i-remember

“Pandemic Watch: Creating a new fashion statement,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/27/pandemic-watch-creating-a-new-fashion-statement

“Pandemic Watch: Sitting on your stoop,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/26/pandemic-watch-sitting-on-your-stoop

“Pandemic Watch: What does a four-year-old think about our situation?”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/21/pandemic-watch-what-does-a-four-old-think-about-our-situation

“Pandemic Watch: Will my nephew ever know how good it was?”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/19/pandemic-watch-will-my-nephew-ever-know-how-good-it-was

“Pandemic Watch: What will happen when I get released on parole?”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/15/pandemic-watch-what-will-happen-when-i-get-released-on-parole

“Pandemic Watch: We live in interesting times,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/14/pandemic-watch-we-live-in-interesting-times

“Pandemic Watch: Dressing during the Covid-19 pandemic,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/13/pandemic-watch-dressing-during-the-covid-19-pandemic

“Pandemic Watch: Yes, it is Monday,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/11/pandemic-watch-yes-it-is-monday

“How skills I learned as a teen in the scouts help during the Covid-19 pandemic, “

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/04/how-skills-i-learned-as-a-teen-in-the-scouts-help-during-the-covid-19-pandemic

“How the Covid-19 pandemic causes us to rethink old habits,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/30/how-the-covid-19-pandemic-causes-us-to-rethink-old-habits

“Traveling on public transit and being outside during the Covid-19 pandemic,” https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/29/traveling-on-public-transit-and-being-outside-during-the-covid-19-pandemic

“Grocery shopping during Covid-19. Or anytime,” https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/28/grocery-shopping-during-covid-19-or-anytime

“I want to help restaurants during the pandemic. But…,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/27/i-want-to-help-restaurants-during-the-pandemic-but

“Masks and gloves,” https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/03/30/608

“Trashy Parks,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/01/07/trashy-parks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“That’s Entertainment,” by the Jam kind of describes today’s times. “A police car and a screaming siren,” “Feeding ducks in the park and wishing you were far away,” Two lovers kissing amongst the scream of midnight. Two lovers missing the tranquility of solitude.” These pulled lyrics all end with the chorus, “That’s entertainment, that’s entertainment.”

What will become of our entertainment? Anyone who knows me knows I have many interests. Like everyone else since the virus took hold, they’ve been put on hold indefinitely. I’ve gotten some of my money back. More refunds are pending. Some you have to fight for. Thanks, Ticketmaster.

I missed an opera. Lincoln Center was a pleasure to work with on the refund process. I’m a NY Philharmonic subscriber, scheduled to see several shows in November and December. The fall opera was season was just canceled. I’m sure it is only days till other venues at Lincoln Center cancel. My Alarm and Ringo Starr shows have been postponed. The Pet Shop Boys–New Order Unity tour met the same fate. I didn’t get to sip some new wines. The tasting was canceled. Still waiting for “Black Widow”, Wonder Woman-1984” and “X-Men the New Mutants,” Eventually they will come out. I wish they would have just let them play on Fios and other providers. And of course, I’ve already missed several Yankee games. At least the Yankees are undefeated. Sadly, so are the Red Sox.

I am happy the refunds are slowly and I mean slowly coming in. However, I would have rather heard “68 Guns”, “Temptation,” and “Yellow Submarine.” Right now it seems all we all hear is the Pet Shop Boys’ “What I’ve done to deserve this?” What have we done? No one knows. But this begs the next question, what will entertainment look like in the future?

Some thoughts.

• We’ve heard about potential comeback back of drive-in movies. Cool. I don’t own a car. What about folks like us? They’ve spoken about doing the same for concerts. Can’t see how this would be fun? Don’t you wanna be singing “Blue Monday” in unison with Bernard Sumner at the Garden?
• They are talking about baseball without fans in the Stadium. Imagine that? The Red Sox would come town and not hear the Bronx cheer. Maybe the Yanks can play it over the sound system. No need for them to play much else between innings. On that note, I did prefer when they didn’t make the two minutes and five seconds between innings a show. Although I didn’t mind the groundskeeper’s “YMCA” routine
• How will we attend events at Broadway theaters, Lincoln Center and elsewhere? Will each get half of a row to ourselves? How much will they jack up ticket prices? Will people go? Will we able to afford it? Will we feel safe to attend?

