Until the Lights Go Up: June 2020

Daddy, What Did You Do During the Pandemic? (So Far)

For me, being home began on 17 March 2020. When I reached 17 June 2020, my three month anniversary, I marked the occasion by posting a gif of a flaming dumpster in flood waters. I am still home and may be that way for a while. (No worries, I'm okay. Just a little weirded out.)

So, how have I spent my time, you ask? Here is a rundown of my activities so far:

Watched a lot of movies. Over 125 features and shorts.

Of which:

One was by Francois Truffaut

One was from Venezuela

Two were from Aardman

Two were by David Lynch

Two were by Taiki Waititi

Two were from Taiwan

Three were Documentaries

Three were by Disney

Four were by Patrick Rea

Five were by Makoto Shinkai

Five were by Alice Guy-Blache

Six were from Pixar

Ten were Zombie films

Ten were Silent films

Twenty-two were from Japan

Thirty-three were Animated films

Plus:

Attended the Sohome Horror Film Festival on line. (Three features, ten short films)

Attended the Sohome Horror Film Festival - Pride Edition on line. (Eight short films)

Binged a number of shows:

The Hollow (season 2) Netflix

The Last Kids on Earth (season 2) Netflix

The Owl House (season 1) Disney XP

Gravity Falls (season 2) Disney XP

Parasyte: The Maxim (season 1) Netflix

Kipo and the Age of the Wonderbeasts (season 2) Netflix

Upload (season 1) Amazon

Outlander (most of five seasons. Couldn't help it. I was in the same room as the Good Lady Wife binged it) Starz

Household Activities

Cleaned up a Wood Pile in the back yard that represented years of build up. Thanks to recent storms, there is more deadfall to process.

Shredded bags of old bills and such, some of which were 20 years old. Of course, I first bought a Shredder. To give you some sense of how much was around, it took four weeks to get everything through recycling (seven lawn bags full).

Worked extensively on my Family History by finally processed all the little pieces of paper that contained genealogical data. And thanks to the Library, had free Ancestry.com for about a month and a half. I am now approaching 10,000 names in my database.

Found that backyard Birding was better than expected (saw a Black & White Warbler, a Pileated Woodpecker and a Rose-Breasted Grosbeak). Still maintaining seven feeders in the backyard. Supply of safflower seed is back as the Wild Bird Center reopened. As it's about a half hour drive to the store, I've stocked 80 pounds of safflower and 40 pounds of peanut splits.

Watched a fox stalk a blue jay in the backyard. Watched the four groundhogs feed on the clover on the back lawn. Watched the chipmunks chase each other and empty our bird feeders. Wondered what happened to the rabbits we used to have around. Where is Marlin Perkins when I need him?

Managed a week up in the Poconos.

Read three and a half books. Books 2 & 3 of the "Last Kids on Earth" series, "The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse" and half of "Good Omens".

Finally got to visit Mom. I hadn't seen her since the week before Christmas. Thanks to New Jersey finally coming out of quarantine and the Good Lady Wife's unit at the hospital going back to it's usual status and no longer a Covid Unit. Yes, she was on the front lines.

Speaking of Covid, I would drive my Good Lady Wife back and forth to the hospital where she works. Recently found that the train could take her in, but I still had to pick her up in the morning. Starting 28 June 2020, her morning train from downtown is back and I will only have to pick her up on Satuday and Sunday mornings.

By the time you read this, I may have taken the Contract Tracing course online. It is being given by Johns Hopkins.

Finally framed my beer cap mess into a decorative hanging beer cap mess.

I have been cooking most days. I learned that Cream of Chicken Soup is not good to use with Roast Beef Enchiladas (even if the recipe calls for it). The story is that I had leftover roast beef and wanted to do something interesting with it. I found a recipe online for Enchiladas. It called for cream of chicken soup to be used. I made them as the recipe dictated. I liked them. I was the minority opinion. The old adage about being able to eat one's mistakes came into play, as I finished them over a couple of lunch times. Next time, Cream of Mushroom soup instead.

This is my TENTH blog post for the period.

