First Day Out

      Today I had to walk all the way to the bank, then to the other bank, then to the 24-store near the first bank, then up every hill in town, up my steep driveway, and finally up the steps leading to the front door. My feet and hips are killing me. But, even though I did not have a mask, and had to take off a glove to use a debit machine when I mistakenly thought it was interfering with my password; I am still healthy, or so it seems. I would most likely be showing symptoms by now.

      It was spooky out there! It felt so apocalyptic. It was raining, and we took a shortcut past the basketball court, which has been closed down. There were very few people for the majority of our walk. When we got downtown, I saw one man wearing a mask, and zero people wearing gloves, aside from myself. Even my mother just had her winter gloves on, and I suppose they could be porous enough for the virus to get through; but still, she wouldn't dispose of them. So I hope they were in her laundry basket today.

      We saw the stupidest thing; and if this applies to you, then just stop it. We saw that instead of picking up after their dogs, they made these tiny signs that tell you it's dog poop, and they stuck it into the pile. What is this world coming to? What the actual hell is everyone's problem?

      And what's mine? I'm 27 years old, and I'm getting gray hair. Google says medical attention is recommended, but I'm not willing to go into a sick pit until A.), people learn how germs spread and decide to give a shit, or B.), the cases diminish drastically. But I hear there was a huge increase in the U.S. overnight.

      In any event, I appear to still be healthy; so tonight I'm going to start reformatting my newest story for Fanfiction.Net. I'm so proud. The story may suck, but since last month I have written seventy pages, or exactly 24,700 words. That's a pretty big deal; most of that was written in the extremely early morning. My game is also going well, in a kind of ironic way. My Sim Shannon was always going to be a firefighter. I gave her the Brave trait as soon as it became available. And she was voted Most Likely To Save The World. Then, on her eighth day on the job, she accepted the First Kiss interaction from a total stranger who just happened to be standing outside the fire hall. She got the Naughty reputation because she is also involved with a high school student. And I saw a werewolf cast Chattering Teeth, which I'll never understand.

      I would have done some things differently with the base game, let alone the expansions. For instance, having to go to a store to buy furniture, and then having it delivered. Or buying a bucket of paint to change the wall color. Et cetera. I would have made it so one Sim or a whole bunch of Sims could perform the job; and Slob Sims would have made a big mess. Or a medium mess if they also had the Genius trait.

      ...I am way too into this. I'd sure love to hear how someone else's life is going, for a change. I mean, I live with people...but I know what they're up to. I think I need to hear a different voice that does not come from the TV, or a depressing newscast. I'm going insane. But I guess we all are, or are gone already.

Blagh.

      The common cold is circulating hard. Everyone I know either has it, or had it. I'm pretty sick myself. I feel awful, which makes me bitchy. And because I'm so bitchy, I just went on a Sim-killing spree! Finally, the household is quieter; there won't be seven relatives clogging up the kitchen. I even redecorated, putting TVs in every bedroom and removing the living room entirely to make the kitchen bigger.

      As for what I'll do tomorrow, I think I'll create a graveyard close to their house and turn those who remain into supernaturals. And I should probably see if I can fix the problems with the game. I can't find blueberries in the store, I can't find blueberry seeds on the ground, and all the blueberry bushes were removed. Forget about making blueberry desserts. And what's life without blueberry pie?

    Actually, right now I'm craving those big cookies with the Smarties in them. But since this virus outbreak, people have been hoarding. All the stores are empty, including toilet paper and food. Normally I hate payday because I have to take at least five buses to get to the store and I live on a hill with a lot of steps, and it's exhausting. Now I just hate payday because there might not be anything to pay for.

      B-E-A-utiful. Thanks a lot, assholes.

Today Wasn't Bad.

      I didn't think Wal-Mart was going to have Frozen II just yet, but it's the first series I've completed so fast. And I never thought I'd own it, because the characters are really annoying...but since watching it online is such a hassle and my computer always dies, I figured, at least if I have it I can watch it when they get stuck in my head. Plus, it gives me more options. I actually saw Shrek 4 about five times in one week because I was tired of everything else.

      I think I'm going to buy more movies, if I can. It would be nice to have variety even if my computer does die. And I'm low on patience. Since November, I've replaced it twice. And since October, it's been repaired three times. I definitely want to expand my choices. Unfortunately I've got several series I don't think I'll ever be able to complete. I'm considering getting rid of the ones I own.

      But today wasn't bad. I always get this rush when I complete a collection of anything. I even bought a juice I hadn't tried before, and it's working out pretty well.

Shit.

      I just heard that my brother has the flu. Goddamn it, I hope it's not that deadly coronavirus one going around. Even if it's not, just the fear alone....sucks so much ass.

Fanbashing Memoirs Of A Geisha!

      I'm back online! Whoo!
     Okay, time to do the things I've been itching to do for about nine days. Like criticizing Memoirs Of A Geisha. I love it for Chiyo's trans-formation alone. It's an incredible movie. But....I think I've finally noticed a mistake! Close to the beginning of the movie, we learn that Chiyo is nine, and Hatsumomo is more than twenty years old. If she was nine when she, too, was sold to the okiya; then Hat-sumomo has been there for at least twelve years. Yet, Auntie says Hatsumomo has "never even had a patron." Yet Hatsumomo has also been said to bring in good money.

      According to my research, they are called Geisha in Tokyo; and they are called Geiko in Kyoto. I had always been under the assumption that, much like an hierarchy, you had to get promoted up to Geisha; and that Maiko and Geiko were titles beneath Geisha. I thought they were practicing and earning more fame, but did not have a danna or benefit from having one. But unless I'm mis-understanding, you go from maiko to Geisha just like Chiyo did; and if you need to sell your mizuage to become a full Geisha as Auntie also implies, then Hatsumomo never actually stopped being a maiko.

      Great, now every time I see this movie I'm going to remember that Hatsumomo is an unnecessary character. But I have missed criticizing stuff. I guess I get that from my dad.

Aptitude

      My mother and brother thought it would be funny to time me when I type. Turns out, fifteen words in nine seconds; which is equivalent to 100 words per minute. Now they're thinking I should be a stenographer.

The Worst Of Times

      We're low on a lot of products and completely out of others. It's pretty rough. I've been looking around on the Internet, and I learned that I have in my possession a coin that is worth at least $130, but has also been sold for three to five thousand. I try not to get my hopes up, but even at its lowest assumed value, it could save us. If I'm lucky, it will get us out of a sticky situation for at least a couple of months.

      I just wish I had better luck.