Don’t forget to get to and from any of these entertainment options, most of use NYC Transit. Pre-virus meltdown the service was shoddy. Will we feel comfortable riding it? How much crazier will it be?

Let’s jump to the next series of entertainment.

I’ve been listening to some great new bands. I first heard Brewster Moonface at the Coney Island Brewery after the New Year’s Day Polar Bear Plunge. Loved ‘em. Went home got their album from iTunes. Saw them at Desmond’s Tavern, NYC a few weeks later.

I discovered the Austin, Tex.-based Weird Wolves. Great band. So dark. So lovable. I chatted with them and asked them to come to NYC to perform. They said they hope to. Then came the virus.

Both bands have been performing regularly online. They’ve been releasing some new music and chatting online with fans. They’ve mentioned during their jam session how much they miss performing live in a bar or club. But are trying to make things work online. They get decent visibility online. No matter the time zone, people are tuning into their shows. It is worth it. But it’d be so more worth it to see them somewhere in the City or at Coney Island.

What about live theater? Will it become drive-in, too. A guy I went to camp with runs an improv theater in the Bay area. It has been shut down. He’s been doing some online shows. Fun. But akin to live music, theater is meant to be in person. You want to feel the performance.

Next, when we can return to these venues will we be forced to sit in our seats with masks and gloves? How uncomfortable. How will we eat our hotdogs, peanuts and ice cream at the Stadium? Or Sip our Coney Island Mermaid? We will be pulling our masks on and off all night.

Now that’s entertainment. Or is it?

 

Other posts can be viewed at:

“Pandemic Watch: Communicating via video,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/06/03/pandemic-watch-communicating-via-video

“Single Life,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/06/02/pandemic-watch-single-life

“Pandemic Watch: Seniors and lifesaving phone calls during the pandemic or other times,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/06/01/pandemic-watch-seniors-and-lifesaving-phone-calls-during-the-pandemic-or-other-times

“Pandemic Watch: There are places I remember.”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/28/pandemic-watch-there-are-places-i-remember

“Pandemic Watch: Creating a new fashion statement,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/27/pandemic-watch-creating-a-new-fashion-statement

“Pandemic Watch: Sitting on your stoop,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/26/pandemic-watch-sitting-on-your-stoop

“Pandemic Watch: What does a four-year-old think about our situation?”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/21/pandemic-watch-what-does-a-four-old-think-about-our-situation

“Pandemic Watch: Will my nephew ever know how good it was?”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/19/pandemic-watch-will-my-nephew-ever-know-how-good-it-was

“Pandemic Watch: What will happen when I get released on parole?”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/15/pandemic-watch-what-will-happen-when-i-get-released-on-parole

“Pandemic Watch: We live in interesting times,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/14/pandemic-watch-we-live-in-interesting-times

“Pandemic Watch: Dressing during the Covid-19 pandemic,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/13/pandemic-watch-dressing-during-the-covid-19-pandemic

“Pandemic Watch: Yes, it is Monday,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/11/pandemic-watch-yes-it-is-monday

“How skills I learned as a teen in the scouts help during the Covid-19 pandemic, “

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/04/how-skills-i-learned-as-a-teen-in-the-scouts-help-during-the-covid-19-pandemic

“How the Covid-19 pandemic causes us to rethink old habits,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/30/how-the-covid-19-pandemic-causes-us-to-rethink-old-habits

“Traveling on public transit and being outside during the Covid-19 pandemic,” https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/29/traveling-on-public-transit-and-being-outside-during-the-covid-19-pandemic

“Grocery shopping during Covid-19. Or anytime,” https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/28/grocery-shopping-during-covid-19-or-anytime

“I want to help restaurants during the pandemic. But…,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/27/i-want-to-help-restaurants-during-the-pandemic-but

“Masks and gloves,” https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/03/30/608

“Trashy Parks,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/01/07/trashy-parks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anat waked into the child services agency. Jerry was in his bed. He saw Anat and jumped up. He smiled. Anne said that was his first smile since he got back here.

