There’s a rooster that lives on my block (he’s a very fancy Welsummer). It’s illegal to own a rooster in city limits although it’s not like he *belongs* to anyone, and there’s one dude in our neighborhood Facebook group who has taken it upon himself to get animal control to pick up the rooster. However, the rooster obviously wanders and animal control needs the address where the animal actually is when they respond or it’s not their problem. This has led to a series of increasingly frustrated posts where the guy is like “Where is the rooster during the day?!” and all the responses are just “I like the rooster,” and “I’m not gonna narc on Beauregard,” and it has been an immense joy in my life. This has been rooster story time. I hope you are all doing as well as could be hoped right now.
I used to teach in an afterschool arts ed program, and one of my first graders told me all about how her family keeps backyard chickens, but one of the chickens turned out to be a rooster, but roosters aren’t allowed in Brooklyn, so the rooster went to go live on a farm, “but we didn’t kill him! It’s a real farm! And he’s really happy there, because he has lots of girlfriends.” Liberation for all roosters, polyamorous and otherwise!
Our roosters also used to go live on a real farm! We had family friends outside of town (where roosters were allowed) with a farm. They would put the roosters in the turkey pens to avoid accidental chicks and they were very happy, living their with their large bird friends.
My city has no laws against chickens. Every kid in town wakes up to roosters crowing. They wander the streets and roost in trees. They eat lawns (there is a law against lawns).
In the middle of all of this I got a job offer (after graduating from an occupational therapy program in Dec. and taking my board exam in Feb). It's at a school for kids with emotional disabilities and autism. Of course, schools are closed now, so we're talking about me working on the inpatient unit that's affiliated with the organization until schools open again. I want to celebrate but it feels silly, I"m thinking about what I should do, and it's all so surreal. But I just wanted to say it all out loud and celebrate just a tiny bit.
The four-year-old in self-isolation in the apartment building across the street shouted "I love you, Anna!" to our four-year-old and she shouted "I love you too!" and I feel like we have dibs to "Love in a Time of Coronavirus."
My 10yo and I have been sitting on our balcony that hangs over the front door of our house split up into flats, we shout 'Guten Tag Frau Klein!' or whomever to our neighbours as they unlock their bikes to go to the store, or for a ride around the neighbourhood.
I am so happy to hear that Starbucks is both closing and paying people! I've been being very good and staying home, but someone on my Facebook asked people where they were most looking forward to going after the isolation, and everyone was posting "the waterfront" and "visiting family," and I was like FUCKING STARBUCKS!
I defended my dissertation! So I've just been riding that high / feeling like the PhD years have adequately trained me for: staying indoors, dealing with vast swathes of unstructured time, feelings of guilt about not being productive enough, fits of anxiety & existential terror
I work for a statewide medical association and it’s been such a rough week but our doctors and health care workers are HEROES and are working round the clock to fight this thing. Our govt is inept so we are getting inventive, figuring out ways to get workers PPE, increase telemedicine services, transfer coronavirus patients to outpatient facilities that have stopped elective procedures, etc. Some ER physicians I know are opting to stay in hotels bc they don’t want to risk bringing the virus home to their family but they won’t stop taking care of their patients.
I’m “presumptive positive” and feeling worse today and trying not to panic (and failing?)? My husband and I have been quarantined for 7 days, and I was hoping the worst was over. He has an autoimmune so I am extra concerned.
Upside to this isolation? Bras are over. Also over: uncomfortable shoes (or shoes at all but please do wear slippers because another thing that's over is the emergency room when you step on a rusty thumbtack), makeup, handbags, pants. I have been listening to the BBC's Countryside Hour podcast every day and it is so soothing to hear an English farmer talk about owls and badger procreation and planting timothy hay. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02tfhrt
As we swing into the weekend and many of us have our first time off since WFH and isolation started, I just want to remind everyone to be gentle with themselves. It's okay to feel sad, overwhelmed, panicky, and anything else you may be feeling. This is a life changing event we're experiencing right now, and grief is totally normal. Give yourself time to process everything. Love and light to everyone. 💕
Thank you for this. I was laid off 3 days into working from home. Now I don't know what I'm going to do with myself and the empty space in my mind is just filling up with panic and grief.
I know almost everyone is struggling in one way or another right now but, if you can, send good vibes or a prayer my family's way on Monday because of [medical thing unrelated to covid-19].
Hope y'all are hanging on. My day job (and now all the time job) involves *the thing*. And today is the first day in like 3 weeks I'm just trying to breath. Hope everyone has found a way to make some space for just staring at a wall. Blankness is a gift right now.
I’m a psychologist working in a hospital, so still going in to work (though getting ready for telework soon) so I’m kind of in a different rhythm than many (including my family who are all home now) and it’s very odd sometimes. Also, at work I think I’m mostly helping my colleagues since we’re having most patients stay home, and phone support is a different thing. This seems like a place I can share that. Oh!! And here’s where I can DEFINITELY share that I’m watching Schitts creek at last, with delight, and just saw Patrick sing to David at open mic and my HEART ! The good in this world, I don’t even know
I am in a very similar situation as a psychologist, though I am single. I have been doing video and audio sessions, including teleconference groups. I agree that it is a very different rhythm than in person practice. The missing non-verbals from audio group sessions is jarring, though I think that the service may prove beneficial as social distancing and sheltering in place continue.
