I see a lady waiting for the local community bus.
She says "Does Dash stop here?"
She is not wearing a mask. She is fat and weary and sitting on the bench.
I say, "It does, but you can't get on without a mask."
She whips one out of a pants pocket with disgust. "I hate these things," she says.
"I do too, but it's the least we can do."
"It's the Democrats... They started this."
"I'm a Democrat, " I say, being brave. "As are my friends and as were my parents. Democrats did not start Coronavirus - 19. It kills them, just like it kills Republicans."
"Well. It's Bill Gates," she says. "He started it so he could make money with his vaccine."
Why do I argue with such people? "Bill Gates is one of many people investing in science for the vaccine or the cure."
The bus pulled up. She put her shitty mask on and got on it. Propelled her mass.
And - this is yet one more NEW conspiracy theory I have heard about the Virus.
C 2020 All Rights Reserved Christine Trzyna
Showing posts with label Coronavirus-19. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Coronavirus-19. Show all posts
7/1/20
QUIT VOLUNTEERING - I MEAN IT! - Real Reasons Volunteers Quit
QUIT VOLUNTEERING - I MEAN IT! - Real Reasons Volunteers Quit
by Christine Trzyna
I recently treated myself to reading articles on the Internet about how to QUIT volunteering. Links to some of the most interesting - or infuriating - are below. You may want to read them to see if something strikes you as truthful about the way you've been thinking and feeling.
Here's the "real reasons" volunteers quit.
1) Some people have the nerve to procure and expect free labor - your talent, skills, education, energy - because they are opportunists and users. Some even suffer from Narcissistic Personality Disorder. How dare they put you on a "team" to earn their dream for them? They can manipulate you into doing and giving more than you want to. Stop feeling guilty. It's their dream.
Some nonprofits are started up by a small group of people and you get it, you'll never be one of them. Sure they came up with the idea, plotted for months, raised funds, and put their own money into it. Still, what you have given does not matter. Someone else will come through the door and give as much or more. Maybe you're aren't able to give money too or kiss the right ass. Or maybe the plan is that their daughter and son in law inherit the non-profit and make a living from it.
2) "Non-Profits" are rarely all volunteer driven. They do so pay administration, staff, leaders. Some in fact pay their employees quite well and are well aware of what the competing non profits pay. There is such a thing as ground floor opportunities and ways to make your way up into paid employment starting as a volunteer, but rare for one to be completely volunteer driven from day one. Paid staff may suffer the anxiety of wondering if their paid position will be eliminated and be filled by someone who "doesn't need to work."
Non Profit is sort of a "do gooder" tax exempt status, which is not to say that paid employees don't pay taxes on their salaries. As a volunteer there may be some things you pay for that are tax deductible, such as special clothing and transportation. Is it enough? Do you really not need (or desire) to earn money?
If you're doing this to prove you're a dependable employee, give it six months, at most a year, and be seeking paid employment elsewhere the whole time.
It may become clear to you that their "business plan" has always been unworkable without free labor.
Volunteers who resign cannot count on anyone giving a reference.
3) What attracted you to becoming a free labor - some imagined benefit such as making friends or contacts or plumping up your resume - goes poof! You are surrounded by others in the very same situation. Noone is mentoring anyone. Your peers also have unrealized hopes and cannot help you, so there's no networking.
As for friendships forming, do you have friendships where you work for money, really? Some volunteer work places run a "tight ship" and what this means is that you get there and work hard. You may not get breaks or lunch or be able to say no or leave early, and you will not likely actually get to talk to other people and get to know them. It's a good experience at times to work like a greased machine to accomplish a goal, but taking breaks and having lunch is as necessary where you work for free as where you get paid. Would they be in trouble for labor violations if they were paying you?
4) The issue, cause, or reason you thought giving of yourself was a good idea proves to be uncomfortable or even ridiculous. These are not "your people" after all. You find them extreme, ridgid, or unreasonable. Maybe you have changed or you learned this about yourself being around them
Example: At a church were one friend donated thousands of dollars, volunteered to mind children at services, headed up the yearly White Elephant Sale, and attended a Bible study, she found herself in a group of women who were so not feminists that they pretty much said that rape, sexual harassment, and so on is a woman's lot in life and that they were studying the Bible to become better Christian (i.e. tolerant of this crap) women.
Example: A friend got involved in a liberal church and found that the ministers were using the pulpit to foster a politically correct world view on multiple issues. Pretty soon she felt guilty eating meat or using plastic. She felt alienated. She didn't want anyone telling her how to vote. But what made her quit was when the church, not a cult, but with a clique, decided members should participate in demonstrations and marches.
5) Your goodness, your good will, is being exploited or it requires resistance to avoid being taken advantage of by staff or other volunteers.
