Joanna's "Inspired" COVID Playlist

Joanna's "Inspired" COVID Playlist

Rock Show

Lightning lights up the stage

Wind steps up to the mic

Thunder counts off

Rain lays it down

And the trees sway and mosh

Music by and for awesome women

This year I've happily been listening to more music than I have in a long time. Some rediscovery of old favorites, but mostly new recommendations, and mostly women. Some of it reminds of a certain band of awesome women from once upon a time in Boston. Maybe you'll find a new favorite in here, too.

Bee'ing

We are almost endlessly told to "be" something. Responsible, healthy, happy, successful, confident, and on it goes. Part of be is being. We are wired to have emotions, and we need to feel all of them. Being sad, angry, fearful, happy, bored, excited, all have a place in our experience of life. "Just being" is a state we strive for through meditation, walks in the woods, exercise, reading, creating.

Today I painted this bee, who is just bee'ing itself. 🐝

A song my band The Secret Sea wrote about "being something"

Happy Birthday Miss Mira

Today is the birthday of one of my dearest friends, Mira. She is an artist who studied and lived in Boston for many years. She made this little bunny pin from a painting she made something like 24 years ago. It's a little scratched, but I treasure it still, as I do her. 

She lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband and daughter. 

Happy Birthday, Mira! Love you!

Last night I wept

Yesterday was a perfectly fine day. Bright sunshine, budding plants, a day spent building the web portfolio for my old band, UV Protection for Sue's website - visiting that special time through her photos and videos. I went for a nice walk in the afternoon sunshine and came home and worked on my four-foot poppy painting. 

As I was preparing dinner, I leaned on the counter and wept like I haven't done for a long time. So many emotions welled up and came out. I wept for the stories I have read of people in the throes of COVID fighting for their lives, for the report that there are refrigerated trucks parked outside NY hospitals for the overflow of dead bodies (that one really got me). I felt grief for people dying alone, for the uncertainty of how close this will come to my loved ones and myself. What if I never get to see Veronica again? I cried for things already gone from my life and the regrets I feel.

In starting this blog I was hoping to have a place for my friends to share what they are doing and thinking in these times. I mostly try to find inspiration and gratitude, and be humble (thank you, Andi). I cracked last night with the positivity, but today gives us another try at simply enjoying this day we have the privilege to be alive and have our health. 

Please be well and do without instead of getting the thing you desire from the grocery store. Strawberry jam is just as yummy on pancakes as maple syrup is.

Love.

Wendall

Yesterday was Simon’s first work from home day. As soon as he sat down to work a woodpecker started pecking the wall next to his head. So, I painted him a portrait. I call him Wendall.

Humbled

I loved this post - and the feeling of being humbled - enough so that I saved it to re-read several more times. 

I have a neighbor who is incredibly mindful, who I regularly converse with on any number of things, especially energy work.  Last night he had sent a message checking in, especially in regards to the current state of the world.  He stated how it was sobering times - and I actually responded with the word humbled, and forwarded him the above writing.

He is a far better writer than I am - and his words filled me with hope, so I am going to share (some of) them:

"Humbled is a good word.  I see it as a really good opportunity for us, as individuals, and collectively, to assess how our current society meets (or fails to meet) our needs....We, the People, will have a chance on the other side of this, to make our society into something better, a society based in compassion rather than economic concerns, a society which is gentler to Mother Earth.  I think even though this may be a really difficult period to get through, that there's something beautiful waiting on the other side."

Keepin' it real

After a day of working on Sue's website, cooking (a mac 'n cheese fail), and riding my bike trainer, I settled in to watch a film. I was feeling content from a day well spent, with the snow coming down, and cozy all wrapped up in a yummy blanket when Simon poked his head into my studio and said: "you know we might already have the virus". 

Boom - feelings of contentment vanished. I replied, "Got any more good news?" and he quickly explained how he was expressing how many cases of Coronavirus are mild and if we got sick we might still be okay. I reminded him of my autoimmune and he reminded me I almost never get sick, and when I do I recover quickly, which I attribute to my daily dose of Apple Cider Vinegar.

