Tuesday, March 24, 2020

a tale of 2 management companies

I pay rent at 2 different properties.
One, for a shared writing studio.Here's the covid-19 e-mail we all got last week from Equinox, telling us they would reduce our rent for April to 20% of our actual rent.
20%!



Two, for my actual apartment. Here's the covid-19 email I just received from Redside Partners, LLC, basically instructing me to ask the government or go get another job, if I might have trouble paying rent in April.

The differences are breathtaking. And gross.
Miss me Redside Partners, please, with this greedy bullshit.

this too


Monday, March 23, 2020

the new new

I took a day off yesterday to sleep and stay off social media. (Real talk: I crashed. Could. Not. Move.)
Today's new reality: bars switching to takeout, festivals and shows moving online, folkx making masks at home, a calendar full of friends and family Zoom calls each evening. It's weird but it's something!
The roll call continues:

The Kraken



SIFF
MOMO
Wu Tang Clan


Hood Famous Bakeshop

Saturday, March 21, 2020

real talk

The stress of hiding ourselves away indoors has surprised me. Each day seems long, and much like another. You check social media repeatedly, then try not to, then check in, afraid what you might have missed: another governor's order? a celebrity diagnosis? another stock market plummet?
The news is rarely good.
For perspective: we're a week or so into the real restrictions.
2 weeks into working from home.
10 days into the start of the restaurant layoffs.
We don't know where along the spectrum we lie: 10% there? 90%?
No one can know.
*
So we check in with family and friends daily, sometimes more.
Do what we can to handle the existential dread: go for a socially-distant, early morning walk at the park, savor the first coffee of the morning, treat ourselves to 15 minute yoga or a pastry or both.
When it all becomes too much, shut off the laptop and the threads and read a book or listen to music or just lay on the couch and breathe.
*
Watching those who can, step up, is inspiring.
Seattleites and Christian Siriano (!) sewing PPE/masks.
Jose Andres feeding the community.
Wondering where and how I can be a part.


I was doing okay

I was doing okay Saturday morning until I ducked into ETG Coffee and heard that Sunday is their last day open for awhile. The owner Laurie has done her best to keep afloat, but can do it no longer.
She said she'll continue roasting beans for Bean Box.
Come on Seattle/Washington/America.
Relief now for small businesses and service employees!
We're losing what makes us wonderful.

Friday night concerts (livestream version)

The livestream music continues!
Last night, Peelander-Z, a Japanese punk band experience, put on a show from Texas where they'd hoped to be at SXSW. What a performance! I'm still scratching my head -- there was a young kid shredding on guitar, an Elvis-type performer with motorbike handlebars attached to a mic stand, and then of course the wonderfully anarchic Peelander-Z, occasionally hoisting a huge sign saying "Wash Your Hands" and zipping on and offstage in tiger masks, oversized ties and colorful outfits.
Later, Big Freedia herself rocked from New Orleans with 2 luscious dancers.
I'm so grateful to American performers for making this possible. WWOZ Onlinewire lists shows daily, as does KEXP and I'm sure a bunch of other places. Yo Yo Ma posts a daily song of comfort.
Tune in and feel your spirits lift.

Friday, March 20, 2020

in positive news

There are good things happening amongst all of the dreariness.
--Artist Trust has started an artist's relief fund for local artists hit hard by the slump. A good friend received a check just yesterday. I'm so happy to see this working as intended.
--Was able to hang out with the fam on video chat for awhile last night. We got the giggles when our aunt changed her background image and became a floating head.
That's all I got for now. Wishing everyone peace and strength.