Last weekend, I officially moved myself from our summer beach place in Brigantine, New Jersey, back to the City of Brotherly Love (and Sisterly Affection), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
You know you’re back in Philly when a 19th century Rittenhouse Square townhouse is festooned with one American flag and 2 Eagles Nation flags. (For non-USAers, the Eagles are Philadelphia’s American football team.)
The Eagles won the Super Bowl last season for the first time — ever — causing regional joy and catharsis. Some people even brought their spouse’s or a parent’s ashes to the parade celebrating the win because their deceased loved one had been waiting his or her entire life for the Philadelphia Eagles to win the Super Bowl. It was that big a deal around here.
We call the Super Bowl a “world championship”, but unlike the World Cup of Soccer, it really has nothing to do with the rest of the world. Mr. Excitement and I watched the game at a hotel bar in Quito, Ecuador where our euphoria was met with quizzical looks. The Super What? The lack of interest notwithstanding, the game was still televised in the capital of Ecuador, and I learned how to say “fourth down” in Spanish. (It’s cuarta oportunidad in case you were wondering.)
I approached this week’s Zentangle Diva challenge with a wicked headache. If you’re of a certain age, you see advertisements on television, urging you to get the new, much more effective shingles vaccine, Shingrix. The ad is very effective because shingles apparently looks and feels really bad — like having nerve endings on fire. It’s caused by a dormant chicken pox virus, so those of us who had chicken pox before there was a vaccine for it are at risk of its reactivation and a nasty case of shingles.
The Shingrix vaccine is administered in a 2 injection series over 2 to 6 months, and I had the second dose on Monday. I remember feeling ill when I had the first one. This time, I was laid quite low with a 2 day migraine type headache and nausea. When your head hurts, it’s hard to do much of anything — even Zentangle. (BTW, not every one becomes acutely ill from the vaccine. Some people only experience a sore arm. In any case, if you’re not sure how you’ll react, I’d suggest scheduling the vaccine for a time when you can take a few days off in case you have to.)
After two full days, the veil of pain finally lifted sufficiently for me to even think about this week’s Zentangle Diva challenge. The Diva, Laura Harms, challenged us to use the tangle Onion Drops, a new one for me. I ended up doing 2 tiles, one featuring Onion Drops with some perfs; and, one using Onion Drops within Dingplatz, a tangle featured in this week’s Zentangle CZT (Certified Zentangle Teacher) Newsletter. In that tile I used Onion Drops in the middle and some, what I call “reverse N’zeppel. Onion Drops is an easy, flowy tangle which is fun to do and not very taxing, perfect for someone feeling under the weather.
I’ve been whining about not wanting to leave the beach and return to city life. However, I must say, in my Rittenhouse Square neighborhood, Philadelphia looks very green and pretty – maybe a little damp and muddy too.
The flower boxes in the neighborhood are also looking very healthy. This one even still has blooming hibiscus.
If you’re in the northern hemisphere, how is your fall progressing? I guess, Down Under, it’s spring you’re welcoming.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m glad you’re feeling better Suzanne. I’ve got to get that Shingles vaccine too. My Mom had shingles about 10 years ago and it wasn’t nice. I’ll be sure to not have anything else I have to do for when I get the series of injections. Too bad you had to leave your coastal home. But Philadelphia looks very beautiful. I love all the trees and bushes being so green. But, back to Zentangle. I like your 2 tiles of Onion Drops. Very nice. You always do such a nice job on your tiles. I don’t know that Dingplatz tangle yet. Will the stepouts be coming out to the rest of us soon? 🙂 Happy October to you!
I liked your first tile. The balls on the ends make it look a bit like a shishkabab. Tasty tangle.
So sorry to hear you had such a bad reaction to the vaccine, but glad you got it anyway. A friend of ours has shingles currently and it is awful!
You’ve created 2 great tiles, but I particularly love that first one. It has great balance and contrast.
Glad you feel better now! I like your tiles, but the first one is absolutely my favorite!!
I’m glad you’re feeling better. You Diva pieces are both lovely and I agree that Onion Drops is a very calming pattern to draw when you’re not quite feeling up to snuff.
I´m glad you are felling better, too!
Both tiles for the Diva challenge are wonderful!
Hi Suzanne.
Nice to meet you. I read an article you wrote on Midlife Boulevard and thought I’d check out your personal blog. Very in depth writing! And you live in Philly. I lived in Philly (well, Manayunk) for 2 years and really loved it. Rittenhouse Square is just lovely. I’ll stop in often to say hi and read what you’re up to. I’m a nomad traveling the world indefinitely. I’m in the UK at present; leave for Ireland in a week or so, then Wales and finally Belgium for Christmas. I’ve been dying to see the markets. Take care. Glad you’re feeling better.
Hi Todra. Thanks for coming over to check out Boomeresque. Manayunk is definitely part of Philly — maybe not Center City, but certainly one of Philadelphia’s real neighborhoods. In fact, our son lives in Manayunk and i grew up partly in West Mt. Airy—2 neighborhoods over.