I have been keeping track of the days I have been at home without symptoms - today marks 11 but for him only 3. So, even though I have been isolated Simon might have been exposed. Every trip to the grocery store resets the count. It made me realize the flaw in my sense of security about the days I have been self-quarantining. It also made me think about how are we ever going to get back to normal - the sense that even though everyone seems okay we might not be. 

The film I watched last night was set in the World War I era. One of the characters said "how will anything ever be normal again", while another (Maggie Smith) responded, "trust me, it won't be the same, but it will become the new normal". I have often thought about how I don't want to be the victim of someone else's bad decision - the distracted driver running me over, or off the road on the highway - it keeps me vigilant. The approach is the same - take every precaution and carry on. This sounds negative, but assume others are not being careful and be that much more careful. In the words of Evel Knievel, "other drivers are either blind or drunk, probably both".

Stay well, make good choices.

Freedom from the cage is risky

Joanna was out for a walk with her kids and look who they met! This colorful guy is far from home. He was found in North Cambridge. The local neighbors are looking for his home.

Look out for each other!

Popping in as an essential employee

February 8th, my entire life changed.  Every single second of my day for 12 years was filled with my best friend and soul mate, my dog Cooper.  On February 8th, I needed to make the decision to let him go.

While I know his energy and spirit would be nowhere else other than with me - it's been enormously difficult for me to not have him physically here.

Every single second of my day truly changed on that day.

And now stepping into COVID-19 and everything that has come with it - it's bizarre that this has changed nearly no aspects of my day-to-day life.

I am an essential employee - so I am required to be at work.  Have I limited my interactions with others here in the office - absolutely!  But not having Cooper here in my office with me had already dramatically changed how many stopped in. 

After having lost Cooper physically, I had already stepped into a cocoon of sorts.  I have been doing my best to be authentic with myself, my needs and my energy - and to allow myself to feel what I'm feeling.  I've been embarking on this with Gwendolyn, my cat, who physically lost her big brother and best friend.

So while I've added my bonus Grandfather's groceries to my list - as well as any necessities he needs as they pop up, and increased my anxiety levels over those that can't afford to be sick (the aforementioned is 85, my Father is immunocompromised, and my brother is an EMT on the front lines!) - realistically my routine day-to-day has marched on.

I know many people's lives have changed significantly surrounded COVID-19, and I'm not in any way attempting to not acknowledge that - I see you and thank you for quarantining yourselves!  It means a lot to those of us required to still be out.

The Power of Oats

I made old-fashion Oatmeal today - not the instant kind, but the kind that needs constant tending (trust me), or you will have a bit of a mess on your hands. This reminded me of my grandmother preparing pots of oats for us with brown sugar! We don't have brown sugar, so I put a dollop of strawberry preserves in my bowl, yum. Simon used honey.

My bowl of oats transported me to another time when I lived in Colorado and climbed a mountain almost every weekend. One particularly fond memory was a weekend some friends and I climbed Longs Peak, a 14,259-foot peak. We started before sunrise and cooked oatmeal over an open flame with apricots. That bowl got us up and down the mountain before the legendary afternoon storms struck. As we were getting back to the campsite a massive storm hit. The day had been sunny and gorgeous, so I didn't quite believe the hype, but I do now.

Today my bowl of oats will power us to complete the reorganization of our studios. Yesterday I sorted through 1200 cubic yards of clothing - how it all fits in our 853 sq foot house I cannot explain! Gah - I am committed to purging all extra things we have no use for anymore. Backbreaking, but I am super psyched to have a beautiful space to work in.

Last night Simon fell asleep at 7pm - I fretted all night he was coming down with the virus, but he woke up (early) and was sunny and bright, no symptoms.

Day 9 no symptoms. Be well, my friends.

Troop Zero

Do yourself a favor and watch this film. This one is for the outcasts, nerds, maybe the kids we all were. I would have fit right into this Tribe.

