Throwback Thursday: Thanksgiving 2019's Circumstances Compared to Now (April 2020)

THE MACYS PARADE SINCLAIR DINOSAUR 

What a difference a day or evening makes! Just a little over six months (on the 11-27-2020 which was the Eve of Thanksgiving) ago on the UWS in NYC, a number of folks were looking out their windows to cheer and applaud the balloons being blown up for the 2020 Macys Thanksgiving  Parade (an example can be seen in the image atop this post.

Thousands of people crowded the area to get an up close view of the annual Thanksgiving Eve event. At that time the biggest concern NYC seemed to have was whether or not the balloons would be able to fly because of the prevailing high winds.

Last night many NYC residents (like myself) looked out their windows or stood on their terraces (some can be seen in the next series of pictures) to participate in the nightly #ClapBecauseWeCare tribute.

A #ClapBecauseWeCare Participant

JULIE, THE WOMAN WHO TOOK PHOTO-OP S OF MY GARDEN
SEE THEM BY CLICKING HERE AND HERE 

A #ClapBecauseWeCare Participant

A #ClapBecauseWeCare Participant

GIUSEPPE AND TERESA
(He has taken a video of a session from his window.)

In doing so our concerns were much greater than that of would or wouldn't a Macy's ballon be allowed to "fly"?

This Evening Is My One Month Anniversary!

In a few hours time from now at 7:00 PM EST, it will be one month since my first time (Sunday, March 29th) of participating in a #ClapBecauseWeCare session.

On that evening, Julie Tersigni called out from her window after our #ClapBecauseWeCare session telling me that she had admired my garden which really lifted my spirits. She can be seen in the next image (wearing a pink hat).

JULIE, THE WOMAN WHO TOOK PHOTO-OP S OF MY GARDEN
SEE THEM BY CLICKING HERE AND HERE 

This morning I had a nice surprise in my newsfeed when I learned she had posted a picture of my participation in last evening's tribute (and it can be seen in the image atop this entry).

4-27-2020: One Month Clapping Anniversary (Tuesday's Truths WK 177)

For my 177th segment of Tuesday's Truths which is falling on the twenty-eighth of April, I'd like to begin by saying that one month ago yesterday (Monday April 27th 2020), marked the date #ClapBecauseWeCare sessions began (3/27/2020) in NYC.

I initially learned about the tribute a few days after the fact and began participating on a nightly basis two days later on March 29th, so my one month anniversary of doing this is coming up!

As I've been discussing within a number of posts here on Blogger these tributes is a small way to pay homage to first responders, healthcare professionals and essential workers who are keep working tirelessly (through all kinds of weather) for everyone during this COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

During the course of these nightly sessions, I've become aquatinted with a few people I'd never met. One of them is Julie Tersigni who lives in a building is slightly northwest of where I live and on the first night that I participated she yelled from her window to announce she loved my garden.

A Word or Two Re Session 31

MY GARDEN IS THE SETTING FOR WIOB

The 31st session of #ClapBecauseWeCare took place last evening. It was a boisterous, enthusiastic sounding one in spite of the torrents of rain, which had occurred all day and can be seen in the first image included here where it is falling heavily in my garden.

Our vocal (cheering) turnout was not surprising as the purpose of these tributes is to pay homage to first responders, healthcare professionals and essential workers who are keep working tirelessly (through all kinds of weather) for everyone during this COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

A few of the clapping/cheering participants can be seen here directly below.

A #ClapBecauseWeCare Participant

A #ClapBecauseWeCare Participant

A #ClapBecauseWeCare Participant

Once again I join them in my gratitude for what  first responders, healthcare professionals and essential workers have been doing.
---
As some of you may know, my roof extension garden is the setting for my three volume book series, Words In Our Beak.

MY BOOK SERIES

To reiterate what I've been saying here on Blogger, "During this time where many people are confined to their homes due to lockdown restrictions (re the coronavirus pandemic), these books (whose stories are set in my rooftop garden) are great to have around as a reminder that there is still so much beauty in our fallen world."

