Day 148

Day 148, self quarantine:

Sunday, August 9, 2020

Okay, I don’t understand it, either.

Yesterday, there was concrete proof Russia is helping Trump win the election and the GOP is accepting it.

There was also more undisputed proof that Trump is destroying the United States Post Office.

And then, for the cherry on top, he illegally gutted the funding for Social Security and Medicare...and issued his own version of federal unemployment, cutting it in half to $300...and here’s the kicker they’re not talking about...you’ll only get it if your state also kicks in $100 a week.  Since many states are almost bankrupt, they’re not going to be able to come up with the money.

It doesn’t matter, this is all illegal, anyway.

Trump can’t bypass Congress.

Only a dictator can do that.

But there’s thirty million Americans who have zero way to eat without any federal money and at this point, they’re so terrified they’ll probably accept anything.

Donald knows this.  He is evil beyond belief.

So the next few days are going to be interesting.

Or very, very depressing.

Where are the loud and angry Democrats?

Is everyone just going to let this happen?

Okay, I’ll stop.

I’m gonna shift gears.

Yesterday, we had a radiance of cardinals in our backyard and Gary and I were mesmerized.

A “radiance” is what you call a group of cardinals.  Isn’t that the coolest name ever?

Damn, if bands were still a thing, The Radiance is a great band name.

Anyway, not only did they finally use the bird bath, we watched Lou feed baby Lou, Jr. and I even googled it because Gary and I were completely freaked out.

But yeah, the bright red dad feeds the baby while the beige with red tips mom already begins preparing a nest for her next baby.

I couldn’t get any pictures of all the activity in my yard yesterday but Eric got a great pic of Steve, who plants himself in that picnic table all freaking day and stares at us.

Omg I love nature.

I really think I am just going to sit outside and read today and avoid all news.

I’m so over that evil bastard.

If he dies, please text me.

I gotta tell you, I’m at a point where I’m done with anyone and anything that makes me unhappy.

I’m talking back now, and not suffering any fools.

I have nothing to lose at this point, I’m old and almost retired.

Yay quarantine.

Oy.

Okay, I’m outta here.  

Happy Sunday!

Day 147

Day 147, self quarantine:

Saturday, August 8, 2020

Eric spent all day yesterday with us and it was glorious.

And now it’s 7:30 a.m. and we just hugged him goodbye and I don’t know if I’m ever going to be able to look at this picture without sobbing.

When Eric regaled us with stories of being a new home owner, I laughed and commiserated and swallowed the lump of sadness that Gary and I are not a part of anything in his new life and how crazy it is he’s been living there since May 1 and we haven’t even seen his new house yet.

Okay, I’m being a drama queen, I know Gary and I will always be a part of Eric’s life - he is cursed with our DNA.

But as Eric told me last night, “I see my parents more than any of my friends!  Before the pandemic, I used to see you guys once a month or at least every couple of months!”

Oy.

Once again I relayed the story of families and Philadelphia neighborhoods to Eric, telling him how generations of families would live in say, South Philadelphia.  Your parents lived down the street, your grandparents around the corner.  Every Friday nightyou all had dinner together.

Eric gets it but didn’t say what he was also thinking - The world has changed, mom.

I know, but instead of crying on the spot like I felt like doing, I retreated back to my comfort zone of fantasizing that Eric and Natalie raise their family in a town that we’ll all, Julie and Katie, too, want to relocate to.

Eric’s visit was incredible because he’s incredible and does it make me a terrible clinging person if I want him in my life every day?

Or at least weekly...bimonthly... I don’t care, anything is better than this.

Anyway, I’m not going to be all sad or depressed today.  I’m determined to go back to living a day at a time and not squandering precious minutes being miserable over something I can’t fix today.

But I gotta start working on Gary again to part with possessions with an eye toward the future and we both have to lose our very strong attachment to this house or we’re going to end up being iPad grandparents and that’s just unacceptable.

We’ve been quarantined so long we’re living in a loop right now and Gary and I don’t really think about much these days beyond What should we have for dinner but America is a scary place right now and there are terrible things happening.

Donald is gutting the post office.

Getting mail on time is something we took for granted.

Those days are over and if you don’t think that’s a problem, then I guess you don’t know anyone who gets their medication or checks in the mail.

Or votes via mail in ballot.

Got it now?

On Friday, the Republican Senate left town without passing a stimulus bill.

Forty million Americans are now starting their second week being totally cut off from $600 Federal weekly unemployment in the middle of a raging pandemic.

Donald went golfing...but wait!  He called a press conference for 7:00 p.m. last night!  Was he going to ride in on his white horse and sign an (illegal) Executive Order extending federal unemployment?

