Virtual Holidays

 

We are all having to make adjustments, but virtual holidays? I know for some it will be difficult. I haven't seen my family in over 7 years so I'm sure I'll get through this. I have only seen one friend since the pandemic and I'm not really comfortable with having people at the house and being around people for longer than an hour does concern me.

Life in general is a risk, but never could we have thought that being around people we like would be a matter of life or death. There are many families that wouldn't be able to do a virtual holiday as they may not have the internet. The best one can do is talk on the phone or face time if you have a smart phone. There is also something called Duo which I have not used.

I was thinking of inviting a cousin over for dinner this year, but I don't know how that will work out. The dining table is large enough that we can social distance while we eat. We would have to wear masks on the drive to my home.

Halloween will be the first test of a virtual holiday as if people didn't already try this for the 4th of July or Labor day. Of course now we are in a dire situation that we must get this virus under control again. You would think with all the technology something like this wouldn't have happened. With so much information roaming the social media sites and the internet did someone over look a person talking about a virus? People are so quite to share crap and when something is important no one does anything.

(Do nothing, Say nothing)

The housewives of something and keeping up with other people are more important things. I get that you don't want to wear a mask, because it irritates you or you can't breathe or you don't look good, but it could save your life or the people around you. I don't spend a lot of time online. I watch the local news, world news and sometimes I catch the BBC World news on PBS. Although I don't have cable I do get other stations that I use as an escape when I don't feel like watching a movie in my collection. Watching the same stories of idiotic people who don't believe in anything is just frustrating. I get it. If you don't know anyone who is going through something you just don't believe what you are seeing is real. It's the world we have created. So much of reality shows are based upon drama created by alcohol that people think everything they see on TV is not real. Until it happens in their home or family they just turn the other cheek.

We can blame the beginning of the virus on the Government, but now we have to switch the blame because most of us know what is going on. We know people who have come down with the virus. This is not a joke. CoVid 19 is real. Reality television has made a lot of people oblivious to what is happening in the world. After all, we have a reality star running the country.

We also have the internet that spits out conspiracy theories via tweets, posts and memes. It's all so confusing for some people to figure out what is real and what is fake.

Earlier in the week I saw a documentary called Driving While Black. I didn't know that was the title until later. It was on PBS and what caught my eye as I was channel surfing was that it was talking about New Orleans. It was talking about the interstate and what it did for black people in the ways of travel. It had good results and bad results. On the good side it made it easier for people of color to travel without having to go down those back roads and deal with racists. On the bad side it displaced more people of color than whites in the city. I was too young to really know what was going on. I didn't know if people didn't get the proper value of their property. I remember when I-610 was built my aunt was affected by it. She didn't have to get out of her house, but it was modified from a double to a single, but it was really a cool house when they finished. It was always fun to be their with my cousins. So much changes when people don't use their voice.

Today I begin 60 2 60, in sixty days I will be turning 60 years old. I can't believe it. I want to workout more and get my body in better shape, but as we age it's easier to write about than to do. Now that I've over come the back issue, I don't want to injure it again. I know which exercises work best for me, but if I don't get up early I don't always follow through with exercise. That will have to change. I will have to give myself more than enough time to exercise and to run errands since I like to get out of the house early.

This morning I allowed myself to leave the house after 11 A.M. I just needed to get out and feel the sun on my skin. It was getting hot already which is another good reason to get out of the house early.

Thanks for stopping by; Keep an open mind. Do return to see where the journey leads.

(Next up: More on Virtual Holidays and inside my bubble)

www.dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com

www.artbyDlonzo.blogspot.com

www.filmlover4pg@blogspot.com

www.psychedmaster.org

What is in your bubble?

We are all living in some sort of bubble and always have been. It starts early on in life when the bubble consists of our families. Some of us have large families and others have small families. It makes all the difference in the world as to how you navigate the world when you get older.

We are conditioned to follow the path our elders set out for us, but then we come in contact with teachers and peers and they can have an influence on some of us.

Some people are born to be leaders and others to be followers. I've never considered myself a follower which is why I never wanted to be a part of a fraternity or join the military. I just don't like people telling me what to do. I also have a tendency of looking for the easiest way to do something and not everyone in charge can deal with that.

Most of us feel safe within our bubble. We usually have all the things that make us happy or give us some delight. You have your books, movies, spouse of significant other.

Our bubbles can change over time with people entering and exiting, sometimes without any warning. My bubble has gotten smaller as it is only me. All decisions are what is best for me at the moment. Who do I want in my life? Of course with this blog there are people that peek into my life and I have no idea who they are. I hope that when they peek in they can relate to some of the things and it makes an impact. When I was in my late 20's I realized my purpose in life was to help other people. I've worked with abused kids, people on the streets, drug addicts and those just needing someone to listen to them.

