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Chicago shelter at home day 1: I'm back! Time to catch up with everyone on ennui and sourdough bread.
Got some goals for this month, but I'm gonna take it day by day. Today's goal is to unpack and get through all the mail and packages from while I was gone.
Got some goals for this month, but I'm gonna take it day by day. Today's goal is to unpack and get through all the mail and packages from while I was gone.
first day of shelter in place, done! Unpacked everything, cleaned stuff up, retrieved a grocery order for the next two weeks, dealt with the perfidy of a multinational shipper, and am now tired and ready to watch anime and order delicious Chinese food.
Shelter in place day 2! Today's goals:
• cook lunch and dinner
• go through my bookshelves and put all the books I'm never going to read into boxes
• fret about every ache and pain
• cook lunch and dinner
• go through my bookshelves and put all the books I'm never going to read into boxes
• fret about every ache and pain
shelter in place day 2 complete! Made lunch (emergency ramen stash ftw) and dinner (pizza with cooked extra ingredients). Cleared off two bookshelf after work enough to consolidate into one. Plus some pantry cleanup and a Totoro synced watch. And ache fretting and cat petting.
Shelter in place day 3 goals:
* Deal with all the boxes and other miscellaneous stuff
* Move dead pants into the sunporch
* Eat lunch and dinner
* Deal with all the boxes and other miscellaneous stuff
* Move dead pants into the sunporch
* Eat lunch and dinner
day 3 done! So far this is all pretty novel, I haven't yet hit the big wall I expect is lies ahead. I took care of the boxes, but the plants turned out to be a bigger project (ended up also trimming tons of the dead leaves for compost), so misc stuff is now tomorrow's goal.
Day 4 goals: sort all the miscellaneous stuff on my dresser, in the second bedroom, and the kitchen. Also, watch two episodes of Gentefied for a virtual quarantine hangout tonight.
forgot to post about the end of day 4. Got all the miscellaneous stuff to donate sorted out except for an actual miscellaneous box, which is today's goal. Also mopped the bathroom floors and learned sushi rice isn't great for frying.
Day 5! My first quarantine weekend approaches. Today's goal is the miscellaneous box of stuff I packed up before leaving, the first of all many miscellaneous boxes that have accumulated over the years. Those are my big goals during shelter in place.
day 5 over. Got through that miscellaneous box, cleaned the kitchen, enjoyed two shows I hadn't watched in years, and put several fried eggs onto several meals.
Day 6, my first weekend. Gonna be a long day, I fear. Today's goals:
* The two bedroom miscellaneous boxes
* Clear the remaining bookshelves of old books and box the giveaways
* Listen to a podcast while pacing the whole time (exercise!)
* Make one recipe (aioli? soup?)
* The two bedroom miscellaneous boxes
* Clear the remaining bookshelves of old books and box the giveaways
* Listen to a podcast while pacing the whole time (exercise!)
* Make one recipe (aioli? soup?)
to day 6. Didn't feel like a long day, in the end. Got through the boxes and the books, made a tacos, and finally picked @bvmpod back up! (It's really good. 
)
Day 7: Sunday #1. I'm going to walk up to Evanston to say call my parents from their front lawn, so just a single light goal today — bring in a rug from the sunporch to the bedroom.
One full week today I moved that rug, walked for hours, saw my parents through their window, took a decent bath, made and spiked hot chocolate, rediscovered Bloodborne, and made an orange chicken recipe that turned out passably. 
today I moved that rug, walked for hours, saw my parents through their window, took a decent bath, made and spiked hot chocolate, rediscovered Bloodborne, and made an orange chicken recipe that turned out passably.
Day 8, start of week 2. Today I have a lab appointment for PrEP (another 6 miles of walking!) so all I'm aiming to do (beyond work) is to water and fertilize the plants and to bring up one more miscellaneous box from basement storage.
day 8 done. Turns out my knee hurts if I walk 14 miles in two days, gotta stretch more. Still, got the next box up and the plants watered, played Bloodborne and watched Upload and made a pizza. And @hillelogram gave me some chocolates outside!
