Category: Uncategorized

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.

We all have listened to the Beatles’ tune, “In my life.” It likely brought you back to a favorite memory. Perhaps it is a canoe trip in camp, watching the Bronx Bombers clinching a World Series victory, a great date and a delicious steak.

I have memories of a lot of things.  I remember my eyes tearing during my first trip to the Kotel, walking up the muddy steps to get to the hill that my camp sat atop of, the first time I saw “Rent” and my first rock concert in 1986, Billy Joel. Those are big things.  But right now, I am remembering and wishing for small things.

These days I am remembering things I don’t love. But were simple parts of life. I grew up on Staten Island. I took the Staten Island Ferry regularly for many years. I never loved it. I remember in my 20s sitting with a bunch of guys I grew up with as we headed off to work. The ferry was replete with characters. These days when working, I have a choice of the “E,” “F,” “R’ or “M” subway lines. Like the ferry, the subway has its characters. It has more.

I am thinking of great pizza on Staten Island and Brooklyn. Getting haircuts at Astor Place. I used to go every two weeks. I haven’t been there since February 27. After the haircut, I sometimes walked the two blocks to Washington Square Park. I took the obligatory photos of the arch and the man who sits with dozens of pigeons. Several sit on his body. Ah, NYC’s characters. I’d love to go back to the Rockefeller Center New York Sports Club and train with my boys. We have had the same conversation since around 2008. We talk about baseball. Football gets in there, too.

I miss the simplicity of walking through the Soho, the Village and Museum Mile. Sure I miss going to the productions at Lincoln Center, games in ‘Da Bronx, all of our city’s awesome restaurants and parks.

However, right now it is the simple stuff I miss. Stuff I never loved. Sometimes I hated it. But it was what life in our great city is about — Crowded trains and the “entertainers” that ride them, tourists having no idea where they are when they are Times Square and not knowing how to walk in the city.

I cannot wait until we are given back the things that daily we took for granted. Nothing beats a great slice and then heading over to Luna Park to ride the Cyclone. Let’s get rid of this cyclone and get back to the one we love. Give me these small things. That’d be such a step forward. Hopefully, then the bigger things follow.

Other posts can be viewed at:

“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

 

 

 

 

Hopefully, you remember Maureen’s line at Angel’s funeral during “Rent,” “…so much more original then any of us…you’d find an old table cloth on the street and make a dress…and next year, sure enough — they’d be mass producing them at the Gap.”

As we know, Angel died of the epidemic that continues today — AIDS. Recently the Covid-19 pandemic has grabbed the headlines. For the record, I doubt my new fashion ensembles will be massed produced at the Gap. I only wish.

I always paid very careful attention to how I dressed. But now sometimes I wear “business socks” with sweats or shorts. I don’t go out much. But even when I do, I go out this way. What are business socks? This goes back to when I went to Camp Pouch when I was 8 years old. I was at the archery range with my bow and arrow. I was pretty good. Not Robin Hood. But a good shot. One of the kids was wearing black dress socks with his shorts. Other kids yelled out he’s wearing business socks. Us kids decided fancy socks were business socks and white sweat socks were gym socks. Around that time, I became a loyal wearer of Jox Sox. Remember those? I had a connection. They still exist. Wearing them would be cool. But not as cool if they came from Thom McAn. Not happening.

Wearing business socks outside with shorts or sweats is a no no in my mind. But these days does it matter? I do it. Means I can wait a little longer till I have to do laundry. I am also just throwing on any color t-shirt with any color shorts or sweats.

I do admit when I get dressed perhaps for a business Zoom meeting or a religious service I go to my old school requirements, I match. I must admit for early morning services no one can see me passed my headshot.  So it really doesn’t matter how well I match. Do I need to? Not sure. On that note, I’ve dressed 8-year-old day camp style or business style. For the holiday or bigger services, I dress business style.

I have many baseball hats. They are all different colors. Some go better with blue. Some go better with green or black. For the record, a Yankees hat matches everything. That’s why I mostly wear that hat. But I do throw on camp and other hats. I just toss them on my head. These days, I don’t care how it looks with what else I’m wearing.

Did it ever?

Other posts can be viewed at:

“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: Laundry,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/12/pandemic-watch-laundry

“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 few years ago, they put two park benches in front of my building. I cringed. I was worried about who would sit there. How they would look? What would it do to the character of my building?

I thought back to my Sheepshead Days when I was about five. I remember people sitting on their stoops or benches in front of their homes. You’d see old men without shirts and their wives in their housedresses. And the shmatas on their heads were not a pretty sight. I remember the comments my mom would make as we walked by.

I always swore I’d never do that. Once I did. I played ultimate Frisbee in Marine Park with a group of guys on a reunion day. Many of us hadn’t seen each other in years. After our game, we went back to someone’s house and sat on the stoop. We had a beer and some chips. We listened to music. Likely we were listening to the Ramones.

Then we walked over to Buckley’s on Avenue S for dinner. It was fun. Of course, we were and still are much younger than the type of stoop sitters I mentioned.

Over the last few years, I walked by the bench of my building. Often sitting on one was an older man with a book. He seemed so peaceful. He was nose deep in his reading. Next to him was his bottle of water and a Smartphone. Many times while walking to and from the subway I saw him. To tell you the truth, it was nice.

These days with the parks closed and people social distancing I don’t see anyone on the benches. However, as the weather’s been changing the benches outside of Yellowstone Municipal Park have been filling up. People are sitting there like the old days. Some are wearing PPE. Some are not. People are sitting on their building’s benches or their stoops.

It is nice to see people able to get on with their lives. It is nice to see people getting the chance to enjoy the small things like sitting on their stoop with a book or Kindle.

 

Other posts can be viewed at:

“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

Alana managed to untie Jerry. Marc had his arms in bandages and gave him water. They had to get him to the hospital. They needed to get the police involved. The screams they heard were getting louder, as they started carrying him from the throne.

Jay burst out of the darkened woods. He was stoned and drunk. Marc recognized him. He was one of the real crazies in camp. He eventually got kicked out. He wasn’t in Marc’s unit. The guy was rotten to the core.

Jay started screaming and told them to hand over Jerry. Alana started shooting apples and figs. Marc while holding Jerry launched pomegranates. Alana and Marc started firing off honey and wine.

Jay stood there.

All of a sudden out if his eyes came shards of glass. They Marc jumped away. Alana blocked them with apples. Jay was screaming, “Jerry, Jerry, Jerry.”

Marc tossed Jerry over to Alana. He went for Jay. He kicked him in the head. In response, Jay shot glass at Marc. It slashed his left arm. Marc took a step back. Alana fired a bevy of apples. One nailed Jerry in the eye. Marc shot honey up Jay’s nose.

Jay started to cough.

Alana shot wine out of her eyes like a firehose. Jay stumbled. Marc launched barley at his eyes and ears. He followed up with honey. He was doing all of this while holding Jerry.

Marc knew the trails better than anyone. He told Alana to follow him. They went the long way toward where the old dining hall used to be. They ran at full speed.

They made it to Alana’s car. Jay was racing at full speed behind them. She unlocked the doors. Marc got in with Jerry. Alana started driving while cranking the B52s. The dirt roads had many rocks and holes.

Jay was trailing and shooting glass at the tires.

While Alana was driving out of camp they weren’t sure how’d they explain their war with Jay to the Narrowsburg Police. Alana knows Anat saw her take out Diane. She knows Anat was there when the NYPD arrived. Simultaneously they asked each other should they contact Anat?

Alana drove toward the hospital. Jay fainted at the edge of the camp’s gateway.