No.

What followed was a bizarre appearance at his country club with his $300,000 annual dues paying members in attendance, not wearing masks or being socially distant, holding glasses filled with expensive wine, cheering him on while he made bizarre promises, a speech so unhinged Fox News cut away from him.

He said he’s going to sign an Executive order requiring health insurance companies to provide coverage for preexisting conditions for all Americans.

Except dude, that’s Obamacare, the very thing you’re trying to overturn in court.

Anyway, to those paying attention, it was Donald’s Let Them Eat Cake Moment combined with the Mad fucking Hatter.

All he wanted last night was applause and the wealthy drunken imbeciles in attendance gave him what he desired.

So I guess he knows he can cheat and steal this election no matter what?

I hope I’m wrong but it’s not looking good.

The election is three months away and the Republicans aren’t even trying to rein him in.  

They’re actually going to abandon forty million unemployed Americans?

I still don’t believe it.

Maybe seeing what happened last night will have everyone so appalled they will reach a deal Monday.

Fingers crossed.

Oy, sorry, I went from talking about Eric to Donald.

But this is the apocalypse diary so I gotta write exactly what I’m thinking.

Anyway, I’m gonna regroup and salvage the day.

Happy Saturday!

Day 146

Day 146, self quarantine:

Friday, August 7, 2020

Omg it’s Friday AND Eric’s here AND there was pizza.

I made everyone pose for this selfie at midnight after Eric drove here 12 hours straight from Nashville and I woke up from a nap on the sofa after trying to stay awake but do you think we were happy to see each other after seven months or what!

Okay, let me take care of some business first.

Today is Bandcamp Friday.

That means there’s a way to support musicians out of work due to Covid-19.

Any purchase you make today goes 100% to the artist, and many are offering one day only special purchases.

https://daily.bandcamp.com/features/bandcamp-covid-19-fundraiser

https://daily.bandcamp.com/features/update-on-bandcamp-fridays

Today you can grab Eric’s new record over at Bandcamp before its official release next Friday.

https://ericslick.bandcamp.com/

Julie is offering a very special record today as well.

https://julieslick.bandcamp.com/

“I Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore 2020” is Julie’s latest... I am thinking it includes her incredible performance of The Fish from Saturday night.

I don’t think I have to remind anyone my kids have been unemployed this year.  I’m pretty proud of how they’re handling everything, but I know how devastating 2020 has been for them and every other musician.

Bandcamp Fridays are a great way to help.

Anyway, I’m too excited with Eric here to spend time writing this morning.  I didn’t even wake up til almost 7:00 today and Eric fell asleep on the sofa.  Jake remembered Eric is here, and that’s actually how I just woke up - Jake was hanging over me, waiting to fly down the steps to see him. Since Gary is snoring like he’s going to sleep until noon, I am coming to you from my office in Julie’s bedroom.

I have a lot to talk about, though, including a new book I just got yesterday that I started reading and couldn’t put down...

And Donald...omg where to begin but I will leave it at Oh yeah, I used to smoke Thigh sticks in the seventies 😂

Congress apparently took a recess without passing relief packages for 40 million Americans out of work, including the $600 federal weekly unemployment that expired last week, so Donald PotusVirus is going to sign executive Orders himself today.

Donald, if you’re listening, how about one of your grandiose, Adderall infused Orders where you give every unemployed American $1200 a week through December 31?  Because that’s what a person needs to survive with dignity in 2020.

Do you believe those Republican bastards are denying and begrudging people $600 a week, $540 after they deduct taxes, for food and shelter?

These are people who pay that for a bottle of wine with dinner without flinching.

I hate those motherfuckers so much.

So Donald didn’t resign, Joe didn’t pick his Vice President yet, and federal unemployment is still not resolved.

But Eric is here and that’s the only prediction I made this week that would have broken my heart if it didn’t happen so all is wonderful in my world.

And today isn’t over yet.

You never know what can happen.

How about that $1200 a week, Donald?

Day 145

Day 145, self quarantine:

Thursday, August 6, 2020

Eric is coming!  Eric is coming!

Eric will be here tonight and really, that’s it, that’s my post for today.

Okay, there’s a few other things.

NJ Attorney General Letitia James has a major announcement coming at 11:30 a.m. this morning.

This announcement followed on the heels of yesterday’s New York Times stunner letting us know Deutsche Bank has finally supplied NY prosecutors with Donald’s financial records.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/05/nyregion/trump-taxes-vance-deutsche-bank.html

I’m gonna sum it up for you in the most basic language:

The President of the United States is a money laundering criminal, in bed with unfriendly foreign governments.

