August, 2020. Hello. It’s Friday, and I’m still learning WordPress. Welcome to my site. NYC has been impacted by the pandemic in many ways, beginning with the thousands of lives lost. Back in April, you could hear ambulance sirens throughout the night. It was a dark time. In many ways, it still is.

I was furloughed in late March from City Guide. This week, the New York Daily News has closed its office-writers will be working remote. Time Out has shut down print of its New York publication. Being able to adapt in tough times is essential. I figure now is a good a time to put together a site of some published works, and create a space where I can write. And you can write me! About anything, really-news, music, books, travel, thoughts, dreams. Have a great weekend.

Museums Get Ready to ReOpen

With COVID stats staying low in NYC, Governor Cuomo has just announced that museums have been given the green light to reopen August 24, at 25 percent capacity. I’m cautiously optimistic. I really do miss going. What museum or exhibit are you eager to see? #museums #culture #nyc

First-ever virtual Democratic National Convention concludes, tech stocks up

Happy Friday, all. This year’s first ever virtual DNC has concluded, with poignant speeches from 2020 VP candidate Kamala Harris, Presidential candidate Joe Biden, along with former President Obama and others. I wouldn’t have said Biden/Harris was my first choice (I was a big Bernie fan), but they are experienced and honorable enough to have my support this election season. I do like that Harris worked alongside Biden’s son in earlier years, demonstrating this isn’t some random slap-together ticket scenario. Harris is sharp, stylish, and is a woman of color-her election would positively impact so many, not to mention be history-making.

Trump has no regard for anyone except for himself-in an office that is supposed to respect and uphold the values of everyone in this nation. Use your voice, a right that many died for-VOTE!

For late August, temperatures are cooler. But everyone’s anxiety levels are at eleven, with uncertain futures-stalled stimulus, unemployment, restaurants unable to pay rent and closing. Many folks are leaving NYC. I’m still here. It’s not easy, but try to keep spirits up! At least tech stocks seem to be doing well-Apple, Google, Alphabet, Amazon, others; Apple & Tesla are splitting at the end of the month. I’ve been listening to Robinhood Snacks weekday podcasts on Spotify for stock news. Feel free to write me here! #vote #stocks

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Gumball Machines & Memories

Our mind is like a gumball machine of memories. Some days, you put the quarter in and get what you hoped for-your favorite gumball, a sticker, a ring, and in that moment, you’re happy. Other days, it’s a misshapen, useless piece of plastic, or foul tasting candy, that leaves you joyless. Sometimes you don’t even have to put a quarter in-it just comes out.

Elon Musk Gives Neuralink Demo on CNET

Entrepreneur Elon Musk, founder of Tesla and SpaceX, gave a live demo tonight on CNET of his latest project, Neuralink. Described by Musk as a “FitBit in your skull,” the petite implant would be placed in the skull, with thin, flexible wires covered in electrodes. It would be an outpatient procedure, performed by a robot, that would not need general anesthesia.

Neuralink would particularly help persons with injuries such as blindness or paraplegics, be able to gain function again. Musk said that it could also achieve “AI symbiosis,” meaning it could connect with AI and transfer data, memories, even. The demo included pigs, including one called Gertrude that had an implant for two months, showing her brain activity in live time, and another that had it removed, also in good health. In July, Neuralink received FDA device authorization. They are now preparing for human clinical trials and growing staff.

It’s still in the early stages, but promising work! #elonmusk #neuralink #AI

It’s October. Trump’s Got Cofefe. But seriously…

I’ve been remiss to post here past couple of weeks. With schools struggling to keep a handle on things with reopening, there are some mini Covid spikes around NYC, as well as Europe. It’s October; restaurants now offer indoor dining at 25% capacity (though my favorite place is so small inside, for time being they’re keeping things outdoors), and as of this weekend, Trump has tested positive for coronavirus, less than a month away from Election Day. Stocks took a tumble. The first debate between Trump and Joe Biden was a complete debacle; the format is now being revised. SNL couldn’t resist. There is anxiety about Senate pushing through election of Judge Amy Coney Barrett (three senators now sick with Covid), to fill the space left by beloved Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who recently passed away. If confirmed, her seat could tilt the Supreme Court into a very conservative light. Senate is not expected to approve the $2.2 trillion Heroes Act (second stimulus) package, that House Dems just passed. And I’m still on furlough, sigh. No, not feeling any pressure at all. Psst: WEAR A MASK! #october #covid #mask #maskup

RIP Eddie Van Halen

2020 just keeps hitting the gut-hard. The legendary guitarist Eddie Van Halen passed away today, surrounded by family, succumbing to throat cancer. I knew he’d been on/off ill for years, but at 65, he was still relatively young and just seemed like one of those spirits that can go on and on. I loved Van Halen-still do. Eddie’s frenetic, self-taught guitar playing brought joy and inspiration to so many, and will continue to do so for generations to come. I was grateful to see him live; I had to pick my jaw up off the floor! #eddievanhalen #vanhalen #guitar #guitarist #legend

