Social Distancing Diaries: April 15

It’s hard to know what to write here these days. There really isn’t a whole lot distinguishing one day from another aside from whether I have to work or not, or days where I run errands.

I had a four-day weekend (Good Friday and Easter Monday), but the most I really did was sleep, make stew in the slow cooker to freeze, and stay up late on Sunday night to chat online with a friend in Fredericton. Even my normal weekdays have their share of extra sleep; when the cat wants her cuddles, it’s hard to get much else done, and her purring lulls me into a nap every now and then. I’ve also noticed she’s started to cuddle with me after I put my CPAP mask on for the night; she’ll lie on my chest and start purring and nuzzling me for a little while. Maybe she can tell the machine helps me.

I’m a little bummed that Halifax just lost its only dedicated LGBTQ bar; I hadn’t been to Menz since I stopped in briefly last October, but there were always shows I was interested in going to (whether I had energy, money or both was another story). Maybe it’s just that I’ve been feeling an increased desire to connect with other queer folk here; yeah, there’s the internet, but there’s something about a physical space where you can just be the person who you are. I never really feel particularly comfortable in spaces that have a really straight vibe (especially if it’s really “bro-ey”; maybe that was an early sign of something…)

One thing that really helps me feel at home in my body is regularly shaving my head, eyebrows and face. I’ve been doing this since late November. I just like what I see in the mirror when I’m this way; it’s closer to who I really am than I felt when I had the beard covering my face and the eyebrows (which naturally approach Bert territory). I’m lucky that I can just maintain the look here at home without needing to visit a barber. Honestly, if you want to buzz or shave your own hair (or if the lack of maintenance options are wrecking your style, just go for it (there’s an article or two about that).

Thanks to everyone who’s written in the last little while. I’m a little scattered these days and haven’t gotten around to replying to people (sometimes I completely blank on tasks if they’re not related to my job) and I hope to write back soon.