Glamour Dave: My 2020 Survival Story

When 2020 started I thought it was going to be a good year. I entered the year with high energy because of my success as a public access producer at RVTV in Ashland, Oregon. I ended 2019 having produced over 60 show productions between all my various shows. I felt really good about what I had done. I figured to keep being active in 2020 with my various shows. I figured to produce at least 50+ more new show episodes between all my shows. I would continue to submit show productions to different film festivals. Continue to get the occasional film festival selection. I was on track to just keep building on my success and trying to secure a sale of one of my show concepts that would take me to Hollywood. That was the plan at least.

But apparently the Universe had other plans. 2019 ended with a new virus coming out of China. And news media reported how serious the condition was in China. And the potential danger it represented if it got out of China to the rest of the world. And as the the world moved into 2020 I looked at the situation as something to be concerned about. But I also looked at it as the level of concern that I gave when other virus epidemics occurred around the world. There have been epidemics of Ebola, Dengue Fever, and Zika Virus that were very concerning. And could have gone into full blown Pandemic status. But those situations seemed to always have gotten under control and never really reached the United States to any serious level. So this new COVID-19 was mostly likely going to be the same situation, right?

A year later the answer to that question was NO! It wound up not being the same situation. For me the beginning of 2020 started normally as I got my selection of production dates at RVTV. I started off the year producing my first new episodes of Rogue Artisans and Crafters where I profiled local artists Erin Linton and Dan Elster. And I kept to my schedule til near the end of March. But in between my first new shows of 2020 to my last shows of 2020 the COVID-19 came across from China to the United States. And it just started to spread. In great part due to the complete failure of the political leadership of our country to treat the threat seriously. A review of past epidemics will show that our nation’s political leadership took those epidemics very seriously and were fully engaged in what would be necessary to contain those epidemics.

The leadership in Washington D.C. this time around showed no interest in treating the COVID-19 threat seriously. They chose to not take any serious responsibility to try and contain the virus. They chose to treat the threat as a joke. They claimed the threat was not real. It was a fake emergency. Let the record show that the COVID-19 threat was such a fake emergency that our nation is coming upon 400,000 Americans dead from COVID-19. That’s an amazingly big fake emergency. 400,000 dead Americans due to a President who has no empathy in his soul. And who only cared about trying to deny the pandemic as a means to try and win re-election and hold on to power. That’s what’s called worthless leadership.

Near the end of March 2020 COVID-19 hit Oregon and our area. As a result Southern Oregon University basically shut itself down to try and contain the spread of COVID-19. That resulted in the RVTV studio being shut down as the studio is part of the Digital Media Center which is on the SOU campus. The end result was the end of my show production schedule. And the end of all show production by all RVTV producers. And that still remains the case even now.

From the end of March 2020 to now the lives of my mother and I has been changed. From being active to having a life that is more quiet, more sedentary, a life of stillness. A life that has a greater sense of a suspension of time. I no longer made any trips over from Medford to Ashland to produce my shows, and spending time with a wonderful group of RVTV producers who in time became great friends. How I miss that contact and experience with my friends. Instead now my life is about going out once a day for an hour, maybe 2, to take care of errands for my mother and I. Mostly going out to pickup groceries and prescriptions. Maybe the occasional other supplies at Fred Meyer or Walmart. All while wearing a mask everywhere I go.

Then I’m back home. I fix meals for my mother and I. We watch the news to stay up to date about the pandemic and whatever the hell President Trump was choosing to do or not do in regards to COVID-19 in our country. If we were not watching the news we would find a movie to watch. Occasionally we would find a movie on demand to watch. I exposed my mother to the joy of watching Howard the Duck. Together we discovered just how badly the movie Cats really was with so many great actors and actresses making their contribution to bad movie making. Even the visual of Taylor Swift singing as a sexy feline was not enough to recommend that movie to anyone. That is how bad that movie is.

For my mother her work from her office changed to working at home. Our dining room table became her desk. And only on occasion would she have to make it into her office for a day. Both my mother and I have various underlying health issues. Those issues make it imperative that we do what we can to avoid getting COVID-19. And so for my mother she became home bound. With only limited times when she goes out my mother tells me how she has missed the seasons. She has not really seen the spring, summer and fall over these last 10 months. It also means 10 months of not really having much in the way of human contact other than with me, and co-worker when she has had to make it into her office in person. But she does on occasion have the occasional ZOOM meeting with other co-workers.