Anat spent her allotted time with him. She spoke to Anne about adoption or foster care.

She left. As she walked out, Alana and Marc went in. Alana saw them. But walked away. She didn’t want a fight. She knew they’d have a better chance to get Jerry. They aren’t married. But at least he’d get a mom and dad. But she wasn’t sure if they want him. Marc and Alana never discussed adopting him. They were just visiting to check on him. They saw his dad fight. They wondered if he has any powers.

Alana and Marc knew they had to take out Jay. They kind of figured Anat wanted Jerry. They thought that’s why she cleaned herself up. They dreamed of kids. But knew they weren’t cut out for it. In their minds, if Anat wanted him, who were they to stand in the way?

They would fight her if need be. But now had a new fish to fry. The police did search the camp with the rangers. They did not find Jay. However, he could still be there. It is a 12,000-acre piece of property. He could be hiding at any of the closed waterfronts, the dam, the sawmills or the bog. In the 80s a kid fell in the bog. His brother panicked. There are hundreds of other spots. They need a military search crew made up of ex-campers to scour the place.

Alana and Marc needed to find out more about Jay. Marc remembers he was bounced out of different groups in the camp. He was not well liked. He didn’t know him well. He is a few years older. He did remember when he fell in the dining hall during movie night and got lots of cuts when a few glass soda bottles that he was carrying shattered. Maybe some of the glass was lodged in his body? Marc was up on a hill in his group’s office eating pizza and watching “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” when that happened. But heard the screams and remembered running down the hill. The camp thought Marc and his friend were nuts when they came into the dining hall. They were dressed as Dr. Frank-N-Furter and Riff Raff. Those were the days. His group often did their own programming, which was far superior to what the rest of the camp did.

Snapping back to 2020 they needed to figure out how they were going to interview Diane and see what they could learn. Alana had a friend who works for the department of corrections. She had to work it.

While Marc and Alana were plotting Jay’s takedown, Anat was filling out the paperwork to care for Jerry. Anat still had no clue about Jerry and his glass fighting powers. But she knew she’d be ready to fight for Jerry with all of her power. She almost wished she could team up with Marc and Alana.

Anat spent the next two days searching for Jerry and Jay. She was planning on taking out Jay. Little did she know the child she so wanted was in the hands of Marc and Alana.

Marc and Alana pulled into the Grover M. Hermann Hospital, Callicoon, NY. Jerry got stitches and was doing just fine. Marc and Alana told the police they were in the camp to check things out with the ranger staff. Marc is on the camp’s board.

Marc knew that was not the case. But Marc was buddies with the rangers and they’d vouch for him. They never thought they’d find a kid tied to the old throne in a section that’s been closed for over 6 decades.

They gave the cops an abridged version of how they rescued Jerry and said Jay chased them along the trail. And passed out at the camp’s gate, as Alana was racing to the hospital. Marc told the police what he remembered from the mid-80s about Jay and noted that was the last time they saw each other.

The police called the NYPD. Detectives went to Diane’s cell and interrogated her. After a few days in prison, her head was clearer. That’s cause she wasn’t drinking or taking drugs. She said she got married because she was pregnant.

Jay was abusive when they dated. But promised to stop when Jerry was born. He got worse. Diane came from a battered childhood. Jay’s wasn’t much better. Diane was always trying to do better. Sadly, she always sunk back into her old ways. She was happy Jerry was found and will be okay. She wondered if she’d ever get him back. She wasn’t sure she should.

Anat was reading news sites and saw on NY 1 that Jerry was found. The story was quite brief. It mentioned he was found in the middle of the woods in the Mid Hudson Catskills Region. Marc was quoted saying that he and his girlfriend were camping and heard screams and they found Jerry. Anat saw that and went nuts. She hoped they weren’t going to try and adopt him.

I want to thank all of my readers. I appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedules to read “Pandemic Watch” and/or “Camp Memories.” Thanks for the emails, comments and many thanks for catching a typo.

During these challenging times, you’ve given me the chance to share some thoughts. I hope I am making you think, smile and laugh.

In Pandemic Watch I’ve discussed topics such as how people are pigs by tossing their gloves and masks in the street, the craziness of the supermarket and the new dress code.

