Lockdown diaries

[backpack]

The area I moved in 10 years ago, has the worst public transport of any metropolitan area. It used to be a pioneer in public transportation in the 19th century, in 1896, it had more tramway lines that it has metro and bus lines, now.

During those 10 years, the majority of the population voted to raise funds for public transports, the person in charge used those funds to move the metro HQ, one block; buy the latest electronic gadgets and create more executives positions. I wondered where all that money came from, I found out when he cut security personnel, at stations, endangering riders.

Last year the closest route was cut and another to the north has been modified. The people in charge refuse to sell electronic rechargeable cards (the equivalent of Seattle's Orca card) online.


I buy everything in bulk, by visiting stores, once a month for necessities and every 3 month for my local art store. I also pick up online orders from my local bookstore at their physical store.

This is to say that I am used to isolation.


Keeping up with hobbies, setting up social media connections and being part of pleasant forums are all essential for keeping it together.

During high school and college, I had to adjust to extrovert times during the school year and introvert times during school breaks.
Hence my lifelong acquaintance with reading, needlework, calligraphy and abstract painting.

I dropped the last hobby then, picked it back up, when I discovered watercolor pencils and children coloring books. I was inspired by Dan Bransfield and Tom's creation of the FJN, I can't draw but, I can trace and color my beloved flowers and mammals.

Forum members and Tom Bihn Crew, keep being your beautiful selves and thank goodness for computers.

[terayon]

Well, because it’s time to up my knitting game, I decided to try TAAT socks. That’s toe-up socks, Twelve At A Time.

The Pick Up Truck makes a splendid project bag for this madness.





Two rounds in. Lessons have been learned. Wish me luck.

[Jaffa]

Good Luck @TheLibrarian with your interview and Positive thoughts for Mrs Paul100..
Im in the UK, and we have confirmation of another 3 weeks Lockdown - ‘Safe at Home’. I tended to spend a lot of time at home anyway, so that much hasn’t changed. However, unable to meet friends or pop for coffee, seems strange.I use a slow cooker and emptying my freezer. So only go out as Im main carer for elderly Mother, and I tend to buy food en route to Mothers, so go out 1-2 times a week. Otherwise, I stay indoors or my garden, which needs a lot of work. Social contact is via WhatsApp group and FaceTime.I tend to spend my time getting around to diy jobs around the house, trying to declutter and stay away from News online as that affected my mood so I now stay away from it. Ive been journalling and getting out into my garden, when I need a break. Keep safe everyone.

[Bogiesan]

Off topic, sort of:
The value of diaries is inestimable. Here is a link to one of my favorite blogs, Notebook Stories. The internal link takes you to an engaging article at The New York Times.
https://www.notebookstories.com/2020...-world-war-ii/

[ayazgood]

Slightly off topic, but this is a very good article about how and why the State of Washington was early to the lockdown party, and managed to avoid the politicalization that has infected so many other regions:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2...-yorks-did-not

[bchaplin]

Fascinating!
Thanks for sharing this.

Slightly off topic, but this is a very good article about how and why the State of Washington was early to the lockdown party, and managed to avoid the politicalization that has infected so many other regions:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2...-yorks-did-not

[twosandalz]

How's the sock production coming?

[terayon]

How's the sock production coming?

Not bad! I had to take one pair off and rip back a bit because they were too big, but I’m done the toes and into the feet. Morale remains high, although it’s becoming clear that we’re gonna be here a while.

[ayazgood]

Just in case you were wondering whether it was all worth it:
https://www.erinbromage.com/post/the...hem-avoid-them
Be careful out there...

[TheLibrarian]

I talked with my boss briefly a couple of days ago, she's still not sure when we'll open. The state is starting to open back up but our counties are being more cautious. I'd like to have a few days up there before I have to go back to work but I also don't want to end up going too early. So I'm thinking I'll head back north to DC this weekend and hopefully, we'll open back up some time next week or the week after. That should give me the time I want to settle back in and get a few projects around my apartment done but also not so long that I go stir crazy.

But first I have another interview tomorrow (different place than the other one). Unfortunately, this one is in person (with masks and social distancing) so I had a panicked run to JoAnn's to pick up fabric for a dress because the ONE store I know the styles and sizing well enough to buy something with confidence without trying it on that was ALSO doing curbside pick up literally had nothing in my size or it wasn't available at the store...... Because of course it didn't.

So it was back to the sewing machine. I think it turned out alright, I purposely went with a simple pattern and made a few adjustments and whatnot to give it a little more elevated look (tucked hems and contrasting fabric in a few places, things like that). Only problem is, the lovely clearance fabric wrinkles like crazy and it's a 90 min drive to Daytona Beach.... So we'll see how professional I look once I actually get there, lol.

I went to New Symnra Beach yesterday with my Monster Truck. They're allowing people to drive and park on the sand again. They've changed the rules for social distancing so all the cars are at least 25ft away from each other. I tried to find the quietest part of the sand and I think I did but man, it was PACKED. I also happened to find the spot where multiple people got stuck and a few had to be pulled out. There were a lot of people ignoring the rules and groups of more than 6 (the maximum allowed at this time). Don't worry, I stayed to myself and away from people. I just swam and read my book (got a few weird looks because mayyyyybe right now isn't the best time to be reading "The Stand"). It was just nice to get out in the fresh air and sunshine for a while, I honestly didn't realize how badly I needed that till I was out there and just felt myself feeling better and better.

I hope everyone is still staying healthy and sane!

[xyppy]

I just swam and read my book (got a few weird looks because mayyyyybe right now isn't the best time to be reading "The Stand").

