Uncategorized – Page 8 – Mitchell's thoughts, photos, etc.

Pandemic Watch: Masked or not?

Recently, the CDC has relaxed mask guidance for COVID-19. As a result, states and cities have implemented their programs following the CDC’s mandate.

In my neighborhood mask wearing was not frequent from the beginning. Now it is almost not at all. I lived in mine and dealt with its issues, as written about in previous posts. See Pandemic Watch: Forgotten mask, Pandemic Watch: What will we do with our masks and gloves at the end? and Masks and Gloves.

Sometimes I felt undressed without one. I still wear it. But less frequently. I always have one with me. I guess it is like dressing for different weather situations. Of course, these days you never know what to expect from the weather. We had a wet chilly Memorial Day Weekend. Whereas a few days prior, it was sunny and in the 80s. So, when I am around more people on the street it is on. If the streets or venue is emptier it is off. Sort of like that sweater or sweatshirt.

About two weeks ago, I walked into New York Sports Clubs (NYSC) and was told if I am fully vaccinated mask wearing was optional. We’ve made progress. Yet caution remains present.

I went into the cardio room and saw most people wearing masks. Same in the weight rooms. Those rooms are a little tighter. Since day one of this policy at the gym, I’ve been monitoring mask wearing. Keep in mind, I go early. That’s usually a quieter time.

I’ve noticed more people in a large socially distanced cardio room wearing their masks and removing them for a few minutes. They put them back on. I’ve done this, too. It helps with breathing and visibility. My glasses fog up. Similar has gone on in the weight room. I go to more than one NYSC. Things are similar among clubs.

The other day I went to the Guggenheim. Masks are still required. That seems to be the case in our city’s museums. I exited it and walked to meet mom at 23rd and Sixth Avenue. On the emptier streets along Museum Mile and the Upper East Side, I was masked. As I traveled more downtown, I was unmasked.

I’ve been to a few restaurants and venues providing live entertainment with food and drinks. Great to see live music again. Far too long without it. These venues have their mask rules. Some seem insane. But I get the reasoning.

The questions I have and in conversation with some are we ready to forgo the masks? What is our level of concern? Does it make a difference where we are and who we are with? For me it does.

See prior posts

Pandemic Watch: Patti Smith brings live music back to City Winery NYC

Pandemic Watch: Patti Smith brings live music back to City Winery NYC

Pandemic Watch: Forgotten mask

Pandemic Watch: Forgotten mask

Pandemic Watch: Shopping before a predicted snowstorm

mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2021/02/01/pandemic-watch-shopping-before-a-predicted-snowstorm/

Pandemic Watch: Keeping it clean

Pandemic Watch: Keeping it clean

Anat is confused

Happily, engaged. Nervous. Scared. All of that described Anat. All her life she was miserable, picked on, friendless and socially awkward. It didn’t stop her from getting great grades and securing a good job. Here she was a mom and engaged.

She debated in her mind if she should tell her parents. She hasn’t spoken to them in decades. The first person she told was Anne. She was the one who prepped her for her dates with Dan. More importantly, she helped with the adoption of Jerry after she saved him when he was abandoned by his parents.

Anne was elated. She promised to plan a bridal shower. She called Jen. The two had formally made amends. Anat no longer cared that Jen abused her in summer camp. Their kids were becoming friends.

Then she thought twice about Marc and Alana. She had to tell them. She knew they’d come to the wedding. Her next issue was where to hold it? The City, Stanford (she loved it there) Staten Island or Tel Aviv. She knew Alana would be happy for her. She also knew she’d be upset that she wasn’t married. But as she and Marc stated all the time, they knew marriage was not in their path. The three of them fought like monsters. But eventually, to keep Jerry safe they came together. She considers them trusted friends and advisors.

She texted them. Alana was very happy for her and asked what help she needed. Marc said the same. She also texted her college crush, Hall of Famer Mike Mussina. They were friends at Stanford and they did email or text once in a while. He said he’d like to make a toast at her wedding. She was jittery.

She sat down with Jerry. He was excited. He asked if he would ever get a brother or sister. She didn’t know how to answer. For a natural birth, Anat was close to the end of that ability. Or maybe not. She didn’t know if her superpowers extended her fertility. Speaking of those, Dan still had no idea about what she could do. How would she keep that secret from him? Or should she?

