Month: July 2020

Isolation Diary: Okay, I know things are bad outside these walls but I have to remain human, right? And myself, right? So today I had great fun playing D and D, and I (Cor Fletcher, human fighter) jumped on to the back of a dragon, managed to pry off a scale, leaped off the beast on to a convenient narrow beam, avoided the dragon’s poison breath, and lived to tell the tale. Is that myself? The play is. Without the play…..That would be a narrow version of myself.

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Jessie M.
We had such a fun time today! Cor was particularly instrumental in getting rid of the dragon.

Isolation Diary: Nothing special just a generally good day. For me. In my bubble. I am becoming acclimatized. Is this good? Not good? Not going to worry about it right now.

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Marisa O.
I 💖 you

Really July 4th

Isolation Diary: Full moon. Constant explosions. In my neighborhood, all I had to do to see a fireworks show was walk out my front door. All around me, several blocks away in the 3 directions I could see, bursts of color and light. I live on a corner, at in intersection, and someone set off a professional grade firework in the intersection when I was standing out front. The noise was so loud! An enormous canopy of red sparks and trails burst over my house. And me. Beautiful but also physically disturbing, I wasn’t prepared for the noise. Now, apparently the people in this neighborhood have run out of fireworks but I still hear the constant rumbling of explosions in the distance. And…I’m wrong….someone just set off firecrackers in my street.

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Susan J.
Glad you don’t have a puppy!

Ruth Silveira
There were no dogs barking through the whole barrage of noise. People were keeping them in, maybe sedating them.

Susan J.
Ruth Silveira Or maybe using those weighted thunder vests.

Isolation Diary: I have begun buying more stuff on-line. I resisted for awhile but watching out the window for the UPS or Fed EX or USPS truck to stop in front of the house does pass the time. And then there is something new in the house. What to do with it? Do I like it? Yay, a success. Do I not like it? Time spent on considering an appropriate action. (Check out the short script I wrote on this
theme.) All day I looked forward to our D and D game in the evening. However, I ended up knocked prone in a grave. Not a metaphor for our current situation. But I do wish I were a little more suspicious and cautious! As a character I’m a sort of I’ll take care of what is in front of me at the moment. (Me IRL?) Could be a foe, could be a sad person who needs some comfort. You know? I need a sidekick. (Why are these people called sidekicks?)

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Jeff W.
These posts are great, Ruth — thanks!

Tom K.
Miss you

Jaime A.
Online shopping has been a great joy to me these last months. I recommend the clearance sections of old navy, Ann Taylor/loft factory and banana republic factory. Cute stuff, cheap!

Kathi C.
Jaime A. I’ve ordered from everyone of these but Old Navy. J crew factory is good too.

Jaime A.
Kathi C. ah, thank you!

Claudette W.
🤣

Aaron F.
Ruth, buy yourself a special custom set of D&D dice.

Ruth Silveira
I’ve bought some for Duncan for his birthday (August 1). And a fancy box which may or may not arrive in time. While searching around for the set I wanted for him, I bought several others. So I have dice. But….maybe not my favorite.

Aaron F.
I love shopping for dice. Even window shopping.
I found some real cool Shadowrun dice which have bright 5s & 6s, and red 1s and the other numbers are the same color as the die. Pretty cool.

Ruth Silveira
No one answered my question about sidekicks so I googled ‘sidekick’ and found this on wiki: The term is believed to have originated in pickpocket slang of the late 19th and early 20th century. The “kick” was the front pocket of a pair of trousers, believed to be the pocket safest from theft. Thus, by analogy, a “side-kick” was a person’s closest companion.

Paul B.
D & D on Zoom?

Ruth Silveira
Mostly we now play in person. Our safe family pod.

Isolation Diary: During the day I deal with or live with or enjoy or negotiate or plan or experience or execute my own stuff. I watch MSNBC at dinner time. In the evenings I do other personal stuff–maybe D and D, maybe sewing or another project, maybe ‘desk work’, maybe I bake cookies. Then, the day done, I open FB. And this is why I am so often late with happy birthday messages. Now, late in the evening, I read all these news items and comments I have missed. You know? If people weren’t dying, and maybe children, or their parents, I would find Betsy DeVos hilarious. Thankfully, these dire and also absurd posts do not haunt my dreams. Perhaps because I am confident that we will be rid of this administration next January. However, I do stay up much too late reading them all. And I drink a little too much wine while doing so. Right now it’s a very nice zinfandel.

Isolation Diary: All the bizarre news today has given me the mind giggles. That means I’m not actually laughing out loud but my brain synapses are telling me this is all hilarious. Do not fear for me, tomorrow I will see members of my family; one or more of them might have more sober reactions. (My plan, however, is to spread hilarity. Will I succeed? Tune in for the next episode.)

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Holly B.
Excellent!!!!

Isolation Diary: No one in my family had more sober views that I know of because when we were together today we didn’t talk about any political stuff. We played, we laughed, we gave our opinions on how to redo Duncan’s room. We all fell victim to Fig who was wielding a pool noodle. We ate soft pretzels that Jessie made and cookies that I made. We did talk seriously for 10 minutes about saving accounts. I must look elsewhere for a damper to my rising inner amusement caused by White House floundering and chaos and massive missteps.

Isolation Diary: My family and I continue with Safer At Home practices and Masks and Distancing. Therefore, we are able to safely get together and hang and chat and play. This afternoon while Adam followed Fig around, Maggie, Jessie, Duncan, and I began the last segment of our D and D campaign. Most of us got our blood sucked by Stirges but we survived, although somewhat paler than we began. Before all that, I was helping out with Sacred Fools Theater Summer Camp, Zoom Version. Strange times but incredible kids! Then, after dinner, while still light, I went out to the garden and continued digging a hole for the orange tree I recently purchased to replace the one that refused to thrive and then just gave up and died. Which was replacing the old orange tree that withered and died. If this tree dies….I will assume this small area is cursed and will plant poison oak there.

Isolation Diary: Tonight my internet connection failed for awhile. Shut down for half an hour. Everything looked to be working, but it was not. Technology. Bluetooth. So many messages whizzing through the air. Through me? But not for awhile through my computer. I need an implant. To keep me connected. Or……a hug. A long one.

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Guy P.
I’m very grateful for the internet at the moment. I can’t imagine enduring this situation without it. I always enjoy your musings.

After a morning with Sacred Fools Summer Camp I was on baby sitting duty for Fig. Just in case Maggie posts a similar photo on her Instagram I just want to say that Fig did not do the housework the whole time. We also played in the sandbox. For awhile.

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Claudette W.

Mike L.
He’s gotta pull his weight…

Janet R.
So Adorable !

Sandy R.
So cute!

Vonie R.A.
That’s the first picture of Fig I’ve seen. He’s darling! Was glad to hear the other day that you and your family are doing well.