Rainbow Connection - Keeping Social & Engaged While Self-Distancing

I'm coming to you today from day four of self isolation.  Last night we ordered some pizza from Uber Eats and left a Home Alone Esque note on the door to confirm why we wouldn't be opening the door until after they'd left.

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As a freelancer I am fairly used to large stretches where it's just me, but at the same time I routinely enjoy board game nights with friends, coffee with a neighbour, and conversations at school drop off.  This is a luxury that we don't have right now, particularly as responsible humans trying to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect our loved ones and those who are most vulnerable within our community.

We've already started to feel some of the impact, but have begun working on ways to keep connected and stay social while keeping inside our home.  Technology will allow us to really connect while keeping our germs to ourselves in the coming weeks.

The good news is we don't have to do this alone.

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Movie Night With Friends

Pick a movie, Netflix, Crave, or whatever, put it on at the same time and start a group chat to comment as it goes on.  Want to up the ante, join each other for a Facetime call afterwards to answer some trivia questions and hash it out about the phone.

Virtual Tours 

Stir crazy is different than social isolation.  A lot of our time is spent exploring the world around us.  Thankfully a lot of businesses are offering free virtual tours of their spaces.  Here are some examples I found to check out:

Canada's Wonderland Virtual Roller Coaster

Canada Blooms

Hockey Hall Of Fame

14 Museums That Offer Virtual Tours From Around the World

Sports Replacements

Hey there sports fans.  I know this one hurts a lot.  No hockey, no baseball, no fun.  Last night Chris told me about the fine art of marble racing and we watched our first 'race' last night.  It was fun and kids and race fans alike will enjoy it.  Check out Jelle's Marble Runs on YouTube here.

Facetime Play Date For The Kiddos

Yesterday my cousin asked about Molly having a Facetime chat/playdate with his daughter.  The two stayed on the line for over an hour. They planned crafts and clubs together, they explored their favourite toys together, showed each other what their pets were up to.  It was such a success that they're doing it again next week.  I will begin reaching out to other kid friends shortly to arrange more Skype/Facetime play dates.

Face Time Board Game Session

Tonight at 7:15 we are joining my brother and sister in law for a Facetime game of Yahtzee.  Games, dice games in particular are wonderful to play this way.  Other programs, like TV games offered by Jackbox Games are a great way to keep the good times rolling (from a distance), even if you aren't a hardcore video gamer.

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Face Time Coffee/Wine/Beer Date

You, me, 5 bucks and a good conversation, that's all we need.....Last night we had a virtual drink with a friend and it was great.  I'm planning many more in the coming weeks, because even when we're out of self isolation we'll be social distancing so time at the bar is out of the question.

Virtual Jam Session

Chris is going to be attempting to schedule some band practices/ song writing sessions with his bandmates from our house.  I'll update on how this goes.

Remote Book Club

Pick a book, read it alongside some friends, schedule a date and time to talk about it remotely.  If you don't have a Kindle or would rather support a small local bookstore do so, call and ask around and find out if you can arrange a private pick up or delivery!  Our local book retailer (Type Books in the Junction) just took my phone order and is hand delivering some books to our door tomorrow.


How are you connecting and staying social beyond Netflix and Chill? Stay safe and healthy friends!

The Saturday Lunchtime Wrestlers

On Saturday night, during a dinner with friends, the subject of building community in a big city like Toronto came up.  While YMCAs, Legions, churches, and actual community centres for kids and adults to swim and be active together are helpful and important, talk travelled to unofficial community hubs and a lack of them in our mega-city. Places that give you that "NORM!" Cheers feel, where everyone knows your name, or at least recognize your face enough to give you a friendly nod and smile.

The very next afternoon our family headed out to a local wrestling event held inside one of the many local craft breweries we're lucky enough to have just a couple kilometres away from home.  We walked over and were instantly brought back to the 1980's wrestling that many of us grew up with, including announcers who encouraged the crowd to embrace their 'inner eight year old' that afternoon.

Booing Bad Guy Freedom Wallace

We were surrounded by friends, neighbours, familiar faces, and saw several kids wearing swag from local schools, including our own.  As everyone cheered together, I was reminded of community being about where you make it, and Junction City Wrestling will always be a place we can call home.

With fun, albeit silly, plot lines, great villains and heroes, along with strong fierce female wrestlers (who take on men in the ring as well as female fighters) for my daughter and son to watch in action. Booing bad guys and high fiving your favourite wrestlers is a great way to spend an afternoon.

Space Monkey Takes the Ring

If you live in the area, or even further away in the GTA, I encourage you to come and check out Junction City Wrestling.  They often have free outdoor events in the summer, and their colder weather paid events are a fun way to beat the winter blahs.  They have two events scheduled in March, follow them on Facebook to find out more! They'll be happy to have you.  What are you waiting for?  Maybe we'll see you there!