2 of the things that have helped my mother and I keep some level of our sanity has been the presence of our animal family members. We don’t really use the term pets because that is too generic of who they are and what they mean to us. We have our Yorkie, Alie. For the record she is a knot head. But she does a fine job of helping my mother with her work and protecting her. And secondarily protecting me. Mostly by barking non stop whenever anyone or anything happens outside our front door.

Family member Alie. Photograph provided by author.

We also have a cat. Her name is Penelope. She is sweet and a lug. Meaning she has some heft about her. Alie and Penelope conspire together to drive me crazy. I can’t prove it. Because they both keep a respectful distance from each other most of the time. And I have yet to catch them together in a conspiratorial meeting. But its the only reason to explain how well they together bug the hell out of me at times. And generally always when I am seriously focused on doing something at my laptop. Such as trying to write this story right now. Yeah, that’s the way it generally works.

Family member Penelope. Photograph provided by author.

That has been our life of 2020 for my mother and I. We both consider ourselves lucky to not have contracted COVID-19 during 2020. But my mother and I know many people that did contract it. And we know people who had family members of theirs die from COVID-19. The virus is real. Its very dangerous. And simply making the effort of social distancing and wearing a mask to protect yourself and the people around you should not be an issue. The fact that it became an issue shows how self-centered our society has become. That so many people can ignore the basic humanity of everyone else around them because they feel their freedom is endangered in some way I find disgusting. The act of protecting one’s self and the people around you by the most basic of measures during a pandemic to minimize exposure of disease, to minimize death of fellow citizens, fellow human beings, to me I think should be a basic action of respect. But so many citizens in this country seem unable to respect their fellow citizens at the most basic level. And I find that so incredibly disappointing. So much so that if I had the financial resources to do so, I would move my mother and I out of the country. If we could we would move to Great Britain, Canada, somewhere where we feel safe and more respected than we do now, here in our own country. Because its not possible to feel safe and respected here in the United States. Not right now. And that’s a sad state of affairs for our country.

Now we are in 2021. President Trump lost the election and then tried to execute an insurrection of our own government. All because he is a loser. He knows he is a loser, and he cannot handle being a loser. His actions were treasonous. That makes him a traitor to the nation. Soon our nation will be lead by a new President in Joe Biden, and new Vice-President Kamala Harris. Hopefully they will be able to tone down the rhetoric and calm the Trump followers that right now scare me with their levels of hate and desire to cause harm.

Hopefully, under the leadership of President Biden the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines will get effectively out to our citizenry. My mother and I hope to get our vaccines as soon as they can be distributed in our area. But honestly we don’t expect to see normalcy at any level til the end of 2021. All we can do is continue to be careful about our interactions in the world. And pray for a return to safer and more sane world than what exists right now. Because right now the world is more scary than I have ever seen it in my 57 years of living.

And that is my 2020 survival story.

About David “Glamour Dave” Nienow: David is a photographer, public access television producer, host of numerous shows at RVTV in Ashland, Oregon that includes the shows Rogue Artisans and Crafters and The So NOT So Late Night Glamour Dave Show. He retired to care give for his father for over 7 years. Then became an active producer of public access television programming after his father’s passing. Now he is resuming his career in photography and exploring new subjects and techniques for the next phase of his life in photography. He has a B.S. in Political Science from Southern Oregon University.

The Thriving Artist is a subset of Cafe-Girl Productions, Inc, a film and media company.  Check us out at:

www.cafegirlproductionsinc.com

www.patreon.com/cafegirlproductions

Corky Gardner: My 2020 Survival Story

My 2020 Survival

By Corky Gardner

I’ve been living the same day over and over. I wake up, talk to a parrot, walk home, do course in miracles and at 8 am I water my garden. In the evening, I go for a walk at the same time. There used to be a creepy guy on my walk and I would avoid him. The next day I walked a faster. The next day I crossed the street to get away from him and said “Get away from me!” The next day I realized he wasn’t that bad of a guy and now when I see him at the beach he says things like “You’re late.” and I can’t be mad. Everyday I see a woman with a white dog, every day there is a man with silver hair that’s gonna be on my left and there’s gonna be a woman on the lawn listening to conservative radio and once in a while there is a topless woman on her balcony with a phone to her ear. Once I looked up to find a man and a woman dressed in sailor suits doing a choreographed dance. Once I saw a middle aged woman on roller blades holding on to a golf cart full of kids. Lots of times there are mobs of children on bikes. 