I work for a large system, and I have the sense that they will drag their feet on home telework until the very last second. I am grateful to be helping others (and frankly relieved but a bit guilty to still be able to earn money). My colleagues with more medical risk factors have taken FMLA, and I am glad that they are safe. I wish that they had more options than to take leave, though.
In the meantime, I am trying to practice social distancing as much as I can in work and my social life. Outside unavoidable contact at work, my in person socializing is limited to outdoor walks with about 6 feet between me and my companions. This is one of those times that I am grateful to have grown up as an indoor kid and to have picked up plenty of at home hobbies and interests. I enjoyed season 1 of Schitts creek and may have to pick up the rest.
I'm staying in my parents' basement in their nearby city as my husband came back from a work trip 7 days ago and is staying in our large studio. (We live in Canada) My fear is that at some point I won't be able to return to him. Also my mom is starting to get into it about my weight and my pronunciation of words (I'm anglo but have been working in French for years). Ugh.
I can only imagine your pronunciation is gorgeous and charming. I give you permission to ignore your mother’s comments about your weight. You are fine. I hope you can be back with your husband soon. x
Thank you all for your prayers/wishes/etc earlier last week. My father's stable and I'm visiting him today! I'll keep the appropriate 5 ft distance of course.
Today is also my sister's birthday, and although we can't go out to eat like she wants, it's enough for me to just be together for a while. I hope y'all are doing as well as you can.
Anyone else working on sewing projects in quarantine?
We just found out last night that the lone death from covid-19 in our entire state was a man who lived in my mother's apartment building. The sad, overwhelmed panicking has set in for real.
I feel so lucky that I can do my job from home so continue to get paid through this indefinite crisis. But also sometimes it feels very weird that my job is just continuing as before, without interruption? Like, I have a performance review this week. What is that even about? We are staying healthy and keeping the lights on and that is all that anyone can expect right now!
My job shut down (a film production) and while its uncertain what the future brings, or how long I’ll be paid, I also feel for those expected to maintain focus on jobs right now. A performance review must feel like a joke at this point? Anyway, just wanted to say I understand your complicated feelings!
I feel this a lot. My job sent SWOT analysis templates over a couple of weeks for us to fill out and I think the collective company was like NOT RIGHT NOW, HR.
I was slogging through Costco yesterday and there was a woman I'd never seen hawking moisturizer "from Hawaii", desperately trying to squirt lotion on people who were wearing vinyl gloves and face masks.
I was compelled to buy a thermometer today for the first time in my whole entire life because my seasonal allergies have arrived (right on time) but I feel like I need... I dunno, evidence?... that I don’t have COVID19. Despite the fact that the symptoms of both are nothing alike, and in fact polar opposites: I don’t have a fever or cough or fatigue, but what I *do* have is a stuffy nose & itchy watery eyes.
But somehow I still feel very self conscious about it and have been taking my temp over and over. It’s always 36.4-36.6 C.
Yup! It would seem that I’m about 97.5 to 97.8F on average. I won’t share that article around right away because I want to make a whole buncha ‘cold-blooded’ jokes first.
I am so happy to see this. I've always been 98.6 unless sick. My husband and kids are 96.5 unless sick. I took my husband and two of my son's to the E.R. and They were 98.7.
I think I remember that! Wasn’t it a commercial or something?
Allergies are a fairly recent affliction for me. For years I would see ads for allergy remedies on tv and roll my eyes at all the melodrama — “oh my itchy eyes! Oh my stuffy sinuses and the sneezing!” thinking ‘jfc, get a grip, it’s only allergies’ and then I was SMOTE for my sin of smart-assy-ness.
I applied to foster animals since I'm, you know, home 24/7 now. Shelters here are in the position of having more willing humans than animals to place at the moment, so it might not happen, but at the very least, I'm in the shelter's foster Facebook group now so I get to see a ton of good good dog pictures.
You guys you guys, I need you all to watch the new Emma directed by Autumn de Wilde. It is utterly perfect and Bill Nighy is in it having the time of his life, and it was the perfect distraction.
Today I’m getting ready to watch my friend’s wedding over livestream. I am sad that we can’t be there in person, but I’m looking forward to dressing up and celebrating her from afar. I keep waffling this week between sadness, frustration, stoicism, optimism, and gratitude...but I think right now I’m somewhere between sad and grateful. I’m really glad I bought a bunch of plants a few weeks ago!
I had a dream last night we met in real life and you found me super boring and awkward. You were wearing a fabulous purple beaded caftan, and looked great, though.
I had a dream a few nights ago that I met Meghan Markle and tried to tell her about the clothing brand Johnny Was and she replied, "Oh." in a way that made it clear she was NOT interested in my fashion advice. Literally even in our dreams there are some people we are apparently not cool enough to hang out with!
My union health insurance announced that they are waiving our next quarter’s premiums, which is a huge load off my shoulders as I work in theater and will be unemployed for the foreseeable future. I was laid off but my theater offered to pay us all through the end of our contracts; my final paycheck will be next week. So I’ve been spending some time scrounging for online work (I do not wish to get a temporary grocery job simply because I have elderly parents I am helping take care of, so I want to minimize risk.)