The blog allows me to release things and to clear space for more things to enter into my mind. I've been an ear for many people and hopefully we all come out as better people.

My bubble now is planning my future. It changes more frequently now then it did before. Each day is a new experience. I'm faced with thinking about things I've never thought about in regards to myself.

There are many things to keep me occupied during this pandemic. I may start a project and if it becomes something that takes more time I might stop and move on to something else. There are times when I will work on more than one project. Sometimes they are in the same area, such as greeting cards or mini works of art. They can be started or completed in a few hours. Birthday cards are more of an individual project as the card is made for a specific person. I can change that a little with the wording if I keep the same design. 

I am in the process of framing and redoing some art work that I had in my portfolio from the 1980's. The drawings measure 17 x 22. On my first job I had these 17 x 22 desk pads and I decided to make use of them. I created all sorts of drawings mostly in pencil, but there were a few done in markers and pen and ink. The drawings that don't take up a full page I am copying them into a large book that they will fit on the page that is smaller than 17 x 22. The drawings that I can frame I will do that. There are drawings that have more than one drawing on the sheet that I can create smaller drawings. The drawings that I don't use I will roll up and put into a tube to store.

I rely on my art to get me through these times that can be difficult for some. You are faced with many decisions that need to be made. If you have to take care of a family you need to know that you are safe when you leave and return to the house.

The majority of people are asking what happens next? How will I survive? What are the best choices for you?

9-13-20, I set my alarm for 6 A.M., I got out of the bed by 6:09 A.M., I read my prayers, took a shower and got ready to start the day. I wanted to vote and get it over with. Today is the first day of early voting in Austin. The location I have been using for several years now is located in the South Park Meadows shopping center. I figured I would enter from the entrance closest to I-35 and if the line was long I would take the first parking spot I saw and get in line. When I turned in, I could see people were inline and it was in front of Hobby Lobby. I parked and got in line, it was about 7:25 A.M. I was only a few feet from the door and then line seemed to be moving at a good pace. I saw that they were using two suites so that made me feel even better. I spoked to one of the ladies behind me about this and that and then we talked about the line. I am not sure if she saw something on her phone or what, but she seemed to know the line might be going around the building. I didn't understand what she meant as I saw people going in, but as I got to the end to turn I saw that the line was in was crossing the line of people going in to vote. I can only guess that this happened because people were in line before someone was there to organize people. Maybe it was just bad organization skills. Who knows. At each turn there seemed to be another surprise. I was concerned with people cutting the line. There were people dropping off people; going to park and then returning to the line.

The line went around the building, by the parking lot where employees and trailers park. There were also residents or business owners who have to pick up their mail from the boxes located in the back. The line then went around and back to the entrance.

I was trying to count the number of people in line and dividing them by the number of booths I counted when I passed by. There were probably about two or three hundred people ahead of me. There were about 6 machines and I figure each person may take about 15 to 20 minutes to complete the process if there were no issues. I thought perhaps I'd be in line for about 2 hours. I took some pictures with my phone at different spots.

The temperature was comfortable and I was glad that I went out today instead of waiting. There were some people who thought the line was too long, but they weren't that many people leaving. There were some people that were told if they had mail in ballots they needed to go home and get them. It didn't make sense to me. As long as you don't mail it in, I would think the vote you make today would be the only one that counts. One of the ladies behind me went home, but I didn't see her return. I had been in line for about an hour and a half when I got to the door. It was only a few minutes I had to wait before I went inside and stood to wait for the person in front of me to finish the information process and then it was my turn. There were no problems at all. My information came up and I took my time to vote. I missed one election, but some of the court positions there wasn't anyone running against them. I guess they just want to see how many people really want that person in office. I completed the voting process and submitted my ballot and I was out of the door after picking up my I Voted sticker. It took about 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Feeling good about everything. There didn't appear to be any problems. Lots of people taking pictures with their phones as was I. It was something to see. I've never stood in a line that long for anything. Not even a New York night club. I wanted to tell the people as I was leaving not to get discouraged, but I didn't say anything. Most of the people anticipated this after what they had seen in other cities.

Money, Politics, Race and Religion

(c) 2020 by Dlonzo 

Say something, do nothing,

Do nothing, say something,

A conundrum?

How much money do you have?

What do you believe in?

How do you identify yourself?

Where do you stand?

Power to the people.

Black Power, White power,

Black Lives Matter,

All lives matter,

All lives are precious.