Example
A staff member at one non-profit where I volunteered offered my writing and research skills to a stranger who walked in looking for help from them. Suddenly I had this stranger firing questions at me and expecting me to write her letters, advocate for her, and become her new best friend. When I told the staff member, who had not even asked me if this would be OK, this was inappropriate, she did not apologize. I was not writing or researching for his non-profit nor had I taken on any such work for them. She knew I did this in my personal life, as a living. Now she intended to exploit my way of earning a living.
At another location, a volunteer, rather than quit herself, brought along her nasty, spoiled, demanding, and infighting grandchildren rather than leave them with her selfish, career driven daughter, and stuck me with them to keep them "entertained." In other words free babysitting because they are just so damn cute! These brats got in my way physically, rearranged my desk, and the older one treated the younger one like shit in my presence but could I, not being mom or grandma, tell them off? No. So I fired these kids. This did not make me popular.
At another location, a volunteer asked me to do unpaid favors "hey everyone's broke" such as traveling an hour each way to "just feed and walk" his two hounds for several weeks while they were in Europe. Oh I could also pick up the mail. Don't you just love people who can afford to travel in Europe for several weeks but can't afford to hire pet care or put their dogs in a kennel? I said no, offering the business card of a professional.
6) You've started feeling like a human DOING instead of a human BEING.
You didn't want a "punchclock" paid job, which you did back in the day, so you know. You didn't want the need to attend to personal business, such as going to funerals, having doctors appointments, or taking off because your car needs repaired or you just don't feel well, to be a problem But it is. Maybe you never entered into any agreement or understating of the volunteer job in the first place and you need to clarify that. But occasionally when you don't show up you get an e-mail from some volunteer coordinator admonishing you for it, or you come back and get attitude, or find someone else was assigned to your project because you had to take care of personal business.
7) You started out open minded, enthusiastic, and energetic, but lately you feel drained. It can be physical, emotional, or psychological. It is not healthy. Maybe the desk work has turned into a more physical labor that you are just not up to - your back or feet hurt when you get home. Maybe you explained at the start that you were not up to physical work but that has been forgotten. Maybe it's that you find it all depressing. You really wanted to save the world or at least your little part of it, but you see how little impact you've made. Never mind about throwing pebbles and watching ripples. Just go.
8) You are expected to but up with boorish, harassing, or illegal behavior from staff, other volunteers, or people they serve. Sure some people are mentally ill and require understanding, but that hand in your crutch or the theft of your wallet from the locker is not OK. They fail to put importance on these things and they have no grievance procedure or don't take it seriously.
Example: I once went by to pick up a friend who was volunteering at a food bank. One of the other volunteers was giving a lecture to a homeless man about his lack of "appreciation," really berating him. I looked and there was a box full of half rotten apricots and not even any plastic bags to put your hand in to go through the fruit. Whomever donated those apricots for a tax deduction should've been ashamed. Worse, the whole reason for this food bank for the homeless was to provide empathy.
9) The higher ups don't think lowly volunteers need to be in the information loop. Decisions effect you and your desire to be there. You're putting your face and your reputation on their organization. You have the right to know what direction it's going in, and so much more. Are they really for the community good or their own egos? Reassess often.
10) They don't say thank you. I stayed at one volunteer job long after I should have because there was not a day that I wasn't personally thanked by someone on staff as I was heading out the door. It does matter.
I want to make you aware that there are often Non Profit Porthole type websites run by states or other governmental offices, that will tell you who owns a non-profit, how long they have been around, what they intend to do, and what money they have. You may be amazed by the great number of nonprofits that have near no money to operate. Many of your neighbors may have founded non-profits. Check their web sites.
Here are some articles to read:
While you read, realize the assumption that you should be volunteering, that it is
your duty to "give back."
C 2020 Christine Trzyna - Christine Trzyna BlogSpot
5/23/20
5/7/20
SHE'S ALMOST VEGETARIAN and AS THE CUPBOARD GETS BARE, SHE'S PANICKING : TALKING TO STRANGERS
I wish I could remember the name of the book. It was about taking chances. It had a long questionnaire that was based on food preferences. Since there are certain spices I avoid and a certain food group that I avoid, which means certain restaurant's I avoid, I took the questionnaire figuring that it would prove what I know about myself, that I'm adverse to risk. I'm cowardly, I thought. I was shocked to learn that I actually was as risk-taking as an astronaut. Never mind motion sickness.
Basically, I got points for actually eating a wide range of foods or being willing to try some of them once. Over time I've accepted that this is true about me. Living in a huge city with many ethnic restaurants, I probably have given a lot of different dishes a try, even if I default to Pad Thai. I've also adapted recipes and learned to cook with ingredients I don't remember from my childhood. I'm not vegan or vegetarian, but I eat far less meat, and a far smaller range of meat, than my parents. It is rare for me to have a hot dog or lunch meat or ham. But if hungry and offered these by a friend, I will eat them.
