my heart came around, chasing out the old

[alchimie]

I do not know what to say about the coronavirus; I live in Santa Clara county, all our schools have just been closed and many other things as well, but my family is safe and at home (except for my spouse who is travelling but will be home tomorrow, I confidently hope because what is the point of being without confidence now?) and we have a plethora of books and games and music and are well stocked with food and water. No one in my family is elderly or otherwise at high risk, so my fingers are crossed that we weather this well and do not add any load to the medical system. It is both terrifying and not, my emotions cannot figure out how to feel, nor can my children, who are excited to have several sudden weeks off school but also concerned about their friends who are higher risk and confused by the sudden shift in priorities. I am feeling the uncertainty of it, and also how much easier it is for my family than for so many others.

In the meantime, I thought I would collect some of the ways I plan to keep myself pleasurably distracted:

• The Berlin Philharmonic is offering free access to their digital archive for the next month -- so I have registered and enjoyed Karajan conducting Beethoven from 1966, with much more to come.
  
  
• The Met Opera is launching free Nightly Met Opera Streams from their archive starting Monday 3/16 -- the first week's schedule is up and includes many things I wish to see, including the performance Eugene Onegin with Renee Fleming that I remember watching on Great Performances when my daughter was tiny.
  
  
• Twitter comics school by comics writer Gail Simone looks fascinating and fun.
  

I am sure more will arise, although really, with all the books I have in my home, I do not worry about my own boredom, but that of my children -- it is supposed to be wet all week, so harder to spend much time outside, and playdates are not recommended in this time of social distancing, nor are playgrounds and such, and of course all their favourite indoor spaces are (I hope) closed. But it is something to worry about another day, right now it is a Saturday after a busy week and they are happily recharging in their own ways, and then in a little while we will make brownies and eat pizza.

I hope you are all safe and as well as can be expected.

Comments

[graydon]

When I was wee-small, I got sent out to drive nails -- quite substantial nails -- into an elm stump with a wee six ounce tack hammer. It used up the need to move quite effectively.

Got anything you need dug up, dug over, or similar on no particular schedule? options to take up masonry for decorative dry stone walls? (Wood needing splitting for the winter seems unlikely, somehow.)

I'm doing pretty reasonably so far. Must get my taxes off to the accountant.

[alchimie]

I am glad you are doing well! I hope it continues.

We have a yard full of burrs to weed out, and a house full of science kits and woodworking kits and german board games and art supplies, and I have egg cartons to start seedlings in and a variety of seeds.

[graydon]

You are well supplied!

Hopefully you will less supplied with burrs in a fortnight.

[alchimie]

I note several months later that the two dead bush-trees are gone from the backyard, care of housemate supervising my 10-yr-old's use of big clippers and a very small saw.

[graydon]

Hurrah, applying youthful energy to yard work!

(Presumably also hurrah!, 10 year old going much less stir-crazy. :)

[alchimie]

Yes, she really enjoyed it! Although we have since run out of dead trees, so I will have to find a new task. :)

[graydon]

splitting firewood? (I don't know if you have a fireplace or not!)

Usually it's digging holes, for fence posts or garden beds or something; especially when there's no particular hurry, moving dirt can happen in fits and starts without harm. But for all I know you're on something close to hardpan and/or need no dirt moved whatsoever.

At some point in six, the reader will observer a class of Creek school children engaging in the standard stress management/energy dissipation activity, which is moving a big pile of bricks from one side of the classroom to the other.

[kass]

I do not worry about my own boredom, but that of my children

Yes, me too.

Strength to your arm, and I hope you and your family stay safe and well.

[alchimie]

Thank you, and the same to you. I have been reading a lot of your Atlantis fanfic the last few days, I find it so comforting.

[enemyofperfect]

I am feeling the uncertainty of it, and also how much easier it is for my family than for so many others.

Yes. But I'm glad you're well supplied for necessities, and brownies and pizza sound very good.

[alchimie]

Thank you! It continues to be good so far -- I hope you and yours are also well.