I can't believe it's nearly Winter.  When I started working from home back in March, cold air blew in through the Window as I enjoyed the cool Spring air.  Summer was just a blur.  I seem to remember the loud hum of the air-conditioners well into November.  The air has finally cooled enough for me to switch to just fans to circulate the air.

Been avoiding the major supermarkets in favor of neighborhood markets for essentials, but their selection is limited.  I've been avoiding all forms of human contact or leaving my place, even for lunch.  Gradually I have been venturing out a bit more and more as my fear of the outside world is subsiding.

But, as the new Spring promises to breath new life into the world, this is the darkest time of our history.  It is always darkest before the dawn.  It is getting dark and will continue to get darker for another 4 weeks until it cannot become any darker.

It will be over soon so hang in there.  Forgo the parties and celebrations for next year we party twice as hard.  Where once we had one birthday, in 2021 we will have two.  Where once we had yuletide festivities, in 2021 we will once again enjoy our family and friends with real hugs and real kisses.

I suspect that Spring of 2021 I will start back up my photography projects once again as the world heals itself.  We are hurting and we are in pain.  But those of us to survive this will once again embrace and enjoy life.  soon.

Months seem like days and every day brings more horror.  Cuomo has been keeping us safe and the virus in check.  Aside from the supermarket hell, life is moving on.  I can "mask up" and visit retail shops and deli's again but I have little reason.

My muscles ache from lack of use.  I feel myself getting weaker.  UPS delivered the largest package I have ever purchased - an e-bike.  I took it for a spin today and got some of the muscles working again and the blood flowing.

Cuomo legalized e-bikes last month and I was hoping to get one before the rush.  So much to learn about classes, speed restrictions, and such.  My oldest hobby gets a reboot as technology makes it possible for me to enjoy biking again.

so, what is big orange idiot up to in the middle of the pandemic? Glad you asked.
https://youtu.be/z6oHx7gwnpc

Other than watching civilization slowly crumble and grocery shopping brought to new heights of aggravation, I am comfortably working from home these days.  Being home all the time I am catching up on my domestic projects - replaced the broken coffee maker, cleaned the photo studio, and I'm set to clean the hall closet next week.

I've never been more proud of the peaceful protests and demand for police reform in this country.  Demand change.  Hold your representatives accountable.  And, for god's sake: get out there and VOTE!

I cannot believe it has been a month since my last post.  My brain has quit processing time.  I have been avoiding the supermarkets, getting essentials at a local market while wearing a mask and gloves.  Whatever they don't have I try to mail-order.  I just paid $20 bucks for a bag of flour because I miss pancakes.

As for the photography?  I am cleaning the studio; gasp if you might!  I tossed some dungeon furniture and replaced it with a utility cart to organize my lighting gear.  The place was tossed after I lost my Internet connection from FIOS.  They sent a tech the very next day but he had to hand me tools thru the crack in the door so I could do the repairs myself!  I needed to dig out all the contents of the closet to find the ONT.  I suspect they pushed a firmware update and it went dark since I'm still on POTS.  Good thing I used to be a tech.

Modeling... yea; about that.  I haven't even picked up a camera in months.  I've got 2 models "on hold" and don't expect to be recruiting others until next year.  Those 2 models are both on lockdown as well.  I will continue to clean and organize, catching up on little projects like repair of light switches and clocks around the place.

Happy Ostara.  I was a kid who grew up on hollow chocolate bunnies.  The little eggs wrapped in foil were solid and they always tasted good. I remember always being so disappointed breaking into a hollow chocolate bunny.  Now that solid chocolate bunnies are more popular I prefer the hollow ones.  Go figure.

I've traded the traditional ham baked with pineapples and cloves for food delivery from the local BBQ place of smokes ribs.  Kinda the same yet less traditional.  I was off from work Friday, difference between holiday and non-holiday is that I don't open the laptop on a holiday.  I find it's good preserve some type of normality and schedule, which takes a mental discipline.

Thank God for Governor Cuomo

As every aspect of my routine is disrupted, I have to re-learn how to "live."  e.g. I never knew or cared how much toilet paper I go thru in a week.  I'm uncertain if the market will have TP in stock, what brand, or if another shopper will fight me for it.

Obviously the pandemic has put a kibosh on the photography thing.  Three models are cancelled.  One is postponed until Easter... maybe.  I don't know when to wake, eat, shop for perishables, or what to do with my day.

Being off the routine causes stress as I don't know what is still open or if I should have food delivered.  Yet, I am alive, healthy, gainfully employed working at home, the Wrangler is running great, and I've got enuf meat for weeks thanks to an offering of cooked, raw, and/or frozen food from a generous and empathetic model.

The locals are starting to calm down - we figure if we're not infected or dead by now, and if we keep our guard up, chances are we will survive.  Everyone fears entering the hospital system in New York right now because that may be a one way trip.

If I was on my death bed and there was no hope for me, I would want to hear the grim prognosis from our Governor Cuomo.  His firm, gruff no-bullshit leadership and compassion for life has shown me a side of him I've never seen before, not even during Superstorm Sandy.  Perhaps it's because the stakes are higher and people are still dying.  I know he won't stop fighting until we have saved as many New York'ers as we can possible save.

Escape from New York... no longer possible

I do kinda hope this is not my last post.  I am a fine-art photographer located 50 miles outside of the epicenter of a gruesome Covid 19 outbreak.  New York City has been hard hit.  I am sitting here at home listening to Sirius Radio, alt.nation.  The window fans are blowing cool air into my messy apartment and my sinuses are complaining about the pollen - but, I managed to score two boxes of facial tissues and I plan to use them.

HEY: Listen Up!  There's a lot of confusing and panic-ridden ideas about protecting yourself against the virus.  Here is how to protect yourself:

1. Know your source.  If the information does not originate from a doctor or the Centers for Disease Control https://www.cdc.gov/, disregard and delete.  Do not get your medical advice from Geraldo Rivera or Trish Regan.  They are idiots (IMHO).  Volume OFF.
2. If anyone on TV is talking, know their name, title, and origin.  Are they a doctor?  No?  Are they quoting a doctor?  No?  Turn the volume off or change the channel.  Your life depends on this.  Any public official should turn over expert answers to the experts.  No, the White House Coronavirus Task Force are not all experts. Anthony Fauci is a doctor.  Volume up.  Mike Pence is not a doctor.  Volume OFF.
3. Stop drinking bleach.
4. I hate to say it but - wearing that 79c dust mask to prevent getting sick just gives you a false sense of security.  If it reduces your anxiety, fine, but realize you're just being hysterical.
5. You have enough toilet paper.  If you run out, take a shower after you shit; duh.

Update: The CDC has gone rogue.  Protect the little kids and use common sense.  When searching for unbiased health information about Covid19, find a source in Europe because it's all bugger here the States.