I'd recommend Wanderers by Chuck Wendig as your next book. And there are other post-apocalyptic books I read last year but can't remember the names...they were really good, too. That's a favorite genre of mine.

Good luck on your interview. I'm sure your dress will be fine.

[robburdtt]

I regret not writing on my journal consistently when all this began. I am happy that my family is safe and we have enough supplies to last us for some time. It just feels so weird that the normal we want is far off in the future. It will take some getting used to stopping physical contact, maintaining social distance, using masks and maybe even gloves, etc.

[aedifica]

This weekend I'm attending the virtual version of an event I haven't been able to get to in person in years, so I'm excited that they decided to take it virtual this year. It's the Midwest Morris Ale, a weekend of dance and music (an "ale" is a sort of a festival; I was told that the name came from festivals where ale would be sold as a fundraiser). It's been great to see so many familiar faces, even if it's in the Zoom window instead of on the dance floor! I've even learned a few new-to-me dance steps when I attended a clogging workshop earlier this evening, and got to practice them during the concert after that (I danced around in my kitchen).

Edited to add: the guy who taught the clogging workshop has a series of beginner videos. Here's the first one, in case anyone else would like to check it out. One nice thing about clogging right now is it can be done solo in a small space! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzsUEVHQbsU

[Rocks]

So much has changed since my first post in this thread!
I work at the flagship of regional theater in America. Less than two weeks ago, the artistic director sent out an email to the staff, telling everyone to expect anything from an elimination of position to furlough to indefinite layoff with no set recall date. That week I was waiting for word was about the saddest and definitely most stressful week I’ve experienced. Many colleagues had their positions eliminated and came to post farewells in a private group set up online. I had to wait over a week for my notice. I’m a lucky one, with a recall date of February 2021. The last three hires in my department got word of indefinite layoff with no recall date, so my relief is overshadowed by sadness. My union negotiated the best possible outcome for all bargaining unit members, though. The members on indefinite layoff will be the first ones hired back. But they might have to move on before that.

For context, the organization went from 250+ to 55 employees. No wonder we’re all reeling.

I have been making quite a few masks from the TB pattern! I donated some to fire stations to be distributed to long term care facilities. Some to a local community center. I’ll send a mask to anyone who asks for one! It’s one thing that makes me feel useful. I even bought a scale so I don’t have to guess at postage anymore.

Support the arts if you’re able!

[PaulT00]

Well.

At this point I think my other half and I have just about settled into a "new normal". After a difficult start, the UK's grocery stores got their act together and organised themselves to give priority delivery slot access to people who have been told to stay indoors and "shield", which means that we now have grocery deliveries under control and the storecupboard has been (sensibly) replenished. That one change, alone, makes the whole situation much more bearable as it removes the constant stress of worrying about how to get hold of food and essentials.

I've been out in the world maybe 4 times in the last couple of months; 3 of those were to do a contact-free collection of essential medications for a couple of the dogs, from our local vet. And a couple of days ago I went for a walk for the first time in ages - the walls were starting to close in on me, and I just had to get out. There weren't many people around; those I did see I gave a wide berth.

I'm still working full time, although a couple of my colleagues have been furloughed. Many people seem to have decided that the whole COVID-19 lockdown thing is a bit of a joke, and are treating it like a paid holiday... which is somewhat galling when those of us still working are effectively paying their wages by virtue of our taxes, and having to pick up the slack.

As I work for a media company, there is major upheaval going on on the production side at the moment as new ways of working are devised to continue generating content. One good thing, from a continued employment perspective, is that the company owns the rights to a whole raft of game shows and the like - many are formats which can be made either in a studio with no audience (and with participants obeying social distancing rules etc) or even repurposed to filming at-home using modern technology. One production was filmed on iPhone 11s in 4K, edited on high-end laptops, then sent to market in a crazy short time to fill the need for new stuff to broadcast. All of which bodes pretty well for an industry which in many cases has been hit hard and shutdown by the current situation. I'm sure other industries are doing their best to adapt too.

The team at work are still continuing with the daily catchup video call on Teams. I decided a while back that I was going to wear a different pair of sunglasses to each morning's meeting - I have a collection of mostly vintage Oakleys and Ray Bans - and so far I've been getting a different pair out of storage every day just to change things up a bit. I'm also cataloguing each pair as I do so... and rediscovering some old favourites along the way. So far, only one of my colleagues has apparently noticed, based on the complete lack of comments received! Also, I'm continuing to insist on getting up, getting ready for work, dressing "properly" (including proper work-appropriate attire and shoes) etc. That gives me a routine, which is vital in a time when it occasionally feels as if whole weeks are whizzing past with nothing to mark the procession of days.

As I mentioned earlier, I did have a bit of a bout of "lockdownitis" the other day. A few years back I suffered a period of depression as a result of becoming isolated (hah!) while working from home, and to avoid a recurrence ever since then I've been making regular trips every couple of weeks to the office in central London - to "sync up with the mothership", socialise with colleagues, and change the scenery... because as the old saying goes a change is as good as a rest! Of course, with the lockdown, I've not been able to visit London for several months and I am definitely feeling the lack of social contact as a result. Video chats do help - and the level and intensity of communication has increased dramatically and is still growing - but they can't substitute for going out to a good restaurant with a couple of colleagues and enjoying a good meal with some nice wine and a few hours of putting the world to rights!

Realistically, I may be stuck in lockdown, with my partner (who has COPD and heart problems) for rather longer than most: practically speaking I think we may be avoiding contact until there is a vaccine. We are lucky in that we have a pretty large house (not in each other's pockets all the time) and a fully enclosed garden we can spend time in. Others are not so lucky. So I'm not quite sure how things will go, but for the time being we are trundling on and making the best of it.