What’s money laundering? See the pic for a quick and easy lesson.

Trust me, PotusVirus is guilty.

Woo, he was still awake after midnight last night having a spectacular unhinged meltdown on Twitter.

So this should be a fun morning.

There is another possibility about this announcement.  AG James has been investigating the NRA so maybe some of their people will be indicted and that’s fine with me, too.

They can all go down, and not in the good way.

I tell you this because I am still shocked by how crappy local news is.  None of this has been mentioned this morning.

Nor is there any mention of the $600 weekly federal benefit that ended Friday. There’s literally going to be 40 million people in America without enough money to eat.

There’s a reason much of downtown Philadelphia is still boarded up.

But okay, tell us again about Escort Barbie I mean Melania’s Rose Garden renovations.

Oy, okay, I hate these people so much it’s ridiculous and I don’t like this toxic feeling first thing in the morning so that’s enough.

For now.

Back to Eric.

Gary and I were nuts enough to listen to Nashville radio all day yesterday and heard Eric’s song six times!  Then the DJ did an hour of music by Eric’s band, Dr. Dog, which Eric curated.

Gary and I were kvelling all over the place.

Hearing your child on the radio never gets old.

“Okay, Boomer.”

😂😂😂

Eric has requested a Charlie’s pizza for dinner tonight.

Charlie’s Pizza is an institution in the Philadelphia neighborhood (Olney) where Gary and I grew up.  It’s been around over 60 years and Gary used to drive there once a week for pizza all during the kids’ childhood.

http://charlies-pizzeria.com/

I’m more of a boardwalk pizza gal but I’ll never say No to Charlie’s.  It’s thicker than I usually like - a Charlie’s pizza weighs like ten pounds - but it’s damn good.

I think it’s sweet that Eric asked for that.

He does have fond memories of us after all. 😜

Tomorrow night he requested Gary’s infamous breakfast for dinner:  Egg, potato and (mock) ham hash with biscuits.  Eric doesn’t know it yet but Gary is baking the newest version of his biscuit - he adds a cup of grated cheddar and a ton of cracked black pepper and serves them with honey butter.

I probably talked about those biscuits here before.  They’re pretty deadly.

After Eric requested that, he texted, “I may even cry when I eat it .”

After which Gary and I both cried.

So here’s a question:  Do we wear masks during Eric’s visit?

Oy vey.

Eric was tested for the virus this week and is negative.  We haven’t been tested, but other than a trip for corn on Sunday to an outdoor market and Trader Joe a week ago Sunday, we’re strictly quarantined.

How are you guys handling this?

Jfc this is weird.

So...I’m not even going to be able to hug Eric?

Okay, I’ll stop.  I’m not happy unless I’m being neurotic.

Note to self:  Work on that.

Speaking of work...

Nah, let’s not.  I’m over work.  I’m going to use my vacation at the end of the month for huge decisions 😎

So that’s it for now, I’m going to run around like a mad woman straightening up Casa Slick today.  I clean on Saturday so you can imagine what this place looks like by Thursday with both of us home and one of us an unbelievable slob.

Behave yourselves today, okay?

Or not 😎.

Day 144

Day 144, self quarantine:

Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Yo, Semite!

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/08/04/trump-mispronounces-yosemite-white-house-event/3289122001/

Well, you know I had to say it.

How fucking stupid is he?

Rhetorical question.

And here I thought he was saying Good morning to me.

😂😂😂😂😂😂

The Axios interview, in case you missed it yesterday, confirms he’s an idiot, mentally ill, and likely cognitively impaired and/or dementia ridden.

You need to see this.

https://www.axios.com/full-axios-hbo-interview-donald-trump-cd5a67e1-6ba1-46c8-bb3d-8717ab9f3cc5.html

Feh!

Okay, now on to the really important stuff.

Today is the United States radio premier of my son’s new single, Closer to Heaven, and it’s song of the day on Nashville’s Lightning 100.  It will be broadcast 8:30, 10:30, 12:30, 4:30, 8:30 p.m. That’s Nashville time so move it up an hour for eastern, i.e. 9:30 a.m., 11:30 etc.

https://lightning100.com/howtolisten/

So that’s exciting.  For Gary and me, anyway.

And Eric will be here tomorrow night!

Thank god he didn’t come yesterday.  What the hell was that?  Isaias wut?  It was like the end of the world out there, raining sideways and who needs electricity, right?

Woo that storm was so 2020.