I believe that bouts of limitation have also resulted in my possibly more expansive food choices.
I had this conversation with one of the most vital senior citizens I've ever met, someone I admire and find myself quite compatible with.
SHE SAID : "I'm starting to panic. My cupboards are going bare."
I SAID : I once knew a man who convinced me that I needed to stock up on canned goods. He said there was only a three day supply of food on the grocery store shelves and that if it got real bad in this city, well, I'd better own a gun to defend my water heater! After that, every time I went to the store, I bought a couple extra cans of beans or something. Then one day I wondered what I was going to do with all those cans.
SHE SAID : Me too! But look!
I opened her big wood cupboard, and what I saw was lots and lots of sauces and dips and condiments along with cans of chili from Trader Joe's. Some of this stuff is exotic. And expensive.
I SAID : Well, you know you cook something different every day. You can utilize whatever it is you have in the cupboard. No one knows how to use spices like you.
She nodded but pointed to her huge spice rack. It was half full.
SHE SAID : And my friends leave me fruit picked from their trees on the porch.
She has loquats, grapefruit, oranges, lots of lemons. Also avocado.
I SAID : Imagine the people who never have anything in their fridge or their cabinets, people who go out to eat most days, meet their friends - they must be going hungry and crazy. What are they going to do with a sack of dried split peas?
She cut an invention of hers, an upside down pear cake.
SHE SAID : I'm out of whole wheat flour.
I SAID : Well, there's going to be a meat shortage. Good thing you don't eat much meat. You won't miss it.
SHE SAID : My son in law just goes to the store for me every two weeks.
I SAID : No one on this earth better knows what you're willing to eat when he goes to the store.
She will not leave the house to go to a grocery store, even wearing a mask and gloves. When he brings the groceries in paper bags, she lets them sit 3 hours, then takes each item and washes it. I've been picking up these bags and folding them for her. Sometimes we leave them out in the sun.
SHE SAID : I'm not used to this. I'm starting to get worried.
The truth is that this lady does not have a financial problem in her retirement. She isn't rich, but she has enough, a good roof over her head paid for, many friends who call to check in, a daughter and son in law and grandchildren who love her. She will not starve. What she's reacting to is not hunger or malnutrition. It's that the products she likes are not as available on the shelves at the grocer.
I've long admired this women, also, because unlike some elderly, she is not stuck on eating the same food frequently. She's not the Duchess of Windsor with her boiled chicken diet.
This really is the time to try new ingredients, new recipes, with whatever you have in your cupboards. Those who are vegan or vegetarian usually know how to get enough protein in their diets, though I still believe that some people, including me, cannot bodily get enough from a plant-based diet. Nor do I wish to travel with suitcases of supplements. Those split peas really are good for soups and to add to mashed potato to make fritters. From all reports we American will not run out of apples or potatoes too soon.
C 2020 Christine Trzyna
Basically, I got points for actually eating a wide range of foods or being willing to try some of them once. Over time I've accepted that this is true about me. Living in a huge city with many ethnic restaurants, I probably have given a lot of different dishes a try, even if I default to Pad Thai. I've also adapted recipes and learned to cook with ingredients I don't remember from my childhood. I'm not vegan or vegetarian, but I eat far less meat, and a far smaller range of meat, than my parents. It is rare for me to have a hot dog or lunch meat or ham. But if hungry and offered these by a friend, I will eat them.
I believe that bouts of limitation have also resulted in my possibly more expansive food choices.
I had this conversation with one of the most vital senior citizens I've ever met, someone I admire and find myself quite compatible with.
SHE SAID : "I'm starting to panic. My cupboards are going bare."
I SAID : I once knew a man who convinced me that I needed to stock up on canned goods. He said there was only a three day supply of food on the grocery store shelves and that if it got real bad in this city, well, I'd better own a gun to defend my water heater! After that, every time I went to the store, I bought a couple extra cans of beans or something. Then one day I wondered what I was going to do with all those cans.
SHE SAID : Me too! But look!
I opened her big wood cupboard, and what I saw was lots and lots of sauces and dips and condiments along with cans of chili from Trader Joe's. Some of this stuff is exotic. And expensive.
I SAID : Well, you know you cook something different every day. You can utilize whatever it is you have in the cupboard. No one knows how to use spices like you.
She nodded but pointed to her huge spice rack. It was half full.
SHE SAID : And my friends leave me fruit picked from their trees on the porch.
She has loquats, grapefruit, oranges, lots of lemons. Also avocado.
I SAID : Imagine the people who never have anything in their fridge or their cabinets, people who go out to eat most days, meet their friends - they must be going hungry and crazy. What are they going to do with a sack of dried split peas?
