Self-Isolation: Week Fifty Two

The official end of the first year of self-isolation. With a new government and renewed efforts around vaccination (I get my second shot next weekend), it’s starting to look like early fall will see somewhat of a return to normalcy, but things will never be the same again, especially work.

Over the past year I:

Lost 60 pounds and got healthy
Self-published 9 books of new creative projects and things from the archives
Became a student at The University of Pennsylvania, initially reading Applied Psychology
Wrote 10 articles for UPenn’s Moviegoer criticism publication
Completed 7 online courses for Greek & Roman history, Psychology and Cinema Studies
Got promoted to Senior Director of Product at work
Read 75 books, completed 31 video games, and watched 152 movies
Redecorated Mary & Emma’s rooms, overhauled the storage capacity of the basement
Became a political donor for the first time
Picked back up on EastEnders and Coronation Street as daily habits
Grew my hair out, changed my wardrobe, and became more me

Over the past year I didn’t:

Go to the movies
Commute
Go out to dinner on a regular basis
Go to the grocery store
Travel (apart from a quarantined week at the shore)
Go to a concert
Go to a sports event
Drink alcohol

And the journey’s far from over yet. I’m deep into my studies at UPenn and loving it so far, especially when coupled with the renewed sense of energy that writing for the Moviegoer is bringing. Real work is going well, and I’m excited about what the next few months are going to bring. I’m still adjusting to the need for balance throughout the week between the two, and when real work gets busy I feel the strain, but overall things are in a good place, and my grades are good. The creative projects are still going well, although I’m sinking a lot more creative time into things for school these days.

I’m also really enjoying the recent changes to switch to more radio listening. Mainly Radio 4 throughout the slower parts of the day, but I’ve really been enjoying some CDs of Alan Bennett’s plays, and the old Round The Horne recordings.

I’m still thinking through what a return to the office might look like. I’ve really been thriving during lockdown, but at the same time I really do miss being with other people in the office. Striking some kind of healthy balance between the two, perhaps Thursday and Fridays at home might be something to consider.

/dēp/ (/ikˈsperəmənt/) (2021)

Penn Moviegoer Criticism (2021)