In “Camp Memories,” I’ve discussed camp memories. Hopefully, you are brought back to the fun things we did when we were campers. We had dead fish fights,we got nicknames and likely learned skills that are helping us cope with the current living conditions.

I’ve been fortunate to get a decent amount of readers. Yes, I’d like to get more. Right now my key question is why is “Camp Wars” doing better than “Pandemic Watch” is views. I’ve given it some thought.

Here’s what I think. I would love to hear your thoughts.

I am sharing my posts via email, social media and word of mouth. My camp family has a lot of people following everything that had to do with the place. More people are following it now that we are closed for the summer. Memories. But I have a lot of contacts who are following everything on Covid-19.

I am wondering if people are trying to get away from the constant news and discussion of Covid-19. Perhaps Camp Memories brings back old memories whether they attended my camp or their camp. We all went through similar experiences and watched the programs change. Does Camp Memories offer an escape? I hope. Right now we all want to escape and be elsewhere. Where it is we all have our dreams.

BTW, for those looking for an escape check out the graphic novel posts on the site. Sorry, it is not illustrated. One day. But Marc, Alana and Anat would love to take you on their crazy ride.

These days, most of us are keeping touch via Zoom and its competitors, Skype, Google’s Meet, Facebook Messenger and others. I remember when Skype started. At that time, I worked for Vonage. We were rivals. I used them all. I have my favorite. But that will remain confidential. I am not here to promote any service. They all have pluses and minuses. Some have more of one than the other. Let’s move on.

These days, we are conducting business meetings, community and religious groups, fraternity alumni and family gatherings and just about everything else with video calls.

I’ve been involved with communications for most of my life. Whether it is my professional career in marketing/public relations or volunteer work. So I have watched it grow. Exciting to see all the ways we now communicate.

Recently, Jeff Pulver brought back his breakfasts and #140Conf via video call. I’ve attended several and am registered for more. They are valuable. For years, he has been at the forefront of the platforms to help people communicate.  I first met him when I was promoting the former MessageClick, a unified messaging system. Our CEO met with him and was interviewed on Pulver radio. Then I worked for Vonage, which Pulver founded. Tidbit, at first it was Min-X (minutes exchange).

Conducting business and social meetings via video calls has been great. I’ve connected with friends I haven’t seen since college. I’ve met new people. But it does raise some questions. Does it work for all? Are we leaving people out?

I’ve learned the following. I should have said, “leaaarrrnnned” in honor of a great teacher many of us kids had decades ago. He used to say, “I’m gonna leaaarrnn ‘ya.” We used to make the appropriate changes to the word learn.

What about the elderly? Well, for the record like everything it depends on the person. I’ve been on video calls with an 85-year-old man, who talks about how he’s been communicating with his college student aged niece this way. I know a woman around that age, who back in the day was the den mother to many and baked better cookies than anyone. She’s now on Facebook sharing baking and other recipes. I haven’t tried to follow them. But I will. I know mine will never taste like hers. These people are doing fine.

For one of my community groups, we’ve done our trustee meetings via video. I’ve been teaching some of the older folks how to use it. They did fine. Some figured it out by themselves.

I ran similar sessions for people much younger. Some didn’t get it. Some of the more technical enabled folks didn’t either. So? Some people’s computers were too outdated to operate a video call. We tried to switch them to their tablet or phone. Tried being the operative word. Those folks wound up dialing into the 800 number provided by the video services. We still communicated.

A friend’s 14-year-old son did a video that was sent around to show people how to use the app. I am sure it got dozens of views. The kid’s amazing.

In the business calls I have been on, I have experienced similar. We’ve lost connections. I am the host of my fraternity alumni calls. Some jump right on. Some have connection issues or do not like the app I chose. I’ve convinced them to join and asked them to host on their favorite app. So far, I am still hosting.

A couple of online video calls tips. This is by no means exhaustive or correct. Just a few things I’ve noticed.

