Allycia Laura

I can feel your skin through the glass of the window, the glass of a phone screen. You have become everything I feel; all at once an extension of self and a phantom pain, something that is missing but still so close.

As a society, we have become too enraptured with the idea of constant productivity and efficiency. Even as I wrote this out in a notebook, before I even considered it a rough draft of an article, I was thinking of how much faster it would be to just type it out on my computer, or do a voice-to-text note in my phone. Those would be the more efficient ways, yes, but this efficiency defeats the purpose of the time I have given myself. I think of my writing sessions as necessary gifts; It is time set aside to be present in what I am writing—to enjoy filling up the journal I bought, to enjoy the way the pen flows, to enjoy how my handwriting improves the longer/more frequently I write. It is a time to do something that many people see as frivolous or unnecessary—it is a time to just BE.

Quarantine has been going on for what seems like eternity now, and while there was plenty to do at the beginning, some of us (hi, greetings from Michigan) will be under state mandated quarantine until May 15th. Binging TV shows, catching up on hobbies and projects, even learning new skills and getting really into deep cleaning and organization are losing their appeal; we are all starting to get antsy and are running out of things to do in the comfort of our own homes. For those that have children, the struggle to keep them occupied is even tougher; you can only find so many different DIY crafts on Pinterest before the well dries up and you run out of socks, popsicle sticks, or glitter glue, and the kids riot. For those that are at the ends of their ropes and have run out of activities, supplies, or sanity and social skills, here are 3 things to keep you busy during quarantine. I hope these activities can help give you respite from the difficult times we are living in, and if you try any of these, share your photos and the link so your friends can try them too!

Some people start off their restaurant/diner reviews with some charming anecdote, some background information about the surrounding area, how it’s a spot they’ve visited from childhood, or some other inane information that speaks to to how you just HAVE to go check this place out.

There are some things that don’t wash off in the shower

It is harder, some days