One bright spot is my friends have started doing Netflix Parties online with me, Zoom hangouts, virtual happy hour where we share how to make our favorite cocktails... all sorts of online staying connected.
I felt really overwhelmed last night by my news overconsumption and being Too Online, so I temporarily deactivated all my social media (maybe that’s why you’re getting a novel here). It has felt nice today to disconnect from the world at large but stay connected with friends and family, and smaller pockets of online like you all here.
Last night I watched 10 Things I Hate About You as a comfort. It came out when I was in HS and a great nostalgic distraction from all this. There were definitely things that didn’t age well but mostly I was happy to find it soothing and sweet
Second dose of chemo coming up, my hair "finally" (?) just starting coming out today, and it's got me so incredibly down which feels just...wrong in this current climate. I'm terrified I'm not going to be able to afford meds or groceries, and since I live alone there's no one to really talk to during this about anything. I've been trying to keep upbeat, and for the most part I guess succeeding, but it's like waking up to hair on my pillow was the straw that broke my togetherness. At least for today. Is that stupid?
I have no idea what I'm going to do about anything. I lost my disability again months ago, and it doesn't look like social security is even working on reinstating people during this. IDK. I could really use some cheering up.
I can't even go to the hospital's wig bank, because it's closed during this crisis and I haven't been able to get a scarf or a wig either. Can't afford it, and even if I did where would I even get one?
I am sure you are beautiful bald and all. I know my friends who have gone through hair loss ended up shaving it off as the patchiness was the hardest phase. I am sorry you are going through all this. Do you have a favorite music artist that lifts your spirits?
My neighbor's kid has some kind of toy that makes a rooster sound effect. I hear it constantly. I'm hearing it as I type this. I will hear it when Gabriel blows his horn.
I run an industry trade association for an industry that’s been shut down by coronavirus. I’ve worked past midnight every night this week and now I’m up at 5:30 AM because I can’t sleep thinking about what needs to be done today. All I wanted to do for this quarantine was take the time to practice a smoky eye and perfect my eyelash technique. 😭
Ugh, I used to work in event planning and empathize. One weird break activity I'm doing is watching unboxing videos of beauty boxes and makeup tutorials. I don't even wear that much makeup! But there is something oddly soothing about them.
I already worked from home, my high school aged kids are both already in online programs, and my close friends are all elsewhere. So, in many respects my life hasn't changed much. I'm sort of comforted by everyone that has joined my way of life. That said, I had really good WFH habits that have gone to shit. And I feel frustrated by all of the "what great thing will you accomplish during the pandemic" content. Is gaining a bunch of weight a great thing, because that's definitely going to happen. On the upside, my family is having a zoom call today and I'm looking forward to it--and wondering if it's something we should have been doing all along.
I don't know how I'm going to go back to my 2h round trip commute when this is over. I know lots of people have worse but wow, I have so much more time with my family right now, and I'm working out before 9pm, and I'm enjoying breakfast. It's a massive silver lining.
Going back to something you said in another newsletter, as a chronic daily drinker I am a bit concerned that supermarkets here seem to be only stocking up on basic needs, which does not include alcohol, which means every subsequent bottle of anything I get is going to be more expensive when I have no money. They're also only pulling stock for sauces/condiments and spices, for some reason? We're set on spices, but I go through a ton of BBQ sauce every week. Also it just seems weird to deny people tasty food. Spain as a country is pretty damn white but I mean... come on.
I've been really worried about the alcohol thing. They closed everything alcohol-related here, calling it non-essential, which is incorrect for many people.
Also, my husband was all over the spices. He stocked up on them as soon as toilet paper became scarce.
God, that reminds me of the day I tried to drink straight bitters. And that was before this whole thing. It was the day of my father's funeral, so like, exactly a month ago.
I'm glad I'm picky but not SUPER picky about alcohol, which means I can probably keep trying out brands of whiskey and vodka at least. For now I'm just going to the store next door, but they're not replenishing their shelves, so my next bottle is going to be more expensive, and the bottle after that will be more expensive, and then you get into liquor price territory and I have no idea how I'm going to pay for any of it, and I sure as hell can't stock up. Also apparently Amazon is leaving packages on doorsteps without even ringing the doorbell, so I had to turn down af friend who offered to get me Grey Goose.
The cashier accidentally broke the last packet of saffron at my supermarket that my mom had gotten so she's hoping they'll pull more out of stock for paella. We're decently well-stocked otherwise (we also have double dry thyme because I bought some to roast a rabbit in Slovakia) and we do homemade mayo, but the bbq sauce thing is worrisome.
Hello rooster friends! The wonderful podcast Death, Sex, and Money has posted a "Pandemic Tool Kit" and challenged listeners to do one thing on it this weekend. Only 3 days of working from home in and I have lost track of what day it is SO I'm committing here to reupholstering the bottom of a chair that was scratched to shit by some very cute kittens. Weekend home improvement here I come!
I don’t know if you can still at least lurk around Twitter, but this thread on Barrett’s Privateers is delightful.. https://twitter.com/shawnmicallef/status/1227236535575203840?s=21 if you’re feeling a little homesick...was always wondering why they would be yearning for the Eastern Townships of all places...