I’m not liking what I’m reading about the east coast and hurricanes this season. Apparently Isaias is the first of many.  

https://grist.org/climate/its-official-the-2020-atlantic-hurricane-season-is-going-to-be-bad/

Yay.  Guess we’re stocking up on candles and batteries at Casa Slick.

And chocolate.  

I can’t believe how fast summer is going by.  It’s surreal.

Here’s what else I can’t believe. It’s August 5 and my summer clothes are still in storage.  I have a couple black t-shirts and jeans I wear year round. Any time I get out of my pajamas to go out since quarantine, I just wear jeans and a black t-shirt.  Every couple of wears I throw them the wash.

Omg, I just realized I’ve been wearing the same clothes over and over since March.

Who am I kidding, most of the time when I go out, I wear pajamas but still. Occasionally I get dressed.

What’s crazy is that up until six months ago, I was pretty spoiled and shallow.  I bought myself a whole new work wardrobe every season.

My drawers and closets are overflowing.

Wow.  It occurs to me I should bag all of my work clothes and donate them.  I mean, I’m never getting dressed up in those clothes again.

Passages, baby.

I’ve sort of settled into this weird new life.  So has Gary. We’re both eccentric and unapologetic.

I mean, I have twenty minutes of video footage of a bird eating in our yard this weekend that I geeked out over while recording.

I can’t believe how lucky I’ve been to get a free taste of retirement.  I fucking love it, and that’s without being able to go anywhere!  Wait til I can hop on a plane anytime I want.

Oy, whenever that is.

Tuscanyyyyyyy...

Ooh, speaking of Tuscany, Gary made a leftover cacio e pepe frittata last night.  It was INSANE.

I need to take better food pics, I know, but I’m always too much in a hurry to eat.

You can’t really blame me.

Anyhow, I guess that’s it for today.

Actually, no.  More Eric news.

Here’s a podcast he did with Natalie: https://t.co/nZoGENEahf?amp=1.  

Here’s a live stream he’s doing today: https://karduskosong.xyz/live.php?artist=Voices%20for%20Choice%20with%20Amanda%20Shires%20Becca%20Mancari%20Eric%20Slick%20Katie%20Pruitt%20Liza%20Anne%20and%20more&venue=New%20York%20US#

Okay, I’m outta here.

Peace out, apocalypse dudes.

Day 143

Day 143, self quarantine:

Tuesday, August 4, 2020

We have the remnants of Hurricane Isaias here in Philadelphia today and right now it’s super groovy at Casa Slick, all dark and stormy.

Haha, easy for me to say it’s groovy, I can stay indoors and we still have power.  We’ll see how that goes later today.

I’m keeping my phone charged at 100%.  I have a bad feeling about this.  Sixty mile an hour winds in Philadelphia in August really?

Mother Nature is pissed at us.

Haha I see dementia ridden PotusVirus is bleating OPEN THE SCHOOLS this morning.

Here’s my reply to him just now:

“Only if you send your son, Barron.  (But really, PotusVirus, you should send Eric 😂😂😂) #TrumpVirus”

What an unbelievable asshole.

In case you don’t know, he’s NOT sending Barron back to school because Barron’s school is responsibly CLOSED.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/01/politics/barron-trump-private-school-maryland-order-coronavirus/index.html

But wait!  As of this morning, the governor issued an Order!

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/08/03/barron-trump-school-can-open-following-maryland-govs-order/5574383002/

Soooo...what will Donald say now?  You think there’s any way he’s sending his son to school?  

Of course Barron’s school probably has five kids to a classroom and the very best virus testing and contact tracing in place but whatever.

I just hope a reporter asks that question of PotusVirus today at his sham coronavirus briefing that’s really a cheesy campaign rally.

Ugh.  A more repulsive human never waddled on the streets of America.  

Except for the people who like him, that is.  Yikes.

Fox News has brainwashed one third of this country.  The stupid is fucking unbelievable.

Right now they have people thinking absentee ballots and mail in ballots are two different things.  Omfg.

Whenever I have caught a few seconds of Sean Hannity speaking, his mouth literally looks like a talking rectum.

It’s pretty hilarious.  Seriously, next time you see him on television, watch his mouth.

Never mind, I’ll post a pic here.  Forgive me for the instant vomit reflex.

It’s really an anus, people.

😂😂😂😂😂😂

And by the way, regarding mail in ballots, you need to know THIS, because local news isn’t telling you.

https://www.inquirer.com/columnists/attytood/post-office-bailout-blocked-by-trump-gop-20200416.html

https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a33470925/trump-destroy-postal-service-2020-election/

https://billmoyers.com/story/outrage-as-trump-crony-now-heading-usps-moves-to-slow-mail-delivery/

Trump is destroying the United States Post Office to cheat in the election.