She cut an invention of hers, an upside down pear cake.
SHE SAID : I'm out of whole wheat flour.
I SAID : Well, there's going to be a meat shortage. Good thing you don't eat much meat. You won't miss it.
SHE SAID : My son in law just goes to the store for me every two weeks.
I SAID : No one on this earth better knows what you're willing to eat when he goes to the store.
She will not leave the house to go to a grocery store, even wearing a mask and gloves. When he brings the groceries in paper bags, she lets them sit 3 hours, then takes each item and washes it. I've been picking up these bags and folding them for her. Sometimes we leave them out in the sun.
SHE SAID : I'm not used to this. I'm starting to get worried.
The truth is that this lady does not have a financial problem in her retirement. She isn't rich, but she has enough, a good roof over her head paid for, many friends who call to check in, a daughter and son in law and grandchildren who love her. She will not starve. What she's reacting to is not hunger or malnutrition. It's that the products she likes are not as available on the shelves at the grocer.
I've long admired this women, also, because unlike some elderly, she is not stuck on eating the same food frequently. She's not the Duchess of Windsor with her boiled chicken diet.
This really is the time to try new ingredients, new recipes, with whatever you have in your cupboards. Those who are vegan or vegetarian usually know how to get enough protein in their diets, though I still believe that some people, including me, cannot bodily get enough from a plant-based diet. Nor do I wish to travel with suitcases of supplements. Those split peas really are good for soups and to add to mashed potato to make fritters. From all reports we American will not run out of apples or potatoes too soon.
C 2020 Christine Trzyna
4/30/20
DREAM A LITTLE DREAM : ARE YOU HAVING NIGHTMARES? I AM
I read that I'm not unusual for the times. People are sleeping badly and having unusual dreams, some of them nightmares. We are also, probably, remembering dreams more because we don't have to set an alarm clock.
I've tried to keep to a normal schedule and get out at least five days a week for a walk of about a mile in the sunlight and air. It's actually been a very beautiful spring. The air is good. The sky is exceptionally blue. There are clouds. These things are special in Southern California.
I have my dog who is now a slower, aging dog, as well. The soothing and stroking I give her should be therapeutic and she's an excellent excuse for being outside. I love her.
I've gone into my sewing supplies and hand stitched a few masks. I hate wearing them because I feel that the air I'm breathing in is probably more of my own exhaled air than usual. Maybe that's a factor in feeling that I'm actually fighting depression and tears. Out the door I go with my face swathed in one of my obviously hand-made masks. Taking suburban streets means that I'm not encountering many other humans and can lift the mask to actually breath the good air.
Yesterday I shampooed and conditioned my dog. She slept soundly after that. She ate her dinner while I had mine.
Last night I had a wonderful and nutritious dinner. Kale salad. An omelet with some good cheese melted inside. Nuts. I slipped her a teaspoon of the omelet.
When I went to bed, I heard a helicopter circling around the neighborhood to one side of me. Someone with an app that tells you what's going on with the circling helicopter told me it was about a car theft. Let's just say that the neighborhood the helicopter was over has a couple banks but few cars worth stealing. Unless you've gone Coronavirus-19 Crazy. These helicopters are extremely expensive to operate and are usually taken out for murderer on foot. I figured that the news of a car theft on this app of hers was either wrong or there's so little crime right now that they thought they'd take up a helicopter to stay in practice. This helicopter also circled for at least two hours, maybe three. Tell me how long it takes for a car thief to park and get out of a car.
I lay there trying to sleep. I got up and went out the front door and looked into the sky to see the copter. Yea, it was black and white - police.
Around 4:30 in the morning I awakened to my dog heaving all over the sheets. I could tell without putting on the lights that this was no small heave. I took her into my arms and put her outside a while. She went out but seemed, well, hangdog. When she came back in she drank a lot of water. Then she threw up on the floor. Another expansive puddle.
I didn't think I would get back to sleep and I did not. My dog was sick. She threw up like a human does with food poisoning. Repeatedly.
As the dawn made it's way into the bedroom window, I got up to look for rags, and begin what turned into a half a day clean up, locating puddles of throw up on various floor surfaces, mopping with rags, trying to at least soap the areas for sanitation. I removed sheets and padding and blankets from the bed. I had to hand scrub the puke before putting into the washing machine. I noticed that the 4:30 heave must have been explosive. Some was on the wall and more on the floor. It contained a lot of undigested chunks of kibble as well as some digested. Oh, Lord.
I got depressed.
Last week I'd called the vet to see about a possible flea shot and was told that they were closed until further notice. This is no time to try to locate an open vet, who is also a more expensive and unfamiliar vet.