Some people can leave

and never look back.

Others are stuck in cement

that blocks the track.

Decisions seem right

at that moment.

Who can see the future?

That would be too easy.

Forget nots,

regret nots.

How much money do you have?

What side of the fence are you on?

Right wing, left wing,

if only one could just fly away.

Fly away, fly away, fly away, all.

See the colors of the rainbow,

the colors of the skin, the colors, so many colors.

Red, white and blue.

Green, yellow, and black.

Wave your flag and be proud.

Red, green, yellow, blue,

orange and purple.

Look up to the heavens,

amongst the clouds.

There are answers for some.

They kingdom come, thy will be done.

If you believe and then you are done.

It's over, or just beginning.

The cycle continues and it's all about how much 

money do you have? What are your politics?

How do you identify yourself? What do you believe?

What is your religion?

This is how it is on earth.

How is it in heaven?

(Next up: Virtual Holidays...)

Thanks for stopping by; Keep an open mind. Do return to see where the journey leads.

www.dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com

www.artbyDlonzo.blogspot.com

www.filmlover4pg@blogspot.com

www.psychedmaster.org

Playing it by Ear

 

( A drawing that was in progress at the time of this photo.)

Well here we are in October. I had planned to make a post before September ended, but that didn't happen. I'm trying to come up with a plan as to what I want to do. I have a list which includes everything from creating an income to making repairs and getting organized which has been an ongoing project.

I can't stop and evaluate everything before I throw it out. There are some things that I want to hold on to for research; sentimental value, but there's other stuff that needs to go and can go without hesitation. How mmany art books do I need? How many fashion magazines? How many home decor books, etc.?  It sounds easy enough, but it really isn't. I look at all of the art supplies and I have to ask myself will I use an item? When will I use the item? There is no real time line. I like creating art when the mood hits. Somethings, like greeting cards I may start, but until I know exactly who the card will go to I can't finish it. Most of my cards are made for the individual.

I have hundreds of pencils of different brands and varieties. Many bottles and tubes of paints. Crayons, pastels, charcoal and paper, lots and lots of paper.

Books on photography, art, films, writing, screenplays, stageplays. Everything that I could possibly need.

I was moving some furniture last week and I injured my back. I knew that would probably happen, but I had to do it. I probably shouldn't have moved as many large pieces in one day as I did. I thought I was doing it correctly, but when you get older and stretch those muscles, you pay the price. I'm blaming it on the furniture, but it could have been the files in which I had to bend over to move magazines. I'll try to take it easy this week and see how long it takes to get back in shape. 

I am hoping to start exercising again on a regular basis. This is something I have to do. I need to get back on a healthier diet. I do my best, but from time to time I will splurge on a few things. I have to start slow and stay consistent. If I had more things to keep me busy things might be different. When I had somewhere to go I was more active then I am now. It does bother me, but I have to take it easy and think things through.

I was trying to get into that frame of mind of getting some work, but now I have to think about being in a place for more than an hour and the germs that could be floating around. The only way to really be safe is if I figure out a way to work from home.

I was thinking of setting up my photography studio. I have been trying to write, but I'd have to pick up the pace to generate any money from that. I could try to sell my art on Etsy or Ebay. The opportunities are there, I just have to figure out what is best for me. Just have to take things one day at a time. This is not a place I ever thought I would be in at this stage of my life, but neither was anything else I've experienced in the last 20 plus years. So, what's new? We learn and we move on. Navigating life is an adventure sometimes of epic proportions.

I want to start getting the blog format together as I am going to combine all four blogs and that way you can just visit one location, but they will all have the same content. It makes it easier on me. The poetry, the art, the movies and the window into my everyday will all be one.

(Local musician I photographed last year)

I wrote this poem earlier in the year.

Co Vid

by Dlonzo (c) 2020

There is an unfamilarity in the air

along with the smell of hand sanitizer,

bleach and other disenfectants

It doesn't seem fair

To shelter in place

to cover the face

to stay safe

Life can seem unfair

during a time of a crisis

some get help, some don't

some too much, others not enough

Businesses closing doors, shutting down

Out of work, unemployment, furlough

Food lines, school closures

This is not normal

What is normal?

Was there ever normal

a term created 

to feel comfort?

Language, another beast to battle.

Stay inside, if you go outside

wear a mask, cover your face.

Shelter in place,

stay safe.

(Next up: What's in your bubble?)

Thanks for stopping by; Keep an open mind. Do return to see where the journey leads.

www.dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com

www.artbyDlonzo.blogspot.com

www.filmlover4pg@blogspot.com

www.psychedmaster.org