My dad died in the course of the pandemic. The rules seemed to follow me; no visitors the day after I checked him in, then we weren’t allowed to exercise with anyone but a relative, then we were on lockdown, not aloud to see friends the day after he died. Then they changed the rules so planes couldn’t come and funerals were suspended. When I picked up the ashes they just handed them to me in a tote bag, no hug, no face that I could see. Someone handed me a bunch of flowers like I just won Miss America. I frantically batted them down as I tried to drive a convertible in the wind. Things were not going my way. I went to have lunch at the Panda Garden but they had banned indoor dining so I just sort a had a picnic in the grass and I realized I couldn’t leave my dads ashes in the car so I set them down besides me eating orange chicken in a white dress with a huge bouquet of flowers. The drive-thru cars looked astonished. But I didn’t give a #$%@f. That's one thing my dad taught me. 

Early on in the pandemic, when my dad’s sudden death sent me into a manic tailspin, I was so full of ideas I couldn’t write it all down. So many things I wanted to express but the main lesson I heard from my dad was that he wanted me to live a good life and enjoy myself. It was hard. But I am getting better. Talking to the parrot, going on my walks, creating comedy and music and sometimes essays like these. Connecting with friends and realizing that certain things are inevitable. It’s how you process them that makes the difference.

Corky Gardner is an SOU alumni, comedian and writer living in Lahaina, Maui. She has performed standup for 12 years and has opened for Tom Arnold , William Shatner and Cheech and Chong. For more about Corky, go to: https://www.facebook.com/corky.joan

So, what do you think of Corky's story?  Comment below.  To share your 2020 Survival Story, send it on over to cafegirlproductions@gmail.com.  Include a bio and photo of your choosing for your story.

The Thriving Artist is a subset of Cafe-Girl Productions,Inc.  For more information, go to:

www.cafegirlproductionsinc.com

www.patreon.com/cafegirlproductions

 

My Country Tis Of Thee!

 

My country, ’tis of thee,

Sweet land of liberty,

Of thee I sing;

Land where my fathers died,

Land of the pilgrims’ pride,

From ev’ry mountainside

Let freedom ring!

Writing a blog is not always an easy feat for me, aside from the general laziness that stimulates writer's block that all writers are not immune to, but also putting out a weekly blog is an aspect of vulnerability as I lay myself bare, reveal truths that hopefully will affect and transform the reader, as well as me.  So, it is with that impetus that I begin this entry. 

So, this week, like those all over the world, I watched as a mass of Pro-Trumpers stormed the capitol, in horror and with a myriad of thoughts racing through my mind.  The first being, this is not unexpected, not merely within the framing of the last four years and the madness incited by their 'leader', but because of our country's history overall.  For the United States of America is not the golden beacon it proclaims to be, a place where your dreams can come true, where all are accepted.  Instead, it is a country steeped in racism, sexism, and all the isms of bigotry and abuse lined up.  It's a country where the rich get richer, those in power become more influenced to corruption, and the poor become poorer and are left feeling increasingly disenfranchised.  So, with that all in mind, January 6, 2021's storming the capitol was not unexpected.  In fact, it's a real wonder that it took so long for something like that to happen.  It is a true course of our reality that our governing officials in the past have cheered on other countries who have had similar coups occur merely because it benefits their ruling power and authority.  So, thus these other countries may or may not be doing the same, or just laughing at us.  In fact, that is a common thread when something like this occurs in our country on such grand scale.  Why?  Because, we the people of the United States of America, nay They the Governing Officials of the United States of America, have often believed themselves to be the "World's Police", when often heard back metaphorically, "Mind Your Own Business, USA"."

That's right, America, we ain't perfect.  Step down from our egoistical belief that we are the chosen country, meant to dominate,control,dictate and the rest of the world must submit and follow.  Even closer to home, let go of your own personal belief that you are solely and purely right and your way is the highway, others must fall in line and do what is right by your standards.  That's right, I'm speaking to myself as well as to you, dear reader, to the left as well as to the right, politically speaking. 

True politics is not relegated to that of the government, but is a notion that can be found in any groups or settings of people combining together.  The idea is who is in power, how are they maintaining that power, who are those gathering with them to maintain that power, that position?   In fact, Plato believed that democracy is a danger due to excessive freedom. He also argues that in a system in which everyone has a right to rule all sorts of selfish people who care nothing for the people but are only motivated by their own personal desires are able to attain power.

