Going Insane, Anyone Else?

I'm with you Diana, I can't remember when the last time I left this house, going further than the mailbox.,was.

Well, by necessity I'm gearing up to go shopping Monday morning.

And in the meantime I'm creating a ruckus here on this Forum and on Facebook

with you too Diana..............I can't help but remember Thomas Merton's words about solitude. something like "if you don't know about solitude, you don't know about community". Maybe this is an apportunity to acquaint ourselves with solitude and ultimately ourselves. Just a thought. Hang in!

Good for you, Roger!

I think all my artists friends are creating a ruckus. It's entertainment.

I like being alone, Diana!

I am so used to be on my own. I don't get what makes people insane.
Yoga, meditation, writing, reading, doing your art, cooking, watch movies and so on a the things you can do and enjoy doing on your own.

I received a letter from the uk government yesterday as vunerable not allowed to go out from my home for 12weeks.

I am fine with that its protecting me.

I know some others who would go bonkers.

If I am bored which I never am I always find things to do.

It has been 12years since I had to stop work through an injury at work.
Took 2 years to come to terms with it.
And 6 years ago started painting for therapy

And love it when I am able.

Its Time to paint paint paint .

Start some Watch Parties together on fb ... then all y'all can demonstrate techniques etc
or just play charades/sing/juggle/dance etc etc

Keep your mind on the game Diana, you know why we are all on lockdown, think positively and think about all those amazing people who are working for all of us on the frontline.

Here’s an interesting link offering support and tips on how to deal with being alone at this time, stay safe stay sane.

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/self-isolating-tips-wellbeing_uk_5e5f8241c5b63aaf8f5fbcbf

Hi Diana,
Don't know what to say really, but this Twitter post by the author Matt Haig resonated with me yesterday...

"Matt Haig @matthaig1
The current era is crap enough without having to feel guilt that we aren't learning Greek and painting watercolours of daffodils. If you brushed your teeth today and got showered and ate something and spent ten minutes not looking at the news then well done it's an achievement."

Trying to get some fresh air too if you can...(Although today in my garden we have a strong easterly wind, and it's freezing cold!)

Take care and be kind to yourself.

wait i thought you moved to north carolina?

anyway, its the same, i'm an indoors cat. its sad that i can't see a museum or something now and then. but otherwise its the same. if it just wasn't for the deadly virus moving around, this would be normal to me.


----Mike Savad
http://www.MikeSavad.com

Watch a movie about World War II and pick up some survival tips. Think about Londoners living through the blitz. Think about Anne Frank.

And then compare it to your life at home with the Internet and Netflix.

There are no bombs falling on your house, no Nazis knocking at the door. All you are asked to do is be a couch potato for a few weeks.

I live in "the aftermath of Blitzed London" aka East London.

When President Eisenhower heard that so many local people

had been bombed from their homes, he sent thousands of

Prefabs in which the Blitzed Homeless could temporarily

live.They set up temporary streets, and named them for

famous Americans. One street remains - not temporary at

all - but the Prefabs long gone ... it's name?

Eisenhower Drive.

Diana,

Don't know if you are in an apartment, condo, or house; but in either one you can find things to do inside to stay busy. Only watch a little bit of your local news to stay informed, then watch only "happy" movies or shows on your TV, or try You-Tube videos of Nature and calming music.

We are retired and in a condo here in Northern Kentucky, so I am sure it is much easier than where you are. So far, we have re-organized some closets, cleaned out some "junk" drawers, washed, waxed and detailed both cars, cleaned our patio gas grill, cleaned and organized our garage, set up a table in the garage to "sanitize" any food and supplies we bring into our home, sent humorous "selfies" to family and friends, taken walks in our neighborhoods, maintained contact with family and friends by texting, emails and phone calls only.

Stay healthy and stay safe!

Diana, it's really tough, especially living in the biggest hot zone in the US! The NY metro area/Westchester county. I live in the but I go out everyday for long walks by myself without running into people, and if I do people are mostly good with social distancing. But I would also go nuts if I HAD to say home every day! I do some shopping also because I'm alone and we really have to plan long in advance for food deliveries.

