take a break from nine to five
Is it cliché to start out this newsletter with a song lyric? Am I reverting back to my middle and high school (and college, let’s be real here) ways where EVERYTHING I put on the internet needs to have a song lyric as a title?
This is my newsletter. I can do what I want. Who cares if it’s a cliché?
Yes, I am actually reverting back to my middle and high school self if you take a look at my recent Spotify history.
All sassiness aside, I’d like to thank Prince (an ICON!) for creating an underrated bop where most of the lyrics are appropriate for my furlough, as well as the upcoming summer. Like the fine folks at NPR Music, I have an affinity for the “roséwave” genre; a genre that this song absolutely oozes.
take a break from nine to five
it's so great to be alive, oh yeah
Instead of working this week, I am taking the first of two breaks thanks to furloughs at Lee Enterprises. My second one is scheduled for June, where I plan to do some community outreach volunteering in Charlottesville.
I’ll admit it. It has been hard not working, but it has been nice not thinking or worrying about work. It’s been nice not being in Charlottesville. It does feel great to be alive.
Truth be told, I feel like a new person after this break! I’ve still been paying attention to the news, even as I’ve been using this time for a bit of a news vacation. I haven’t really paid much attention to what’s been happening locally, in Charlottesville, but my media diet has consisted of news from Richmond and D.C.
I don’t have the little cloud of dread following me this week, like I normally have while working. Working in media can be very exhausting and very draining, especially when you’re keeping track of various media feeds on a constant basis. While I haven’t been able to fully unplug myself from social media, I have been able to unplug from work and it’s refreshing. I actually feel like I’m radiating happiness instead of doom and gloom.
Even if I did have to schedule my furlough like a vacation.
The only frustrating thing about this ordeal has been filing for unemployment through the Virginia Employment Commission. This is the week that I learned how antiquated it is, and how confusing it can be at times. If I had some issues with it (along with some fellow Virginia journalists!) then surely I can’t be alone. What about the people who aren’t as computer-savvy? How are they handling everything? What about people who don’t have the resources to really find what they need? The people who are relying on the unemployment funds coming through so they can keep providing for their families?
My brother, who works in retail, had no issues with it. A few of my coworkers also filed seamlessly, and have been able to get their unemployment funds. The same goes for many of my colleagues in media across the state. I’m just a perpetual worrier and this has been the only thing weighing heavily on me. What if I get denied? What if I filed it wrong? Those questions (and the ones above) have been filling my head since I filed on Monday.
I shouldn’t worry about this. I shouldn’t have to worry about this. But here I am. Worrying about this. I’m a worrier by nature.
A nice thing about being furloughed in the middle of a pandemic is that there aren’t many options to just fully immerse myself in a world without work. If this were any other time, I’d probably go take a vacation to a beach to just fully relax. Get some beach reading in. Get in a healthy dose of vitamin d from the sun, while lounging by the ocean.
Instead I chose to spend some quality time with my parents. I just needed a break from my boyfriend and our housemate, even though they are both wonderful humans. I live with two guys. It got to be a bit of a nuisance after we hit day 50.
It’s been nice being with my family (and our dogs! and my mom’s cat.) this past week, since I haven’t been able to see them that much. I was originally planning to see them a week after my birthday in March. The family’s newest puppy squashed those plans when she had to be quarantined from the world right when Virginia was starting to mull over a potential quarantine.
My parents are both high-risk for getting complications from the coronavirus. If I visited them after the dog’s quarantine was up, and somehow brought them the bug and they got seriously ill? I would feel terrible. Especially since there’s more we know about the virus, despite all the scary unknowns about it.
Admittedly, it has been hard not seeing them for so long. They did come and have a socially distant visit in Charlottesville a few weeks ago, with the dogs. But it wasn’t the same. The same goes for FaceTiming them.
Since I’ve been home, I have gone out in public to grocery shop for the family, which is something my mom has been steering clear of, choosing to use Instacart or another grocery delivery service instead. I’ve been able to help with some housework and get things organized well ahead of their future move (that’s happening much later this year…if they find a house).
I even have plans to make them some focaccia and banana bread this weekend. After all, one of the joys of this whole period does include bread baking!
I think my mom is just overjoyed to have someone else in the house that isn’t my dad (longer than a day or two; my brother was up a few weeks ago for a short time, and he came up for a short visit today).
It’s been nice to also sit around and do nothing, taking in the world around me without any added stress.
When I go back to work on Tuesday? Who knows what next week will bring. I’m hoping I won’t be so overwhelmed with things I’ve missed from the past week.
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If you’re from another state, then pay for a subscription to your local news outlet. It’s so important in these weird times. Journalists are still getting furloughed and laid off, and it’s really disheartening to see. Local news captures more stories and peeks of life that might not be seen on mainstream news sites or news channels. Local media has been around for a long time and it would be a shame to see it die out like this.
pay for the news.
