Now

This is a now page, and if you have your own website, you should make one, too.

I’m having a hard time writing about anything other than the pandemic here. In the United States, 119,000 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19. My aunt was hospitalized on October 4th and died on October 22nd. My friend Babs continues to suffer from Long Covid. And the list of loved ones who know someone who has survived it (or not) continues to grow.

In order to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in my community, I wear a mask, wash my hands often, and avoid social gatherings. I work onsite at the library two days a week, where we adhere to stringent safety protocols, and work remotely the rest of the time. I hate this isolation and spend much of my time feeling sad and angry, but I make sacrifices because I want us all to survive this.

Now writing

The dam has burst! I’m noodling around with some flash fiction.

Now reading

• The Art of Showing Up: How to Be There for Yourself and Your People by Rachel Wilkerson Miller
• Alone Together: Love, Grief, and Comfort in the Time of COVID-19 by Jennifer Haupt
• Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
• Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor by Layla F. Saad
• How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

I review books I’ve finished on my Reading page.

Now playing

Patterned is a relaxing puzzle game I’m enjoying while waiting for my Nintendo Switch to arrive so I can join the Animal Crossing craze.

Now listening

Right now I’m into trip-hop, jazz, and pop including: Halou, Abigail Barlow, Denis Solee, Flatland Park, Mariah Carey, Basinettes, Beegie Adair, Bobby Helms, Charles Snyder and Charlie James-Walker.

Now inking

Here are the inks in my EDC fountain pens.

• TWSBI Diamond Mini Classic (F): Noodler’s FPN Dumas Tulipe Noire
• Pelikan Souverän Tortoiseshell-White M400 (F): Diamine Ancient Copper
• Pilot Namiki Vanishing Point (M): Pilot Iroshizuku Ku-Jaku
• Conklin All-American (1.1mm italic): Diamine Damson

For more pen and ink recommendations, see my Analog page.

Now recommending

• Passion Planners for analog planning and Todoist for digital task management. Read about my system.
• Enthusiastic Encouragement & Dubious Advice, my favorite newsletter. I admire The Infophile so much, and I love everything she writes.
• Candles from Frostbeard Studio, especially Pumpkin Juice (pumpkin, vanilla, cinnamon) and Spooky Stories (dry leaves, campfire, cocoa).
• Green Chef, a meal-kit delivery service to cut down on grocery trips.

Last updated on 26 December 2020 from Portland, Oregon, USA.