I got on line to look for a home remedy. Luckily I had a small container of goat milk in the fridge and I gave her a small amount, followed by a tiny bit of kibble.
I held her in my arms and moved her bed, freshly made, near where I sat, looking for a good documentary for later. She finally settled in.
The whole time thought I was thinking about the horrible dream I was having and woke from at 4:30. I was on line looking for dream interpretations.
In my dream appeared an old friend I haven't seen in years, a person who I know a lot about that I would probably never tell anyone, but who turned his life around from the time I knew him. He is, I hear, probably the most successful person, at least financially, in his graduating class. When he appeared, seeming to visit me, I felt emotional, rather honored. There was a lot of chaos in the form of people I didn't know moving around in the setting, but I was conscious that I was carrying some items close to my chest, a couple notebooks or ledgers of some sort which I knew were important, my cell phone (which is turned off), and a pair of shoes I own which are extremely comfortable but dilapidated sandals (that need to be replaced as soon as I can go shoe shopping) as well as a pair of strappy sandals with chunky two inch heels, obviously new, and bright gold. My old friend hands me a crisp new $100 bill which I don't want to take.
I somehow know this is a dream but there are mental processes involved such as awareness of my emotions, which become less enthusiastic about this meet up when I realize that it will be no more than this interaction, that he cannot hang out. He just lost $2000 this day at his business. Take the money. Don't want to. But it's not much money to him. But he just lost $2000. He has no time. I tell him, "but I just sent you a gift and now you are giving it back!" Am I shamed into taking the hundred? Are we even? He has to go?
He leaves me disappointed. In this chaos I first realize I lost the cell phone.
I then realize I lost the important papers. Finally, I see that the floor is flooding and that one of the gold shoes is floating away. I have one gold shoe and the dilapidated sandals still close to my chest.
Have at it as you will.
According to various internet resources about dreams, this dream is all bad news, especially about financial loses, and loosing direction. A symbol of great financial success only wants to pay me a brief visit.
How did I create this dream?
It is, not unusual for the times though.
Now I'm going on my walk.
C 2020 Christine Trzyna
All Rights Reserved
I've tried to keep to a normal schedule and get out at least five days a week for a walk of about a mile in the sunlight and air. It's actually been a very beautiful spring. The air is good. The sky is exceptionally blue. There are clouds. These things are special in Southern California.
I have my dog who is now a slower, aging dog, as well. The soothing and stroking I give her should be therapeutic and she's an excellent excuse for being outside. I love her.
I've gone into my sewing supplies and hand stitched a few masks. I hate wearing them because I feel that the air I'm breathing in is probably more of my own exhaled air than usual. Maybe that's a factor in feeling that I'm actually fighting depression and tears. Out the door I go with my face swathed in one of my obviously hand-made masks. Taking suburban streets means that I'm not encountering many other humans and can lift the mask to actually breath the good air.
Yesterday I shampooed and conditioned my dog. She slept soundly after that. She ate her dinner while I had mine.
Last night I had a wonderful and nutritious dinner. Kale salad. An omelet with some good cheese melted inside. Nuts. I slipped her a teaspoon of the omelet.
When I went to bed, I heard a helicopter circling around the neighborhood to one side of me. Someone with an app that tells you what's going on with the circling helicopter told me it was about a car theft. Let's just say that the neighborhood the helicopter was over has a couple banks but few cars worth stealing. Unless you've gone Coronavirus-19 Crazy. These helicopters are extremely expensive to operate and are usually taken out for murderer on foot. I figured that the news of a car theft on this app of hers was either wrong or there's so little crime right now that they thought they'd take up a helicopter to stay in practice. This helicopter also circled for at least two hours, maybe three. Tell me how long it takes for a car thief to park and get out of a car.
I lay there trying to sleep. I got up and went out the front door and looked into the sky to see the copter. Yea, it was black and white - police.
Around 4:30 in the morning I awakened to my dog heaving all over the sheets. I could tell without putting on the lights that this was no small heave. I took her into my arms and put her outside a while. She went out but seemed, well, hangdog. When she came back in she drank a lot of water. Then she threw up on the floor. Another expansive puddle.
I didn't think I would get back to sleep and I did not. My dog was sick. She threw up like a human does with food poisoning. Repeatedly.
As the dawn made it's way into the bedroom window, I got up to look for rags, and begin what turned into a half a day clean up, locating puddles of throw up on various floor surfaces, mopping with rags, trying to at least soap the areas for sanitation. I removed sheets and padding and blankets from the bed. I had to hand scrub the puke before putting into the washing machine. I noticed that the 4:30 heave must have been explosive. Some was on the wall and more on the floor. It contained a lot of undigested chunks of kibble as well as some digested. Oh, Lord.
I got depressed.
