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Apr. 4th, 2020 12:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
inanhourofdreaming Hey, All,
Things are stable here. Still staying inside. My sister's arm is doing much better, so that's something that will hopefully resolve itself. I think my parents are getting more nervous, now, and at some point soon may cut down to the absolute barebones office staff. I wish my dad didn't have to go in at all, but there's not much I can do about that. He sounds a little frazzled. They've been taking walks every day with the dogs at a distance with some of their neighbors, which is hopefully helping.
Spoke with J about apt, and we're still at something of an impasse. They offered to return my April rent with no ongoing charge if I leave the bed and couch, but my mom thinks that is deeply unfair (and frankly, my parents own the bed, so it isn't up to me either way). The bed is worth a lot more than a month's rent. Part of the issue is definitely that what D told me about the risk at the apt, and what she's likely telling them about the situation, are very different, and make a pretty big difference in terms of livability there. I don't want to ruin her bday weekend, but at this point, I've sort of been pushed into a corner. I think I'm going to just tell J that our parents should just speak to each other to resolve this, since it seems like 1) some of the initial misunderstandings came from their interactions, which aren't helped by filtering things through me and J and 2) they ultimately both are making the final call anyway. I think we're both at a place where we want to preserve our relationship. I don't want my parents to be more stressed, but I also think they could probably resolve this in one conversation whereas J and I have to go back and forth and it's very awkward. I'm not going to have a choice but to tell her that she doesn't have all the information, though.
I got the Apple TV here, so I've started trying to do an exercise video of some sort a day. Not exactly doing the best at it, but going to keep trying.
Passover starts on Wednesday, and I'm going to try to keep it the way I usually do (I still eat legumes, beans, rice, corn, but don't eat any bread or wheat products that aren't parve). Interesting that our own pandemic falls over the story of a whole bunch of other plagues. I'm sure there's something interesting to be processed there. It does feel like the time to be connected to our families and our pasts, whatever they may be.
Until next time,
F
Things are stable here. Still staying inside. My sister's arm is doing much better, so that's something that will hopefully resolve itself. I think my parents are getting more nervous, now, and at some point soon may cut down to the absolute barebones office staff. I wish my dad didn't have to go in at all, but there's not much I can do about that. He sounds a little frazzled. They've been taking walks every day with the dogs at a distance with some of their neighbors, which is hopefully helping.
Spoke with J about apt, and we're still at something of an impasse. They offered to return my April rent with no ongoing charge if I leave the bed and couch, but my mom thinks that is deeply unfair (and frankly, my parents own the bed, so it isn't up to me either way). The bed is worth a lot more than a month's rent. Part of the issue is definitely that what D told me about the risk at the apt, and what she's likely telling them about the situation, are very different, and make a pretty big difference in terms of livability there. I don't want to ruin her bday weekend, but at this point, I've sort of been pushed into a corner. I think I'm going to just tell J that our parents should just speak to each other to resolve this, since it seems like 1) some of the initial misunderstandings came from their interactions, which aren't helped by filtering things through me and J and 2) they ultimately both are making the final call anyway. I think we're both at a place where we want to preserve our relationship. I don't want my parents to be more stressed, but I also think they could probably resolve this in one conversation whereas J and I have to go back and forth and it's very awkward. I'm not going to have a choice but to tell her that she doesn't have all the information, though.
I got the Apple TV here, so I've started trying to do an exercise video of some sort a day. Not exactly doing the best at it, but going to keep trying.
What I'm watching:
Captain America: The First Avenger: Honestly, this is one of my favorites from the MCU. I love the aesthetic, I'm a huge Peggy Carter fan, and it's just a fun, solid movie all around. Great intro to Steve, Bucky is charming. I love the fashion, and stories set in that period, generally. I like the Agent Carter series for the same reason.
Avengers: This one is also a win. I love this movie, and I probably can't even count how many times I've seen it. It came out right before I left for Japan. I saw it twice in theaters, and spent the whole few months I was in Japan staying up late reading Avengers fic on my computer at night in the hostel. I remember it extremely fondly -- I'd fall asleep listening to This Will Destroy You albums. I'm pretty sure I rewatched this pretty frequently right into the beginning of law school that fall, as well. It was also the summer I remember watching pieces of Teen Wolf, which ended up being one of the few consistent fandoms I was in throughout pretty much all of getting that degree.
Something about watching super hero movies during crisis periods is just really comforting.
