We’re emptying the Divide & Conquer office today. It’s not because we’re going out of business or anything – quite the opposite – but we just don’t need this sort of space anymore. We started out doing various web projects, but we’ve evolved into something more diverse, and working mostly distributed or with clients. Well, not much of the latter these days obviously.

Still, it feels weird being here with none of our stuff. When the COVID-19 mess is past us, we’ll get started on a different workplace setup. It’s be something different.

Birthdays are weird. In these times, when all the things you normally do, or perhaps planned to do, are anything from irresponsible to downright dangerous, they’re even more so. I wrote about turning 40 at length earlier today, I don’t have much to add to that just yet. Other than that it’s a weird day, and it has nothing to do with age or even mortality.

Birthdays has always been weird to me, I verified it by looking at my Day One notes for the past couple of years. These are not days I cherish, because either there’s a lot expected from you, or you expect a lot yourself. Not so this year, pandemics don’t give a shit about nice round numbers that should be joyous celebrations (or bombastic getaways). Which makes it weird, because I guess the universe stole this day from me, and I’ll never get another shot at it.

However , that’s true for every day. I’m keeping a tab, universe. And in the end, every tab is due.

I’ve fled Stockholm for the house in the woods. The cabin in the woods? Not sure what it should be called, it needs a name. I’ll get back to you on that. It’s nice to get away from the city, and to have a place like this. I intend to enjoy it as best as I can, before heading back home again tomorrow.

UPS did the delivery dance yesterday, but the world’s nicest UPS driver (who might or might not be called Kevin) made sure I got this thing before today’s meeting marathon. Thanks Kevin!

It’s been a chopped up workday, with people popping into the office, picking up packages, and video meetings that just won’t work properly. You can tell a lot of new people are using these services by the shitty audio and video quality you suddenly get. At times like this, it’s important to stay calm and not throw your computer out the window.

The week shows no remorse, it just keep on going. It beats the alternative. I’ve done so many different things today it’s hard to focus on anything in particular, but I can say that it’s been a productive day. I’m starting to long for normality though, whatever that is.

Oh, and for those of you who asked: No, I don’t miss any of the social medias I’ve quit, nor was it a problem to switch to broadcast mode. The latter was almost the case anyway.

COVID-19 keeps messing things up, so this week looks horrible. I’m taking it one day at a time, obviously, but there’s no margin for error. I don’t like that, you must be allowed to have a crappy day without stressing out.

We all must make do. I’ll make it work, and I’m sure you will too.

I wish every morning started like this. It’s quiet, I’ve got my coffee… Not in picture: Animal Crossing: New Horizons on my Switch.

The good thing about early mornings is that you can choose either to get a running start, or take it easy. I did the latter, with a game I’ve been waiting for since the Nintendo Switch got announced: Animal Crossing: New Horizons. 45 minutes later and I know I’ll be hooked on this for months to come.

I’m living on Huel bars and ramming my head into the wall because this client newsletter design isn’t coming together, and tomorrow’s packed too. The office next door is renovating loudly, my partner in crime is home with her sick kid, and the inbox is at a threatening 19 emails that I really should deal with today.

All in all, it’s a regular Thursday in the brink of the apocalypse.

I’m so having a glass of wine and something tasty when I get home.

We swung by a hotel lobby bar on the way home from work, for research purposes, and also a glass of wine. It was empty. People are either sick and in self-imposed quarantine (good), or healthy but scared (bad). This is really hard on businesses. My favorite wine bar has been closed for days now because people are scared to go outside. Which, again, is fine, no matter if it’s warranted or not. Healthy people can meet, sick people shouldn’t, it’s pretty simple, although trusting people to know what’s what maybe isn’t.

Anyway, at times like these, try to support your local businesses. They’re in trouble, and a many will have to close. The hotel we visited will surely get through this – it’s part of a large chain, and the big ones are always taken care of – but the same can’t be said for everyone. Maybe this is a good time to rent that restaurant for your birthday party next year?

I generally don’t eat breakfast during weekdays, but this morning’s shoot got cancelled due to – you guessed it! – COVID-19, so I’m treating myself. A lot of plans are falling through these days, but that’s not necessarily bad, since it frees up time for other things. That’s how I choose to look at it, at least.

It’s Monday, I’ve had a rough night, and it’s snowing outside. In other words, can I have a do-over before starting this week. No? Well, then let’s just do this thing then. 34 todos, here we go…

Sure, you should take COVID-19 seriously, but buying crazy amounts of pasta and toilet paper isn’t going to stop you from getting sick. Washing your hands properly might though.

Somewhat related: How dashboard designs makes things feel, rather than look, a lot worse than they really are.

It’s less tranquil than it looks.