We've survived. That's a good thing. Perhaps even a great accomplishment.

You've worried about and supported your wife in her essential work. That's awesome and worthwhile.

Some of the things that appear small are underpinned by massive sturdy supports. That's a big thing, which nobody sees or celebrates.

For some of us, getting through a day is a great accomplishment and we can remember to tell ourselves that we're okay with our own knowledge about how much it took.

Yeah all is well. I just kind of like these 'I used my spare time to become a super hero' tales.

I get things done under pressure. Lots of open time and I get little done.

Hope everyone is OK.

I haven't accomplished anything great in the past ten years, let alone the last few months. Honestly, I tire of our culture's beatification of super-achievers. It's an outgrowth of that "give 110%" mantra businesses like to hit their employees over the head with. Ugh.

About the only thing I've accomplished lately has been to develop an extremely evil case of insomnia.

My plans to do yoga every day and get really flexible have come to naught. But I'm still working full-time, so that has its own challenges and is my excuse for laziness in other aspects of my life.

One thing I have done is learn to make a pretty good naan bread. But that's about it.

I've enjoyed seeing people's craft projects though, particularly stained glass.

I was single before the lockdown; I am still single. Nothing is different.

I have accomplished a long list of things but this isn't evidence of having my act together. Quite the opposite- my response has leaned manic.

Well, the first few months I was teaching my 10th and 11th grade English classes "remotely," which I'd never done before. No training whatsoever. I watched youtube tutorials for google classroom to get the gist. Then I had to come up with a curriculum at least somewhat palatable to Bronx teenagers with only online materials. It was nice never wearing a bra (or pants) though.

I thought for sure I'd take advantage of the extra time at home and get some writing done, maybe play my clarinet again or learn guitar, then there were those Tai Chi videos... but the anxiety was so overwhelming for so long, I mainly ate (I gained thirty pounds), slept (when I could), and watched TV. A lot of TV.

It wasn't until I made the decision that I wasn't going back into that building with thousands of students and staff in the fall without a vaccine, even if it meant losing my job of eighteen years, that I finally calmed down (my health makes me high risk for mortality should I get covid). Luckily, I'll likely be able to continue to teach from home (my doctor agreed to write a letter, thank goodness, for my work accommodation application), along with other high risk staff and any students/families that elect to do so.

Stress. I've been a big ball of stress. Walking around all jittery like Sylvester the cat after he gets smashed between two trash lids. Just this month, though, I started writing a bit, and managed to get my eating under control (back down eight pounds).

Anyway, yeah, should be winning that Pulitzer any day now.

(Hi, by the way-- been a long time.)

Hi Pips.

I have discovered that it is possible to get worse at playing the ukulele in spite of practicing a lot more.

Hey arse hat! Appreciate the shout out-- 😊

(I miss folks calling me pips. My father originally, but he's been gone over 20 years. My writing professor/mentor, and from him, fellow classmtes, but he's gone too, and school was a long time ago. Everything feels like a long time ago. But someday I will ride the tea cups again.) 😬