Last week I'd called the vet to see about a possible flea shot and was told that they were closed until further notice. This is no time to try to locate an open vet, who is also a more expensive and unfamiliar vet.
I got on line to look for a home remedy. Luckily I had a small container of goat milk in the fridge and I gave her a small amount, followed by a tiny bit of kibble.
I held her in my arms and moved her bed, freshly made, near where I sat, looking for a good documentary for later. She finally settled in.
The whole time thought I was thinking about the horrible dream I was having and woke from at 4:30. I was on line looking for dream interpretations.
In my dream appeared an old friend I haven't seen in years, a person who I know a lot about that I would probably never tell anyone, but who turned his life around from the time I knew him. He is, I hear, probably the most successful person, at least financially, in his graduating class. When he appeared, seeming to visit me, I felt emotional, rather honored. There was a lot of chaos in the form of people I didn't know moving around in the setting, but I was conscious that I was carrying some items close to my chest, a couple notebooks or ledgers of some sort which I knew were important, my cell phone (which is turned off), and a pair of shoes I own which are extremely comfortable but dilapidated sandals (that need to be replaced as soon as I can go shoe shopping) as well as a pair of strappy sandals with chunky two inch heels, obviously new, and bright gold. My old friend hands me a crisp new $100 bill which I don't want to take.
I somehow know this is a dream but there are mental processes involved such as awareness of my emotions, which become less enthusiastic about this meet up when I realize that it will be no more than this interaction, that he cannot hang out. He just lost $2000 this day at his business. Take the money. Don't want to. But it's not much money to him. But he just lost $2000. He has no time. I tell him, "but I just sent you a gift and now you are giving it back!" Am I shamed into taking the hundred? Are we even? He has to go?
He leaves me disappointed. In this chaos I first realize I lost the cell phone.
I then realize I lost the important papers. Finally, I see that the floor is flooding and that one of the gold shoes is floating away. I have one gold shoe and the dilapidated sandals still close to my chest.
Have at it as you will.
According to various internet resources about dreams, this dream is all bad news, especially about financial loses, and loosing direction. A symbol of great financial success only wants to pay me a brief visit.
How did I create this dream?
It is, not unusual for the times though.
Now I'm going on my walk.
C 2020 Christine Trzyna
All Rights Reserved
4/8/20
ARE WE TAKING CORONAVIRUS-19 TOO SERIOUSLY? MY AFTA-PANDEMIC PREDICTIONS : TALKING TO STRANGERS
This morning I headed out on foot, my face wrapped in a scarf, careful not to have too much human contact. I had a bill to pay and no mail had been picked up at the house for two days. (Envelopes were still clipped to the box for send.) So I knew I had to walk to a box. Half the people I encountered were wearing some sort of face protection.
I walked into the closest grocery store where the employees were not wearing face protection last week. Today they were - but not the other customers. I grabbed a free sanitation wipe and walked out. I have another week of toilet paper. Enough shampoo and soap to last three. But I was wondering what was on the shelves.
One bar which is staying open because they are also a restaurant (though the emphasis had never been on the food) has a sign out on the street that says "Free Toilet Paper with Order." We think this is funny. Just how much TP do you get, say with a full $29.99 order of ham and cabbage? A couple weeks ago when the sign appeared I stuck my head in to ask about the price of the ham and cabbage and the bar was full of men drinking side by side - no masks. A bartender - no mask.
I have friends who are taking Coronavirus-19 so seriously that when their son in law brought groceries (and then declared he was not shopping for another two weeks) in plastic bags, they let those bags sit for a day, then donned gloves to remove cans and produce, threw the bags into recycling, and proceeded to scrub the cans till the labels wore off, afraid that some other knowingly or unknowingly sick person had touched them. Is this wise or paranoia?
If I'm not picky about what I eat - and certainly those who lived through The Great Depression could not be and are my inspiration - I can go a couple weeks without shopping myself. In order to keep my supply of dried beans and legumes and assorted canned goods and pastas interesting I've tried many new recipes. Meanwhile my friend's cupboard is slowly being depleted, as she home makes bread every other day, and there are things she and her husband simply refuse to eat.
Specifically they decided pigs were treated especially horribly and they had decided they would no longer eat pig (though they do eat lots of fish, some chicken and other meats.) I think this has more to do with the intelligence of pigs over that of fish and chicken. This morning this is what they talked about in front of me.
Her: "I have some bacon in the freezer - uncured - that's been there forever. I was thinking when I was studying Buddhism that it was OK to eat whatever someone else presented to you. Do you think it would be OK to put some of that bacon in soup?
Me: "I was thinking of making green pea soup. I've never liked the flavor of green peas - I prefer the yellow - but most recipes for green pea soup suggest ham. What about bacon?
She: "I won't eat ham."