• Sometimes you can’t log in right away. Refresh your browser and try again
• Many of us are in different time zones. The calls may take place during your zone’s dining hours. No worries about sipping a drink while online. Or eating a candy bar. But if you need to eat a full meal, remember we are watching you in a headshot-sized frame. All we see is your chewing.  Gum chewers look even less pretty. Consider turning your video off until you finish your meal
• Remember to dress appropriately. I’ve written two posts about fashion during the online video call world. Scroll down and click. Regardless of whether you do a t-shirt, sweatshirt, sweater, a pair of shorts, sweats or jeans will suffice. Even your PJs, provided they are comprised of some type of full coverage. Yes, for most of the call we will only get a headshot. But callers move around. Sometimes they have to jump up to grab their dog or run into the kitchen. You’d be surprised what you wind up viewing

Bottom line we are all learning to change our lifestyles. We need to communicate. Let’s take the time to help our friends young and old learn how to use the resources we have available. Most importantly, let’s keep communicating. Remember soon enough something new will come and displace what we are using. I look forward to learning whatever arrives. And of course, one day, I might be sitting in front of my device being “leaaarrrnned” on how to use the new app. I can tell the youngling how I was once in his or her seat.

Other posts can be viewed at:

“Single Life,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/06/02/pandemic-watch-single-life

“Pandemic Watch: Seniors and lifesaving phone calls during the pandemic or other times,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/06/01/pandemic-watch-seniors-and-lifesaving-phone-calls-during-the-pandemic-or-other-times

“Pandemic Watch: There are places I remember.”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/28/pandemic-watch-there-are-places-i-remember

“Pandemic Watch: Creating a new fashion statement,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/27/pandemic-watch-creating-a-new-fashion-statement

“Pandemic Watch: Sitting on your stoop,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/26/pandemic-watch-sitting-on-your-stoop

“Pandemic Watch: What does a four-year-old think about our situation?”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/21/pandemic-watch-what-does-a-four-old-think-about-our-situation

“Pandemic Watch: Will my nephew ever know how good it was?”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/19/pandemic-watch-will-my-nephew-ever-know-how-good-it-was

“Pandemic Watch: What will happen when I get released on parole?”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/15/pandemic-watch-what-will-happen-when-i-get-released-on-parole

“Pandemic Watch: We live in interesting times,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/14/pandemic-watch-we-live-in-interesting-times

“Pandemic Watch: Dressing during the Covid-19 pandemic,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/13/pandemic-watch-dressing-during-the-covid-19-pandemic

“Pandemic Watch: Yes, it is Monday,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/11/pandemic-watch-yes-it-is-monday

“How skills I learned as a teen in the scouts help during the Covid-19 pandemic, “

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/04/how-skills-i-learned-as-a-teen-in-the-scouts-help-during-the-covid-19-pandemic

“How the Covid-19 pandemic causes us to rethink old habits,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/30/how-the-covid-19-pandemic-causes-us-to-rethink-old-habits

“Traveling on public transit and being outside during the Covid-19 pandemic,” https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/29/traveling-on-public-transit-and-being-outside-during-the-covid-19-pandemic

“Grocery shopping during Covid-19. Or anytime,” https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/28/grocery-shopping-during-covid-19-or-anytime

“I want to help restaurants during the pandemic. But…,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/27/i-want-to-help-restaurants-during-the-pandemic-but

“Masks and gloves,” https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/03/30/608

“Trashy Parks,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/01/07/trashy-parks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A single lifestyle is tough enough during the year. Often when trying to get a great aisle seat at the Stadium you can’t. There are stipulations about how many empty seats surrounding the desired one are. We suffer the same thing for concerts at the Garden and other venues.

It has some advantages if you are traveling alone when it is time to leave you just leave. You don’t have to worry about everyone else. The holidays can be sad. But usually, there are plenty of places to go to. Not now.

Sometimes friends see me running to train to head into the city to see a bar band. They say wow you’re so lucky. I looked at them and said, “but you have those two.” They smile at their little ones and say you’re right. But we’d love to go into the city and watch a band play in a dive bar.

During the Covid-19 QT being single has several advantages and disadvantages.

