posted on September 12, 2001 02:11:03 PM
i did manage to do a token listing last night, but today am finding it extremely difficult to work. taking photos seems the most appealing of all the tasks. writing descriptions is the least appealing.
i've just turned off the tv. perhaps i'll go on a small buying trip 20 miles south of here. or photograph some items. these are the only things i can think of to do to cope.
anyone else having difficulty working, especially writing descriptions? any other suggestions on how to get back to work?
posted on September 12, 2001 02:22:27 PM
I turned off the TV after 2 minutes. Turned off the radio, too. Put you favorite CD's or tapes in and go for it.
I suggest tomorrow do not even turn the TV or radio on.
One more thing, stay out of AW's ebay outlook becuase it is not longer ebay related topics.
posted on September 12, 2001 02:23:59 PM
Hi kittykittykitty,
Keep that TV off and yes, get out and go on a buying trip! And listen to music on the way there, not news. I was tuned in to the coverage all day yesterday but today I want to do other things to take my mind off the tragedy.
I didn't get a damn thing done yesterday but I'm doing better today. Don't let those terrorists get the best of you... tell them to "f___ off" by keeping on with your life.
posted on September 12, 2001 02:37:31 PM
I agree that it is difficult to concentrate which I heard is a symptom of shock. I am also having trouble turning the tv off. I feel like I should, but I feel compelled to find out what is happening. I have gotten very little work done. So far last night I did get a little done on emptying some junk out of my porch that I used to use for storage for things to sell. I am having trouble even eating when I should as I haven't eaten anything today and just realized it is almost 4:40 p.m. here in Indiana. I have also been the most concerned about whether to mail packages since the P.O. here told me that they will just get stored somewhere for now. I am confused about it due to the different posts. I e-mailed my buyers and so far they are also very understanding that this is the least of one's worries at this dreadful time. I don't know how people are going to work and concentrating. I work full time selling on eBay at this time. I suppose they aren't watching tv so it is easier. I'm not sure.
Any coping mechanisms for this kind of tragedy would be appreciated since I am having trouble thinking normally.
posted on September 12, 2001 02:38:13 PM
After I've heard from my friends that were ok
And learned about those that died I turned of news and I watched movies till 6 am,
since then no
Tv no news no nothing, cannt ever read some of the threads here, still angry at the whole world and jihad and AW is too muc to take too at the moment,
So I'm off to beach, no TV's or news there...
Read my thred on how to cope how to help, might help a bit, definitly go out though,
Seing "moving" life in the unattacked states might be better then watching CNN over and over again.
posted on September 12, 2001 03:02:48 PM
I've been working this afternoon. It has taken me ALL AFTERNOON (!) to write and put together ONE listing.
I have the TV on in the living room, while I am in the next room, where I can hear it but not be glued to it. Yes, it is extremely distracting. But I am starting to feel differently about all this than I did at the very beginning (total panic -- this is literally the end of the world) and throughout the day yesterday (misery and depression). Little by little, as this day unfolds, I am starting to feel a glow of patriotism and pride in America that I have not particularly felt or seen around me in a long, long time.
Last night, just doing a little channel-surfing, it was heartening to see that certain channels -- QVC, HSN, TLC, TNT, HGTV, even VH1 and MTV -- were running CNN, Fox News and MSNBC coverage of the disaster rather than their own programming. I fell asleep on the sofa and woke up at 2-something A.M. to see, on C-Span, the morning talk show anchors of the BBC showing London newspaper front pages and devoting their entire program to our national tragedy. This afternoon I logged onto Amazon.com to find a message on their home page about donating to the Red Cross. Even eBay is showing its best side, as evidenced by the cancellation of the WTC auctions.
My 9-year-old daughter came home from school with a flyer from the student council asking children -- "since we're too young to give blood" -- to make money donations at school for the Red Cross disaster relief. My little girl -- who was born in China but is a very proud U.S. citizen now -- is donating all of her last week's allowance.
I received e-mails today from friends urging me to fly the flag and to burn a candle or lantern Thursday night to show our national pride (I will post this suggestion on Auctionwatch). Then I took some time this afternoon to add flags (thank you, Authorized Art) to my auctions.
And I've been listening to the TV, to the incredible story of the totally selfless heroism displayed by passengers and crew of Flight 93, which crashed in a field in Pennsylvania instead of on the White House or another intended target because these brave souls, knowing they were going to die, overcame the hijackers. To the story of the firefighters in Washington, just now unfurling a huge flag over the crash site at the Pentagon. To the countless incidents of New Yorkers (New Yorkers!!) running through the streets yesterday offering water, rides, cell phones, any kind of help to the injured.