Reporting on Session 30 #ClapBecauseWeCare

Last evening, 4-25-2020, marked the 30th consecutive evening of #ClapBecauseWeCare, which began on 3/27/2020. I only learned about this ritual very late at night on 3/28/2020 (thanks to my seeing FB posts from Rosemarie Buckley. She's a grown woman now, but  I've known since she was a young child and even attended her confirmation many years ago when the photograph atop this entry was taken.

The following evening, 3/29/2020, I began participating in the nightly tribute to first responders, healthcare professionals and essential workers who are keeping folks safe as we all deal with consequences of this pandemic.

Here are just a few photo-ops from last evening's session.

A #ClapBecauseWeCare Participant

A #ClapBecauseWeCare Participant

GIUSEPPE AND TERESA
(He has taken a video of a session from his window.)

JULIE, THE WOMAN WHO TOOK PHOTO-OP S OF MY GARDEN
SEE THEM BY CLICKING HERE AND HERE 

Session Twenty-Nine of #ClapBecauseWeCare (And Face Mask Info)

The face mask that I've been using (which can be seen in the photograph directly above, an image that you might recognize from a prior entry here on Blogger ) does not provide a tight enough fit, leaving extra space around the mask which sort of defeats the purpose of wearing  a mask.

Session 28 Took Place Last Night

JULIE, THE WOMAN WHO TOOK PHOTO-OP S OF MY GARDEN
SEE THEM BY CLICKING HERE AND HERE 

The image that is atop this entry was taken during last night's (4-23-2020) #ClapBecauseWeCare event which honors first responders and healthcare workers who are keeping New Yorkers as safe as possible during the coronavirus pandemic.

My aforementioned image features a sign that had a phone number (which I hid here for privacy purposes) that a woman posted on a poster board as she wanted me to call her and make arrangements to email copies of the photos I've taken during the sessions.

FAA Creates Face Masks From My Artwork

AVAILABLE VIA FINE ART AMERICA

AVAILABLE VIA FINE ART AMERICA

AVAILABLE VIA FINE ART AMERICA

AVAILABLE VIA FINE ART AMERICA

Fine Art America (FAA), a place that sells an array of my images for wall art (including my collection of black and white images as well as my dragon fly pictures, kaleidoscopic works and photos of an array of birds including the cardinals seen here), now has the ability to print certain selections on face masks.

As many of you know, the wearing of face masks has now been mandated in many areas in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

FAA's renditions of my photos on to masks can be seen in the pictures atop this entry.

It took quite a bit of finagling by the dear, talented Chris Deatherage but he "finally landed upon the URL that shows all four masks in one place."

Please take a look at my masks and share this info with anyone who might be interested. Thanks!

Earth Day & Session 27

WEB IMAGE FROM DAVE GRANLUND's GALLERY

This evening was Session 27 of #ClapBecauseWeCare (a few pictures of participants can been below).  Session 27 coincided with Earth Day, an event that reminds us how we need to take care of our fragile planet.

A #ClapBecauseWeCare Participant

A #ClapBecauseWeCare Participant

A #ClapBecauseWeCare Participant

And we need to be doing this tirelessly — with great vigilance — just as our first responders, front liners and essential workers are doing for us during this COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

#ClapBecauseWeCare Session 26 ETC

IMAGE CREDIT

For my 176th segment of Tuesday's Truths which is falling on the twenty-first of April, I'd like to begin by saying that one month ago today on March 21st, which was a Saturday, headlines were being made that NYC would be in a two week lockdown starting on Sunday night (the 22nd of March).

