What a lovely thread (but what else would you expect in this place?
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It’s been work work work from home for me throughout, so very little change in the last year - although the day job can be pretty interesting most of the time, which is something to be thankful for (along with being able to still remain employed). My daughter was remote learning for a while, in recent months her school’s been alternating in-person and online learning days, which works for her, so that’s been good - for both of us, to be honest. My wife’s been back on site (hospital) for a while now. I get kind of jealous that they get to be out of the house, but TBH it could be a lot worse.
After several months of being unable to do so (structural work in the basement), I’m finally getting the brewing setup back up and running. We got them to knock an interior wall out while they were doing the basement, freed up a lot of space and managed to rejig things, so that’s been really exciting. Still need to get some final shelving up, but managed to brew over the long weekend for the first time in five months. Being 100% computer/desk oriented for the day job, it’s a joy to be able to do something hands-on that has a tangible end result at the end of it (which you can also share and enjoy with others - even in Covid times, you can drop off bottles on a porch!).
Two things that I’ve kind of let slide are the internet radio show (need to get back in the saddle with that soon, found it very hard to feel excited about it - or music, for that matter - but am feeling some mild stirrings again) and cooking (again, been getting back in to it of late, but we ended up going with Hello Fresh for a few meals every other week and that’s helped in terms of abdicating decision-making, and lifting the best ideas/recipies for ourselves).
I’m sure many others have done the same, but finding less obvious bingeable stuff on Netflix has kept me going (OCTB, Unit 42, Bad Blood,) and then going through the whole Marvel Cinematic Universe with the family, and more recently Superstore.
The Switch has also been a godsend in our house. We happened to pick up Animal Crossing just before everything went to sh1t over here, and that was yet more family fun. I got Rocket League as a birthday present and have spent more time on that than is probably healthy, but some escapist gaming fun has keep me sane for many an evening. I scored Yoku’s Island Express for next to nothing (Deku Deals is a site worth bookmarking!) and that’s been another enjoyable but surreal way to lose oneself for a bit from time to time. Just over halfway through now, and still loving it.
Things here in this part of Canada (Ontario) aren’t great right now, a frankly avoidable third wave is really starting to hit (literally waiting for a stay-at-home order to be confirmed this afternoon, after a lockdown-not-lockdown announced last week was rightly panned and has been utterly ineffective). Trying to avoid doomscrolling and focusing on what you can do to make a difference in your own situation is probably the best any of us can do.
Stay safe out there, wherever you are xx