I’m doing something constructive with my downtime, I created a clearinghouse for streaming concerts on Facebook, Social Distancing Streaming Concerts. With the help of my intrepid partners we are posting links to upcoming streams. I was just posting links then Kristen arranged it so that we can add all FB events to our own event page. Margo has helped me organize the page. Everyone is responding to messages and posting the links and events. It’s a community effort. I started it last night and we are up to 429 followers.
I had therapy yesterday and I brought up how good I am preparing others for eventualities and how poor I am at doing it for myself. Not only did I set up the page to help musicians and fans through the live music drought I contacted WFUV about preparations for the pledge drive and asked my fantasy baseball league about postponing the draft as the MLB season has been delayed. I talked with my therapist about preparations the hospital is making and have suggestions. I even have a plan for the federal government.
There should be an immediate paid medical leave program enacted. It should not be done as a mandate on employers, many of whom are taking financial hits, but paid for by the Federal Government. There should be no provision for paying for it, long term interest rates are so low that borrowing for the government is essentially free money. It should also cover the gig economy; they are suffering and have no safety net. I’m witnessing what’s happening to all my musician friends but it’s a lot bigger slice of the economy than that.
There should be a mandate suspending all co-pays for anything COVID-19 related. We don’t want people to avoid getting treatment or testing because of monetary concerns. Businesses such as travel and entertainment that need to provide refunds for people that have prepaid should get interest free or at least low-interest loans to cover the cost.
My therapist is worried about me getting depressed as going out improves me mood so much. For now, I’m throwing myself into the online concerts and working on the Facebook Page. I’m under doctor’s orders to reach out to my friends on the phone. I just got off the phone with Bri. I’m going to try and get myself to call people. I can also spend all my time watching streaming concerts. Go to the page and you’ll see how many there are. These are not recommendations; I’m posting anything that people wanted posted. Some are favorites of mine and some aren’t. Some I don’t even know. We are serving anyone that has an audience. We don’t need to be part of that audience. It’s a judgment free zone.
Wow, I have literally nothing on my calendar. I’m should get together with a friend now and then. I don’t have to be a hermit. I won’t hug them, and we won’t go into a crowd. We can sit in a coffeeshop and talk or take a walk or even go to a movie. AMC is halving their seating limit, so people don’t have to sit together.
Last night I stayed home and watched the Marvelous Mari Black’s Facebook Watch Party. It was put on my the Philadelphia Folksong Society. She was scheduled to do a live show which was canceled. Justin Nordell and friends made the streaming show happen on very short notice. They did a great job. Through the intermediaries in the crew it was interactive. People posted pictures of themselves doing silly things during the show. One person on request put on a big hat. I took a selfie as I held my breath until Mari told the story she said we had to beg to hear. Helping Mari become a household name is a project of mine. This is not for Mari’s benefit but for all the people that have never heard her play. Tonight, I’m hearing another artist that should be a household name, Amy Kucharik. She is doing a Facebook Live show. It’s listed on her website or you can find it at Social Distancing Streaming Concerts.
Now to get up the energy to go to Stop & Shop for beef gravy so I can make poutine tonight. The weather I nice so I can walk there, save money, and get some exercise.
Wise Madness 