Lauren B. Lentini

Blogging the apocalypse is difficult when the fifth horseman turns out to be Monotony. Of all the rules I set for myself, “keep writing” was perhaps the most difficult (although not the only one I’ve broken). What do I even have to update you on?

• We (mostly Jerald) planted a victory garden.
• I tried — and failed — to dye my hair pink.
• I baked some cookies.
• I watercolored some actual pictures using YouTube tutorials and printable outlines.
• I’ve played dozens and dozens of hours of Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
• I talked Jerald into playing AC:NH with me so we’d have something new to talk about.
• I tried to sew a shirt, after running out of supplies to sew masks.
• I’ve gotten frustrated with the guitar and wish I could sit with a real human (with boobs) to help me find the best position to play.
• I reread A Discovery of Witches, ultimate literary comfort food.
• I talked Jerald into reading it with me so we could watch the series together.
• I complained about everything the series got wrong as we watched.
• I’ve napped … a lot.
• I’ve cried … less than I’ve wanted to.
• I’ve purchased five pairs of shoes (two for Jordan, three for me) and I’m contemplating a sixth (for me).
• I bought stuff I don’t need from my favorite consignment shop just to give them my business. And I got a hand-written thank-you note.
• I did a bubbly face mask on Mother’s Day. It was weird.
• I’ve done plenty of mothering, but I’m not listing it here because it doesn’t feel like enough.
• We got in the car and drove aimlessly a few times, just for a change of scenery.
• I’ve felt guilty that I’m more afraid of going out too soon than staying home indefinitely.

I tried to do a few things differently this weekend. The first thing I did was take the day off from work Friday. I hemmed and hawed about it, because there have been plenty of weekends and weekends don’t seem to help. But it turned out to be a really good idea.

Next, I finally faced my budding agoraphobia and went to a grocery store. I haven’t been anywhere to speak of since the last time I blogged about it, and it was starting to feel like A Big Deal. I nearly panicked before I left the house, and that’s not one of my usual symptoms. But I did it! It was my first time actually wearing a mask, and I’m now accepting all life hacks for how to keep my glasses from fogging up.

Third, I got washi tape back in my life and put some actual effort into my bullet journal spreads for the week. We have a communal washi stash at the office, and my biggest pre-quarantine regret is not grabbing a handful when I left. Joann’s is so far behind with filling their online orders that they eventually just canceled mine. I’ve been trying not to order stuff from Amazon too often, but I finally did. It’s cheap quality, but at least it’s colorful.

Organization is a big stress-buster for me, and I have definitely been slipping. (Pretty tape helps to motivate me.) Five is a good round number of things to get done in a day, work and personal (because there’s a difference anymore?).

And, last but not least, we broke social distancing to have a six-feet-apart-together with my sisters-in-law and niblings. I can’t even tell you how therapeutic it was. Jordan stayed in his stroller most of the time, we had our own separate sitting area, and the kids whizzed by on their bikes. I’m an introvert’s introvert (I may have mentioned), and I needed that.

It feels like a good time to mark a turning point. Pause and turn the page. Coronavirus, chapter 2, in which Lauren adopts a more positive attitude and recommits to taking good care of herself and her family during a bad situation. HOW will she fall off the wagon this time?