Diana, we in the tri-state area are not on lock-down, we are on PAUSE. You can go out for exercise, walk around and take photos as long you social distance.

This is going to go on for a very long time.

I have kept going to the market. I am now stocked to make it about six weeks. So I need to stop. As someone who knows restaurant cooking, I bought cheap ingredients to use with more complex cooking methods. I have a gourmet meal for lunch. As I have said.

One of my outlets, a woman who is very unpopular is the wait staff in a local donut store. I visit her four times a week. Keeping both of us a little saner. Because she is not all the popular I feel safer from the bug.

I have to get out and drive a bit.

There are limits how many can go into some of the super markets at any given time. That is an extra excuse to go out a little more often.

We all need some human contact, and not just online or watching John Wayne movies.

Dave Bridburg
Bridburg.com
Post Modern Gallery

I can't imagine being up there in the hot spot!!! They just put a 30 day Stay At Home Order in place on Thursday here in the Springfield / Branson Missouri areas. This is day 4 and I'm already going crazy and I even got out Friday to take some real estate photos (all real estate services are marked essential so thankfully I can get some work in). However, our stay at home order here is almost worthless. They've closed all non-essential businesses however, people are still allowed to get out to go to parks, grocery stores, visit family ect. So as you can imagine, we've had a few nice days in the 70's here and the parks have been flooded from what I've heard and they are ignoring the physical distancing restrictions if out. And people are also flooding to stores like Walmart to have something to do. In other words, the virus is still going to spread. When I was out Friday, the traffic looked normal which was shocking! I don't think people around here are taking it seriously.

Diana go outside and get some fresh air!!! Listen to the birds sing and see the flowers popping out of the ground. It is no wonder you are going crazy! We all have our moments of anxiety but as others have said, this is nothing compared to what the world has faced in the past. If you stay locked up indoors for the next 3 or 4 months you will go absolutely batty!

Take your camera for a walk. No one will come near you, especially if you go out in the early morning. Just don't touch anything and if you do accidentally touch something have some hand sanitizer by your side.

I had stepped up my meal delivery ob when the photoshoots started canceling. Yesterday I got a warning from The Florida Surgeon Genera; that all people over 65 need to stay at home. So I cancelled all my work shifts and I am home today. I will apply for unemployment.

What was driving me crazy was how people are acting. I had one person cancel a long booked real estate shoot. I merely called her the day before and asked if she and the owner still wanted to do the shoot. She turned it around and asked if I was trying to cancel. Then I reminded her that we are not allowed to touch anything and she got all defensive. She called my boss and canceled.

At my food delivery job I had 3 restaurants freak out because I did not call before entering even though these orders were placed online. I told each one I wouldn't be doing deliveries from them anymore.

I am looking forward to spending time at home with occasional forays out with my camera. Maybe I will get around to organizing my business a bit better and file those tax returns.
I might even go back to my slide photos and scan some or send the best out to be scanned professionally. I have access to my friends pool down the block and I won't even go in the house. THe solar heater has it at 88 degrees already

I have been invited to do some online concerts accompanying songwriters with my harmonica. I may pass on this for now. I also have some FB videos of me playing alone inmy car.They have been a hit. My FB friends like the live impromptu stuff and it builds my following. I might even learn to Instagram.
I may take some online courses. I won't be bored home. I just need to move around more.I socially isolate well. I think we will be a hot spot soon. The Spring breakers Disney goers and cruise ship passengers seeded us well here. They are just telling sick people to stay home so we really don't know until the body count goes up.

Cocoa, FL

I can't relate. Only 3 things have changed for me: making far less frequent supply runs, cleaning everything before it comes into the house, and not spending time with my honey, who is also on lockdown.

I'm much too busy trying to keep up with all the work here to have time to stare at walls.

When I do collapse at the end of the day, there are stacks of good books to choose from. If I'm too tired to read, there's Netflix, Amazon, Acorn TV, Britbox, and finding creative ways to virtually connect with Honey Boy.

