I figured I’d share some stuff I’ve been doing, or attempting to do, to keep occupied. Considering that this’ll probably go on for a while, and possibly start up again in the Fall, I’ve gotta stay busy!
But how does someone with no architectural degree manage to make complex designs? After all, I currently have 25 levels in my queue. Well, the game lays out everything in advance. All the tiles and templates are pre-programmed. You simply put them together and test them out, like a LEGO set. It’s all about trial-and-error.
Once finished, I upload the levels and share their 9-digit codes on Twitch. It takes a while before the levels are played, sometimes hours, but the anticipation gives me enough of an adrenaline rush to stay way up well into the AM. That’s not the healthiest for my internal body clock, and I see that when I wake up super-late the following morning, but I can’t help it! It’s addictive to make and share levels, which is why I’ve decided to focus on other endeavours. Endeavours like…
As for topics? They vary from mundane, which is what this is, to more general, which is what I usually discuss. Being tied down to nothing, I can tackle whatever I want on The Whitly-Verse. If I wish to discuss a movie and politics back-to-back, I can. And sometimes in the same piece. The sky’s the limit!
It helps that, knowing more about writing than when The Whitly-Verse first started, I can manipulate the algorithm so that obscure topics get more coverage than mainstream ones. This is the site where my second most-popular piece is on The Omer, which is starting again shortly. You can call that cheating, but I call it being practical. And who knows? I have plenty of ideas up my sleeve with my newfound free time, like…
What makes Coursera interesting is how self-guided it is. There’s no official deadline for any assignments, you simply have to make sure to finish them. Part of that involves giving feedback to the other classmates, too. Not only am I getting to reboot my YA science fiction story from years back, I’m also sharpening my critical thinking skills. Everyone wins!
As a final note, I’m loving my course professor. Not only is his voice soothing, but his instructions for every lecture are easy to comprehend. He’s given lots of freedom to his students, and it shows. He trusts us to be respectful and kind, even when being critical, which I like. He’s even allowed us to copyright our own work! And I discuss my progress with family, which leads to…
COVIDtine’s changed that. My dad and brother are still working, but they’re doing it from home. This means I get to see them more frequently, which allows me to talk to them more frequently too. It’s a luxury I’m being spoiled with. And I might start feeling overwhelmed.
There are lots of ways family time manifests: we rearranged the basement so that it’s neat and tidy, which was hard. I’ve gone on long walks with my brother on Shabbat. I’ve talked to my other brother over FaceTime, even conversing with my niece and nephew. I’ve also had a few Zoom chats with the extended family. And speaking of Zoom…
Prior to COVIDtine, I had no idea what Zoom was. Since COVIDtine, I’ve not only downloaded it on my phone and computer, but I’ve used it as a way to connect with friends and co-workers. It’s great! Given that Zoom can host many people, it allows me to talk to them all at once. It’s a lifesaver for my sanity.
There’ve been several ways Zoom has helped me stay level-headed. For one, my courier job has “Tea Time”, where of all my co-workers congregate, twice a week. Two, my synagogue has pre-Shabbat and post-Shabbat ceremonies on Fridays and Saturdays. And three, I’ve attended various programs. All of these have helped.
Above all else, Zoom keeps everything in perspective. COVIDtine is tiring. It’s also incredibly stressful. Given how it’s been playing out, it might not let up for a while. Having Zoom, which has been my social interaction, as a regular part of my schedule, even if only for a few minutes at once, is amazing. (You can even download it here. The basic service doesn’t cost anything.)
And there you go: my COVIDtine outlets. Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you next time!
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