#ClapBecauseWeCare Session 25

A #ClapBecauseWeCare Participant

The 25th #ClapBecauseWeCare ended a couple of hours ago and as always, it was wonderful to be a part of this ritual which honors first responders, front liners and essential workers are doing in the wake of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

#ClapBecauseWeCare Session 24 ETC

A #ClapBecauseWeCare Participant

The 24th Session of #ClapBecauseWeCare took place last night (Sunday, April 19th) and through my long camera lens I discovered that someone in a building northwest of me has put a banner (see photo at the top of this entry) on his balcony in support of the on going #ClapBecauseWeCare movement to pay homage to first responders, front liners and essential workers who are keeping everyone as safe as possible during the ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 23rd Session

A #ClapBecauseWeCare Participant

Last night's #ClapBecauseWeCare Session 23 found me low on DSLR camera battery and low on personal battery (very bad pain from bruising my head and in need of arnicare) so I can only offer three pictures from last night's (Saturday, 4-18) event.

The first one can be seen atop this entry and I've been  trying to figure out what type of contraption is on the terrace below the man seen in this particular photo.

Someone suggested it might be a a stricture to deter pigeons from landing on that terrace. I'v e never noticed it before, then again, I'm not usually looking through a long camera lens at buildings in my vicinity to see who is participating in Clapping/Cheering Sessions.

I took a picture of it (seen directly below) in daylight a little while ago. I think the woman who made the suggestion is right. It's probably designed to deter pigeons from landing on the terrace below the window where the man was clapping last night.

A #ClapBecauseWeCare Participant

Not everyone appreciates pigeons, that's for sure, but I've included them in my three volume book series, Words In  Our Beak.

MY BOOK SERIES

As I've been saying here on Blogger, "During this time where many people are confined to their homes due to lockdown restrictions (re the coronavirus pandemic), these books (whose stories are set in my rooftop garden) are great to have around as a reminder that there is still so much beauty in our fallen world."

In any event, the other two photos I took of last night's clapping/cheering session can be seen in the next set of photo-ops.

A #ClapBecauseWeCare Participant

JULIE, THE WOMAN WHO TOOK PHOTO-OP S OF MY GARDEN
SEE THEM BY CLICKING HERE AND HERE 

A Report re The 22nd #ClapBecauseWeCare & Belated Observance re Haikus

#ClapBecauseWeCare Participants

#ClapBecauseWeCare Participants

#ClapBecauseWeCare Participants

A#ClapBecauseWeCare Participants

The twenty-second #ClapBecauseWeCare session that took place last evening. A couple who lives in the building directly across my courtyard did some "jamming" during last night's 22nd session of #ClapBecauseWeCare (as seen in photos atop this entry).

Session 21 & A message re hope...

Having an unnerving time these past few days. Being sheltered in place (due to a request from government officials during this coronavirus pandemic) is finally getting to me and yesterday, I accidentally banged my head on my door. I have a huge black and blue shiner and a massive headache so I'm in need of Advil Liquid Gel as it is the only pain reliever that works for me. The stress is compounded by the fact that I can’t seem to reach the super. Maybe he is in lock down or maybe I have the wrong number.

The light is off on the third landing and one of the tenants on that floor is not around. I think the woman across from her  is here but not full time because someone put a night light in the outlet on their floor. BUT the stairs that lead from their floor to the floor where the woman who lives below me is pitch black, for there is no skylight or any source of light on their floor.

When this all started the man that lives a cross from her continued to get tons of deliveries which is standard for him but I think he has now gone away. It is very scary going down those stairs.

Someone gave me a small flashlight which I was grateful to get because mine is broken but  unfortunately it is useless in that total darkness. I have a small battery operated lantern which I’ve been using.

Thankfully I've just received a phone call from the neighbor on my floor that she will be ordering a light to place on that floor via Amazon and the landlord will reimburse her for it, BUT, Amazon will not be able to deliver it to her for several days due to their back log and restrictions.