It's pouring down in buckets right now, and as soon as it gets light enough to see, I'll gear up to slough through the mud and bring alfalfa to the Goatie Girls. They'll be staying in their sheds today because they are big wussies who hate the rain. Then it's time to feed the birds and gather eggs, feed the kitties and the dogs, make breakfast for humans, and get on with indoor projects.

When the rain stops, I'll get back to cutting brush and limbing up trees. I'm building ginormous brush piles that will be masticated by our local RCD to make mulch.

New plants are being delivered nearly every day, and they all need to be planted or potted up as soon as they arrive.

The work is endless and overwhelming. Haven't the luxury to feel bored.

I am Isolated guarantee for 14 days to the mountains beacause I did travel to Nepal.I also dont know what to do beacuse I dont have my computer and my photos with me. So I am Going Insane too. Fortunatly after 3 days I will do home. Of course we will be isolated at home but at least we will be on our place and with our staff.

I will also go and buy some plants for my small garden and try to spend my time... And try to upload to FAA and talk with friends.

I don't live alone but I still imagine it would be tough to not go nuts if I didn't have my garden to work in now that spring is here. I also think the internet is a necessary resource for keeping in touch with people on the 'outside' otherwise I would probably be feeling a bit isolated even with my sister and brother-in-law in the house. South Carolina isn't on full lock down yet but I think it is probably not too far off since it is happening in North Carolina.

Nature heals our minds & souls. At least it does for me. I need to experience the great outdoors and walk daily.

If you don't have a pet, get one or borrow one. I can walk my dog every day & stay social distance away from people but still wave a hello.

Grow plants from seeds indoors. Get some plants to take care of indoors or out. If you have a garden, get in it. Touching the earth, watching life evolve is rewarding :) Pulling weeds is meditative.

And if you need people, call them :)

Not going insane here. :) I've been social distancing for years. This is right up my alley, and I love that others are required to social distance away from me! LOL My creativity is at an all time high, and I'm working on a huge new collection right now.

I am off of work from my day job since Wednesday due to my state's "safer at home" order. I used my time away from work to working at my art like it is my job...and got three works completed. But yesterday...(Saturday)...I slept in, didn't drink any coffee and binged watched...with only a little time spent on my art. It gave me a huge headache. I am going to keep working as it makes me feel much better, and I get art done as well.

I feel for you, I imagine that would be difficult. We have been housebound for a couple of weeks but I live with my wife, two kids and two dogs. In addition to that we have Zoom meetings frequently for work as we are trying to work out the details for teaching on line. Spend remainder of my time in the studio. So in my case it could be worse but as I said I do feel for you!

as long as i stop watching the news, looking at symptoms and the death toll so far, i should be fine. only the cures i'm looking at. i just sort of wish this happened in the winter when i normally don't care to go out anyway, and not the spring when we will watch the whole year pass with nothing to see or do.


----Mike Savad
http://www.MikeSavad.com

There is a beautiful opportunity to visit online museums Google has more than 60 partners famous museums in the whole world
to visit online from home and I think it will be just for this short time
such an amazing presentation
There are free conferences of life coach about how to survive online, it is very good
or sites that help people with anxiety
conferences on Zoom with hundreds of people
theater free online
movies free
and make a party with friends or family online every day with coffee and skype, zoom, whats up or FB
#stayhome and #staysafe
Keep hope and let the music play
Leonida

I have been taking walks every day because the fitness center is closed so I can’t swim. So yesterday and today I have been pressure washing the patio.....badly needed. Spraying weeds with vinegar. Cleaning out closets and drawers and next will be the garage so I am not lacking things to do.

After reading an article about what they are going through in India, I swear I will never complain again.

A n t i s o c i a l i t y

... is the word-de-jour!!!

Save lives - anti-socialize!

this is the time to be both a germophobe and anti-social. never thought those two would ever meet, let alone trend.


