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Pandemic Check-Ins: March 22-28

In the midst of this chaos, I have been doing daily check-ins with my Facebook friends for the past week. While I consider Facebook the most evil of my social media platforms, Facebook is where I am connected to the greatest number of people that I know in real life. If you, dear reader, happen to not be connected with me on Facebook, I invite you to check in using the comments below this post.

For the sake of "posterity" and "documenting the moment", I am using this page to document my first week of Facebook check-ins.

March 22, 2020

Hello, friends! 
      I would like to start doing daily check-ins on Facebook. Social isolation and returning home from Soka has separated me from many of you, and I want to hear about how your lives are going.
     At camp, we formulate our small group check-ins by doing Rose (good thing)-Thorn (bad thing)-Rose (another good thing. People who cannot think of more than one Rose can offer an Elephant (something unexpected about their day) or a Leaf (something neutral about their day).
     Here is my Rose-Thorn-Rose for today:

Rose: I started a new painting today, and it has been relaxing to work on in these trying times.

Thorn: I'm supposedly starting classes tomorrow, but only one of my professors has shared specifics about online classes. So, I am still unsure about what I'll be doing for class.

Rose: Podcasts are keeping me company while I spend time at home. (In fact, I got the idea to do this check-in from one of my favorite podcasts, Productivity Alchemy.)

     How are you all doing? Please let me know in the comments below. You can use the Rose-Thorn-Rose format if you want or just tell me a little about your day.
     I hope that you and your families are staying safe and healthy!

March 23, 2020

Hello, friends!
     It's time for Day 2 of Pandemic Check-ins! Here is my Rose-Thorn-Rose for today:

Rose (good thing): Being sent home from Soka seems to be improving my health. I am getting more sleep, and my heart has stopped aching because of stress. Also, I'm settling into something resembling a routine, which will be helpful in the long run.

Thorn (bad thing): I am worried about Soka friends today. Residential Life emailed us to let us know that there are no longer storage appointments available, so some students now have to find an alternative place to store their stuff on top of existing stress. I worry about the financial, psychological, and health burdens this crisis will have on my fellow students.

Rose (good thing): Painting continues to be an absolute joy! I am including pictures of what I painted yesterday, and the painting that I am working on today. I'm trying to focus more on relieving my anxieties than the quality of the paintings.



     How are you doing? Like yesterday, please feel free to use the Rose-Thorn-Rose format, or simply tell me a little about your day.
     I hope that you and your loved ones are staying safe and healthy!

March 24, 2020

Hello, and welcome to Pandemic Check-ins Day 3!
     I am awaiting the day when I can post "Whelp, the pandemic is over, folks! I guess there's no need for Pandemic Check-ins, is there?" But, alas, that day is not here, so here is my Rose-Thorn-Rose for today:

Rose: I was pretty productive today! I made progress on cleaning out my email inbox, sent seven emails, and did some work for class.

Thorn: I miss verbal communication with non-relatives. Email and Facebook Messenger used to be my preferred forms of communication, but now I could really go for a phone call or video chat. (And this is a pretty big concession from me, a person who is often terrified of phone calls.)

Rose: I downloaded Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, a phone companion game for Animal Crossing: New Horizons. I haven't gotten very far, but it is a free and fun way to quell my unanticipated desire to play Animal Crossing.

     I hope that you are staying safe and healthy! Please let me know how you're doing in the comments below.

March 25, 2020

Greetings, fellow Pandemicians!
     How are you doing? I hope that you are staying safe and healthy, and, if not, that you are able to receive the care that you need. Please check in if you are able. I want to hear about how you are doing!
     I'm hopping onto Facebook for a fourth day of check-ins. Here is my Rose-Thorn-Rose for today:

Rose: I was invited to a second interview for a post-grad job position!

Thorn: I stayed up later than usual last night looking into last resort career opportunities and survey-taking websites, and now I am tired.

Rose: I updated my LinkedIn for the first time since my second year of college.

     I am currently watching mini-survival kit/EDC videos. There is something so soothing about watching someone pack as many essentials as they can into a very small space. This video from WranglerStar is particularly satisfying: https://youtu.be/WXjImXidi3M. What media are you consuming to get you through the apocalypse?

March 26, 2020

Welcome to Day 5 of Pandemic Check-ins!
     Today, I am checking in by taking a picture and explaining everything in that picture.

     The sketchbook painting in the background is my current work in progress. I thought that Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp did not offer enough creative opportunities, so I decided to design my own creative opportunity by making fan art. I am trying to paint the download screen. (See reference image below.) This task is not as easy as I thought it would be, and there are so many layers of paint on that one sketchbook page. I do not think that I will ever be satisfied with the result, but I'm still trying to perfect it.
     I found this container of Bag Balm last night. It had been sitting in my room since summer, and some strange chemical reaction has caused it to bubble up a little bit. I started using it again, and my hands are slightly less parched as a result.
     At the bottom right, there is the Seven of Wands. I drew this card as my daily draw both yesterday and today. This card represents long term view, sustainable results, perseverance, and investment. I love this card, but I'm at a loss for why it is following me.
     How are you? Please check in using a photograph, Rose-Thorn-Rose, or any other method you prefer. I hope that you are doing well under these peculiar circumstances.


March 27, 2020

Hello, Pandemic Friends!
     How are you doing? I invite you to use the comments below as a space to check in.
     Today, I have a Rose-Thorn-Bud (good thing-bad thing-thing I'm looking forward to). I am posting an hour earlier than normal to give you more time to check in and to give me time for a walk.

Rose: I got 9 hours and 42 minutes of sleep last night, which strikes me as an absurdly long time to spend sleeping. Still, I feel much more well-rested now.

Thorn: I decided that I wanted to take a walk, and wore a hoodie. Before I left for my walk, I removed my hoodie and dislodged my left earbud, which fell into the grassy patch that exists predominantly for our dog's bathroom use. While I was desperately searching the grassy patch for my earbud, our grocery order arrived. I was already within 6 feet of the delivery person, so I asked my sister to restrain the dog and took the first three bags of groceries from the delivery person. My dad then told me that we should just have the delivery person leave the groceries by the door. While I ultimately found my earbuds, I failed to socially distance for the day and spent several frustrating minutes digging around for my earbuds.

Bud: A group of people from one of my Facebook groups will be reading and working through The Artist's Way together. I am excited to attempt The Artist's Way again, and to have a group activity to do!

     I hope that you are faring well in this increasingly uncertain landscape.

March 28, 2020

Hello, friends!
     Are you ready for a seventh day of pandemic check-ins? I hope that you are faring well, and that those of you who travelled home over the past couple days have arrived safely at your destinations.
     Here is my Rose-Thorn-Rose for today:

Rose: I seem to have pursued beyond the reading block that has plagued me over the past few months. I am enjoying reading again, finally!

Thorn: I have been in denial about the fact that every normal and carefully curated part of my life is over, but it has really been hitting home over the past couple days.

Rose: There are so many new opportunities for online interaction and connection in these chaotic times. I am enjoying the opportunity to spend time with people online, even if we can't meet in person.

     How are you doing? As always, I invite you to use the comments on this post as a space to check in.

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