Moreover, I will be out of toilet paper this afternoon and while it has been ordered for me it will also be several days so I will cut up one of my shirts. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

ON A LIGHTER NOTE:

Yesterday, the owner of the building directly west of me created a play area out of colorful chalk for her toddler (it can be seen in the photo atop this entry). The bright colors of the chalk and the squeals of delight from her daughter are welcoming by yours truly.

#ClapBecauseWeCare Session Twenty

A CAT NAMED SNOOZE

The sweet looking cat seen in the photo atop this entry belongs Giuseppe and Teresa, a couple who lives in the building next store to me who I met during a #ClapBecauseWeCare session.

#ClapBecauseWeCare (Session 19)

SOOOO very thankful to be a part of the 19th session of #ClapBecauseWeCare which took place this evening.

I would never have come close to being a good nurse in this COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic (or many other circumstances for that matter) even though I played a nurse (in the 1980's) on the ABC-television daytime soap opera, One Life To Live (as seen in the image atop this entry).

Severe Weather Did Not Stop Session 19 (Tuesday's Truths WK 171)

MY ROOFTOP GARDEN IS THE SETTING FOR "WORDS IN OUR BEAK"

A massive storm pounded New York City Monday (April 13 2020) morning and afternoon with heavy rain and speedy gales that caused flooding and power outages across the five boroughs.

Because my crabapple tree toppled over this past Friday and no one can come to help me tie it to the railing until our lockdown is over, I secured it by placing a couple of my garden chairs around it (as seen in the image atop this entry).

The 17th Evening: An Inspiration to Decorate

A #ClapBecauseWeCare Participant

The 17th night of clapping and cheering (that has been dubbed #ClapBecauseWeCare) to honor first responders and healthcare workers who are keeping New Yorkers as safe as possible during the coronavirus pandemic took place last night.

I did not expect to see or hear so many participants tonight as it coincided with the evening of Easter and also an evening in Passover, BUT, much to my pleasant surprise, MANY participated (one an be seen in the image atop this entry and others in the series directly below)...

Easter Sunday 2020

In a recent post on my personal Facebook Page, I made a commitment to share a poem a day during the month of April in honor of this being National Poetry Month.

In the event the text of this poem too small or too pixelated within the golden backdrop that I created as an image, here's a copy of Oliver's poem:

Have you ever seen
anything
in your life
more wonderful
than the way the sun,
every evening,
relaxed and easy,
floats toward the horizon
and into the clouds or the hills,
or the rumpled sea,
and is gone–
and how it glides again
out of the blackness,
every morning,
on the other side of the world,
like a red flower
streaming upward on its heavenly oils,
say, on a morning in early summer,
at its perfect imperial distance–
and have you ever felt for anything
such wild love–
do you think there is anywhere, in any language
a word billowing enough
for the pleasure
that fills you,
as the sun
reaches out,
as it warms you
as you stand there
empty-handed–
or have you too
turned from this world–
or have you too
gone crazy
for power,
for things?

Because it is now Easter morning, I chose The Sun, by Mary Oliver, for today's selection to post there but wanted to share it here too. Re this poem, Robin Bates writes, "I have periodically turned to Mary Oliver to provide Easter poems, even though she seldom speaks overtly about religion. A number of her lyrics reenact the progress of Easter week, from dark suffering to miraculous release and ecstatic union with the divine. In 'The Sun,' Oliver’s main focus is on the moment of transcendence."

Session 16

#ClapBecauseWeCare Participants

JULIE, THE WOMAN WHO TOOK PHOTO-OP S OF MY GARDEN
SEE THEM BY CLICKING HERE AND HERE

The 16th night of clapping and cheering (that has been dubbed #ClapBecauseWeCare) to honor first responders and healthcare workers who are keeping New Yorkers as safe as possible during the coronavirus pandemic took place a little over twenty minutes ago.

I did not expect to see or hear so many participants tonight as it is Holy Saturday and also a day in Passover, BUT, much to my pleasant surprise, MANY participated (two can be seen in the image atop this entry and others in the series directly below)...