----Mike Savad
http://www.MikeSavad.com

I can relate Diana. Even though I work (part time) I get bored with regular TV and my cable. I almost never watch movies because I find them boring. I have discovered C-Span on the internet. I realized you can put names and subjects in the search and watch interesting lectures. Yesterday was Martha Washington and Abigail Adams (interesting perspective by her 4X grandson who is a professor and whose father looked just like one of her sons). PBS is just $5 a month, a bargain. I'm enjoying TV again. There are opportunities to take art/photography courses online that are inexpensive, so I have been looking into it.

I'll be honest.

I'm doing fine.

I'm alone and antisocial anyway, so this is the norm for me.

I do go out and shoot with friends once a week, but that has been put on hold for now, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I used to live in Long Island City and I remember the blackout......stuck in Manhattan and trying to get back to LIC, it was crazy and a mass exodus to get food, etc, transportation down, cell phones down, only the ferries and taxis where running, a damn mess....... I can only imagine what the city is like and going through now....

We've had success setting up Zoom meetings for friends. It is not hard to use and you can get loads of people cross chatting. No as good as a party but still nice to catch up with friends.

I did a supply run today and the towns looked as busy as always. Lots of traffic on surface streets and freeways. Lots of shoppers in stores. Had to wait in line in the freezing cold wind to get into Costco because they're limiting entry but no one else has TP so one does as one must.

Miserable dreary, rainy day but I've never seen so many people at the nursery! Big place, big parking lot but it was jammed. I guess everyone has time to work in their gardens now. As soon as it stops raining :-)

Y'all are pretty much experiencing my life for the last three years or so since I gave up on keeping my truck on the road. Except I have to depend on friends or Uber or Lyft for my rides. Selfishly speaking, this came at a bad time. I had a doctor's appointment that they postponed last Wednesday and then last Friday a buddy was coming down so we could shoot trains. It's been about two months since I went out shooting. Then tomorrow is my 50th birthday and ni doubt some friends were planning something for this weekend. But noooooooo. We do not yet have a Stay At Home order, but like the rest of the country, we are practicing social distancing. Which means I will be leading my normal life

Early Happy Birthday to you, Joseph!

I would suggest to think about writing a book - It could be a memoir or something else. If you will write a book you will have some struggles but it will occupy you for a very long time.

I'm 74. I worked all my life and retired just 5 months ago. I was pretty creative at work. 3 months ago I started to write a book. And I could tell that never in my life I was so mentally busy as now.

I'm OK with staying in when I'm not working. I have a PT "essential" job aside from my photography, that I go in to 3 days a week. On the days I'm home, I either stay in or go on walks in the local woodsy park behind us.

I'm really missing going into Boston now that everything is about to start blooming in the city, but after the Spring, I could care less about being cooped up for the Summer as I'm more of a Winter person.

When I would really start to go stir crazy? If this thing goes through the Fall. I can't even think about letting Autumn pass by without my long frequent drives throughout New England.

unless they come up with a vaccine or a cure or something like that, this may go on for 12-15 months. so, my guess is, fall is probably out also. this will be the year that wasn't. right now if you travel to or from certain states, you have to quarantine for 2 weeks. or get fined huge amounts of money.


----Mike Savad
http://www.MikeSavad.com

https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/cats-are-wearing-coronavirus-masks-in-china

but if you want to see something funny, i was looking for something else and came across this site. they wanted to protect their cats from the virus.


----Mike Savad
http://www.MikeSavad.com

No reason you can't take a drive through New England this fall if you pack accordingly.

Gloves for gas pump and toll booths.
Pack your own lunch.
Porta potty, bucket or adult diapers.
Bleach wipes for car.
Hand sanitizer.
Health insurance all paid up.
AAA membership all paid up.

I'd avoid the city.

Guess I can handle alone time much better than most. When I think back over the years, I rarely did any art while being watched. Also, being a Nam vet, I found my art kept me too busy to go insane... j/k It was therapeutic help for me. Alone time isn't so bad when you can keep yourself occupied. I live for music myself, so I play Spotify and read and play with my 3 german shepherd's. I think I serve them more than they serve me. You'll make it... Be strong!