Discoveries:

Tubi

the Fire Stick

Disney+

Putlocker

Sam's Club is better for deliveries than Costco

MasterClass (Thank you for the lessons, Mr. Gaiman)

"The Land where the Unfindable is Findable" (Weis Market).

Zoom and had several family meetings and discussed my writing with a publisher.

The joys of being 60 and getting into stores an hour before everyone else.

This is the carrier bag that goes back and forth to work with me. It is empty. The keys for the office are off my key ring. My wall hangings from around my desk are now home, as are my pens. I didn't lose my job. I know where it is. But when I go there, no one is doing it. (Thank you, Bobcat Goldthwaite)

Will Ernie work again?

Where will he work?

Will things turn around and his old job will return?

And...

What about Naomi?

For the answer to these and other questions (Is Key Lime Pound Cake a lifestyle choice?), tune in next time to Until the Lights Go Up!

The Beauty of Broad Street

I have always been a fan of architecture.

In college, a friend waxed poetics about the current trend in glass and steel buildings and pointed out that they don't make old buildings anymore.

True, they don't. But they do restore them!

What I'd like to show is some of the restoration, some of the preservation and some of the dilapidation of Broad Street in Philadelphia. There is beauty in the brickwork. My hope is that more people see it.

The Divine Lorraine Hotel

Built between 1892 and 1894, the Lorraine Apartments was a luxury dwelling for the rich who populated North Philadelphia. In 1948, Father Divine purchased the hotel, renaming it the Divine Lorraine Hotel. It was the first racially integrated hotel in America. Although the building was closed in 1999, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. Graffitied and crumbing, the hotel was purchased at a sheriff's sale in 2012. In 2015, the restoration began. Today, it is once again a landmark on Broad Street.

The Metropolitan Opera House

The Philadelphia Opera House, as it was originally called was built in 1908. It was sold and renamed the Metropolitan Opera House. Opera was its primary function in the beginning, but its use broadened to include the showing of silent films, a ballroom, a venue for basketball, boxing and wrestling, and more. In 1954, it became a church. By 1988, the congregation had moved on and the building was judged to be dangerous. Thankfully, it was saved from the wrecking ball and was restored starting in 2012. The Met was listed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1972.

The Uptown Theater

This is a personal favorite of mine. Built in 1927, The Uptown Theater is a wonderful example of Art Deco. Starting as a movie theater specially built for the talkies, the Uptown would become one the great venues for African American musicians to play. From 1951 into the late 1970s, the Uptown would rival the Apollo Theater in Harlem for quality entertainment. Even comedians like Redd Foxx and Flip Wilson performed there. The building has been in disrepair since the 1980s, however, there is a movement for restoration, with funding coming from varied sources through 2018. The Uptown was named to the Nation Register of Historical Places in 1982.

Freedom Theater

The former residence of actor Edwin Forrest, then the Philadelphia School of Design for Women, then Heritage House, it became the Freedom Theater in 1968, home to the city's African American community theater and a home for instruction in the arts. At Broad and Master Streets.

Rowhomes

Rowhomes dot the street from one end to the other. Now, I've lived in a rowhouse. But it was a bland, two story structure. Along Broad Street, there are many three story houses with gorgeous facades.

And the sign says...

There are numerous signs along the Street. Some are a reminder of Deco style, like the Animal Hospital

Some are reminders of the neon that once graced the Street.

Some welcome. Some warn.

And some show us what once was.

What could be in the future?

There are two very large buildings that make me wonder if they could be restored and, if so, what would they be. The first is the building that once held the Botony 500 factory at Broad and Lehigh.

Botony 500 Building

The Beury Building

The other is this Deco beauty at Broad and Airdrie. Identified by Google Maps as The Beury Building, this place has been graffitied by many. Some artistic. Some less so. All daredevils. My fear of heights makes me cringe every time I look at it.

The Beury Building, per an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, 22 June 2020, was once the National Bank of North Philadelphia. Currently, it is planned to be redeveloped into a Marriot Hotel. The developers are attempting to keep as much of the graffiti on the building as possible, as it holds the title of the most graffitied building in the city. The Beury Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.