Just as I was finally feeling like I was coming out of the anxiety and uncertainty of some health issues that occurred last fall and feeling more confident and capable this shit happens. Husband (pharmacist) and I (nurse) are still working. The pharmacies are absolute chaos now and he’s more stressed than usual (which is a ton normally). I work in peds at a private practice and it’s been crazy. I may need to decrease to part-time as they are adjusting their operating hours. Honestly, as much as I would like to be home with my pups, I really want to keep working. I like helping people and I’m good at it so I want to do it as long as possible.
I've got animal crossing! And now I'm trying to figure out how to do everything, because I haven't played this game since... middle school? Anyway, I'm having fun catching butterflies and fishing right now, and at least I've got that to keep me occupied while I stay inside. Anyone else out there playing any good games?
We ordered a new refrigerator weeks ago, that is going to be delivered today. Due to the pandemic, we were informed the new protocol is they delivery guys will leave it at the front door or in the garage, but won't enter the house. It weighs 312 lbs. and there is a hallway and three steps down to our kitchen. This should be interesting...
I can’t lie, I’ve been spending a lot of time on Twitter and Netflix, but I also picked up The Essex Serpent, which I think somebody recommended here a week or two ago (I could be wrong about that, time is increasingly elastic). It’s so beautifully-written, it’s a real treat, even though it’s dealing with an undercurrent of dread. It’s good to step away from the modern world (where my teenager is moving sloooooowly through the stages of grief still wants to go on spring break) and dwell on the natural world.
My teenagers are moving slowly too. They keep insisting this is all a huge over reaction. I know they’re just needing to protect themselves from the scale of it.
I’m going to try Wolf Hall again for the same reasons you’re into Essex. An escape to another time’s problems!
I haven’t worked full time in 10ish years because of anxiety and depression & I am just not in a great place right now. I’m so tired of being afraid. (No advice please, I just need to be heard)
I'm on government mandated quarantine since I just came back from being overseas (definitely a troubling end to my birthday trip...) and my housemate has been working from home which she hates doing. So it's nice for us to have a weekend fun time. I've just been wandering the house like a wife who's husband has gone to sea because I legally cannot go anywhere and have nobody to talk to during the weekday. I've done a lot of gardening... we've been playing Animal Crossing since Friday night though which has been a kind reprieve. I just miss human company, you know????
They're scaling down public transportation next week so I'm going to have to get my partner to drive me to and from the hospital every day with both kids in the car. He's happy to do it but with my 7.30am-8pm shifts, I feel guilty anyway. Everything has changed so much in a few days, I don't know what will be next.
There’s a rooster that lives on my block (he’s a very fancy Welsummer). It’s illegal to own a rooster in city limits although it’s not like he *belongs* to anyone, and there’s one dude in our neighborhood Facebook group who has taken it upon himself to get animal control to pick up the rooster. However, the rooster obviously wanders and animal control needs the address where the animal actually is when they respond or it’s not their problem. This has led to a series of increasingly frustrated posts where the guy is like “Where is the rooster during the day?!” and all the responses are just “I like the rooster,” and “I’m not gonna narc on Beauregard,” and it has been an immense joy in my life. This has been rooster story time. I hope you are all doing as well as could be hoped right now.
We all have to do our bit to fight the carceral rooster state.
I'M NOT GONNA NARC ON BEAUREGARD <3
I used to teach in an afterschool arts ed program, and one of my first graders told me all about how her family keeps backyard chickens, but one of the chickens turned out to be a rooster, but roosters aren’t allowed in Brooklyn, so the rooster went to go live on a farm, “but we didn’t kill him! It’s a real farm! And he’s really happy there, because he has lots of girlfriends.” Liberation for all roosters, polyamorous and otherwise!
Our roosters also used to go live on a real farm! We had family friends outside of town (where roosters were allowed) with a farm. They would put the roosters in the turkey pens to avoid accidental chicks and they were very happy, living their with their large bird friends.
Let the rooster free!
My city has no laws against chickens. Every kid in town wakes up to roosters crowing. They wander the streets and roost in trees. They eat lawns (there is a law against lawns).
I want to live where you live!
In the middle of all of this I got a job offer (after graduating from an occupational therapy program in Dec. and taking my board exam in Feb). It's at a school for kids with emotional disabilities and autism. Of course, schools are closed now, so we're talking about me working on the inpatient unit that's affiliated with the organization until schools open again. I want to celebrate but it feels silly, I"m thinking about what I should do, and it's all so surreal. But I just wanted to say it all out loud and celebrate just a tiny bit.
That's awesome, and you should definitely celebrate. Those kids are so lucky to have you. Congratulations!
That is WONDERFUL and you are going to help so much (and be helped by the people you work with and serve)!
Congratulations! On school and the job, you deserve to celebrate
Well done! That’s still worth celebrating! OT is so important.
The four-year-old in self-isolation in the apartment building across the street shouted "I love you, Anna!" to our four-year-old and she shouted "I love you too!" and I feel like we have dibs to "Love in a Time of Coronavirus."
My 10yo and I have been sitting on our balcony that hangs over the front door of our house split up into flats, we shout 'Guten Tag Frau Klein!' or whomever to our neighbours as they unlock their bikes to go to the store, or for a ride around the neighbourhood.
Content for the Sesame Street Pandemic episode, no question.
Also I know everything is terrible, but my book has a webpage and I am very excited! https://edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-reading-ideas-in-victorian-literature-hb.html
Aw
I work tomorrow (at Starbucks) and then I have a month off, paid! THE SHAMING WORKED.
