The Belly of the Beast

[darksolez]

This week's COVID-19 update is actually based on personal experience, folks. As of June 8th, almost all shops were allowed to open, and as of June 15th, all shopping centre-shops will be allowed to open, too. Of course, if you want to do business, you need to make sure that you've got as many restrictions and safety measures implemented as possible, and having witnessed some of those myself yesterday with Natalie, it doesn't make for a very comfortable time. Numbers are controlled, one-way systems are in operation, and perspex screens are a common sight. So if you're planning an excursion into the city anytime soon, expect delays! 

• Reading. I ploughed my work through those Pokémon books that I mentioned last week. They're simplistic, as they're children's titles, but they're fun to read, and nostalgic, too. I'm almost half-way through my reading of Benjy's section in The Sound and the Fury

• Films/TV. I've returned to my watchthrough of Frasier (1993-2004). I'm almost onto Season Four, and I can say with some certainty that they don't make shows like this anymore. The characters are layered, likeable, and consistent, and the one-liners are iconic. It's also good, clean humour, too, for the most part, and I appreciate that in our more vulgar times. I also watched Batman v Superman (2016), a film where my aforementioned "deeply flawed strategies" are also evident. I want to get the Ultimate Edition, though, and compare that, as I hear it's a superior Dawn of Justice. I also watched Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019), which is slightly sub-par Tarantino. It doesn't quite "pop" in the same way that The Hateful Eight, Pulp Fiction, or Reservoir Dogs sizzle on screen. Aaaand I also watched Joker (2019) with my parents, and to my mother's subsequent bemusement

• Gaming. I didn't play too much this week. I'm on Chapter 6 of Astral Chain (2019), and again, while it's a wonderful game, those Astral Plane-sections are something I want to consume in small bites rather than in large doses. I also purchased an old-school GBA, complete in its "everything is unilluminated" brilliance

• Work. This week, we've been mostly working at Customer Service. If you've ordered something from Zazzle recently and it didn't work out, I may be speaking to you shortly

• People. My parents are doing well, and Jane is on her way here as I write this. I had a lovely day with Natalie yesterday - our post-lockdown outings have been a real highlight - and I've kept in touch with the usual suspects. Chances are, if you're reading this, then you ARE one of the usual suspects.