Anat’s big day

Alana took care of Jay on her own. He was stoned and sitting on the hood of her Infiniti. She went nuts. She sprayed him with so much wine and figs. She nailed him in the head with an apple. He fell off the car and hit his head on the pavement. Alana told Tzipora to jump in. She sped away onto the FDR Drive.

Meanwhile, Marc was home having a debate with his friends about who was better Bauhaus or the Sisters of Mercy. This debate has been going on for decades. He and his gang loved them all. Right now, Marc was happy with the Sisters of Mercy. Of course, he knows Peter Murphy speaks to him through his dark tunes. Shavuot was coming up.

Marc and Alana hate cheesecake. So, they decided they would bake brownies. The two went all over town to find brownie mix. No store had it. They wondered if there was a ban on brownies or are other forces at work? Marc knew a guy who had a connection to brownies. He would reach out to him. The two were not one hundred pleased with religion but decided to give the holiday ago. They may not follow it as strictly as others. No one actually knows how it happened. It is all conjecture.

On the other hand, Anat was home baking a big cheesecake filled with raisins. She was going to make salmon and sole. Jerry was helping her bake challah. Like the cake, loaded with raisins it was. She had cheese to serve as an appetizer. She invited Dan’s whole Staten Island family to her penthouse.

Jerry was still eating lots of olives and practicing his “olive powers.” Taller and stronger he was getting. Dan and Jerry were getting along great.
Dan came over first. He said he was going to take Jerry for a walk. Anat was fine with that. It gave her some alone time to finish the meal preparation. She had a few hours to go before she couldn’t turn on the oven. She planned to follow more strictly than Alana and Marc. She got out the fancier plates and utensils and waiting for Dan’s family to arrive.

Dan and Jerry walked back in. Jerry had a big smile on his face and ice cream all over his shorts. Anat just laughed at him. She told him to change. He pouted and said no. She gave in. She figured it was just the craziness of being a mommy.
Dan walked up to Anat. Jerry stood at his side holding his hand.

Dan looked directly into her hazel green eyes. Anat had flour all over her shirt and some wound up in her hair.

Dan smiled. Jerry did the same. Jerry took a small box out of his stained navy Gap shorts. He laughed and smiled as he tossed it like a cutter over to Dan.
You can see where Jerry’s baseball allegiance was going to wind up. Anat would have to live with it.

Dan caught the box and opened it. He was shaking. So was Jerry. At first, Anat was scratching her allergy-affected eyes. She opened them and looked at her two boys. She saw the ring and ran over to Dan. He smiled. He placed it on her finger and asked her to marry him. She started to cry.
Of course, she said yes.

Tzipora and Alana get together

Alana and Tzipora went for a walk. Tzipora was carrying Shira. The two ladies had not seen each other in a while. Tzipora just went back to work from maternity leave and was spending all of her free time with her baby and Eran. Everything was going well. Shira is a sweet, easy-going infant.

The two were at the South Street Seaport. They looked at the boats. Shira was so calm. As usual, Alana’s heart and soul were wishing for a kid. But she knew that wasn’t her true calling. The two ladies walked toward the Brooklyn Bridge.
Jay was living in a cardboard box near the Manhattan Bridge. The ladies were walking toward that bridge.

As they moved, Alana told Tzipora they needed to turn around and head back toward Pier 17. Tzipora nodded her head and turned around. She had no idea why. It was a pleasant day and masked people were keeping their distance. Alana had a bad feeling.

The two ladies found a bench near the recently built structure to replace the old Pier 17 mall. They bought ice cream. Tzipora covered herself up and fed Shira. Alana just licked her cone.

A soft breeze blew. Alana loved it. All of a sudden Tzipora said she felt something blow into her neck. She was done feeding Shira and put her into Alana’s arms, while she looked in the mirror. Her neck was slightly red.
The two sat there. They figured it was debris blowing around from the slight breeze. Sadly, it wasn’t. It was glass.

Alana said they had to go. Swiftly they rose and headed down Water Street in the direction of the Staten Island Ferry. Alana texted a Jay alert to Marc and Anat. The ladies kept walking. Alana’s car was not far from the Ferry Terminal. She figured they get in and drive Tzipora and the baby home.
As they approached the car Jay was waiting.