This is the most horrible crisis our nation has ever experienced, and it is by no means over. But rather than being depressed and paralyzed by what has happened, I am increasingly feeling proud of my country and my fellow Americans.
Please try to take heart, all of you. Do what you need to to cope -- be it turning off the TV, taking buying trips, whatever. But remember this is a great country because it is full of great human beings -- including you, me and all those who lost their lives yesterday.
posted on September 12, 2001 03:06:43 PM
I haven't attempted to do anything...and luckily, I was in a seminar today instead of my RL job. I have started crying 3-4 times today - just out of the blue. It is all so senseless.
posted on September 12, 2001 03:50:56 PMI am starting to feel a glow of patriotism and pride in America that I have not particularly felt or seen around me in a long, long time.
Savannahmom, I was really moved by your post and especially that particular thought. You're right, we're really coming together as Americans with a sense of national pride that isn't normally felt so strongly. It's unfortunate that it takes such a horrific event to spark it, but I feel it, too.
Yesterday after buying a flag to fly above my garage, I felt a little sheepish that I didn't already own one.
posted on September 12, 2001 04:34:34 PM
I received a first hand account just minutes ago in email...I would love to share it, unfortunately, I don't know the author and don't know if it would be appropriate to post it without knowing they feelings (it went out to a list of about 800 by another poster). I hope no one ever has to go through something like this again.....
posted on September 12, 2001 04:48:54 PM
Woke up this am with the tv on from last night and a splitting headache. Said to self, gotta do something--have to get away from one more pic of those airplanes hitting the WTC. It is just as shocking today as when I first saw the second one hitting, live on TV, yesterday am.
Went and spent the day with my eldest son. It was cathartic. Usually, he won't be seen in public with me! Today--was very special.
He didn't understand how I could be so upset about yesterday and its ramifications.
Tried not to be overly dramatic, just voice my concerns about our future as a country and what yesterday meant to the US.
He is young, 24, and still in that quasi self narcissist, the whole world should revolve around me, ideal.
I am going to attempt to list tonight. My heart is not in it, but have to do it.
posted on September 12, 2001 05:17:31 PM
Hmmm....I thought it was just me. Turning the channel to a movie or other show didn't work...I too felt compelled to know what was going on. Same with turning if off.
Don't have the heart to list and should be sending out a mailing to our mailing list since we just opened a B&M; so we need foot traffic. Can't bring myself to compose the email to that list ...seems too tawdry right now. I did ask myself if it would be any different at the end of the weekend when the body count was rising. Don't like the thought of that either.
Did manage to go out and place a note on our dot com expressing our feelings about this -- hope we hunt the perpetrators down and show NO MERCY.
Just moved from my new home to another new home (within less than a month) due to a personal tragedy which seems so tiny now...
So I am spending the evening attempting to organize my things; trying to get back to life hopefully tomorrow.
Working from home has allowed being on our own schedules --mostly-- for a couple of years. Right now I am glad that I have a store to go to work in tomorrow.
Rise and Reverberate!
Dee
Fetish Temple
[ edited by fetishtemple on Sep 12, 2001 05:21 PM ]
posted on September 12, 2001 06:13:47 PM
I am just devastated!!!
My father was a pilot for TWA and US Air(before he was ultimately killed by a drunk driver at 43) I know from growing up with the Air lines that the air line family is just in pieces right now. I really can not even begin to describe my anger right now. I wish I had the power to make Afghanastan a parking lot right now.
To make it worse I am on vacation in North Carolina and from Pittsburgh and almost had a stroke when this came out, my whole family lives in Perryopolis which is 45 min from the crash site.
Now the news is sayiny over 20,000 dead...I am so mad. I cant even cope with this. My father would have been devastated.
I have done nothing but some emails to questions on my current Auctions. I wont be working for awhile.
Jen
posted on September 12, 2001 06:36:53 PM
I lived in Brooklyn Heights, NYC on the water's edge called the Promenade, known for its exquisite views of downtown. Each day I would admire the direct view of the towers from my garden. I have been looking through all the pictures we've taken of the towers over the years and I can't even begin to express the loss I feel. Every time I hear a plane overhead (now I live in New Jersey) I jump...I can't get any work done.
posted on September 12, 2001 06:50:41 PM
Dear tjbrocean. I am not far from you, I am in the Mon Valley, Monongahela. It has been a horrible two days and I fear it is not over.