I grew up in a very small, rural community and attended a small school, in fact, it was often referred to as a "Public School With A Private School Feel".  I hold pride in the education I received as a young-un.  Added to that, my graduating class was one of the largest to ever be during its entire existence at my school.  Every year the school board and faculty had to figure out how to accommodate our class size, dividing the grade up between two classes or pulling a combination of grades.  (I had the same teacher for both 4th grade and 5th grade, he is one of my personal favorite teachers & humans ALL TIME!) 

 Yes, the majority of my classmates and I have known each other since our wee early years of preschool, padding around in diapers and scribbles, still to this day.  Yet, my small school and world was not immune to the politic of popularity and my class had its 'popular girls', before Mean Girls was a thing.  There was a good collection of about 8 of them that fell into this group, the rest of us fell in line, secretly wished to belong (as all the unpopular desire), as well as laughed at their exploits.  But, one more thing occurred as I ascended through the grades, especially in high school, students from other grades whose presence I shared in separate classes would complain loudly about my class, then noticing me, would apologize with, "Ugh, I hate your class, not you, you know what I mean."  I would nod knowingly, thankful that I made the cut as it were.  ***

So, after graduation, as I went into life after high school (which there very much is), I was able to cross the pond and visit other lands, other countries.  In fact, as a naive twenty year old I was living abroad in Italy during the 1999 Albania-Yugoslavia war, of which my country's military was using the Italian airports to launch from.  Thus, the other students and I were told to stay safe, walk in groups, due to the animosity and resentment from the Italians (rightly so).  We were often hissed at and many of my classmates ended up putting a Canadian flag on their bags or backpacks.  For my part, with my dark hair and dark eyes, I was able to blend in so much that on my own I could pass as Italian, a fact I hold with pride to this day.  This afforded me to make many a friend of Italian citizen and would often face this reality as they argued over the occupation of their land by my country's government, "I hate your country, not you, you know what I mean."  And, once again, I'd nod knowingly, thankful that I made the cut as it were.  

So, this is been an ever present reality in every phase of my life, in every place, location, group I find myself within but what it has afforded me of fortunate is the ability to truly see, relate to, and understand both sides without getting caught up in groupthink loyalty.  This viewpoint affords my mindset on the current political climate and state of our union and world.  It affords me the ability to step back and listen to really hear beneath the rhetoric, the propaganda, the angry rants masquerading the pain, frustration, and fear.  On both sides. 

The United States has long been called "the melting pot" and thus proudly as we are known as a country that accepts those from other lands who need refuge and asylum.  Thus, a melting pot where we all blend into one, mixing together in this multicultural soup, to make one nation that is America.  But what happens when into this melting pot of multicultural soup is thrown bigotry of every kind, unkempt political corruption and abuse of power, and the disenfranchised?  The melting pot will boil over.  

Thus, that is what finally occurred January 6, 2021.

Our Flag Was Still There

Now, like I said above and in many a place, I do not think that either parties are without corruption.  I'm not a 'blue no matter who' or rather "Democrat Good, Republican Bad" sorta thing.  Also, I am in full agreement with the fact that our country needs an overhaul, a revolution, but I do not condone the way that those rioters on Wednesday, January 6th chose to do thus, nor do I condone the way of Antifa.  I align myself more with that of Gandhi or MLK, Jr, personally as well as politically.  I think standing in peace goes along way to further your position.  I've personally been in the target of anger and yet not acted in the same way, watching as the angry party stutters in disbelief that I did not retaliate, sometimes it works to nullify their anger and other times not.  Either way, I stand in my own personal power.  But, I digress, that is my way of doing things and its not to say it's the right way.  (See above.) 

Thus, onto my thoughts on the attack on our nation's Capitol, I find it interesting that the increasing political upheaval of the last four years has coincided with a pandemic.  The sickness within that has plagued us, growing inside for decades, finally spills out without, forcing us to have to look, heal, and overcome.  In truth, this week I found myself down for the count with an illness (maybe it's Maybelline, maybe it's Covid19) and as I lay there shivering under the covers with a high fever, I couldn't help imagining my body with the images of that of the US capitol on January 6, 2021.  I pictured the virus (whether it be Covid19 or just the flu) storming into my body as did the rioters on the Capitol building with the Capitol police as the white blood cells defending and doing their best to hinder.  Damage was still done, as we know, but like the healing within we shall be better for the suffering.  My view on illness, whether it be physical or political, is that of a cleansing, suffering meant to reveal to us somewhere we have gone astray, an aspect of ourselves to release in order to overcome.

