The Walls of Pride are High and Wide, Can't See Over to the Other Side

You would never know the country was in chaos by this bright spinach salad and nicely seared pork chop that I happily served up after work.  I'm pretty sure we should always try to be in a state of peace no matter what the environment we're in, if possible.  Maybe especially in times like this, we need to check our own actions and reactions. 

Biggie Salad

An Example of How Not to Be

So this is one of many videos I shot from my window during the protests.  Literally our view take it or leave it.  What was interesting was the variety of super cool happenings versus utter nonsense.   In this case, these cops were following a group of people that chose to go rogue past curfew.  These were adults this time and it was unclear who was throwing what, but at one point I'm pretty sure it came from our neighbors across the street.  We're watching as the group passes and when we see our NYPD out there, more the festival variety, not our finest per say but nonetheless regular New Yorkers just doing their ill-paying job but on this night with a lot less respect.  I felt a little sorry for them.  I mean, sure you could argue cops everywhere need more training and to be held more accountable for sure, no argument but just like us, they're not all bad.  On the human side, looking at them just having to take so much shit that they personally had nothing to do with, I felt for them.  Then suddenly, as you'll hear in the video many of our neighbors start calling the cops names, Fucktard, Go home, Get a real job, cursing at them and one announces I'm a fucking lawyer you fat piece of shit.  And I immediately want to yell back, And what's worse than a fat piece of shit cop you millennial piece of shit NY lawyer, money leech asshole mutherfucker!???  But I didn't, because like I said, I'm pretty sure it's best to stay in a state of peace no matter what the situation is at hand.  But still, I hated the thought of these creeps representing my whole block especially a lawyer who announces they're a lawyer.  I am completely 100% for protesting bad cops, misuse of power, corruption, the wrongful killing of George Floyd, all of that.  This to me, is not that.  

It's a Rich Man's Game No Matter What They Call It

2nd day back to work and the ol' assembly line is picking up again, life is moving at a faster pace.  I, however, am not quite there yet.  On coming home exhausted P stepped up again and attempted an egg scramble that somehow tasted amazing.  This day marked New York City's first curfew in 75 years.  I was in bed by 8pm and had no issues with De Blasio's decision on this particular night.  This meant I would not be asked to work late, something I was super fearful of whilst the world was in turmoil.  But so many people would need to travel to work at night and let's face it, that would be people of color and that was a problem waiting to happen.  You only hoped it would be clear to law enforcement who was commuting to and from work and who was breaking curfew for other reasons. 

I Got a Fever of a Hundred and Three

Made the official return to work at the big yellow retail box, minus the customers.  It was great to talk to humans I know and see them in the flesh.  It was also strange to be in an environment post-COVID, but mid-protests.  At the beginning of the day there was confusion as to who long we would stay because of rioting.  So many coworkers did get the virus while away and even though we had to sign a paper stating we would not discuss, the first story out of the main manager's mouth on the microphone at the rally was how he was rushed to the hospital with a high fever and went through a harrowing experience days after we closed.  I instantly thought of the moment that same week he made me shake the hand of a visitor from Spain that he had just flown back to New York with, this being before we even knew of the European influence, before masks but way after I had become preoccupied with germs.  I said to my coworker, not jokingly well let's start counting the days because they both just flew on a damn plan and that man was from out of the country.  This guy is super healthy, about my age, runs marathons and is impossibly tall as my husband says but I could see it in his eyes, he'd been through it and came out the other side, just like us.   So that erased any morsel of blame I may have wanted to put on him.  Plus, in reality that place was a cesspool with thousands of customers from everywhere, just like anywhere in Brooklyn so I could have caught it from just about anyone.  I learned of another main manager that has been battling cancer but somehow caught a mild case and recovered, thank goodness.  She's about half my size and I had worried she would never make it.  Lots of the 'youts' joked about their very mild bouts, just a little cough for a few days, loss of smell, a positive test and that was it.  But many folks lost family members and in general, being together was like being at a wake.  Seeing people you love sharing in some kind of weird grief yet there is some joy, certainly a comforting togetherness.  

Sweet Potato taco- A hearty and healthy mix of refried black beans & roasted sweet potatoes topped with queso fresco and slightly spicy dried chile salsa

Pollo Yucateco, Barbacoa, El Pastor tacos

Later, P had Tacombi tacos waiting after a full day of retail therapy.  

Swedish Meatballs, gravy, potatoes and green beans for lunch of course.