He: Shakes his head yes. (In agreement of one of us?)
Me: Probably that Buddhist thing started in cultures where it was considered rude to refuse any food offered as a guest. I was wondering if you wanted me to offer you this bacon? If you won't eat it, I suggest the dogs would love it.
She: "If it's OK with you, I will use the bacon."
He "OK."
Seeing how this was going, I wondered about the Grab and Go food give out at a school close by. I went there to talk to them after noticing the web site that was looking for volunteers through the Red Cross. The web site said that a person had to apply to volunteer (unpaid work) and had to repeatedly lift 20 to 50 pounds and prove they are Coronavirus immune. Are they joking? (Do they have workers compensation insurance? Where are the Coronavirus immunity tests? Will they also want a volunteer to donate blood?) The Red Cross and Los Angeles Unified School District are paying for this food and one can take up to two bags a day per child. I decided to go talk to them. I don't want to commute to volunteer.
None of the present volunteers, though six or more feet away from the table with the plastic bags of food, were wearing masks. None of them knew about the Red Cross providing funding. None of them were volunteers though the Red Cross - though they did know there was a need for more volunteers. I and my dog stood aways and watched as one expensive SUV after another - with no children inside the vehicle - drove up and took food. Shit.
But I thought about my friends who were going to use the long frozen bacon though they don't want to eat pig. And on YouTube there's a YouTube video about Grab and Go from LA Unified which says that one third of the recipients are NOT students. Would my friends be willing to eat food from Grab and Go? I looked through the plastic and though there was some cartoned milk and fresh fruit there were also white bread rolls and well - food that is not very nutritious. I myself would eat this food rather than suffer hunger pains if need be.
Meanwhile fresh produce - good for you fruits and veggies - are going unsold and rotting according to the local news.
So I called the local Senior Center to find out if there were any food banks open and when. No answer. No call back.
People will eat People in some circumstances.
Some people (including me) will die before they eat people, but I say that sane.
I have not had the experience of starvation to know.
After this Pandemic I predict:
People will forget they can stand closer and continue to SHOUT AT EACH OTHER.
Sex is going to be more complicated than ever.
People will go to their hairdressers and dog groomers in droves.
People will realize they can live without wearing lipstick, but will want to wear it more than ever.
People may not want to wear scarves or facemasks though new Coronavirus-19 fashion trends have us looking like bank robbers, doctors, and Muslims, but they'll keep one with them anyway, just in case.
People will have learned that soap doesn't work instantly like they used to think and will persist in the thorough 20 seconds or more of washing. But they will never enjoy songs like Happy Birthday like they used to.
Buses will provide sanitary hand wipes just like grocery stores.
Paper bags will be back, the hell with plastic. But what about the doggie poo?
Lots of people are going to realize they prefer to telecommute or homeschool. But not if they live in apartments.
If it goes on for months: More divorces.
C Christine Trzyna 2020 All Rights Reserved including Internet and International Rights.
I walked into the closest grocery store where the employees were not wearing face protection last week. Today they were - but not the other customers. I grabbed a free sanitation wipe and walked out. I have another week of toilet paper. Enough shampoo and soap to last three. But I was wondering what was on the shelves.
One bar which is staying open because they are also a restaurant (though the emphasis had never been on the food) has a sign out on the street that says "Free Toilet Paper with Order." We think this is funny. Just how much TP do you get, say with a full $29.99 order of ham and cabbage? A couple weeks ago when the sign appeared I stuck my head in to ask about the price of the ham and cabbage and the bar was full of men drinking side by side - no masks. A bartender - no mask.
I have friends who are taking Coronavirus-19 so seriously that when their son in law brought groceries (and then declared he was not shopping for another two weeks) in plastic bags, they let those bags sit for a day, then donned gloves to remove cans and produce, threw the bags into recycling, and proceeded to scrub the cans till the labels wore off, afraid that some other knowingly or unknowingly sick person had touched them. Is this wise or paranoia?
If I'm not picky about what I eat - and certainly those who lived through The Great Depression could not be and are my inspiration - I can go a couple weeks without shopping myself. In order to keep my supply of dried beans and legumes and assorted canned goods and pastas interesting I've tried many new recipes. Meanwhile my friend's cupboard is slowly being depleted, as she home makes bread every other day, and there are things she and her husband simply refuse to eat.
Specifically they decided pigs were treated especially horribly and they had decided they would no longer eat pig (though they do eat lots of fish, some chicken and other meats.) I think this has more to do with the intelligence of pigs over that of fish and chicken. This morning this is what they talked about in front of me.
Her: "I have some bacon in the freezer - uncured - that's been there forever. I was thinking when I was studying Buddhism that it was OK to eat whatever someone else presented to you. Do you think it would be OK to put some of that bacon in soup?