Today I am going for a long walk and continue the work on Sue's site. Simon brought his work computer home, along with his chair. We are going to create a workspace for each of us - lots of reconfiguring, and vacuuming - could use you and Sparky, Alex!

Day 8 - no symptoms

Just like being there

Tonight I went to a show. Not really, but my friend sent me a private video (sorry can't share) to watch his band, Hallelujah the Hills perform on their recent tour. They had to cut their tour short due to this crazy twist of fate we are all in - this was their last performance - sold out except only a few came. 

I didn't think it was possible to love these songs more, but this live performance is so special. I'm not isolated in my little loft  - I'm standing in front of the stage watching my favorite band mesmerize the audience. Thank you, Brian.

The Eagle flies at dawn...

This morning my cousin, who lives in Maine posted a photo he took of a tree filled with all Bald Eagles! 

"...If the eagle has appeared, it bestows freedom and courage to look ahead."

Yesterday was a confusing and upsetting day. Today I am inspired by the eagles to have the courage to look ahead. 

Today Simon begins working from home, which means I'm not alone, but also that we have to share the computer! We are doing two-hour alternating shifts, but since he is actually getting paid his work will take priority. I plan to paint, ride my bike trainer, read, and make pasta e fagioli and work on Sue's site some more. Yesterday I built 17 pages! Only about 70 more to go!!

Day 7 no symptoms.

Broke, but not broken

Found out I don't qualify for Unemployment benefits. I haven't earned enough wages in this quarter. It makes me worry about people who have so much less than me, but I'm worried about me, too.

Today I feel the need to do real work, so I'm working on my friend, Sue Murad's website - 30 years of her artwork. This site is going to be HUGE and beautiful, like her. Grateful to have something to do. The goal is to have this live by April 10th.

Day Six - no symptoms

Listening to PJ Harvey 

Follow up on the tofu

Yummmmmmm!

Nature has no equal

This indoor cat escaped outside for an adventure. Nature has no equal for soothing the soul. I wobbled and limped up and down this beautiful trail, just a few yards away from my house. My steps and birds were the only sounds you could hear. Heaven.

Back home enjoying a bowl of beans and about to resume work on my big painting. Plans to work on that, my friend's website, and hop on the bike trainer to move my legs and get some bike fitness back.

Planning to make some kind of spicy tofu with garlicky greens for tonight's meal. xo to you all.

11.5 Day Challenge

Apparently, the incubation period for COVID-19 is 4 - 11.5 days. 11.5? The half on the eleventh day is throwing me for a loop. Like is there is a time-release capsule ready to explode after you made it 11 days without symptoms? 

I don't know about you, but I'm on day four of quarantine with no symptoms. That leaves 7.5 days to go before I can feel secure I don't have it. Soooo, that brings me to the challenge. I am attempting to paint something 24" by 36" - larger than anything else I have done. I usually paint for 3-4 hours with something finished at the end of it. This is to teach me to be patient, methodical, careful, and enjoy each brushstroke. Today I learned every flower on my canvas needs the care of an individual painting - tomorrow I need to refine what I have so far. I have put it away for the night to return to it tomorrow. The afternoon passed without anxiety - I put on dreamy Mazzy Star and painted poppies. 

Whoever wants to join my challenge - maybe tackle something you never have time for or feel daunted by. What are 11.5 days in the grand scheme? Hopefully, I will have a pretty canvas to brighten my construction zone kitchen.

Seeing Double

Posts appearing twice - annoying. Seems to have resolved. Carry on!

Indoor Cats

Hey friends. 

This is Deborah - I'm your friend who is also an indoor cat for the foreseeable future. My first day of quarantine (yesterday) was spent feeling restless and weird. Things that helped were to make stuff - painting, drawing, website design, and food, and so on. But what really makes a difference is to stay connected with my friends. I am experimenting with this platform as a place for friends to share what they are doing in these days of isolation. 

You will receive an invite to contribute to this blog - no pressure or obligation to post, but it would be nice to see you here!