Day 9: the muscles or tendons behind my left knee are super sore, so it's going to be a quiet day of stretching, cleaning a big plant that has bugs, and posting stuff online to get rid of. (Want some books? School supplies? Old cookware? 
)
)
Day 9 done! It was an all-leftovers kind of day, tbh. Cleaned the plant with rubbing alcohol, posted and gave away books and other stuff, laundry, and played some games after work. Forgot about stretching, but it's not too late.
Day 10! Slept well, my leg feels better, and I'm pleasantly upbeat. Gonna continue posting my goals to hold myself accountable.
Slightly warmer weather is coming, so today it's take down the window insulation, move the desk to the sunporch, & email the city re: shared streets.
Slightly warmer weather is coming, so today it's take down the window insulation, move the desk to the sunporch, & email the city re: shared streets.
finished day 10 yesterday! Somewhat to my surprise the day's tasks turned out to be a challenge; I normally do then throughout the day and I just couldn't find time. I did, though, get them done — and took a nice walk and talked to two friends and @FloresVazquezJF online.
Day 11: my first warm day back. I woke up early feeling unexpectedly lost, though more sleep helped. Today's goals are to put up all the storms and open all the windows and to post the remaining boxes of stuff to give away online.
day 11 over! The day got better. I opened up all the windows, found someone to take more old stuff, and stubbed my toe throwing out a wet carpet the cats destroyed. Haven't cooked in while so tomorrow it might be time. Also, still figuring out dosage for edibles.
Day 12: almost done with quarantine! My stubbed toe woke me up at 2AM, so I'm groggy this morning. Plans for the day: straighten up before tonight's Scavhunt Zoom. (Specifically, deal with the piles of books, the pile of clothes, and the scattered stuff to give away.)
Day 12 ended with a splitting headache. Too many hours playing video games? That glass of wine? Not enough water? Who knows! At least I got the everything straightened out and am almost done with my leftovers.
Happy Saturday, everyone! It's day 13, and today is a no TV (or computer) day. I can read, sleep, go for a walk, cook, listen to podcasts, bother the cats, whatever, just no TV or video games or computer time. Plus one miscellaneous box and a video call (on my phone).
Saturday, day 13, complete! No big screens, tho a lot of small screen time. Got through *5 boxes* (why did I put books back in storage), worked on personal & communal plants, picked up @oldgodspod after 4 months away, and enjoyed several glasses of wine & calls w 3 friends.
Day 14 means the last day of post-travel isolation! Got a long list of groceries to get tomorrow for the next few weeks — but today, I'm going winnow my books one more time (or for the first time, for comics), write a few emails, get rid of old potting soil, and watch a movie.
day 14 ended in 
and I forgot all about the rest of the day! Got out my emails, finished a bottle of wine watching Spirited Away (vacuum sealer ftw), and pulled out a bunch more books to give away. Collapsed into bed after hauling up 7 wet boxes of stuff from the basement.
Day 15: taking the afternoon off to go shopping! If I can hit up the Mexican, Asian, and generic grocery stores all at once I should be good for weeks. And I have a no-contact beer pickup 
if I feel up to it I'll finish the wet boxes from last night, but that might be tomorrow.
if I feel up to it I'll finish the wet boxes from last night, but that might be tomorrow.
day 15 was an exuberant explosion of food shopping that I do not plan to repeat again, bookended by tacos, during which I met a cat in an alley and a frantic squirrel and @hillelogram for a walk in the park.https://twitter.com/arsduo/status/1262581323639730176?s=19
Day 16: getting out of bed remains a chore (though to be fair it was that before the pandemic). Gotta get through those last wet boxes today (yesterday's optional task) and cook cook cook!
day 18, done! I'm realizing the problem with cooking as a way to make fridge space is that in the short term, the leftovers actually take up more room. Made a delicious bolognese with Impossible Meat, though! And got through all but a few still-wet papers.
Day 19: definitely in a bit of a slump motivation-wise. Excited for the long weekend. Today's goal is to finish some containers of leftovers and to clear everything from the flood out of the sunporch.
day 19 surprised me — after slogging all week I not only finished cleaning the sunporch, I mopped it and the bathrooms and cleaned the kitchen. Gave away three books, ate two tubs of leftovers, and got one loaf of bread. Work's been a challenge, a 5-day weekend should help
Day 20. 20 days of this. To think most people have been powering through for three or four times as long!