I am so happy to hear that Starbucks is both closing and paying people! I've been being very good and staying home, but someone on my Facebook asked people where they were most looking forward to going after the isolation, and everyone was posting "the waterfront" and "visiting family," and I was like FUCKING STARBUCKS!
AND a friend lent me the money to buy Animal Crossing?! Holy crap, y'all.
Happy for y’all!! It’s what all companies should do.
You so deserve it. AND Animal Crossing. Perfect.
Hooray!!!
hell yeaaaaaa
I defended my dissertation! So I've just been riding that high / feeling like the PhD years have adequately trained me for: staying indoors, dealing with vast swathes of unstructured time, feelings of guilt about not being productive enough, fits of anxiety & existential terror
OMG, I think you just helped me figure out why this is so hard for me! It’s basically grad school all over again! Thanks? 🤣
"2010s hit horror movie, or your phd program" but make it covid-19
Congrats!
Oh, and congrats! That’s a huge deal!
Congratulations!
I work for a statewide medical association and it’s been such a rough week but our doctors and health care workers are HEROES and are working round the clock to fight this thing. Our govt is inept so we are getting inventive, figuring out ways to get workers PPE, increase telemedicine services, transfer coronavirus patients to outpatient facilities that have stopped elective procedures, etc. Some ER physicians I know are opting to stay in hotels bc they don’t want to risk bringing the virus home to their family but they won’t stop taking care of their patients.
Thank you for everything <3
I’m “presumptive positive” and feeling worse today and trying not to panic (and failing?)? My husband and I have been quarantined for 7 days, and I was hoping the worst was over. He has an autoimmune so I am extra concerned.
I’m so sorry. Thinking of you.
Thinking of you and sending extra prayers your way for healing.
Upside to this isolation? Bras are over. Also over: uncomfortable shoes (or shoes at all but please do wear slippers because another thing that's over is the emergency room when you step on a rusty thumbtack), makeup, handbags, pants. I have been listening to the BBC's Countryside Hour podcast every day and it is so soothing to hear an English farmer talk about owls and badger procreation and planting timothy hay. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02tfhrt
I’ll never be able to work in anything but yoga pants and Adidas slides again.
Seconding yoga pants. I'll miss them so much when I go back to work
As we swing into the weekend and many of us have our first time off since WFH and isolation started, I just want to remind everyone to be gentle with themselves. It's okay to feel sad, overwhelmed, panicky, and anything else you may be feeling. This is a life changing event we're experiencing right now, and grief is totally normal. Give yourself time to process everything. Love and light to everyone. 💕
I just keep crying. So much crying. At v random times. It's a lot.
Thank you for this. I was laid off 3 days into working from home. Now I don't know what I'm going to do with myself and the empty space in my mind is just filling up with panic and grief.
I got tipsy and told some guy I’ve never met that I have a crush on him and now we’re texting. From our separate homes where we will stay.
I love this.
You are invited to our wedding.
Excellent! Can’t wait!
I know almost everyone is struggling in one way or another right now but, if you can, send good vibes or a prayer my family's way on Monday because of [medical thing unrelated to covid-19].
Sending ❤️✨✨
Hope y'all are hanging on. My day job (and now all the time job) involves *the thing*. And today is the first day in like 3 weeks I'm just trying to breath. Hope everyone has found a way to make some space for just staring at a wall. Blankness is a gift right now.
I mean this entirely sincerely: GOD BLESS YOU!
I’m a psychologist working in a hospital, so still going in to work (though getting ready for telework soon) so I’m kind of in a different rhythm than many (including my family who are all home now) and it’s very odd sometimes. Also, at work I think I’m mostly helping my colleagues since we’re having most patients stay home, and phone support is a different thing. This seems like a place I can share that. Oh!! And here’s where I can DEFINITELY share that I’m watching Schitts creek at last, with delight, and just saw Patrick sing to David at open mic and my HEART ! The good in this world, I don’t even know
I am in a very similar situation as a psychologist, though I am single. I have been doing video and audio sessions, including teleconference groups. I agree that it is a very different rhythm than in person practice. The missing non-verbals from audio group sessions is jarring, though I think that the service may prove beneficial as social distancing and sheltering in place continue.
I work for a large system, and I have the sense that they will drag their feet on home telework until the very last second. I am grateful to be helping others (and frankly relieved but a bit guilty to still be able to earn money). My colleagues with more medical risk factors have taken FMLA, and I am glad that they are safe. I wish that they had more options than to take leave, though.
In the meantime, I am trying to practice social distancing as much as I can in work and my social life. Outside unavoidable contact at work, my in person socializing is limited to outdoor walks with about 6 feet between me and my companions. This is one of those times that I am grateful to have grown up as an indoor kid and to have picked up plenty of at home hobbies and interests. I enjoyed season 1 of Schitts creek and may have to pick up the rest.
I'm staying in my parents' basement in their nearby city as my husband came back from a work trip 7 days ago and is staying in our large studio. (We live in Canada) My fear is that at some point I won't be able to return to him. Also my mom is starting to get into it about my weight and my pronunciation of words (I'm anglo but have been working in French for years). Ugh.