Pandemic Watch: Patti Smith brings live music back to City Winery NYC

Patti Smith on City Winery’s stage

April 11 — Last night, my cousin and I sat at our own City Winery NYC table enjoying personal Margherita flatbreads and chardonnay. About 100 other people each at a private table for their party were doing similar. We were all waiting for the return of live music. At about 8:15 p.m., Michael Dorf, owner, City Winery came on stage to say thanks for coming and welcome back. Minutes later Patti Smith, Tony Shanahan and Jackson Smith emerged and began playing. Jesse Paris Smith performed with her mom and brother during different portions of the performance. Opening with “April Fool,” Patti and her bandmates brought cheers, smiles and raised glasses from her audience.

The audience was mesmerized. She grasped our attention from start to finish. No one wanted it over. We all wanted to stay all night.

Patti Smith performing at City Winery

Over the past year, I was supposed to see the Alarm, Morrissey, Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band, an opera, a few NY Philharmonic performances and many Yankee games.

After several postponements Morrissey finally canceled. That was super sad. It made every day certainly like a Sunday — Silent and grey. Ringo rescheduled a few times and is now supposed to happen in June 2022. Let’s see if the yellow submarine emerges. The Alarm may happen this June. I suspect sixty-eight guns will fire if they perform.

The Yankees refunded my ticket fees. Being the die-hard fan I am, last Thanksgiving, I purchased several tickets for the 2021 season. Due to the social distancing requirements, so far my tickets have been voided. I can get my money back or credits from Ticketmaster. But the catch is you have to buy at least two. Usually, I bought just one. Is it lonely? Yes and no. Sure you want to high-five your friends when the Yankees play well or cry together. But if you are alone you can get there as early as you want and not worry about anyone. I get to ‘Da Bronx hours before a game. There is too much to do pre-game to arrive just a half hour or so before. Many do that.

Lincoln Center is hard at work trying to bring back its live performances. I’ve watched several streaming performances from the Philharmonic, Depeche Mode, Pearl Jam, U2 and others.

I discovered a few new bands this way, including Slooshy and the Weird Wolves. Give them a listen.

Back to Patti. She was the right one to bring live music back for me. And many others. She’s an amazing performer. Very few people have the stage presence she does. I loved her poetry during the show and her stories. She did a few Dylan covers and threw in a tune from Stevie Wonder. She memorialized her late husband, Fred Sonic Smith. It was classic Patti.

The new City Winery is amazing. Beautiful building. Delicious wines. I jumped from white to red.

Merlot from City Winery

It is good to be back. Looking forward to my next trip. Stay safe and remember the people have the power.

Prior posts.

Pandemic Watch: Forgotten mask

Pandemic Watch: Forgotten mask

Pandemic Watch: Shopping before a predicted snowstorm

mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2021/02/01/pandemic-watch-shopping-before-a-predicted-snowstorm/

Pandemic Watch: Keeping it clean

Pandemic Watch: Keeping it clean

Pandemic Watch: Forgotten mask

About a week ago, I was walking to my usual Friday evening destination. I bumped into an acquaintance heading to the same location. I was wearing a mask. He was not. He is a stickler for the personal protective equipment. We exchanged hellos. He quickly apologized for forgetting to wear his mask. We both knew he’d receive a brand new one when we arrived. He was very embarrassed.

I reassured him not to worry. Even mask obsessed me accepted his mistake. I knew he forgot. I once forgot my mask and walked down a few steps in my building heading to the gym. I raced back to get it. And I mean raced back to my apartment to grab one of my many masks and was back on the proper trail.

These days some people are letting their guard down. Some are not. But even the strictest of us forget our masks. Sometimes simple distractions like running in and out from the incinerator or to the mailbox are when forgetfulness occurs. I rarely get mail. For the record, that hasn’t happened to me. Sometimes when running in and out and realized you forgot your gym gloves or lock. Often you wind up pulling the mask off while you grab your forgotten items.

So why do we forget to put them back on? We can dig deep into this. Sort of like when your high school English teacher would make you deeply explain “Macbeth.” Remember when your teacher wanted you to ponder what story Shakespeare was telling?

So when we forget to wear our masks is it an honest mistake? Were we so caught up in other things that it slipped our minds? Are annoyed that it’s been over a year and we are still in the same situation? Are we not wearing the annoying masks out of protest? Did you get your first or second vaccine shot and feel immune? My first shot is tomorrow. The list is endless.