Today is cleanup. Clean the kitchen, clean the table, clean the living room, clean up the books to give away that have once again sprawled all over the floor.
Today is cleanup. Clean the kitchen, clean the table, clean the living room, clean up the books to give away that have once again sprawled all over the floor.
Day 21! 3 weeks ago right now I was getting ready to leave Mexico to come home to this guy and his brother.
I'm off today, so:
Hang hooks for masks
* Make a soup
* Bake mint banana bread
* Call the bike shop
* Walk to Gethsemane, buy some herbs
* Kill Vicar Amelia
I'm off today, so:
Hang hooks for masks* Make a soup
* Bake mint banana bread
* Call the bike shop
* Walk to Gethsemane, buy some herbs
* Kill Vicar Amelia
to day 21. Bike appt Tuesday, made a great peanut soup recipe and some okay banana bread (a bit dry), and almost failed my goals because I didn't look at nursery hours. Slipped in right before they closed! Also sat outside, watched Avatar, and beat that boss in one go.
Happy Saturday, everyone! Day 22, the start of week 4, is a plant day. Gonna put the tomatoes, basils, and oregano I bought into pots, repot other plants into bigger containers, and move plants into the sunporch.
day 22: repotted a bunch of plants (which made a HUGE difference for one that used to drip like crazy), went for a walk, helped clean the basement, forgot to close the windows before rain, made soup & grilled cheese for dinner, and worked on my frenzy resistance in Bloodborne.
Good morning! It's an absolutely beautiful day in Chicago, day 23 for me, and I'm planning to spend at least 3 hours outside with a book (books?), some podcasts, a sandwich, and a bottle of wine. That's it!
I spent all afternoon outside yesterday and it was great! It was great to see @RichardWhaling from a safe distance. Also put some green onion and leek roots into a pot, laid down a shelf protector, and played video games until way too late.
It was great to see @RichardWhaling from a safe distance. Also put some green onion and leek roots into a pot, laid down a shelf protector, and played video games until way too late.
Day 24: not going to play video games until midnight, that's for sure. Instead, gonna work through the two miscellaneous boxes in my closet, add compost and water plants, and spend at least another hour outside reading.
Spent another three hours outside yesterday joined at a distance by @AnDorchadas and two other friends, as it turns out and got through the two boxes (which was surprisingly tiring), did plants, made a curry, and stopped video games around 7:30. Day 24 went pretty well.
and got through the two boxes (which was surprisingly tiring), did plants, made a curry, and stopped video games around 7:30. Day 24 went pretty well.
Good morning! I'm taking today off (day 25), and the plan is to get things fixed: dropping my bike off for a tune-up and the statue @fedex broke for an estimate. If it doesn't rain I'll head back to the park; either way I'd like to keep up the momentum on reading.
day 25 is done! Got a ton of stuff out of my apartment, from an old coffee table to boxes of books to my overwintered bike to a damaged statue. Drove around town without incident and then happily walked home, made mole and mushrooms, and watched What We Do In The Shadows.
Good morning! Day 25 started out really well—good news on @elminthespring organizational stuff that had been worrying me. Today is a cleaning day: kitchen, living room, second bedroom, gonna get them clean and somewhat organized!
Day 25 gets a green checkmark for some variety 
the fact I straightened up the spice drawer tells you how long this project has been going. Got my work done, almost won a trivia, ate a six-year-old can of cream of broccoli soup, and gave away some aloe vera babies.
the fact I straightened up the spice drawer tells you how long this project has been going. Got my work done, almost won a trivia, ate a six-year-old can of cream of broccoli soup, and gave away some aloe vera babies.
You'd think I'd know that no matter how cute the cats are, letting them sleep with me is a recipe for needing coffee the morning of day 26
Much as I want to set up new shelving and finally organize my storage unit, I won't have time today. Instead, the kitchen cupboards!
Much as I want to set up new shelving and finally organize my storage unit, I won't have time today. Instead, the kitchen cupboards!
