I have wanted to start work on my garden, but the rain or the chilly temperatures (or laziness on some days) have kept me from getting started. I guess I will have to wait a little longer.
CDMX
Thursday, April 16, 2020
It's Not Over Yet
Although the calendar says that it is mid-April, and the daffodils, hyacinths, forsythias and flowering trees are in blossom, Old Man Winter decided he wasn't quite done with us in northern Ohio. Yesterday afternoon I noticed that the cold rain was starting to change to a few flakes of snow. When I woke up this morning, this is what I saw...
I have wanted to start work on my garden, but the rain or the chilly temperatures (or laziness on some days) have kept me from getting started. I guess I will have to wait a little longer.
I have wanted to start work on my garden, but the rain or the chilly temperatures (or laziness on some days) have kept me from getting started. I guess I will have to wait a little longer.
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
We're Number One
Yes, the United States is number one in the world in...
the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases,
the number of active cases,
the number of seriously or critically ill patients,
the number of deaths from coronavirus.
We could perhaps take some pride in the fact that we lead the world with over 3,000,000 coronavirus tests given. However if we look at the percentage of our population that has been tested we fall behind the following countries (in no particular order):
Spain
Italy
Germany
Canada
Switzerland
Russia
Portugal
Austria
Israel
Ireland
South Korea
Norway
Denmark
Australia
Czech Republic
United Arab Emirates
Qatar
Luxembourg
Singapore
Iceland
Bahrain
Estonia
New Zealand
Slovenia
Lithuania
Cyrus
Latvia
Andorra
Malta
Brunei
Liechtenstein
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
Who Is That Masked Man?
Today was my once-a-week foray out of the house to go to the supermarket. I wore my home-made mask.
In the early stages of this pandemic, the medical community said that wearing a mask was of little use, and then they suddenly changed their mind. So I created a mask which I think might be better than the flimsy masks I see some people wearing. It did not require any sewing, and I had all the materials at home. I took a bandana and folded it around a couple sheets of paper toweling. At each side I attached a rubber band with a binder clip. The rubber bands go securely around my ears. At the bottom of the bandana I used a couple more binder clips to close the gap under my chin. I wear my glasses over the bandana, and that seems to close the gap around my nose.
Hopefully this will protect me from the occasional person at the grocery store who is oblivious to the concept of social distancing.
In the early stages of this pandemic, the medical community said that wearing a mask was of little use, and then they suddenly changed their mind. So I created a mask which I think might be better than the flimsy masks I see some people wearing. It did not require any sewing, and I had all the materials at home. I took a bandana and folded it around a couple sheets of paper toweling. At each side I attached a rubber band with a binder clip. The rubber bands go securely around my ears. At the bottom of the bandana I used a couple more binder clips to close the gap under my chin. I wear my glasses over the bandana, and that seems to close the gap around my nose.
Hopefully this will protect me from the occasional person at the grocery store who is oblivious to the concept of social distancing.
Monday, April 13, 2020
For Holy Week
Saturday Alejandro sent me this photo of the outside of their house. His nephew Ezra has been home from school for three weeks now. Ezra's mom gave him a project to keep him occupied for a while... making chains out of purple and white paper. The chains were then hung outside the house. Alejandro explained to me that purple and white represent penitence and are the traditional colors for Holy Week.
Sunday, April 12, 2020
In Quarantine
I hope that this does not seem sacrilegious or give offense to anyone. Alejandro sent me this cartoon...
EASTER 2020
"Please return inside.
You have to respect the quarantine."
Happy Easter!
I thought that this view, which I found this morning on www.webcamsdemexico.com, would be a beautiful picture to post on Easter morning.
Here we see the volcanoes Iztaccíhuatl (left) and Popocatépetl (right) silhouetted against the pre-dawn sky. The location is a former hacienda to the east of Mexico City.
If you celebrate Easter or Passover, I hope you have a happy holiday, or at least as happy as the circumstances allow.
Here we see the volcanoes Iztaccíhuatl (left) and Popocatépetl (right) silhouetted against the pre-dawn sky. The location is a former hacienda to the east of Mexico City.
If you celebrate Easter or Passover, I hope you have a happy holiday, or at least as happy as the circumstances allow.
Saturday, April 11, 2020
A Tradition Adapts
Since 1843 Iztapalapa, the largest and poorest of Mexico City's "alcaldías" or boroughs, has presented a Passion Play in gratitude for the end of a cholera epidemic. It has grown into the world's largest reenactment of the Passion, with 5000 participants and 150 speaking roles. The performances span the entirety of Holy Week, from the Palm Sunday entry of Jesus to the resurrection on Easter Sunday morning, and take place in various locations throughout Iztapalapa.
I would not even venture to estimate how many thousands of spectators come to see the events. Several years ago Alejandro and I went on a Thursday afternoon. The crowds were enormous, and we were not even there for one of the principle reenactments.
The young man who plays the role of Jesus is chosen a year ahead of time. He must be a resident of Iztapalapa, must be in good physical condition (he has to carry a 165 pound cross through the streets of the district), must have no tattoos, and must be of good moral character.
The high point of the week is on Good Friday when the judgement and crucifixion are reenacted. Jesus carries the cross some 10 miles, climbing the small mountain known as the "Cerro de la Estrella". The peak was the site of important Aztec religious ceremonies, and now it doubles as Golgotha. Following Jesus are hundreds of young penitents know as "Nazarenos", who are dressed in purple robes and are carrying smaller crosses.
This year the pandemic has changed everything, including the Iztapalapa Passion Play. The event is still being held but behind the closed gate of a church atrium. No spectators are allowed, and yesterday's Good Friday reenactment was televised nationally. (I am not sure, but from this photo it would appear that the participants are distancing themselves from each other.)
I would not even venture to estimate how many thousands of spectators come to see the events. Several years ago Alejandro and I went on a Thursday afternoon. The crowds were enormous, and we were not even there for one of the principle reenactments.
The young man who plays the role of Jesus is chosen a year ahead of time. He must be a resident of Iztapalapa, must be in good physical condition (he has to carry a 165 pound cross through the streets of the district), must have no tattoos, and must be of good moral character.
The high point of the week is on Good Friday when the judgement and crucifixion are reenacted. Jesus carries the cross some 10 miles, climbing the small mountain known as the "Cerro de la Estrella". The peak was the site of important Aztec religious ceremonies, and now it doubles as Golgotha. Following Jesus are hundreds of young penitents know as "Nazarenos", who are dressed in purple robes and are carrying smaller crosses.
This year the pandemic has changed everything, including the Iztapalapa Passion Play. The event is still being held but behind the closed gate of a church atrium. No spectators are allowed, and yesterday's Good Friday reenactment was televised nationally. (I am not sure, but from this photo it would appear that the participants are distancing themselves from each other.)
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| (image taken from the web) |
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