I can only imagine your pronunciation is gorgeous and charming. I give you permission to ignore your mother’s comments about your weight. You are fine. I hope you can be back with your husband soon. x
That sounds so rough. Sending you strong adult-child support vibes.
Thank you all for your prayers/wishes/etc earlier last week. My father's stable and I'm visiting him today! I'll keep the appropriate 5 ft distance of course.
Today is also my sister's birthday, and although we can't go out to eat like she wants, it's enough for me to just be together for a while. I hope y'all are doing as well as you can.
Anyone else working on sewing projects in quarantine?
Yes! I'm finally sitting down to piece together a dress that I cut out last year, and cursing knit fabric has been a distraction.
We just found out last night that the lone death from covid-19 in our entire state was a man who lived in my mother's apartment building. The sad, overwhelmed panicking has set in for real.
My dad's an ER doctor, 59 years old, and I can't quite wrap my head around how frightening that is? I feel sort of numb.
Oh, honey, that’s so scary. Sending love. He’s a hero.
I feel so lucky that I can do my job from home so continue to get paid through this indefinite crisis. But also sometimes it feels very weird that my job is just continuing as before, without interruption? Like, I have a performance review this week. What is that even about? We are staying healthy and keeping the lights on and that is all that anyone can expect right now!
My job shut down (a film production) and while its uncertain what the future brings, or how long I’ll be paid, I also feel for those expected to maintain focus on jobs right now. A performance review must feel like a joke at this point? Anyway, just wanted to say I understand your complicated feelings!
I feel this a lot. My job sent SWOT analysis templates over a couple of weeks for us to fill out and I think the collective company was like NOT RIGHT NOW, HR.
That's going to be all of us after months with no salon access.
my Botox place is sending increasingly wild notifications of cut-rate procedures and I’m like I AM TRYING NOT TO TOUCH MY *OWN* FACE, gtfo
I was slogging through Costco yesterday and there was a woman I'd never seen hawking moisturizer "from Hawaii", desperately trying to squirt lotion on people who were wearing vinyl gloves and face masks.
I was compelled to buy a thermometer today for the first time in my whole entire life because my seasonal allergies have arrived (right on time) but I feel like I need... I dunno, evidence?... that I don’t have COVID19. Despite the fact that the symptoms of both are nothing alike, and in fact polar opposites: I don’t have a fever or cough or fatigue, but what I *do* have is a stuffy nose & itchy watery eyes.
But somehow I still feel very self conscious about it and have been taking my temp over and over. It’s always 36.4-36.6 C.
Right there with you. Also having allergies (it's the itchy eyes for me) is making Operation Don't Touch Your Face so hard.
On the subject of taking your temperature: I found this article fascinating/briefly distracting. Bodies are so weird! https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/if-youre-taking-your-temperature-because-of-the-coronavirus-98-6-isnt-the-normal-body-temperature-anymore/?amp=1&__twitter_impression=true
Yup! It would seem that I’m about 97.5 to 97.8F on average. I won’t share that article around right away because I want to make a whole buncha ‘cold-blooded’ jokes first.
Oh yeah, I'm not giving up my Ice Queen title anytime soon.
I am so happy to see this. I've always been 98.6 unless sick. My husband and kids are 96.5 unless sick. I took my husband and two of my son's to the E.R. and They were 98.7.
We're all on quarantine anyway because someone in my husband's work building tested positive.
I keep thinking about something I read a doctor say and chuckling- “Itchy with a stuffy or runny nose? Congratulations! You have allergies!”
I think I remember that! Wasn’t it a commercial or something?
Allergies are a fairly recent affliction for me. For years I would see ads for allergy remedies on tv and roll my eyes at all the melodrama — “oh my itchy eyes! Oh my stuffy sinuses and the sneezing!” thinking ‘jfc, get a grip, it’s only allergies’ and then I was SMOTE for my sin of smart-assy-ness.
I can't even FIND a thermometer around here! CVS literally told me they're stopping carrying them bc it's a hassle. wtf.
He *needs* a puka shell necklace.
I applied to foster animals since I'm, you know, home 24/7 now. Shelters here are in the position of having more willing humans than animals to place at the moment, so it might not happen, but at the very least, I'm in the shelter's foster Facebook group now so I get to see a ton of good good dog pictures.
You guys you guys, I need you all to watch the new Emma directed by Autumn de Wilde. It is utterly perfect and Bill Nighy is in it having the time of his life, and it was the perfect distraction.
It was the last movie I saw in the before times, and I’d intended to see it at least twice more with different friends. I loved it so much.
Today I’m getting ready to watch my friend’s wedding over livestream. I am sad that we can’t be there in person, but I’m looking forward to dressing up and celebrating her from afar. I keep waffling this week between sadness, frustration, stoicism, optimism, and gratitude...but I think right now I’m somewhere between sad and grateful. I’m really glad I bought a bunch of plants a few weeks ago!
I had a dream last night we met in real life and you found me super boring and awkward. You were wearing a fabulous purple beaded caftan, and looked great, though.
I would find you DELIGHTFUL, I have never not enjoyed meeting someone who knew who I was.
Good to know, thank you. I will inform my subconscious prior to tonight’s sleep. Maybe in my dream we can go see Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf.