Day 26 saw me eat not one but *three* years-old packaged foods without incident, so it is definitely a success 
and I cleared out, cleaned, and restocked the pantry. Order won't last, but at least now I know I can do it (and what I have). Plus got my bike from the shop 
and I cleared out, cleaned, and restocked the pantry. Order won't last, but at least now I know I can do it (and what I have). Plus got my bike from the shop
Time to scale the mountain that is my storage unit!
It's hard to imagine, but by the end of day 27, with new shelves and things moved into place, my basement space might actually be organized and clean and usable for the first (maybe second) time since I moved in 6 years ago.
It's hard to imagine, but by the end of day 27, with new shelves and things moved into place, my basement space might actually be organized and clean and usable for the first (maybe second) time since I moved in 6 years ago.
A small but real milestone on day 27: for the first time ever I not only organized my storage unit (which happened once), I dealt w all my stuff in it (the rest is brother's). That's been a todo for _years_ and now it's done 
(Also took out trash, made a kale/tofu salad)
Day 28! Finishing up my fourth week back. Just gonna tidy stuff up a bit, move the two boxes of my stuff I brought up from the basement into the bedroom, consolidate more stuff to give away, etc.
Then I'm going to the protest. https://facebook.com/events/s/chicago-justice-4-george-floyd/582696639054989/?ti=as
Then I'm going to the protest. https://facebook.com/events/s/chicago-justice-4-george-floyd/582696639054989/?ti=as
Day 28 that's four weeks back. Had a good day personally—made lemon curd, took a bus, went to the protest, had a very nice date walking in a park, tidied up, and relaxed. Ending the day sad that so much effort to protest police brutality has been undercut by violence.
that's four weeks back. Had a good day personally—made lemon curd, took a bus, went to the protest, had a very nice date walking in a park, tidied up, and relaxed. Ending the day sad that so much effort to protest police brutality has been undercut by violence.
Day 29: donate to @ChiBondFund, pick up a prescription and a few other things so I can isolate after the protest, and clean the bathrooms.
day 29. Made my donation and cleaned the toilets and the sinks, played video games, took a nap with Jacob and a walk on my own, ruined a frozen pizza, and discovered the Research Hall and DoroHeDoro.
Good morning! It's quarantine day 30 for me, and a good night of sleep has made me feel much better personally, even though it doesn't improve the state of our city or our world.
Today's goal is to cook dinner and finally shelve a pile of books, specifically all my comics.
Today's goal is to cook dinner and finally shelve a pile of books, specifically all my comics.
Day 30 worked; made more aioli; went to a peaceful, well-run protest; hung out outside with two friends and their dogs after picking up lent comics; and after binging DoroHeDoro sorted comics. I feel better for it, tho personal projects feel insignificant and privileged atm 
worked; made more aioli; went to a peaceful, well-run protest; hung out outside with two friends and their dogs after picking up lent comics; and after binging DoroHeDoro sorted comics. I feel better for it, tho personal projects feel insignificant and privileged atm
Day 31! It's been really hard to focus today, so I'm just going to aim to shelve all the comics I sorted last night. Optional stretch goal of reading in the park.
Day 31 is done! I did get the comics organized (and have space for a few more, this is not a sustainable shelving). Didn't hit the stretch goal, but that's ok. Melted some old fudge into a sauce, played Bloodborne, and made pasta for dinner and DoroHeDoro. Feeling better.
I did get the comics organized (and have space for a few more, this is not a sustainable shelving). Didn't hit the stretch goal, but that's ok. Melted some old fudge into a sauce, played Bloodborne, and made pasta for dinner and DoroHeDoro. Feeling better.
Day 31: did not sleep well. A basil is giving up the ghost, but cat is alive.
Today's plan is to make more donations, to fix a bug that's been blocking some students, and to shelve the German and Spanish books that've been lounging on my floor for weeks.
Today's plan is to make more donations, to fix a bug that's been blocking some students, and to shelve the German and Spanish books that've been lounging on my floor for weeks.
Day 32 made a donation to @mbmhmc, fixed the bug, and shelved the books!
