(no subject)

[tehhumi]

Life Update: I told my bosses to take me off the schedule, and tomorrow (Monday) they are going to place me on furlough. This is freaky, but I have asthma and don't feel comfortable continuing to go to work as my state climbs to 4th (or is Michigan 3rd by now?) in infection rates. 
On the plus side, I live with two other people who I enjoy talking to, and who both understand how serious this is.

Quarantine Productivity Goals

• Write 300 words OR transcribe two pages of handwritten fic into the computer OR post one fic per day
• Apply to 2 jobs per week (I know no one's hiring, but it will get me in practice redoing my resume)
• Consume one unit of Professionally Produced Content (chapter of a book, episode of TV show, episode of podcast, half a movie, etc.) that I've been meaning to get to per day
• Go outside (at appropriate distances) at least once a day, even it's raining. Ten minutes in the backyard will still majorly lift my mood.
• Consider scheduling a regular Screaming My Feelings At The Air time (I write far slower than I think, and don't care if there's a record, but putting thoughts into sentences is helpful). Feels like twice a week should do.
• Clean off my desk of random papers. Work on tidying my room, at least twice a week, at least an hour at a time.
• Don't even consider returning to work until after April 19. Don't feel guilty if I stay away until May. If they wanted loyalty they should pay more than $13.50/hr pre-tax, and people can live without their fancy mail order pastries.
• Find one thing that gives me joy every day.

Comments

April 5th joy

[tehhumi]

It's my birthday! I ordered a big basket of pastries from work as a self-birthday present, and they're delicious. I also went out to a big park with hills and a river for a walk with my parents, that was fun

April 6th joy

[tehhumi]

I saw 3 swans on my walk today! Two of them were on nests, and one of the nests was only 15 ft from the boardwalk so I could watch the swan nap and groom itself from up close. Also the geese don't have any goslings yet, and as such are very chill and won't flee even if I walk 3 ft away from them (the islands are narrow and full of geese, so I couldn't always avoid being that close).

April 7th joy

[tehhumi]

I ate a cheddar herb cone from the pastry basket, and it was delicious. Check Please! updated with a happy comic, and will also update every day this week.

April 8th joy

[tehhumi]

It was 70F and sunny today! First nice day of spring. I had lunch on the back deck rereading LOTR, then went on a bike ride for the first time in months.

April 9th joy (found this one early in the day!)

[tehhumi]

There's Robin McKinley books discord server! I always forget how much I love Damar until I see someone else's cool ridiculous ideas. The server appears to be agnostic on fanfic (no channels for it but at least one poster is a fan author), which makes sense given RMK's anti-fanfic policy and is better than I hoped. I have a new book club, full of new potential friends!
Also it's tiny (9 members) so everyone is being very welcoming so that I'll stay :)

April 10th & 11th

[tehhumi]

Yesterday was just not a great day. I found a pond where I can yell and cry my feelings and no people are around to here and the geese don't mind, but that's not exactly a joy. Closest I've got: completely uninterrupted evening, almost finished my egg-preg story for the Easter collection.

Today though I know there's couple of good ones in store: I'm re-potting a plant - working with growing things! Seeds my mom & I started in the family room are sprouting. And tonight I'll "attend" the Easter Vigil Mass for the first time in 8 years - normally the incense means I can't, but this year it's being livestreamed. It's such a beautiful ceremony!

Re: April 10th joy

[tehhumi]

It's Easter! Skyped relatives, had a delicious dinner. It's Sunday so that means productivity goals get a day off.

[keiliss]

This is a very good list, I think I need to go make one myself. And no, don't even think of going back before May. Later, if it's still not safe for you.

Take care.

[tehhumi]

Thank you. I'm hoping a list will make this feel more like a purposeful sabbatical rather than forced inactivity. The April 19 is just when I'm giving myself permission to look at infection rates in my area, safety measures my job is doing, government guidance, etc. and see if there's timeline that makes sense yet - I'm not going back until those are far better than they are now, don't worry.

Take care.

[hhimring]

Belated birthday greetings!

And also: good for you, take care of yourself!

[tehhumi]

Thank you!