The Great Courses: Modern Electronics: So every time I do go back to the MCU, I always wish I had any technological ability whatsoever -- while clearly all of the Avengers have ridiculous, impossible skills, I've always most wished I could build shit like Tony. Since I'm stuck inside at all hours for the foreseeable future, and I have the Great Courses streaming subscription, I've started really doing this course. I watch the lecture, then take notes and work out the problem sets. It's actually really cool. If you're looking for something new to learn, I highly recommend things in the STEM field. There are a lot of opportunities for slow progress, and for finite successes. Figuring out a problem you didn't know how to do before is an endorphin rush, and you may find that topics you didn't particularly like in school can be a lot of fun when there's no pressure to learn them at speed. Anyway, it's something that's engaging me right now, and making me feel productive without any external stress to get things done. At least on the beginner levels, STEM is very straightforward, and that kind of clarify can be really satisfying in this particular time.
Avengers: This one is also a win. I love this movie, and I probably can't even count how many times I've seen it. It came out right before I left for Japan. I saw it twice in theaters, and spent the whole few months I was in Japan staying up late reading Avengers fic on my computer at night in the hostel. I remember it extremely fondly -- I'd fall asleep listening to This Will Destroy You albums. I'm pretty sure I rewatched this pretty frequently right into the beginning of law school that fall, as well. It was also the summer I remember watching pieces of Teen Wolf, which ended up being one of the few consistent fandoms I was in throughout pretty much all of getting that degree.
Something about watching super hero movies during crisis periods is just really comforting.
The Great Courses: Modern Electronics: So every time I do go back to the MCU, I always wish I had any technological ability whatsoever -- while clearly all of the Avengers have ridiculous, impossible skills, I've always most wished I could build shit like Tony. Since I'm stuck inside at all hours for the foreseeable future, and I have the Great Courses streaming subscription, I've started really doing this course. I watch the lecture, then take notes and work out the problem sets. It's actually really cool. If you're looking for something new to learn, I highly recommend things in the STEM field. There are a lot of opportunities for slow progress, and for finite successes. Figuring out a problem you didn't know how to do before is an endorphin rush, and you may find that topics you didn't particularly like in school can be a lot of fun when there's no pressure to learn them at speed. Anyway, it's something that's engaging me right now, and making me feel productive without any external stress to get things done. At least on the beginner levels, STEM is very straightforward, and that kind of clarify can be really satisfying in this particular time.
What I'm Reading:
I started Mistress of the Art of Death, but haven't gotten very far yet.
How I'm feeling: Very relieved my sister has been improving. Still concerned about my parents, but hopefully they are doing everything they can do mitigate their risks. I talk to them every day. Anxious to have my apt situation resolved, but I do think we'll get there even if there's some discomfort in figuring out the process.
How I'm sleeping: Took a NyQuil and slept until 7:30 this morning, when I had to go downstairs and grab my groceries.
What's different today than yesterday: We're at about 56K cases in NYC. It's still on the lower end in Manhattan, and gone from the low 7K area a few days ago to about 8.2K. It's a lower rate than has been happening elsewhere. Queens is getting hit the hardest (18K), with Brooklyn (15.3K) and the Bronx (10.8K) next. Cases per person are lowest in Manhattan, w/ 440 cases per 100K people. It's nearly twice that in the Bronx and Brooklyn. Apparently the Javitts center and navy hospital ship are both barely serving anyone, since they are currently only serving non-Covid cases. Everyone is upset. Grocery stores, etc, are all open, and deliveries continue. The places being really hit the hardest are, very obviously, hospitals and medical professionals. When this is all over, the federal response had better be a giant blazing annihilation of all the people who let this happen. We need to vote every one of these GOP fuckers out of office, and a real publication of the actual cost of their horrific inaction.
What I ate: Had some wine last night, and will probably drink again tonight for D's bday zoom call, which can be not great for my sleep but is a nice break in the day. Sticking with the weekend-only drinking, though. I'm looking forward to getting tipsy and ridiculous dancing around my apt to Hozier, which I've been super in the mood to listen to recently. Think that's a good way to continue to moderate. I have my food delivery coming, and have been eating that (today is a thai chickpea and sweet potato thing, and some sort of garden quinoa thing for later), but I've also been still just wanting to eat the Vegan Amy's Mac and Cheese, which is probably just a comfort thing. Rice and kimchi have also been a solid comfort food. I'm finishing up my cereals before next week. Passover starts on Wednesday, and I'm going to try to keep it the way I usually do (I still eat legumes, beans, rice, corn, but don't eat any bread or wheat products that aren't parve). Interesting that our own pandemic falls over the story of a whole bunch of other plagues. I'm sure there's something interesting to be processed there. It does feel like the time to be connected to our families and our pasts, whatever they may be.
Until next time,
F
