The Flowers of Boredom by Tosh Berman

 

The Flowers of Boredom by Tosh Berman

June 2, 2020 (In The Year of the Trump Virus)

June 2, 2020 (In The Year of the Trump Virus)

I got up (too) early to go to Trader Joe's for their matinee senior hour.  Once we got there, I saw only one line to go in, so we stood in line.  The woman in front of us told me that there is a senior section where you can go in right away.  I thanked her, which was very kind of her to point this out to me, and then it came to my attention that I now look like a senior to the outside world.  My life until this point, people mention how young I looked, but alas, that is now not the case anymore.

Once you get into the entrance, they spray some liquid on to your hands, and you're free to roam in the store, but you must follow the directional arrows, which I do with great passion. I realize that what makes me happy is to be told what to do. I'm crazy about that. I love people giving me directions, and I follow their floorplan or design.  Being a life-long Jacques Tati fan, I admire how individuals fit into the overall design.  There's a sign in the store that said no more than five individuals in this aisle.  I thought that was perfect.  I counted four people, and then I jumped into that space, as happy as a bee approaching a flower.

I go to Trader Joe's for the sole purpose of buying Charles Shaw wine.  We get a month's supply of wine, which is three-cases.  I can't have dinner without white wine of some sort, and then while watching a show, nowadays it's "Babylon Berlin," I have a glass of Merlot.  After the show, I get a second glass and meditate on the past 24-hours.  It's not a quiet meditation.  It's a horror show.

As I write, things are happening that are not good.  The Trump Virus is raging. Yesterday it was 978 new cases and 22 deaths from the virus. Today there are 1,202 new cases and 60 deaths from the virus in the County of Los Angeles. When I go out, I see more people are feeling relaxed about social distances and wearing masks. For the last four days or so, no one talks about this, at least in the media, due to the police killing of Black Americans. It's interesting to note in Los Angeles County; there are 394 Asians, 265 Blacks, 917 Hispanic/Latinos, and 643 Whites who died so far from the virus. When someone dies either from murder or an infection, how each death affects their community - among friends, co-workers, family members, and so on.  The world is not good to us.  On the other hand, we're not good for the world.  - Tosh Berman

April 30, 2020 (In The Year of the Trump Virus)

April 30, 2020 (In the Year of the Trump Virus)

Some days are challenging to do any work.  I pretty much spent the day looking at my laptop screen and trying to imagine words appearing in front of me.  Alas, just a blanked screen that mirrors my empty head. I try to go somewhere emotional, but that is dried-up as well.

Early this morning, I went to Trader Joe's Market to purchase some food, but the real reason for the trip was we were out of wine. It is debatable if Lun*na and I are alcoholics, but clearly, we are devoted to wine brand/label "Charles Shaw." We have friends who look down on this wine brand, due that it's $2.99 a bottle. For us, it's heaven on Earth.  We tried other brands, but Charles Shaw has been consistent in taste, and of course, easy on the wallet.  We bought three cases of wine, as well as foodstuff, which is not that interesting. At the Berman/Menoh household, 7:00 P.M. is happy hour, which lasts until one of us falls asleep at night.

The last time we went to Trader Joe's was precisely last month.  We have been shopping online for food, but Trader Joe's doesn't have a delivery service, nor do they use third-party services. So, if one wants the wine, we have to go ourselves.  Again, it was very well organized. All you have to do is follow the arrows up and down the aisles of the market to do your shopping.  The funny thing is I like being told to stay at home, and I love the mechanic aspect of shopping where one does follow instructions regarding the arrows and so forth.

At one time in my life, I adore anarchy.  But now I crave order and designs that take you from point A to Point B.  I get upset when I read people are going to the beach or having parties because it's going against the lockdown world.  Don't get me wrong, I do miss the social life and the ability to go to record and book shops, but other than that, I adore being at home. Not once have I felt stir-crazy or bored. Every day is something to be excited about, such as if I'm going to form words on my computer screen or not.  I explored every area and corner of my house.  Sometimes I even go in the closet and close the door after me, to see what that experience is like.