On a side note, quite often when I get home I don’t take it off. I keep wearing it. When I finally do remove it, I feel like something is missing. I feel not fully dressed.

Like everyone, I dream of the day we can burn the masks.

Pandemic Watch: Shopping before a predicted snowstorm

mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2021/02/01/pandemic-watch-shopping-before-a-predicted-snowstorm/

Pandemic Watch: Keeping it clean

Pandemic Watch: Keeping it clean

Cleaning up

Purim came and went. Marc and Alana sat at home and stuffed their faces with hamantaschen and had a few beers. They watched a few online Megillah Esther readings. For the first time ever, they didn’t dress up.

Anat dressed up as Ashoka Tano and took her little Anakin to a socially distanced party in the park. Jerry was so excited. He loved playing with his lightsaber. Before the party she spoke to him as best as she could about his use of olives in the fight during his birthday party. He nodded his head and smiled. He knows he’s special. All went well at the Purim party and time moved on.

Jay was still plotting to go after everyone. Everyone was cleaning up for Pesach. Anat was being very meticulous. She was planning a small Seder. Dan was gonna come. So was his sister’s family.

Marc and Alana cleaned up. But were down on the whole thing. They both wondered how much of this was made up. Marc hated ham. But relived stories in his head about an ‘ole friend who ate ham and cheese on smura matzos during the holiday. Alana was not a fan of ham either. Currently neither ate pork. But they have and were desperate to eat a big sausage and peppers hero. Marc’s friend would likely approve. They would put it on matzos for the festival.

Jen was going to her parent’s house for the Seder. Benjamin was getting bigger.

While Anat was cleaning her kitchen, Jerry was having target practice in his room. He was shooting olives everywhere. He was becoming quite a good shot. Anat walked in and put a stop to this. But in her heart she was quite proud of him. She hoped he didn’t use his powers like she used to use hers. She also wondered if Diane had any powers. But didn’t think so. She was just a mess due to her drug addiction. But she was in rehab and cleaning up.

Jerry breaks out

Anat told Jen to take Ben and Jerry and lock themselves in her auto. The four ran off. Jen watched over the kids. The onslaught of glass was slowing down. Alana, Anat and Marc didn’t know if he was done or waiting to attack.

Dan was with his fellow officers searching the park. Despite the craziness, things were relatively quiet. Jerry didn’t want to be trapped in his mom’s car. He wanted to be part of the action. He sat in the back seat, while Jen and Ben quietly sat upfront. While Jen was holding Ben’s hand, Jerry opened the back door and ran out. He saw his mom and her two super friends getting ready to stop the craziness. Quietly he moved forward. He didn’t want to be placed back into the car. He was now four. In his mind, he is much too old to be treated like a baby. After all, he could hit a whiffle ball and he knows how to swim. Dan taught him. Glass flew by him. Some smacked him in the left arm.

He heard Jay calling his name. His head turned. Jay was several feet away from him and rapidly approaching. Alana, Anat and Marc turned around and saw what was going on. They ran like Olympians to pull Jerry back and take out Jay.
Jerry was getting pelted with glass but it didn’t seem to hurt him. All of a sudden Jerry’s fingers rolled into his hands. They opened and out came giant-sized olives. They were flying like Mariano Rivera’s cutter. Several bounced into Jay’s head.

Jay looked his son in the eyes and fired glass. Jerry ducked.
Anat was getting nervous. She always figured Jerry has powers. But this was not how she wanted to find out. While the glass and olives were flying, Anat shot dozens of raisins. Several hit Jay. Marc and Alana were in standby mode. All of a sudden Jay was belted with an olive in the head. Down he fell.

Anat grabbed Jerry. She was proud of him. Yet angry he left the car and worried how he will use his powers.

Jerry’s birthday

Anat decided not to call her parents. She didn’t rule it out. However, she decided she wasn’t ready.She sensed she would by the summer. She got Jerry all dressed in his new Lacoste outfit for his birthday party. She had a cake, Double Stuff,lots of pretzels, chips and popcorn. Marc was assigned to bring the pizza.