It has been devastating--and we all feel the loss of American lives.
Please don't go off the deep end and just suggest we bomb anyone.
I understand you are hurting, I have been hurting too.
We will overcome this. We as Americans must.
We are a democracy--but will take the drastic measures that intrude on our privacy to maintain the integrity of our country.
posted on September 12, 2001 08:41:30 PM
I would agree with others. Turn off the television. There has not been a single thing on any channel for 48 hours other than coverage from NYC. Total, continuous immersion in tragedy is no good for anyone.
posted on September 13, 2001 05:49:25 AM
It's somehow comforting to know I'm not alone. Day 1, I put my whole life on hold and just sat and cried and yelled at the television. Day 2, I had to get some things done, so I went out and did banking and grocery shopping. I was so horrible to the people with whom I came into contact, that I got myself home. I decided I needed to get a grip.
I turned on A&E, ate some ice cream with lots of chocolate fudge, and fell asleep from about noon to 4:30. I woke up feeling more myself than I had in awhile. I even ended up putting some $1 book lots on auction (this happens when you buy box lots, but it's cheaper than dump fees).
The sadness and anger are still with me, but I'm managing them better.
posted on September 13, 2001 08:27:31 AM
I'm glad I'm not the only one torn between watching the news and trying to tear myself away. Torn between getting on with my life and mourning the losses we have all suffered.
I live 35 miles outside of the city and watched dozens of emergency vehicles making their way past my home and office to the war zone that was once NYC in order to try and help the people that are trapped underneath a pile of rubble and will in all probability not be found alive.
I have stood in or at the base of those buildings dozens of times, driven past that skyline 100s of times in the five years since I made this area my home.
Over half of the working population in the surrounding county work in NYC. Of the 50,000 that ride the commuter rail every day, 1/3 of those are believed to work in the financial district.
While my husband and I have not experienced any personal loss we have neighbors and coworkers who's loved ones and friends haven't come home and most likely will not.
The NYC office of my company is in Penn Plaza, the guys from that office came here to work yesterday and spent most of the day counting casualties. We are the largest provider of data storage to the financial world, our customers have suffered significant losses in both human lives and tangible items.
Our largest competitor's regional headquarters occupied 3 floors of Tower 2. The local field sales office cannot confirm the loss they have suffered. Friendly competition is one thing, losing a competitor to a terrorist attack is another story altogether.
We now live in a world in which we are afraid to leave our homes, go to the movies, ride a rollercoaster for fear that an unknown attacker could be lurking nearby. We are no longer safe.
I'm angry, I'm scared, I'm stunned and I want to go back to the life I knew just a few days ago. I feel small and helpless and I don't want to feel that way but I don't know how not to. I'm sure I'm not the only one though. I keep getting emails to wear red, white and blue, to light candles, to wave flags. But none of that will change anything or make us feel safe again.
Sorry this is so long...once I started I just couldn't stop.
posted on September 13, 2001 10:58:00 AM
I will try and post links to a couple of UK sites that will give a different view.http://www.bbc.co.uk/
http://portal.telegraph.co.uk/news/index.jhtml
SympathyfromUK
posted on September 13, 2001 02:28:06 PM
i came back yesterday and read richierich and beth's posts, and then went on my little buying trip . most of the time things felt blessedly normal again. no more tv last night or today, no radio, and i won't be reading the posts here that are directly about this horrible event.
last night my best friend and i watched a video. it was a choice between 'wonder boy' and 'lady and the tramp.' 'lady and the tramp' won out .
the break really has helped. i highly recommend it. today i'll start shooting and describing whatever appeals most and is easiest.
sadie, my experience is nearly the same as yours
to those of you who are in the new york and dc areas who have lost someone - even indirectly - or are still waiting to hear, my heart goes out to you. be extra good to yourselves, and god bless.
posted on September 13, 2001 05:17:04 PM
I think I'm taking a break tomorrow too. I have gotten nothing done since Tuesday. I can't even find anything on TV, any channel, except cartoon network. Oh yeah, I did find the biography of Karen Carpenter today. That was NOT helpful! I also need to get away from a friend who is an alarmist and scared the crap out of me!
Hit the mall, do some shopping. I thought about doing garage sales tomorrow, but I know that everyone will be talking about it. Most of the time, the clerks at the mall barely speak to you anyway!
. most of the time things felt blessedly normal again. no more tv last night or today, no radio, and i won't be reading the posts here that are directly about this horrible event.
.
