“Remoted” – Workday Eight (Thursday)

Being remoted and being home all day, day after day is allowing me time to slow down and  notice things – like the position of the sun in various rooms throughout the day and all the weird noises from the refrigerator and the annoying vibration in the walls. Long, late day sun rays coming in through the sliders and cutting across the TV screen highlighted a horrifying amount of dust and dog hair on the screen that had me wondering how long it was like that, and how I even managed to see the images on the screen behind it.

Until now, I’ve known more about the light and tiny details of the office downtown than of my own home. It’s nice to finally get to really know the place where most of my money goes. Vacuuming the rugs and floors feels less like a chore and more like a satisfying way of controlling my environment. A few swipes with the Swiffer duster across the dusty TV screen yields a gratifying improvement.

Trying to see how long I can remain confined to 1,086 square feet plus a yard can be challenging. The lack of separation between home and office and the absence of the buffer provided by a commute has resulted in the days blurring together in one long stretch. Clearly, there are any number of simple things that could be done to break up the monotony and help mark the days, like going for a walk, taking a bike ride, or working in the yard that is beginning to exhibit signs of spring, but those require more energy to execute than is currently available.

Sit on the other side of the
table for a different view.

Right now, smaller actions feel more realistic. So today, I sat on the opposite side of the table to work. Instead of facing the buffet and wall of art, the view was a cabinet topped with a mirror from Korea, the vase that lived on the dining table until last week, and art and objects from artists I knew in Tennessee. Initially, there was a fear that being able to see out the glass panel in the front door might be too distracting with the steady stream of traffic and visitors to the house across the street, but it was nice.

The days running together has resulted in a series of notations in an attempt to differentiate the days. The calendar now resembles the diary of a 1950s housewife with entries like “cereal and OJ for breakfast,” “ordered hot cocoa from Amazon,” “cocoa delivery due,” “produce box delivered,” and “made roasted turnips and onions.” 

Sometimes the little stuff of everyday life makes all the difference.