When I go to bed, it is usually the feeling when I can't keep my eyes open.  I watch a bit of TV, do some reading, and often end the night with a glass of red wine.  Afterward, I lay in bed with great anticipation for the next day.   - Tosh Berman

March 21, 2020 (In the year of the Trump Virus)

March 21, 2020 (In the year of the Trump Virus)

Usually, at dusk, and for the last few days, there have been teenage lovers/friends meeting up at the front of our home, near a vacant lot.  There is a sense of urgency in their body communication.  Sometimes it is male teenagers, or females together as well.  Late last night, I heard voices from my office at home and looked outside the window to see five young guys smoking, talking, and standing very close together.  The 65-year old man that is me wanted to yell out, "Hey, 6 feet apart guys."  I didn't do that, because it would have been absurd to them.  More likely, they would ignore me.  They do know the drill.  That is why they are meeting there at 1:00 in the morning, away from prying eyes and ears.  I went to bed with their distant voices in the background as I fell asleep.

This is the fifth day of being isolated from everyone, and it's not as bad as one thinks.  I have my wife here and a case of Charles Shaw wine, which is quickly disappearing.  We're doing Amazon Prime at the moment, because we are getting it free, due to trial use.  We buy things at bulk on Amazon as well as at various online markets.  We originally purchased tons of toilet paper due to the substantial discount.  The thing is before the virus hit Los Angeles in such a manner, we ordered toilet paper, but instead, we got 64 rolls of paper towels.  So, like many other citizens of Los Angeles, we do hunt for toilet paper.  As of now, we have three rolls, and we consider ourselves lucky. -Tosh Berman

Wednesday, April 3, 2019

I drink wine.  I drink a bottle of wine with my wife, and sometimes afterward, I have a glass of sake while watching TV.   We prefer the wine label Charles Shaw, which can only be purchased at Trader Joe's.   Each bottle is $2.99, or at certain parts of the season, $3.99.   After a day of 'work,' I like to have a glass or a few and let the intoxication take over my brain.  I have posted images with music on Instagram (Here) where I'm sitting on my couch in the living room, watching the lightness leave, and the darkness enters my world.  It's the favorite time of the day, when I think back all the mistakes I made early in the afternoon, with some of the great successes as well. Pain and pleasure are married,  and we have to honor the duality that exists.

My day started at 6:30 A.M.   My morning habit is to read the Guardian and the New York Times online.  Usually, the Guardian comes first. I'm intrigued by the situation in England at the moment with the Brexit issue.  I find it totally confusing as well as idiotic.  Which I gather by reading reports others feel the same way.  It's a complicated issue which shouldn't be that complex.  Still, I understand the emotional need to feel separated from another part of the world, but to actually do something like leaving the European world strikes me as stupid.  I'm not British, but I have purchased a lot of British made books (imported Penguin books) and vinyl issued and made in the U.K.; still, that is far as my expertise goes.   It seems the decision to leave was a snap judgment, which I know is impossible (or is it?)   But Brexit winning by such a small margin strikes me as not fair to those who wanted to stay with the EU.  If it was an 80% vote to leave, then OK, take the poison and make the trip.

When I look at my calendar, I immediately become exhausted.   Nothing too crazy mind you, but I have a podcast interview tomorrow, and then I have to see my Uncle, and then come home to deal with a meeting regarding doing a podcast.  This is something I'm looking forward to, because besides "Tosh Talks" YouTube show I want to do something that is totally aural, and not visual.   We bought all the proper equipment, so hopefully, within a few weeks, we can do a proper broadcast.  It will be called "Tosh Talks" because we will still post it on YouTube, and I'm not changing the format, just another medium or outlet to deal with.

What I would want to do is be a DJ on my "Tosh Talks" podcast, but I suspect that there are legal issues involving playing music in that format.   So, I have to study up on that. I'm going to Tokyo in May, and I want to do more Tosh Talks episodes there, so not sure if a podcast or just a YouTube thing is the best.  So many questions, and so many no answers.