• If this happened when I was a teen, I have no clue how’d I’d handle being stuck inside with my mom and sister for hours on end. I love them. But they’d feel the same about being stuck inside with me
• When I go out on my “mask and gloves” walk, I can just walk and not have to worry about anyone keeping up with me.
• I don’t have to worry about cleaning up for anyone but myself. You think I was because I clean nonstop. A trait I got from my maternal grandmother
• Be it religious or national like Memorial Day. We spend these days alone. Last year, I had a Memorial Day BBQ at my mom’s house. This year, I made a hamburger and hot dog in my kitchen. As for the religious ones, I always had places I could walk to for meals and fun. This year, alone

Food shopping: This is the same pre and during the Covid-19 pandemic. But has worsened.

• When I went to buy my burgers for my “Memorial Day BBQ” they had family packs. But these family packs seemed to contain more burgers than the freezer at McDonald’s. Same with the family packs of chicken. I realize in my neighborhood families are large. But I think the family packs are out of control. I suppose the supermarkets are trying to offer more so people come to the store less frequently. OF course, the prices are jacked up. I might need a McDonald’s sized freezer
• Cooking: Whether it is the pandemic or not we wind up eating the same thing several days in a row. A pound of chopped meat used to make chili or something else would probably feed two people when you add veggies. For me, it can last two days. Maybe three
• Entertainment: Well that’s over for now. Unless you count the countless Zoom performances by our favorite entertainers that you watch on your mobile device. But if I was living with people we could watch together and smile at how good the show is or complain. But I guess we have the ever-annoying social media to praise and complain. Most would do this whether they were together with their families or own their own

Bottom line whether we are alone or with family we are all suffering together. We are all alone. Let’s remember this pain when we get our freedom back. Maybe then we won’t be alone.

Other posts can be viewed at:

“Pandemic Watch: Seniors and lifesaving phone calls during the pandemic or other times,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/06/01/pandemic-watch-seniors-and-lifesaving-phone-calls-during-the-pandemic-or-other-times

“Pandemic Watch: There are places I remember.”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/28/pandemic-watch-there-are-places-i-remember

“Pandemic Watch: Creating a new fashion statement,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/27/pandemic-watch-creating-a-new-fashion-statement

“Pandemic Watch: Sitting on your stoop,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/26/pandemic-watch-sitting-on-your-stoop

“Pandemic Watch: What does a four-year-old think about our situation?”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/21/pandemic-watch-what-does-a-four-old-think-about-our-situation

“Pandemic Watch: Will my nephew ever know how good it was?”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/19/pandemic-watch-will-my-nephew-ever-know-how-good-it-was

“Pandemic Watch: What will happen when I get released on parole?”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/15/pandemic-watch-what-will-happen-when-i-get-released-on-parole

“Pandemic Watch: We live in interesting times,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/14/pandemic-watch-we-live-in-interesting-times

“Pandemic Watch: Dressing during the Covid-19 pandemic,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/13/pandemic-watch-dressing-during-the-covid-19-pandemic

“Pandemic Watch: Yes, it is Monday,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/11/pandemic-watch-yes-it-is-monday

“How skills I learned as a teen in the scouts help during the Covid-19 pandemic, “

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/04/how-skills-i-learned-as-a-teen-in-the-scouts-help-during-the-covid-19-pandemic

“How the Covid-19 pandemic causes us to rethink old habits,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/30/how-the-covid-19-pandemic-causes-us-to-rethink-old-habits

“Traveling on public transit and being outside during the Covid-19 pandemic,” https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/29/traveling-on-public-transit-and-being-outside-during-the-covid-19-pandemic

“Grocery shopping during Covid-19. Or anytime,” https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/28/grocery-shopping-during-covid-19-or-anytime

“I want to help restaurants during the pandemic. But…,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/27/i-want-to-help-restaurants-during-the-pandemic-but

“Masks and gloves,” https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/03/30/608

“Trashy Parks,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/01/07/trashy-parks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When you hear the words “dead fish,” you are likely thinking about that goldfish you need to flush down the toilet. Maybe you were thinking of the latest toxic spill off the coast of Alaska.

I bet you weren’t thinking of the world-renowned sport of dead fish fighting. I used to be an active player in this game. Were you?

Let me tell you about it. Years ago in camp, we would go on Delaware River canoe trips. I loved them. About halfway into the trip, our leader, Rodney (not his real name, but his alter ego) would start attacking us with dead fish. You see, from the start of the trip, he’d be loading his vessel with dead fish.

