Social Distancing Diaries: May 3

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I’m a little annoyed with my CD player.

It’s a Pioneer CD Deck Receiver unit from the late 90s; I don’t use it for anything besides CDs or piping the audio from my Crosley Cruiser through. It still plays CDs, but sometimes it has trouble recognizing the disc in the changer. The changer tray mechanism is also a little wonky, so instead of doing a cycle through all three trays, it will get stuck in the middle of changing and then eject the whole tray. When I put a CD in the machine, it can take a number of tries before the music actually starts playing.

I have a Spotify account, but I like the whole sensation and ritual involved in using physical media, and while I have a record player, my vinyl collection isn’t anywhere as big as my CD collection. I suppose I’m long overdue to take it in to be fixed, or (more sensibly) replace my stereo, but it’s never really been a priority. I still have two non-functioning set-top DVD recorders; the last one gave up the ghost sometime about four years ago when I was transferring a bunch of old tapes to see what was on them.

Gotta love technology.


It’s already May. The temperature actually got up to 16 degrees Celsius today, but I didn’t make it outside; I had trouble sleeping last night so I spent most of the day in bed. I’m not going to feel bad about it; it’s what my body needed at the time. There’s more warm weather to come, even if it isn’t going to be as nice as that right away. I can wait.

I had a Zoom meeting with a few friends from University I hadn’t seen in years on Friday; that was fun. It’s good to know there are people in my life with whom I can do that, even if I’m more of an “in writing” type of person. Their randomness is always much more fun live, though.

I’m also trying to put some money away and pay some other stuff down right now. I know I say that every year, but since there isn’t going to be much travel in my near future, nor do I get my daily coffee and muffin at the start of the work day, I figured I may as well. On occasion I will treat myself with something here and there (delivery whenever I don’t feel like cooking or thawing something, a new pair of Chucks to replace the pair I wore out last fall), but I’m trying to make do with what I have entertainment-wise. I may need some more new clothes soon, though.

I need some new suggestions for things to watch or listen to. Leave a comment with some recommendations!