Also took a walk talking to @SFAckley, took a walk for a contactless pickup of some comics to support Alleycat, finished DoroHeDoro, and had therapy. Tired.
made a donation to @mbmhmc, fixed the bug, and shelved the books!Also took a walk talking to @SFAckley, took a walk for a contactless pickup of some comics to support Alleycat, finished DoroHeDoro, and had therapy. Tired.
I overslept on day 33 and didn't even think about goals until the bike ride back from the big event of the day, getting tested 
today's goal is to email some documents for the condo and finish the bookshelves in the little reading nook.
today's goal is to email some documents for the condo and finish the bookshelves in the little reading nook.
Started day 33 late, ended day 33 late
* Biked 13 miles to get tested
* Made hummus for the first time in forever
* Made a decent fried rice, the trick is less oil and less stirring
* Got all the books on shelves and wrote that email
* Are ice cream and finished a book!
* Biked 13 miles to get tested
* Made hummus for the first time in forever
* Made a decent fried rice, the trick is less oil and less stirring
* Got all the books on shelves and wrote that email
* Are ice cream and finished a book!
Day 34 of this pandemic and staying at home. I'm going to sort the books that have accumulated on my bedroom floor into a pile for aspirational books iv should give away if I don't get to and ones I definitely want to keep. Also committing myself to finally do even a bit of yoga.
Day 34 is complete Work, a few failed attempts at Lady Maria, a walk to drop off dried chilis at a friend's, eating and reading outside & in. Sorting books let me sic the vacuum on the bedroom for the first time in weeks. Doing yoga felt good, tho I'm still carrying stress.
Work, a few failed attempts at Lady Maria, a walk to drop off dried chilis at a friend's, eating and reading outside & in. Sorting books let me sic the vacuum on the bedroom for the first time in weeks. Doing yoga felt good, tho I'm still carrying stress.
Day 35
* Marched with 30,000 others
* Had dinner with @hillelogram
* Got past the point I stalled at in Bloodborne 5 years ago
* Marched with 30,000 others
* Had dinner with @hillelogram
* Got past the point I stalled at in Bloodborne 5 years ago
Día 36: soñé de que estuviera organizándome para una vuelta a México. Si tan solo!
Hoy hay dos más manifestaciones, aunque puede ser que solo voy a la en Boystown. Voy a tomaré una pausa de la pantalla grande y donar a las campanas democráticas para el senado, y hacer yoga.
Hoy hay dos más manifestaciones, aunque puede ser que solo voy a la en Boystown. Voy a tomaré una pausa de la pantalla grande y donar a las campanas democráticas para el senado, y hacer yoga.
Day 36 was a full day. Had a 10' picnic w my parents in the park, which did me good. Got to Gethsemane just before 24h after possible exposure to pick up plants, which I potted during a group listen to Jamila Woods. And swung by Lincoln Sq for their protest and saw a friend.
was a full day. Had a 10' picnic w my parents in the park, which did me good. Got to Gethsemane just before 24h after possible exposure to pick up plants, which I potted during a group listen to Jamila Woods. And swung by Lincoln Sq for their protest and saw a friend.
Day 37 of the pandemic in Chicago. Slept 10 hours and ready to get back to house projects!
I have four miscellaneous boxes in my bedroom, gonna tackle one of them today, and also make concrete plans to get rid of some stuff to give away.
I have four miscellaneous boxes in my bedroom, gonna tackle one of them today, and also make concrete plans to get rid of some stuff to give away.
Day 38 was surprisingly productive both inside and outside work got through two boxes of stuff (one was pretty empty) and figured out what to do with a lot of the stuff I don't want, too. On top of that and work I read outside, made a cocktail, and finally finished the injera.
got through two boxes of stuff (one was pretty empty) and figured out what to do with a lot of the stuff I don't want, too. On top of that and work I read outside, made a cocktail, and finally finished the injera.
Day 39: gonna power through another miscellaneous box today and cook one meal. Got one or two Zoom social Zoom calls tonight, so I don't want to get too ambitious, especially since the last big storm resulted in bailing out the basement 
Day 39 got through the second-to-last box of stuff. This is everything from all the places I've lived since with my parents; it's a little surreal to be almost through sorting it. Made Brussels sprouts for lunch and fried rice/quinoa for dinner and talked to awesome friends.
got through the second-to-last box of stuff. This is everything from all the places I've lived since with my parents; it's a little surreal to be almost through sorting it. Made Brussels sprouts for lunch and fried rice/quinoa for dinner and talked to awesome friends.