Just at the right time, he would unleash his arsenal. He would start attacking his fellow canoeists. Rodney would paddle up to his victim and when their eyes would go astray, he’d smack them over the head with several dead fish. Then he’d paddle away.

One trip Bergy and I were doing really well. We were paddling hard and making great time. The next thing I remember was getting smacked in the head with multiple dead fish. Bergy was attacked. We tried to clean ourselves up. But alas, we could not. Our only choice was to jump out of our canoe and take a swim in the river.

Once we got back into our canoe, Rodney attacked again. These days, I think about dead fish fights way too often. I’m so up for one. Are you?

Last spring, I had numerous lunches and dinners with a wonderful family, whose male children were planning to go to summer camp. I explained the glory of a dead fish fight. I mean you should forget about color wars, hurdles, softball and cookouts. Real men have dead fish fights. They promised they would engage in one.

I anxiously awaited their return from camp. I finally saw them. They told me about all the fun they had in camp. They reported during their rafting trip, all they did was paddle and go for a swim. They left the dead fish in the water.

Oh well.

Last Thursday, I woke up early for online religious services. We had connectivity problems.

These days, I am trying to stay off my phone. Thanks to Apple’s screen time tracking, I realized I was on too much. That’s done. However, I went to Snap some friends at the organization to see what was up? I noticed a missed call at 6:37 a.m. Eastern with a Framingham, Ma. area code. I figured it was a spam call. Or a recruiter calling from a foreign country using a U.S. number. Job searches during the pandemic or anytime can the topic of a lengthy post. Perhaps even a novel or dark comedy. It could have been one the spammers telling me my auto warranty is about to expire. I haven’t had a car in 10 years. This old post, “Does my father want to go on a Norwegian Cruise? Does he want burial in Riverside Cemetery?” talks about spammers.

I didn’t check the message. I went back to my laptop and was able to log in. At around 8, I finished services and started pouring my Fiber One. Sorry, Tony, I will be back to Frosted Flakes in a few days.  “They’re Grrreat.” But sometimes you need a sugar break. I forgot about the message. I saw the iPhone and remembered it.

I listened to the voicemail and almost fell over. It was a lifeline medical alert for my 93-year-old grandmother. I panicked. As my hands stopped shaking I dialed my mom. She is the main contact. No answer. I dialed grandma. Mom answered. She said, “They called you?” I said yes and was very upset I didn’t get the message earlier. Mom told me she fell and got a bad cut. But she’s ok. Mom took her to the urgi center.

As I am penning this, I am upset with myself for missing the message. My grandmother is at the top of the list of the people that truly love me. Her husband, my grandfather did. He’s been gone for too long. It makes me wonder about my phone habits during the pandemic and anytime.

Let me set the record straight.

• I don’t sleep with my mobile phone. At bedtime, it rests in the kitchen
• I keep it on vibrate. I cannot stand hearing the noise every time I get a text, email, social media notification, etc. It is non-stop. I get hundreds all day. Part of that is my fault
• I normally don’t answer the phone unless I recognize the caller. The lifeline call came in as a regular phone number. Perhaps on some people’s phones, it comes in as a medic alert call
• I still have a landline. A Vonage one. I will likely never get rid of it. I worked there during its early stages. It was an amazing learning experience

That being said, will I change my phone habits? I am not sure. Sadly, spammers make this difficult. But I may answer or go back to checking the iPhone more often. Thanks to Vonage’s Simultaneous Ring any call coming to my landline rings simultaneously to my mobile.

I noted the lifeline number and added it to my contacts. If heaven forbid it I get another call from that number, I know to answer. Of course, they could have other numbers in their phone tree. Some could be in Massachusetts. Some could be elsewhere. I will pay more attention to numbers from Massachusetts. Just don’t call me to push the Red Sox. I will hang up. But the caller will likely hear a Bronx response. 

