I’m having a down day. Not helping is this (extremely informative but also depressing) piece from The Atlantic, The Four Possible Timelines for Life Returning to Normal. I’m extremely privileged/blessed/lucky to have financial security right now, something I know is not certain for many, many people. Acknowledging that, this has disrupted my work in a way that is very specific to me (and other people doing research similar to mine, I imagine). Specifically, a lot of my research proposal hinges on cosplay being a blended affinity space, where fellow travelers/affines meet both in person and online. In particular, they have historically met at fan conventions. The experts in that Atlantic piece - a public health expert and an epidemiologist - suggest that large gatherings - including conventions - are probably off the table for a long time. Likely at least four months, maybe as much as a year or more.

I had hoped to finish data collection by August.

This doesn’t wreck my dissertation by any means, but it means a pretty thorough rethinking of my argument for the research’s unique contribution and value.

More gold from McSweeney’s: Self-Isolation or Graduate School?

McSweeney’s Frog and Toad are self-quarantined friends by Jennie Egerdie is my favorite art to come out of COVID-19 so far.

The Punky Brewster episode “The Perils of Punky” aired in 1985. In it, Punky’s dog is turned into a skeleton. It gave me nightmares about my own dog turning into a skeleton. Even now I can’t handle stories of undead pets. Punky Brewster is why I can’t watch Frankenweenie.

I feel like when you’re young & you realize you’re weird you can choose one of two protective mechanisms. You can be too cool for everything or not too cool for anything. I chose the latter & have always been judgey of the former & am trying to break myself of the judginess.

I’m obsessed with the 1997.chat app and sad about my empty buddy list. You can find me at Kiba Rika.

My son and I have been listening to the Frog and Toad audiobook collection, read by the author, Arnold Lobel, a lot in the past several weeks. It’s so pleasant.

One day, M asked me if we could meet Arnold Lobel. I told him no, because Arnold Lobel died years ago, back when M’s aunt ME was a toddler. He said, “Oh, that’s sad. Now we’ll never meet him.” I said, “Yes, it is sad. But isn’t it neat that we can hear his voice and know his stories and ideas, even though he died?”

I can’t remember his response, but Austin Kleon’s post, The best distance learning is reading a book reminded me of this exchange.

I put on the Labyrinth soundtrack & said to W, “This music is so good.” He said, “I’m not sure if it’s good because of nostalgia or quality.” I said, “I’m not interested in distinguishing between nostalgia and quality.”

Long before the coronavirus moved from animals to humans, I had set myself a goal of recognizing the abundance that is already in my life, and taking advantage of it rather than consuming more. I didn’t do a great job. I’m doing a better job, now.

I know not everyone has abundance. I feel privileged and blessed.

I was hunting around for where our many different video games are and I found that I had literally five unplayed Professor Layton games. So I gathered them all together and started Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask last night.

If you are stuck at home with more non-work time at home than usual, and have a cluttered house, maybe you will find something fun and cool lying around, too.

My city’s mayor issued a Stay-at-Home order today.

I’m grateful that the two people I’m staying at home with are so lovely.