I had a dream a few nights ago that I met Meghan Markle and tried to tell her about the clothing brand Johnny Was and she replied, "Oh." in a way that made it clear she was NOT interested in my fashion advice. Literally even in our dreams there are some people we are apparently not cool enough to hang out with!
Yeah, apparently my brain needed to create brand new situations to be socially anxious about when I am not being social in real life!
Just needing a little electronic hug.
(Work in the grocery industry as does one of my children.)
HUG
Heros!
My union health insurance announced that they are waiving our next quarter’s premiums, which is a huge load off my shoulders as I work in theater and will be unemployed for the foreseeable future. I was laid off but my theater offered to pay us all through the end of our contracts; my final paycheck will be next week. So I’ve been spending some time scrounging for online work (I do not wish to get a temporary grocery job simply because I have elderly parents I am helping take care of, so I want to minimize risk.)
One bright spot is my friends have started doing Netflix Parties online with me, Zoom hangouts, virtual happy hour where we share how to make our favorite cocktails... all sorts of online staying connected.
I felt really overwhelmed last night by my news overconsumption and being Too Online, so I temporarily deactivated all my social media (maybe that’s why you’re getting a novel here). It has felt nice today to disconnect from the world at large but stay connected with friends and family, and smaller pockets of online like you all here.
Last night I watched 10 Things I Hate About You as a comfort. It came out when I was in HS and a great nostalgic distraction from all this. There were definitely things that didn’t age well but mostly I was happy to find it soothing and sweet
I sewed reusable cloth surgical masks and ghost-wrote two op-eds, cleaned my whole house, and now I would like to stop being alone, thanks.
Second dose of chemo coming up, my hair "finally" (?) just starting coming out today, and it's got me so incredibly down which feels just...wrong in this current climate. I'm terrified I'm not going to be able to afford meds or groceries, and since I live alone there's no one to really talk to during this about anything. I've been trying to keep upbeat, and for the most part I guess succeeding, but it's like waking up to hair on my pillow was the straw that broke my togetherness. At least for today. Is that stupid?
I have no idea what I'm going to do about anything. I lost my disability again months ago, and it doesn't look like social security is even working on reinstating people during this. IDK. I could really use some cheering up.
I can't even go to the hospital's wig bank, because it's closed during this crisis and I haven't been able to get a scarf or a wig either. Can't afford it, and even if I did where would I even get one?
I am sure you are beautiful bald and all. I know my friends who have gone through hair loss ended up shaving it off as the patchiness was the hardest phase. I am sorry you are going through all this. Do you have a favorite music artist that lifts your spirits?
Thank you.
I may end up doing that if I can borrow my friend's electric razor. Or maybe that's a bad idea these days.
I've been listening to a lot of Panic at the Disco, weirdly enough.
My neighbor's kid has some kind of toy that makes a rooster sound effect. I hear it constantly. I'm hearing it as I type this. I will hear it when Gabriel blows his horn.
I run an industry trade association for an industry that’s been shut down by coronavirus. I’ve worked past midnight every night this week and now I’m up at 5:30 AM because I can’t sleep thinking about what needs to be done today. All I wanted to do for this quarantine was take the time to practice a smoky eye and perfect my eyelash technique. 😭
Ugh, I used to work in event planning and empathize. One weird break activity I'm doing is watching unboxing videos of beauty boxes and makeup tutorials. I don't even wear that much makeup! But there is something oddly soothing about them.
I enjoy unboxing my beauty boxes and playing with my makeup and masks. I also enjoy gifting relatives with masks, soaps and lotions.
I already worked from home, my high school aged kids are both already in online programs, and my close friends are all elsewhere. So, in many respects my life hasn't changed much. I'm sort of comforted by everyone that has joined my way of life. That said, I had really good WFH habits that have gone to shit. And I feel frustrated by all of the "what great thing will you accomplish during the pandemic" content. Is gaining a bunch of weight a great thing, because that's definitely going to happen. On the upside, my family is having a zoom call today and I'm looking forward to it--and wondering if it's something we should have been doing all along.
So much this. An author sent me a meme that said, "When you find out your everyday life is called 'quarantine'".
Exactly!
I don't know how I'm going to go back to my 2h round trip commute when this is over. I know lots of people have worse but wow, I have so much more time with my family right now, and I'm working out before 9pm, and I'm enjoying breakfast. It's a massive silver lining.
Now offering: virtual babysitting! (Feel free to hit me up OR steal this idea, childless bored people)
https://twitter.com/JuliaHass/status/1241372745889439745
This is a brilliant idea! I've been surprised to find that one of the hardest things about all this is not seeing the kiddos I babysit.
I'm missing my nephew like crazy!
Ruthie Ann Miles announced that she is pregnant and I lefit cried tears of joy. I needed that news about a stranger.
OH RUTHIE
What an adorable rooster.
Going back to something you said in another newsletter, as a chronic daily drinker I am a bit concerned that supermarkets here seem to be only stocking up on basic needs, which does not include alcohol, which means every subsequent bottle of anything I get is going to be more expensive when I have no money. They're also only pulling stock for sauces/condiments and spices, for some reason? We're set on spices, but I go through a ton of BBQ sauce every week. Also it just seems weird to deny people tasty food. Spain as a country is pretty damn white but I mean... come on.
I've been really worried about the alcohol thing. They closed everything alcohol-related here, calling it non-essential, which is incorrect for many people.