40 is a mystical number in Abrahamic tradition: 40 years in the desert, 40 days of flood, etc. Since today is day 40 of my staying at home in Chicago, I'm looking forward to whatever wonder is surely about to take place.
As I wait, I'm going to clean out that last box & do yoga.
As I wait, I'm going to clean out that last box & do yoga.
Nothing mystical happened today, but I did finish my goals for day 40 (albeit right at the end) The last box is unpacked and sorted and I did yoga. I also finished Micolash and Parasyte both and made three meals and a snack. 
The last box is unpacked and sorted and I did yoga. I also finished Micolash and Parasyte both and made three meals and a snack.
Oops! Accidentally started a new thread a few days ago. Here's day 41: https://twitter.com/arsduo/status/1271116418495496197
Day 44 of pandemic in Chicago is over emptied the closet of so much stuff, started a new book I'm enjoying so far, went to the Forbidden Lakefront and then a protest, saw a squirrel with an acorn after 6 miles of walking, and had deep dish with fried eggs to some music.
emptied the closet of so much stuff, started a new book I'm enjoying so far, went to the Forbidden Lakefront and then a protest, saw a squirrel with an acorn after 6 miles of walking, and had deep dish with fried eggs to some music.
Day 45: I'm going to sort that big pile of stuff into my table into the four canonical tribes: painting+wall repair, cleaning, tools+adhesives, and everything else. Also going to write 5-10 #PostcardsToVoters to mail tomorrow.
Day 45 I worked, I sorted, I wrote postcards, I made my dad's pasta sauce recipe. Poured a glass of wine and read. Pretty standard day in the pandemic.
I worked, I sorted, I wrote postcards, I made my dad's pasta sauce recipe. Poured a glass of wine and read. Pretty standard day in the pandemic.
Day 46! Gonna check a bunch of small things off the list: finish up the FedEx claim, finish up an email to my alderman re: shared streets, finish up and mail the #PostcardsToVoters, and a @chicagoawesome meeting. If I organize the closet stuff that'd be great, but it's optional.
Day 46 got all those small things done and even got in a walk outside to the post office 
picked some good grants tonight and continued working my way through all that quesillo I bought.
Feels like the days are speeding by without much to mark or distinguish them.
got all those small things done and even got in a walk outside to the post office picked some good grants tonight and continued working my way through all that quesillo I bought.Feels like the days are speeding by without much to mark or distinguish them.
Day 47: going to put away the cleaning supplies and organize the tools, optional stuff I didn't get to yesterday. (I did make a start on the sunporch closet, for kicks.) Also, I need to drink more water.
Day 48 I was in bed when I realized I said I'd organize tools, so (even though I'd drank my water & put away the cleaning supplies, but also the paints & work on the back closet & basement)…today wasn't going to be the first day I miss a goal. It's a small thing I can manage.
I was in bed when I realized I said I'd organize tools, so (even though I'd drank my water & put away the cleaning supplies, but also the paints & work on the back closet & basement)…today wasn't going to be the first day I miss a goal. It's a small thing I can manage.
Good morning! It's day 49 of Chicago shelter-in-place, my big toe still has a bruise where I slammed it on a step weeks ago (tbh it's a good color, makes me think of painting it), & today I'm going to finish the fermenting OJ, bike over to a framing place, and put away my tools.
day 49 ended w some Death Note, some reading, & me forgetting this thread.
Made it to the framing place
Finished the fermenting juice
Put away tools
Continued giving stuff away Worked outside w @hillelogram
Went to Hollywood Beach for an almost-normal picnic
Juneteenth! And also day 50—only 14 more to a nice round number, as they say. Tonight: rally.
Until then, the friend who catsat is coming back next week, so time to pick up the pace on giving away the stuff on the guest bedroom floor thru a neighborhood FB group or Craigslist.
Until then, the friend who catsat is coming back next week, so time to pick up the pace on giving away the stuff on the guest bedroom floor thru a neighborhood FB group or Craigslist.