I's not really about being alone, its about getting the supplies we need to be able to stay at home! The store shelves are bare and no deliveries either so what to do!?

Now is the time to be more creative!! Insted of cheese and macaroni, try salt and Macroni.
I for one insted of drinking 6 to 10 beers a day and wine at the end of the day, I am being creative and carry what I can on my daily walk to the store with all the other stuff I creatively cut down my beer consumption to two beers. It works.
🍻 ☺️

Ugh, I hear ya, Diana! I'm not alone, it's just the 2 of us but still. Goin' nuckin futs. My wife had scheduled Reiki classes in Manhattan for the 26-30th of March and we booked the room in late December. I had planned on meeting up with my cousin to do some candid/street and architectural/abstract work together in Gotham and obviously, none of it panned out. I'm so tempted to drive into the city to shoot while it's on lockdown but the need for food and open clean restrooms put that to rest.

Luckily able to get out for uncrowded hikes up here in the Litchfield Hills at least

After all these weeks in total isolation I did get out yesterday to buy food... This is my story of that event:

HOW I SPENT YESTERDAY MORNING
At the crack of dawn, yesterday I ventured beyond my mailbox, to buy essentials, FOOD
Not knowing what I'd find, and how to appear, I wore a mask.
And said to myself, "What the hell ,let's have a little humor"
So as you see a MOUSE NOSE
And sad to say, the only reaction I got was from the first couple I encountered.
After that, NO REACTIONS AT ALL..NO SMILES,..NO QUIZZICAL LOOK,...NOT EVEN A DISGUSTED SNEER
Everyone was totally isolated in their own depressed world
Performing their individual tasks, Zombie Like
SAD,SAD,SAD
(BTW. The mask was properly placed..Not like this photo)

No one was in a joking mood? Even at the crack of dawn in the middle of a pandemic? What's wrong with people?

I don't get it Roger, people are taking this way to serious. I would have seen that mask and I would have laughed my you know what off. The best choice Alina and I made is to refuse to turn on the NEWS, there is nothing new here really and only time will tell.We are going about our normal lives taking practical precautions and not worrying about the rest, it's out of our control, this is bigger than any person or country or government.

Time to be introspective and find meaning in the day to day life, we are enjoying our life one day at a time, it's a time to reconsider what's really important and what's not. Life is a gift.

@ Mario. Similar feelings. Yea wife and I made a rule. NO TV NEWS after 45 minutes in the morning.

The bad news keeps piling up and all we can do is try and manage our own lives.

Too busy to notice. Worked since first light to move limbs across the property to top off huge brush piles, then cleared more limbs and branches along the highway and added that. Winds brought down big pine limbs a couple days ago. Too heavy to drag so had to saw them first. Threw them on the piles just in time for the wonderful guy with his Bobcat and masticator to come along and grind it all into smithereens. What had been an eyesore and an awful fire hazard is now truckloads of mulch for my garden, and I can use all that reclaimed space to plant more redbuds and dogwoods. I'm jazzed!

Edward,

RE:..".No one was in a joking mood? ........... What's wrong with people?"


Even though, I was sadden by my trip to Stop&Shop, What has kept me going here being sequestered for all these weeks are the continuing sales of my tangible work.

In fact there has been a spike in the last few days, some quite substantial

2 Horseshoe Crab "Masks", "Winter Maiden" Spider Crab Carapace Shadow Box, Coconut "Rat on a Rock", Mussel Shell "Roach" Brooch were all shipped out today

I must be doing something right.

I'm convinced that my work has been providing a little cheer ,I dare say a little humor to a few who like the most of us, are dealing with these trying times

LOL Edward!

The goods are on the shelf, you guys are going to late!! Most grocery stores get shipments of what they are out of almost every day. Go to the store around 9 a.m. allowing the employees to get the product(s) on the shelf. If you go early afternoon you can be assured they will be out of what you came for!