Other posts can be viewed at:

“Pandemic Watch: There are places I remember,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/28/pandemic-watch-there-are-places-i-remember

“Pandemic Watch: Sitting on your stoop,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/26/pandemic-watch-sitting-on-your-stoop

“Pandemic Watch: What does a four-year-old think about our situation?”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/21/pandemic-watch-what-does-a-four-old-think-about-our-situation

“Pandemic Watch: Will my nephew ever know how good it was?”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/19/pandemic-watch-will-my-nephew-ever-know-how-good-it-was

“Pandemic Watch: What will happen when I get released on parole?”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/15/pandemic-watch-what-will-happen-when-i-get-released-on-parole

“Pandemic Watch: We live in interesting times,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/14/pandemic-watch-we-live-in-interesting-times

“Pandemic Watch: Dressing during the Covid-19 pandemic,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/13/pandemic-watch-dressing-during-the-covid-19-pandemic

“Pandemic Watch: Yes, it is Monday,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/11/pandemic-watch-yes-it-is-monday

“How skills I learned as a teen in the scouts help during the Covid-19 pandemic, “

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/04/how-skills-i-learned-as-a-teen-in-the-scouts-help-during-the-covid-19-pandemic

“How the Covid-19 pandemic causes us to rethink old habits,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/30/how-the-covid-19-pandemic-causes-us-to-rethink-old-habits

“Traveling on public transit and being outside during the Covid-19 pandemic,” https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/29/traveling-on-public-transit-and-being-outside-during-the-covid-19-pandemic

“Grocery shopping during Covid-19. Or anytime,” https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/28/grocery-shopping-during-covid-19-or-anytime

“I want to help restaurants during the pandemic. But…,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/27/i-want-to-help-restaurants-during-the-pandemic-but

“Masks and gloves,” https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/03/30/608

“Trashy Parks,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/01/07/trashy-parks

 

I recently spent five days in the place I called home as a teenager – Ten Mile River Scout Camps. It was a phenomenal experience. I saw people I haven’t since the 80s.

We went to the remains of our favorite sites: Chappegat Hill, Kunatah, Picture Window and Indian Cliffs. I can safely say for myself and the rest of the gang I was with, those sites will always be holy to us. Most of them are no longer operational. Being there flashed us back to our youth. That’s when the trails were teeming with scouts climbing the trail to Eagle.

While in camp, I spoke to current staff and campers. I relayed what we did. Bear in mind, this is when the whole world was not striving to be 100 percent politically correct. We were boys being boys. We wore our scout uniforms, Champion tee and sweatshirts, OP shorts, Gotchas and other 80s fashion. We blasted Squeeze’s “Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)” out of our leantos. If we won our competitions, earned our merit badges we got to go to Carousel Park, Beach Lake, Pa. and ride go-karts and dune buggies. We got to eat the “red sauce” in the now closed El Monaco’s, White Lake, N.Y.

We gave each other nicknames. They were based on how we looked, acted and smelled. Some kids never showered. I’m sure that’s still the case. We roughed it. We threw each other out of canoes. No one ever got hurt. We all knew how to swim. In the middle of the night we raided each other. We had food fights.

We had a five-seater tip pan latrine (the willy). Everyone sat down together to go. We played baseball in the willy. Scoring was based on what we produced… We took ice cold showers. That’s until we “housed” a hot water heater from an abandoned site. We ate gross camp food. Thankfully they still do.

Kids that misbehaved in the dining hall were “nuked”. They had to scrub the place after the meal or wash pots when we concluded our weekend BBQs.

Some scouts spent all Saturday night at the willy’s sink scrubbing. As a camper and staff member, I dished out and suffered the punishment.

On our canoe trips, as we paddled down the Delaware River, we loaded up our canoes with dead fish. At different points, we bashed each other over the head with the fish.

I still long for a dead fish fight.

While I was sitting in the new Keowa Dining Hall, I spoke about these memories with those around me. Their jaws dropped wide open. No one could believe me. Some were grossed out. I guess dead fish fights and old school willys don’t appeal to all. These days, the camp has flush toilets and traditional showers. I’ve heard their canoe trips are more traditional.

These days, the scouts have fun. Lots of fun. It is a little different. But it is their fun.   They are creating memories. They are soaring to the rank of Eagle Scout. Whose memories are the best? That is in the eye of the beholder. One day, these scouts will come to alumni events and tell their stories to the young staff and scouts. I’m sure things will have changed during that course of time. How much? Time will tell.