Of course, he went to L&B Spumoni Gardens and ordered several pies and lots of spumoni. He discovered the world’s best pizza oddly. As a kid before he got to the camp, he calls home and will likely be sprinkled over or buried in he went to Manhattan Beach Jewish Center Day Camp. The camp was kosher. When they went to Great Adventure they ate food out of coolers that survived the ride from Brooklyn to Jackson Township. When they went on the overnights to the dude ranch and Cooperstown food was packed in the coolers and served in the hotel dining rooms. But for some reason, they took the kids to get spumoni at L&B.

All the kids knew the place is famous for its pizza. So while the counselors waited in the line to buy them spumoni, the kids took a dollar out of their socks and moseyed over to the pizza line for a slice. Those days all kids carried a dollar or two in their socks for pizza or ice cream.

Marc couldn’t wait. While they were packing his pies he got a slice. It cost $3.50. My how times have changed. He jumped into Alana’s car and drove up to Riverside Park. Alana took the train up.

The two helped Anat and Dan set up the party. Jerry was running around but under the watchful eye of Anat and his extended family. Guests started to arrive. The kids played games in the park. Kids who won the games had the choice of Double Stuff or raisins. Oddly enough a few kids picked raisins.
Dan and Marc tossed around the Frisbee. Marc played it quite a bit in camp. They had strange rules. There was no way he’d make the kids follow them at today’s party. Every kid was slobbering over the pizza. Their parents, too. Many had spumoni. In many cases including Marc’s, it wound up dripping down their faces and all over their clothing. Anat didn’t care about that. She was glad she could give Jerry a good birthday. This was his first real birthday party. All his little friends were happy.

Jen and Anat were getting friendlier. They dropped their hatred from their camp days. Jen still felt bad for swamping Anat in the canoe. Especially since Anat at that time couldn’t swim.

They gathered around the Palpatine character cake. Okay, Anat was much kinder now. But she still has an affinity for the Emperor. Marc and Alana always had and will have their feelings toward the Dark Side.

The kids were munching on the cake. The weather was perfect. The Sisters of Mercy were softly playing in the background on Anat’s Bumpboxx. Some of the kids were on the swings when glass started hitting them in their necks. One kid who was not part of the party but happily swinging back and forth with his older sister screamed bloody murder.

Dan put his badge around his neck and began to search for Jay. He knew the glass wasn’t just flying because someone dropped a bottle.
Anat told Jen to watch over the kids. She huddled with Alana and Marc. She was worried about this all day. She knew Jay would know when Jerry’s birthday was. She knew Diane was out of prison. But she was cleaning herself up and no interest in Jay. She filed for divorce.

The trio stayed together. They wanted to find Jay and all three of them take him out.This time they wanted to take him out for good. They were done just knocking him out.

Marc thinks about a new path

Anat was ready for Jerry’s party. It was in three days. A small group would be attending. She still wondered if she should call her parents. They probably have no clue they are grandparents. She wasn’t sure they should have the glory of knowing.

Marc watched Star Wars: A New Hope for the millionth time. When not watching he was listening to Bauhaus. He was quite obsessed with Grand Moff Tarkin’s destruction of Alderaan. He marveled at the power of the Death Star. He wondered if he, Alana and Anat have or could have such a power. Or could they create it? He would use it for good. But there is a place he’d like to test it on. He sees no good in that spot. He thought on. He planned on discussing this Alana.

Alana was hanging with Tzipora and her new daughter at Riverside Park. Shira was a few months old and adorable. Alana held her. She took her earpods and made the kid listen to the Smiths. Figured she’d break her in early.

All was well. All over a sudden glass started flying the ladies and baby. Alana quickly texted Anat and Marc. She told Tzipora to run home. The park was busy. But empty in comparison to pre-COVID-19 times.

Alana turned off her music and carefully watched and listened. She saw a hairy apish looking man in the distance. She wasn’t sure if that was Jay or a homeless person. He raised his hands and fired glass at her. She ducked and responded with a dozen apples. A few gallons of wine followed. She nailed him in the head with two of the apples. He started to slide in the wine wet mud on the ground of the garden. She quickly checked her iPhone. The other two didn’t respond. She figured they didn’t see the text or were on their way. She was prepared to take on Jay alone.

Jay hit the ground. Alana called the police and gave a very detailed description of what Jay was doing and where he was. The 911 operators were told to be on the lookout for calls about him. She fired away while racing over to him. She planted a few more apples in his head. She heard the sirens and saw the officers getting closer. She ran to her car.