The Beury Building

Murals

The street has many a mural. They range from a loving tributes to Grover Washington and State Senator Roxanne Jones to a huge "Rise" and "Shine" that covers multiple stories on each side of the building at Lehigh Avenue, across from the old Botony 500 building. Sadly, many of these are difficult to get a good photo of from the road, due to the presence of trees, billboards and other buildings. Here are some more visible ones.

Actually on Spring Garden Street, but visible from Broad

Broad and Master Sts.

you can see how tough it can be

There are so many other wonderful buildings, murals, and facades that grace Broad Street. Many people are too busy driving to and from work to appreciate them. That does cut down on traffic accidents if you pay attention to the road. But sometimes, it might pay to pull over and give the street some love.

(Thanks to Wikipedia and Google Maps for help with building identification and history. All photos were taken by your's truly, mostly at red lights.)

The Sunshine Blogger Award Nomination

Much to my surprise, I've been nominated for this year's Sunshine Blogger Award. This is an award given by Bloggers to other Bloggers they find creative, talented and entertaining. I've been blogging just over a year and it really floors me that anyone would nominate me for an award at this point in my blogging career.

I wish to thank RealWeegieMidget (https://weegiemidget.wordpress.com/) or Gill, as we movie buffs know her, for nominating me for this prestigous award. I'm really surprised and touched. I've been proud to be a part of several of Gill's Blog-a-thons, which I enjoyed greatly.

The rules for nominees are as follows:

List the award’s official rules.
Display the award’s official logo somewhere on your blog.
Thank the person who nominated you.
Provide a link to your nominator’s blog.
Answer your nominator’s questions.
Nominate up to eleven bloggers.
Ask your nominees eleven questions.
Notify your nominees by commenting on at least one of their blog posts.

I have cut and pasted Gill's eleven questions and answered them to the best of my ability. Here they are:

1. If you could be in lockdown – and stuck in a house with them for 24 hours a day – with someone famous who would you pick and why…?

At the moment, I am trying to get back to story telling. I think I would like to have either Neil Gaiman or Makoto Shinkai as a house guest. Both know how to tell a great story. Luckly, I have a subscription to MasterClass and am watching Mr. Gaiman give lessons on story telling. Shinkai-san is the director of "(your name)", "Weathering with You", and many other animes. He is brilliant. He makes me cry.

2. A certain streaming service asks you which film franchise to add for lockdown viewing worldwide, which would you pick?

I was lucky enough to watch some "franchises", actually movies series. For instance, thanks to Turner Classics, I was able to see four of the six "Lone Wolf and Cub" films from Japan. I viewed two of the three "The Tag-Along" urban legend horror films from Taiwan. As good as these films were, I would suggest that a streaming service make both Shaun the Sheep movies available. I managed to see "Shaun the Sheep Movie" and "Shaun the Sheep: Farmageddon". Both films are hilarious and really brighten one's day!

3. If you could add all films with one particular actor or actress on this same streaming service, who would you pick and why?

W.C Fields. He makes me laugh more than any other screen comedian. Yes, even more than Groucho Marx.

4. If you could delete all films with one particular actor or actress on this same streaming service, who would you pick and why?

I really don't like to single anyone out as being worthy of being removed from streaming. But, if I have to decide, I would go with Kevin Costner. I know a lot of people love him and think he's a wonderful actor. I feel his performances are somewhat stiff. Most of his film choices do little for me, as well. Granted, I love "Field of Dreams", but the film is carried by people like Ray Liotta, James Earl Jones and Burt Lancaster.

5. If you could pick 5 actors and actresses to be put on TV Live, to live in lockdown together for a month who would you choose?

Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Bruce Campbell, Jamie Foxx , Robert Englund

Jane Lynch, Helen Mirren, Laurie Metcalf, Sandra Oh, Pam Grier

6. What film do you think deserves more recognition?

Loving Anime the way I do, there is a director whose name doesn't always figure in the discussion. We hear about Miyazaki and Shinkai and mourn Satoshi Kon, but Mamoru Hosoda seems to get passed by. He has directed great stories like "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time", "Wolf Children", and "The Boy and the Beast." My favorite is "Summer Wars". A computer virus takes on a life of its own and a group of youths have to play the card game Hanafuda to defeat it and stop it from destroying their home and family. The film creates a vivid virtual world along with a real life story. Genius.