Make it clear, I do not condone that of the rioters on January 6, 2021, nor do I think what they did fell into a true revolution.  However, I think in a very real way, not in the belief of Donald Trump and his followers, that those Representatives and Senators that were in the building (both red and blue, I must add) had it coming, due to the long set political corruption and abuse of power.  Had It Coming 

But, I do not want to sound as I don't sympathize with the terror they experienced on that fateful day, no of course not.  Now, is not the time for that.  On the evening of January 6, 2021, I laid in my bed watching youtube video after youtube video of news station and late night talk show alike sharing their thoughts, footage of the events of that day, just searching, watching, listening, taking it all in in a state of numbness.  Trying to understand, the only solution I can foresee at this point is for us to come together, to talk and share our thoughts, feelings, views, yet also to truly listen with the attempts to understand and truly begin the healing process.

Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.  I welcome all, however, if any tend towards violence in nature, bigotry of any kind, they will be released and blocked.

***I want to add that I hold no ill will towards my high school class.  There is life after high school and it is truly glorious.  All that I mentioned above is truly part of our past, forgiven and released, through  the experience of age we have acquired a wisdom and truly, although apart, carry within us the notion that we are a forever fam. 

The Thriving Artist is a subset of Cafe-Girl Productions, Inc, a film and media company.  Find out more about us at: 

www.cafegirlproductionsinc.com

www.patreon.com/cafegirlproductions

Our flag was still there #dayofinfamy #january62021 #capitolhillriots

Although I do not believe my country is innocent, I do not condone the riots on the United States capitol hill. This wasn't a revolution, but a seditious sabotage of immature individuals who have been manipulated, brainwashed, and used for the sickness of one hungry for power. By releasing this video, I hope it insights love & healing for not only my nation, but my world.

My 2020 Survival Story: When The Fire Happened By Donna Boehm

The corner of Creel and Hwy.99 in Talent, Oregon. Where the Rock Shop and so many other businesses used to be.

When The Fire Happened
A True Story by Donna Boehm

 Here's the story. I woke up during the night hearing the wind blowing furiously and thought that wasn't good. The wind continued for days and that's what made the fire grow so quickly. Somehow my home was spared, but half a mile from here, to the north, many homes are simply gone. Over 2000 in this area are gone so far. I was in Medford when the evacuation started so never did get back to the house that day. When night came my housemate and I spent the night in his car in Jacksonville. We had planned to spend the night at his girlfriend's house in Medford but even that area was evacuated. That was pretty miserable. Next day we returned to her house. Lots of people in cars in parking lots along the way. We were there from Wednesday until I returned home on Monday. We did manage to get through roadblocks by taking back roads into Talent twice, first to get clothes and food from the freezer. and the second time to clean out the fridge. Power/water were off.

Margie's home is small and there are three cats and a big dog there. I did have a fold out bed in her sewing room. She was so good to us! She also had room on her property for a small trailer and a young couple and small child who lost everything were moving in as I was moving back home. I was able to make dinner for everyone the days I was there. I liked that! I wanted to do something to help, even if it was only dinner!

It was a very confusing time. Not knowing what was going on, watching tv hoping for some news, depending on whatever info Margie got from her large circle of friends all over the area. It was through her that we found out we could get into Talent the back way! I'm aware there has been much chaos for so many. My experience is not close to that.

I just wanted so much to get back to the house. I felt disconnected. Things seemed surreal. But I never panicked or got depressed. I'm sure all that time spent in mindfulness classes helped! It was so good to be home when I did get here!

The smoke was so bad! It's beginning to shift but it will probably be a few days before we see blue sky again. When the wind finally did stop, it's been still ever since.

A lot of downtown Talent is gone. Some buildings were over a hundred years old. To me, that was part of the charm of Talent. I know there will be a lot of information about what really happened around here moving forward.

I've come to realize how important the little things are. How people will show up for each other. How many have written to ask how I'm doing! Driving around Talent I saw several places where people had put bottles of water out for anyone to take. Other communities are organizing to get clothing and household items to people who have lost everything.

Backstage Diva describes Donna because that's usually where she has been found when working with many theatre companies and the opera in the Rogue Valley. Costumes, stage managing, props, dresser, and assisting whenever necessary keep her engaged with her passion for creating and working with so many talented teams that light up the stages of this amazing theatre community. She's impatiently waiting for those lights to start shining again!

Submit your "2020 Survival Story" to cafegirlproductions@gmail.com.  

The Thriving Artist is a subset of Cafe-Girl Productions, Inc, a film and media production company. 

Find out more information about Cafe-Girl Productions, Inc at:

www.cafegirlproductionsinc.com

www.patreon.com/cafegirlproductions