Me: "I was thinking of making green pea soup. I've never liked the flavor of green peas - I prefer the yellow - but most recipes for green pea soup suggest ham. What about bacon?
She: "I won't eat ham."
He: Shakes his head yes. (In agreement of one of us?)
Me: Probably that Buddhist thing started in cultures where it was considered rude to refuse any food offered as a guest. I was wondering if you wanted me to offer you this bacon? If you won't eat it, I suggest the dogs would love it.
She: "If it's OK with you, I will use the bacon."
He "OK."
Seeing how this was going, I wondered about the Grab and Go food give out at a school close by. I went there to talk to them after noticing the web site that was looking for volunteers through the Red Cross. The web site said that a person had to apply to volunteer (unpaid work) and had to repeatedly lift 20 to 50 pounds and prove they are Coronavirus immune. Are they joking? (Do they have workers compensation insurance? Where are the Coronavirus immunity tests? Will they also want a volunteer to donate blood?) The Red Cross and Los Angeles Unified School District are paying for this food and one can take up to two bags a day per child. I decided to go talk to them. I don't want to commute to volunteer.
None of the present volunteers, though six or more feet away from the table with the plastic bags of food, were wearing masks. None of them knew about the Red Cross providing funding. None of them were volunteers though the Red Cross - though they did know there was a need for more volunteers. I and my dog stood aways and watched as one expensive SUV after another - with no children inside the vehicle - drove up and took food. Shit.
But I thought about my friends who were going to use the long frozen bacon though they don't want to eat pig. And on YouTube there's a YouTube video about Grab and Go from LA Unified which says that one third of the recipients are NOT students. Would my friends be willing to eat food from Grab and Go? I looked through the plastic and though there was some cartoned milk and fresh fruit there were also white bread rolls and well - food that is not very nutritious. I myself would eat this food rather than suffer hunger pains if need be.
Meanwhile fresh produce - good for you fruits and veggies - are going unsold and rotting according to the local news.
So I called the local Senior Center to find out if there were any food banks open and when. No answer. No call back.
People will eat People in some circumstances.
Some people (including me) will die before they eat people, but I say that sane.
I have not had the experience of starvation to know.
After this Pandemic I predict:
People will forget they can stand closer and continue to SHOUT AT EACH OTHER.
Sex is going to be more complicated than ever.
People will go to their hairdressers and dog groomers in droves.
People will realize they can live without wearing lipstick, but will want to wear it more than ever.
People may not want to wear scarves or facemasks though new Coronavirus-19 fashion trends have us looking like bank robbers, doctors, and Muslims, but they'll keep one with them anyway, just in case.
People will have learned that soap doesn't work instantly like they used to think and will persist in the thorough 20 seconds or more of washing. But they will never enjoy songs like Happy Birthday like they used to.
Buses will provide sanitary hand wipes just like grocery stores.
Paper bags will be back, the hell with plastic. But what about the doggie poo?
Lots of people are going to realize they prefer to telecommute or homeschool. But not if they live in apartments.
If it goes on for months: More divorces.
C Christine Trzyna 2020 All Rights Reserved including Internet and International Rights.
4/6/20
THE QUIET POWER OF INTROVERTS : BBC
If you are NOT an INTROVERT, you might try being one for the duration of the Pandemic.
I have to admit I'm not using my time as well as I could, not doing so many of those little tasks - sewing on buttons, etc. that I ought to. But I have tried a LOT of new recipes and I've transplanted a lot of plants into better pots and me and my dog are walking most days. Even today in the rain.
I have to admit I'm not using my time as well as I could, not doing so many of those little tasks - sewing on buttons, etc. that I ought to. But I have tried a LOT of new recipes and I've transplanted a lot of plants into better pots and me and my dog are walking most days. Even today in the rain.
3/31/20
A LIST OF AUDIO and E- BOOK RESOURCES FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES
LA TIMES ARTS AND BOOKS - READ FOR FREE
Besides LAPL, LACL, PROJECT GUTENBERG, and others you may be familiar with, there is a long list at this link that you may have never heard about. Some publishers are also offering 30 days of free audiobooks...
I've been reading more audiobooks as time passes because my hands are free to do other things, such as wash dishes and cook.
Besides LAPL, LACL, PROJECT GUTENBERG, and others you may be familiar with, there is a long list at this link that you may have never heard about. Some publishers are also offering 30 days of free audiobooks...
I've been reading more audiobooks as time passes because my hands are free to do other things, such as wash dishes and cook.
3/17/20
UNCLE VINNY : CORONAVIRUS HUMOR - the BEST OF on YOUTUBE #1
Because LAUGHING probably works better than Vitamin C...
Why do I feel like I know these people?
Why do I feel like I know these people?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)