7. What’s your favourite so bad its good movie?

I have always been a big fan of the movie "Rubber" (2010). A film about a sentient, murderous spare tire, that cuts a path of death and destruction through the Southwest. The premise is silly, the acting is excellent, and the tire is a perfect monster. The film also breaks the fourth wall at times, which adds to its "charm".

8. If you could give an Oscar to any actor or actress for a lifetime achievement award who would you pick (don’t answer the same person from your #3 answer)?

I think Steve Martin's body of work would be worthy of a lifetime achievement award. He's gone from broad farce (The Jerk), to subtle comedy (LA Story), to romance (Roxanne), to drama (Grand Canyon, A Simple Twist of Fate). He also writes, directs, plays banjo as part of soundtracks, and more. He is an amazing talent.

9. What’s your favourite film find since going into lockdown?

Wow! Is that a tough one! As of this moment, I've seen 113 features and shorts. Above all the films I have seen Taika Waititi's masterful "road" picture "Hunt for the Wilderpeople" (2016). Set in the beautiful wilderness of New Zealand, a foster child and a loner bond as they run from social services and the police after the boy's latest foster mother dies. Funny and touching. Waititi has a way with a story that cannot be matched. He is the man behind "What We Do in the Shadows" and "Jojo Rabbit".

In shorts, filmmaker Marc Roussel alerted folks on Facebook about the release of "Quarenstein" on Vimeo. The short contains the work of 21 different filmmakers, each taking a piece of the Frankenstein story and putting it together in isolation. Often, the film is hilarious! It is a masterpiece of lockdown filmmaking!!

10. What’s your favourite TV find since going into lockdown?

It would have to be Disney's "The Owl House". A human girl, Luz, crosses over to the Boiling Isles, a land of myths, magic and witches. She meets Eda, the most powerful witch of the Boiling Isles, and King, the cutest demon in the world. She asks to stay at the Owl House instead of going home. Luz wants to be a witch.

The show is about not fitting in and carving your own path. All the characters are misfits and "weirdoes" that don't fit the norm. It is fun, and uplifting, to see them embrace their difference from the world.

11. Have you binged on any series or franchise since going into lockdown? Which ones?

Quite a few series were binged, which is odd for me as I don't usually binge. They were:

The Hollow (season 2) Netflix
The Last Kids on Earth (season 2) Netflix
Outlander (most for five seasons. couldn't help it. I was in the same room as the Good Lady Wife binged it) Starz
The Owl House (season 1) Disney XP
Gravity Falls (season 2/3) Disney XP

Parasyte: The Maxim (season 1) Netflix

Kipo and the Age of the Wonderbeasts (season 2) Netflix

Upload (season 1) Amazon

My nominees are taken from the folks I follow on Twitter, who I've found to be engaging, well-spoken and enjoyable! They have made my time on Twitter more than I could have imagined.

As I am relatively new to blogging and, at times, really mystified by the process, my questions trend to lean more to the art of blogging. I hope you don't mind. I'm also keeping it to the general subject as there is a mixed bag of bloggers here!

My Questions to my Nominees are:

1. What topic do you blog most about?

2. Do you only blog about one topic, or do you blog about other things, even occasionally?

3. Do you have someone or something you love to write about more than others? If so, why?

4. Is your blogging by a schedule, or done as ideas come to you?

5. What subject would you never blog about? Why?

6. Do you get comments from your readers?

7. How do those comments affect you?

8. Was there a time when you considered giving up blogging? Why?

9. Has blogging led to other writing activities? Or is it the other way around?

10. How important are pictures to your blog?

11. Do you have any wisdom that you'd like to pass along about blogging?

So, there it is. My first foray into the world of online awards. Thank you for your participation. Thank you for the insurrection!