COVID-19: Part the Twelfth

The week started with a upward turn — 2020 jumping straight from Winter to Summer in Toronto, though I’m sad that Spring 2020 seems never to have existed — but slid into an almost surreal spectacle of seething rage south of the border. It’s hard to focus on much else; recounting TV shows and virtual wine tastings and Peloton rides seems silly.

I read a Harvard Business Review article this week about regression among leaders working from home, especially as we’ve come out of “crisis management” mode and settled into simply managing once again. I know I’m feeling it. I’m feeling the cramped space as well, especially with Lindsay totally heads-down trying to finish papers. It’s not that I miss the office so much as I miss the separation of personal space and work space.

Still, as ever: these are minor things about which to worry, in the grand scheme of things.

COVID-19: Part the Eleventh

The pre-COVID plan for this weekend was to be in Montreal. Attending a work conference, sure, but also seeing friends. Getting proper bagels. Taking away coffee from Différance and Crew Collective. Maybe trying to sneak in a tasting menu at Toqué.

But.

Here we sat, once more. At least the weather seems to have finally turned. Not because we can be outside in it very much (unlike all the knob ends infesting Toronto’s parks right now) but because we can have the windows open to receive fresh breeze, and hear birds singing.

I finished The Last Dance this week, which somehow led to us watching Space Jam, which Lindsay had seen many times but I somehow never had. I’m desperate for a new show to hold my attention. I’m desperate to find the time to have a new show hold my attention.

COVID-19: Part the Tenth

I should just be getting back from London today. Back, with my brain full of whatever was at the Tate Modern, and my belly full of Hawksmoor steak. But I’m here, and we’re here, and that Hawksmoor money is going to support front-line workers instead, because the worst thing I have to deal with is not going to London.

This week was somewhere between hard and monotonous. I’ve been using the Calm app a lot to help me de-stress; work gave us all a free subscription, which is nice. Lindsay’s creating some very delicious sourdough. I’ve been enjoying The Last Dance, the Michael Jordan documentary on Netflix. Things are slowly re-opening in Ontario. The weather’s finally turning nicer. I dunno though. I just can’t shake a shaggy gray feeling over the whole thing. So, yeah. Not the best week.

COVID-19: Part the Ninth

In a lighter timeline than this one I’d be getting ready to fly to London right now. I was meant to speak at a conference at a venue in Westminster. When I got there I’d probably drop my bags and go for a walk around St. James Park. (It’s 23˚ in London as I write this, versus -1˚ here.) Maybe get a coffee at Rag & Bone, or a pint at CASK. But I’m not headed to London, because we’re in the darkest timeline. (Can you tell I’ve finally decided to watch Community all the way through?)

Still, it was a pretty okay week overall. First and foremost, everyone’s still healthy. I took a day off Wednesday, which felt great. My brother celebrated a milestone birthday yesterday. We have plenty of delicious food. Lindsay’s made huge strides with Kramer and has been able to pet him a little, even if he did turn and scratch her pretty hard yesterday.

I mentioned the Peloton bike last time. My worry is that I’d grow tired of it inside of a week, but I’m still really enjoying it. I might have jumped ahead in my ride difficulty a little too quickly, but I’ve reined myself in and can already see/feel progress.

I’ve been trying to keep up with all the great new music coming out, like the new Grimes (very good, and certainly better than her baby names), the new Porridge Radio (excellent) and the new Fiona Apple (brilliant). In and around the afore-mentioned Community I blazed through Unbelievable (imdb | rotten tomatoes), which was hard to watch in the best/right ways and also elevated by Toni Collette, Kaitlyn Dever, and Merritt Wever.

Other than that: LOTS of food & booze deliveries. I might have gone / be going a little overboard.

COVID-19: Part the Eighth

In the alternate timeline where COVID-19 doesn’t exist we’d probably be getting back from Spain today, with stories and pictures and bottles of wine in tow. Instead, I sat inside for 99.99% of this week. I actually don’t I went outside other than to let some delivery guys in.

A delivery of what, you ask? Why, a Peloton bike! It arrived Tuesday and I set it up Thursday. My first ride was a leisurely pedal through the streets of Reims. I guess these are my vacations now. Anyway, we’ll see how this goes.

In other news: it took an unspeakable tragedy to make it happen, but Canada has banned “‘assault-style’ firearms”. Hallelujah. (CBC)