Okay?  Got it now?  

Donald Trump is the worst person in American history.  

You disagree?  Who else in American history is an accomplice to the deaths of over 150K innocent Americans?

And one reporter from the Washington Post?

Yeah, that’s right.  Khashoggi.  Remember him?

I do.

Okay, enough.

Moving on, Gary and I continue to be amazed by the critters visiting our garden for happy hour.  I actually filmed Georgette eating some birdseed last night but I figured you’d think I was nuts posting it.

I can’t help be enthralled, I am 100% a city person who has lived in downtown Philadelphia for over forty years.  Watching birds is something I’ve never done, and the fact that cardinals are visiting our tiny city garden is blowing me away.

Oh, quarantine.  You’ve taken so much from us, but your gifts are also precious.

I guess.

Okay the birds are awesome but I’d rather see my damn kids.

And with that, I’m off to have some coffee and enjoy the storm.

And continue to meditate on Donald’s resignation and/or...

Party on!

Day 142

Day 142, self quarantine:

Monday, August 3, 2020

Welcome to week whatever.

Woo, I’m calmer today because I have no choice, but understand why I flipped out yesterday.

This is a country hurting.

There are NONE of us who haven’t been affected by this virus.  We either know someone who had it or someone who died from it.  If somehow you don’t, then you at least know someone who lost their job or a business that closed.

Whether your life has been turned upside down or you’ve merely been inconvenienced, you’ve been affected.

But while forty million Americans out of work are having nightmares about the abrupt end of the $600 weekly federal lifeline, and, the virus raged unchecked, this weekend PotusVirus went golfing.

And when he wasn’t golfing, Donald tweeted horrible, divisive comments that created chaos and anger, where a real President, a real person, not human garbage, would be a calming force, someone who cared about all citizens, not just the ones who “like him” and would try to allay our fears and work with the House and Senate through the weekend 24/7 until whenever a deal was reached so that no one out of work would have to worry about food and shelter.

Or dying.

I just don’t understand the cruelty.

I never will.

And in the name of Christianity.

Mind boggling that Evangelical Christians don’t see through his hypocrisy.

Well, on second thought...they’re PFS (pretty fucking stupid)

😂😂😂😂😂😂

So Gary, Jake and I went for a drive to get out of the house before I imploded.  Here’s the obligatory pic of Jake and me while we waited for Gary to buy fresh corn so he could make corn fritters for dinner.

Because comfort food.  Omg.  So good.

At the beginning of quarantine, I had a hard time getting Jake to sit still for the camera, now he’s like yeah, whatever, how’s this pose?

When we got home, the bird bath and feeder were here so we set them up all excited, put on the hockey game — yay Flyers — and kept watching out the screen door.

Lou and Georgette stopped by, but they only ate birdseed on the ground and didn’t use the feeder or swoop by for a drink at cocktail hour.

Those birds better eat and drink at Casa Slick at their newly refurbished expensive digs or I’m never gonna hear the end of it from Gary.

Steve and Eydie, however, dined at their picnic table all day.  It’s freaking hilarious.

Maybe Gary can pick them up some dinnerware next time he’s at Aldi.

Gary’s actually pissed at those two wacky squirrels, he thinks they’re scaring off the cardinals.

Oy.

I can’t believe all this drama in my little garden.  Nature is so amazing.

So this is a big week.  Biden is going to name his choice for Vice President.  I’m happy with everyone on the short list.  I admit to favoring someone but there’s no one who’s a dealbreaker.

And Trump is going to resign. I feel it. 😜

And I guess...if any Republicans want to get re-elected...this week will also bring some sort of deal on a federal unemployment stimulus package.

You realize my entire family was receiving those benefits.

My kids’ living has been ripped out from under them.

So yeah, I’m a little emotional.

That, and every day for the past month, all of my Facebook memories are Gary and me and the kids at the beach or Gary and me at concerts seeing Eric, Natalie and Julie play. Every time I see a photo my eyes tear up.

Also, seeing Julie Saturday night “live” streaming just made us miss her all the more.

Damn,  that concert though.  “The Fish” was so brilliant.

Oh to see Julie play that in
person.

This virus has taken so much.

Anyway, in better news, as long as Philadelphia doesn’t get slammed with a hurricane or anything else, Eric will be here, staying at Casa Slick, Thursday-Saturday.

Gary and I are so excited it’s almost heartbreaking.

This is when working remotely really pays off.

So, to recap:  This week will bring news of a great female Vice President, full extension of federal unemployment, Trump’s resignation, and, a couple of days with my son.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Happy Monday.