The Quarantine Diaries: Day 33-40.

Day 33: Thursday, April 16, 2020

I got a new monthly writing gig! It’s small, but I’m taking all of the wins I can get. I had a call with someone I used to work with before getting laid off. He got laid off, too (15 people at the company did) and it was nice to talk to someone in the same boat. I stuck to a 9-5 schedule mostly all week so I could hopefully get all of my work done and NOT work on the weekend for once.

Day 34: Friday, April 17, 2020

Had a full day of work and cleaned a little bit around the apartment. I’m starting to remember just how rough looking for work is. People expect a lot just in the interview process (even if it’s just a $90 gig) and I am feeling a lot of pressure to drop everything to talk to a potential client. I had someone ask if I was free for a call, and I gave him a four-hour window, which wasn’t enough time. He asked me a second time, and I gave him a two-hour window… also not good enough.

I’ve started seeing more and more articles about how there “won’t be a summer” and how it will be 2021 before anyone goes to a concert again. I started looking through all of the concert videos I’d taken on my phone. I poured a heavy glass of wine and watched “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”

Day 35: Saturday, April 18, 2020

Was a whole lot of LAZY today and caught up on TV shows from the past week. I did cook dinner and took a dance class via Zoom that was really fun. I had some wine and started watching “Man of the House” from 1995 from bed. A potential client messaged me from LinkedIn at 10:05pm, which pissed me off. I have never understood why so many people feel we should be working 24/7. I am feeling the pressure even more now. It’s like no one has anything better to do but work, and I’m not into it at all. Regardless, I made a vow to be more productive tomorrow.

Day 36: Sunday, April 19, 2020

Woke up fairly early and watched “Sunday Today” from bed before making coffee and breakfast. I turned on some jazz music and downloaded a new book from the Libby app. I laid on the couch and read the entire thing in three hours. I cooked dinner and folded a few loads of laundry before taking a yoga class and watching a new episode of “Insecure.” Afterward, I watched John Mayer’s IG Live show, “Current Mood” and he randomly pulled out his acoustic guitar and starts playing. He played “If I Ever Get Around to Living” and I started bawling.

Day 37: Monday, April 20, 2020

I woke up in a bit of a funk and realized that I think quarantine life is finally weighing on me — likely some of it is money stress, too. I was feeling like there’s not an end in sight and I also felt like my current plan of doing yoga just wasn’t cutting it. I have been doing the Zoom classes every day but I haven’t been able to focus.

I decided I was going to take more walks outside and dig out my jump rope and boxing gloves for some more intense workouts. I also promised myself to stop thinking too far ahead (at least as much as possible) and try not to compare my situation to others’. I had a full day of work and walked around my neighborhood for an hour while listening to a podcast.

Day 38: Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Oddly enough, when I opened my morning news-roundup email, there was a link to a free boxing workout! I had two calls for potential gigs and when 5:30 came around, I put on my hand-wraps and gloves and punched the air for 45 minutes. I was so sweaty and could tell I got a good workout in! I took a long soak in the tub after and was looking forward to a good night of rest… that is until my cat woke me up at 3 am acting possessed, and kept me up for a majority of the night.

Day 39: Wednesday, April 22, 2020

I felt so, so tired today. But, I’m determined to knock out some work. I kept having to get up from my computer and walk around my apartment to stay awake, but I was able to cross off several things from my to-do list and also cooked dinner. I also felt VERY sore from the boxing class, which… although painful, it felt nice to know I put in some work. I cooked dinner and made a point to keep Blanche awake until 10pm so maybe there’d be a chance she’d sleep through the night. It worked!

Day 40: Thursday, April 23, 2020

I stayed up until 1 working, so I let myself sleep in and have an easy morning. It was really nice out, so I made coffee and brought Blanche onto the patio. I have been making a list of plants and supplies I need to complete a patio refresh (I do this every year in May), so while I was sitting outside, I started ordering some plants and soil. I have never ordered this stuff online, but figure it’s one less store I’d need to visit, so it’s for the best. I am so excited for everything to arrive so I can give the patio some attention and start spending more time out there again.

More Quarantine Diaries to come soon. Please note that I am not a doctor, health expert, or experienced in quarantine or self-isolation in any way. I am only reporting my daily experience while living during a public health crisis.