Election Day 2020

There are many things in life you can’t control-I’ve had a godawful year. But one thing you can do, that does matter, is VOTE in this presidential election! I made it out there early! Cast your ballot. Our future depends on it. #vote #election2020

Trump’s Out, Biden’s In, and Welcome, VP Kamala Harris

A little late posting here. I am most certainly relieved Biden won the election, as were the throngs of people that took the streets last weekend, following the clinching of Pa electoral votes. And welcome aboard Kamala Harris, our first female vice president. With a record turnout of some 150 million+ at the polls, the unprecedented wait for results fueled the meme machine a good five days before Biden got the votes needed. Truth be told, I wanted Bernie Sanders. But, there’s no more time to celebrate. Covid infection rates are raging again. A vaccine from Pfizer sounds very promising, with an alleged 90% prevention rate in trials. We’ve lost far too many this hellish year-to covid, to racism, to a destroyed economy. Congratulations to the winners. Now, let’s work on getting our nation, our world, back on its feet.

Tradition and Transition

Trump has finally signaled to begin an administrative transition to President Elect Joe Biden. Today is also Thanksgiving 2020.

Sedition, Blue Senate, Soaring Stocks, Stubborn Covid in Week One of 2021

The first week of 2021 was quite the ride. On Jan. 6, a mob of Trump loyalists failed to accept election results, despite multiple recounts, and proceeded to march up to the White House and then scale it, break into it, and wreak havoc. Watching it all unfold on tv, during a plague, was surreal, certainly not something I ever thought I’d see in my lifetime. Later that evening, electoral votes resumed being counted. Something like this hasn’t happened in more than 200 years. Several were killed. Arrests are being made.

On the up side, Rafael Warnock and Jon Ossoff won Senate seats in Georgia, giving Democrats control of Senate. Warnock is Georgia’s first black senator, and Ossoff, is their first Jewish senator, as well as youngest sitting senator, at 33. He’s on TikTok!

Crazy times are good for stocks apparently, as they soared to new heights, especially Tesla, making Elon Musk now the richest man in the world, ahead of Amazon’s Jeff Bezos.

Unfortunately, even though they are slowly starting to roll out vaccines, COVID19 continues to take its toll around the world, this week hitting record highs in 16 states; it’s also hitting England hard. I am stuck on furlough, as NYC tourism, and the tourism industry in general, continues to be paralyzed.

One bright spot on NYC’s tourism front, was the opening of the Moynihan Train Hall on New Year’s Day. It’s a handsome, $1.6 billion extension of Penn Station, located in the old post office, James A. Farley building (a remake of what was the original Penn Station, before it was demolished in 1963. ) You can see more images of Moynihan Train Hall here on my Instagram page. It has a lovely, almost retro glam style Amtrak lounge; one can also get access to the LIRR.

What will happen next ? January 17th is my birthday. President-elect Joe Biden will get sworn in Jan. 20. Stay tuned. Let the light in, 2021.

Wear a mask!

A Year Later

It’s March 1, 2021, basically one year since COVID19 stopped the world on its axis. As of Feb. 22, 2021, 500,000 have died worldwide. There are several FDA approved vaccines now, unfortunately it continues to be a struggle for anyone to get their hands on one. It’s still dark on Broadway; jobs in NYC’s arts and entertainment sector have plummeted in the past year 66% . I’m still on furlough. Dining struggles continue; we’re up to 35% indoor dining here in NYC now, but, so many places have shuttered, or owners have fled to set up shop in Miami, Florida. February 2021 also saw the biggest snowstorm in NYC in five years, and there were several snowfalls, totaling some 26 inches.

We have a new president, Joe Biden, who has had quite a busy month since being sworn in. He’s trying to pass a $1.9 trillion dollar stimulus package. It’s passed the House, without a single Republican’s support, now they’re trying to get the Senate to pass it within the next two weeks. We wait on bated breath. But he and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, are a sight for sore eyes, with a warm, easygoing rapport, their dogs Champ and Major, scampering about the White House grounds.

What have you done this past year?

I tried to keep a list of small things I did-protest racism, paint my living room, help a family member (they were going through a rough patch and ended up staying a year at my residence, through July), wrote an essay for the New York Times (it was rejected, and that’s ok, would need a major revision now, anyway), read about a dozen books (I know many complained that they couldn’t read at this time. I get it, but, I welcomed the distraction), walked at least two miles a day, if not more, with the help of my dog (a two day combo last week had me at 15 miles!), made donations to various charities, started therapy, wrote poetry (some of it is on my Instagram, but I think I will add a page on my site for my poetry), made a kickass seabass with herbs, volunteered, had wills made, visited my mom, tried to show compassion to others, and started doing a little (weekday) daily exercise.

These are tiny accomplishments that I cling to, as I navigate some wide, stormy seas. I might share more about this at a later date. Keep spirits up, my friends. Keep wearing a mask!!

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