Also, my husband was all over the spices. He stocked up on them as soon as toilet paper became scarce.
It’s really scary. People will be trying to taper solo with mouthwash and vanilla extract and it’s not good.
God, that reminds me of the day I tried to drink straight bitters. And that was before this whole thing. It was the day of my father's funeral, so like, exactly a month ago.
I'm glad I'm picky but not SUPER picky about alcohol, which means I can probably keep trying out brands of whiskey and vodka at least. For now I'm just going to the store next door, but they're not replenishing their shelves, so my next bottle is going to be more expensive, and the bottle after that will be more expensive, and then you get into liquor price territory and I have no idea how I'm going to pay for any of it, and I sure as hell can't stock up. Also apparently Amazon is leaving packages on doorsteps without even ringing the doorbell, so I had to turn down af friend who offered to get me Grey Goose.
The cashier accidentally broke the last packet of saffron at my supermarket that my mom had gotten so she's hoping they'll pull more out of stock for paella. We're decently well-stocked otherwise (we also have double dry thyme because I bought some to roast a rabbit in Slovakia) and we do homemade mayo, but the bbq sauce thing is worrisome.
Hello rooster friends! The wonderful podcast Death, Sex, and Money has posted a "Pandemic Tool Kit" and challenged listeners to do one thing on it this weekend. Only 3 days of working from home in and I have lost track of what day it is SO I'm committing here to reupholstering the bottom of a chair that was scratched to shit by some very cute kittens. Weekend home improvement here I come!
Here's the link to the toolkit if you're interested: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1npe706TWTCzg9LzP_Jydso_w5rRbCxbwDQp-bUaB44E/edit#gid=141669114
I don’t know if you can still at least lurk around Twitter, but this thread on Barrett’s Privateers is delightful.. https://twitter.com/shawnmicallef/status/1227236535575203840?s=21 if you’re feeling a little homesick...was always wondering why they would be yearning for the Eastern Townships of all places...
Just as I was finally feeling like I was coming out of the anxiety and uncertainty of some health issues that occurred last fall and feeling more confident and capable this shit happens. Husband (pharmacist) and I (nurse) are still working. The pharmacies are absolute chaos now and he’s more stressed than usual (which is a ton normally). I work in peds at a private practice and it’s been crazy. I may need to decrease to part-time as they are adjusting their operating hours. Honestly, as much as I would like to be home with my pups, I really want to keep working. I like helping people and I’m good at it so I want to do it as long as possible.
I recently stopped playing organ for a church, tiny farming town congregation of almost all 70+ year old retirees.
Good: They sent an email saying they’re joining with the neighboring town to do services by zoom
Bad: Further down in the email the pastor wrote “I know not everyone has computers so maybe you could invite a friend over to watch with you”
No!!!!!
I've got animal crossing! And now I'm trying to figure out how to do everything, because I haven't played this game since... middle school? Anyway, I'm having fun catching butterflies and fishing right now, and at least I've got that to keep me occupied while I stay inside. Anyone else out there playing any good games?
I am also playing animal crossing. I'd so relaxing!
I’ve been loving Breath of the Wild!
We ordered a new refrigerator weeks ago, that is going to be delivered today. Due to the pandemic, we were informed the new protocol is they delivery guys will leave it at the front door or in the garage, but won't enter the house. It weighs 312 lbs. and there is a hallway and three steps down to our kitchen. This should be interesting...
I never knew how much roosters needed ponytails until now!
I can’t lie, I’ve been spending a lot of time on Twitter and Netflix, but I also picked up The Essex Serpent, which I think somebody recommended here a week or two ago (I could be wrong about that, time is increasingly elastic). It’s so beautifully-written, it’s a real treat, even though it’s dealing with an undercurrent of dread. It’s good to step away from the modern world (where my teenager is moving sloooooowly through the stages of grief still wants to go on spring break) and dwell on the natural world.
My teenagers are moving slowly too. They keep insisting this is all a huge over reaction. I know they’re just needing to protect themselves from the scale of it.
I’m going to try Wolf Hall again for the same reasons you’re into Essex. An escape to another time’s problems!
I haven’t worked full time in 10ish years because of anxiety and depression & I am just not in a great place right now. I’m so tired of being afraid. (No advice please, I just need to be heard)
I’m so sorry. Sending socially distanced hugs your way
I'm on government mandated quarantine since I just came back from being overseas (definitely a troubling end to my birthday trip...) and my housemate has been working from home which she hates doing. So it's nice for us to have a weekend fun time. I've just been wandering the house like a wife who's husband has gone to sea because I legally cannot go anywhere and have nobody to talk to during the weekday. I've done a lot of gardening... we've been playing Animal Crossing since Friday night though which has been a kind reprieve. I just miss human company, you know????
They're scaling down public transportation next week so I'm going to have to get my partner to drive me to and from the hospital every day with both kids in the car. He's happy to do it but with my 7.30am-8pm shifts, I feel guilty anyway. Everything has changed so much in a few days, I don't know what will be next.
That feeling. The what will change next feeling. Ufffffff
This rooster has made my whole week. Thank you. This toddler ass hairdo sings in my HEART
I participated in an online crossword puzzle tournament this afternoon and it was an absolute delight.
And tomorrow I have an appointment to give blood and I'm feeling a little on edge about it.