The year everyone got horny (Eurovision 2021 2/2)

Eurovision's Grand Final – an event I'm waiting for every year. This time I was even more excited for it than usual and the fact that there was no contest last year wasn't the only reason. This year there were so many incredible artists competing, it was hard to foresee who might win. So, why not have a look (and listen!) at all entries?

26. United Kingdom: "Embers" by James Newman

The scoring system implemented in 2016 makes it almost impossible to get zero points. Almost.

 

"Embers" isn't the worst song this year (if you exclude constant usage of this goddamn trumpets and trombones, but it may be my hatred for metal wind instruments speaking). It's catchy and James has great stage presence. However, when compared to other entries, it's rather bland and forgettable.

Or it would be if it didn't get exactly zero points. Hey, it is an achievement!

But I have to admit, this song made me feel quite uneasy. These giant trumpets have very threatening aura...

25. Germany: "I Don't Feel Hate" by Jendrik

While this song completely doesn't match my taste, I still enjoyed it a lot. Jendrik s a huge ball of sunshine and his optimism and enthusiasm are contagious. The performance itself is great – very energetic and upbeat. I'm really surprised that it did this bad with points. Germany deserved much better.

Also let's not forget that, despite ESC being a rather family-friendly show, they still somehow managed to flip off whole Europe.

24. Spain: "Voy A Quedarme" by Blas Cantó

You know, I actually like this entry. The song is very personal and emotional and Blas has great voice – the high notes are stunning. The visuals are very fitting, setting the mood. There's only one thing I don't like: this giant moon is completely unnecessary (damn, for whole performance I was wondering, if it'd fall on the scene...).

 

23. Netherlands: "Birth Of A New Age" by Jeangu Macrooy

A very unique entry. It's always refreshing to see different cultures represented at Eurovision. The song itself is very powerful and has an important message. Quite a pity it didn't receive the recognition it deserved.

 

Also, I really like the dancer. He's so skilled and invested!

 

22. San Marino: "Adrenalina" by Senhit feat. Flo Rida

Okay, San Marino getting an American rapper to perform a fragment of the song definitely was at the bottom of the "what to expect" list. Unfortunately, this bold move didn't bring them a victory. Still, the song is quite nice, perfect for summer. The performance is also good.

 

However, there's one thing that keeps bugging me... What is Senhit wearing at the beginning and whose idea was it?!

21. Albania: "Karma" by Anxhela Peristeri

I love this entry so much! It's epic and unique. Anxhela's vocal is incredible, so strong and just beautiful. I also like the idea behind the staging: it's quite minimalistic, but makes the audience focus on the singer. Awesome. Simply awesome.

20. Azerbaijan: "Mata Hari" by Efendi

When I first heard this song, I joked it's just "Cleopatra 2.0". And okay, they are similar, but I think it was deliberate ("Cleopatra" is even referenced in the lyrics).

 

Strong entry with nice staging (I love the snake!) and catchy song. I also like the ethnic elements it brings, diversity is always welcomed.

And let's not forget about the Eurovisional love story it sparked!

19. Belgium: "The Wrong Place" by Hooverphonic

One of my favourites this year. I love it's dark vibe, pretty rare at this contest. The minimalistic staging builds an unique atmosphere of melancholy, very fitting for a song about a one night stand gone sour. And I have to admit I'm in love with the music, especially the chorus. I can listen to it all the time.

As a whole, "The Wrong Place" is rather non-Eurovisional, but I wouldn't say it's a bad thing – it's just different.

18. Norway: "Fallen Angel" by TIX

After the first hearing, I didn't like this song – I wrote it off as another break-up ballad. But then I learnt more about the singer. And watched the music video. And just fell in love.

 

"Fallen Angel" is one of the most important entries this year. TIX tells the story about coming to terms with one's weaknesses and not letting our demons drag us down. The moment he takes off his glasses is extremely powerful: he's not ashamed of his illnesses, of who he is. Despite progressing normalisation of various health problems, talking about it is still an act of bravery. TIX knows it and still shares his experiences whenever he can. I admire him a lot for doing this.

Also, let's be honest: he's such a lovely person, it's hard not to like him!

17. Israel: "Set Me Free" by Eden Alene

Cool, very catchy entry. I especially like the dancers, the energetic choreography complements the show quite well. Also, Eden's very charismatic and really does her best, which is great to watch. And these high notes? Amazing.

 

I only have a question to the hairdresser: how?!

16. Cyprus: "El Diablo" by Elena Tsagrinou

No, I'm not going to make another "Cyprus sends the same entry every year" joke, don't worry. (This stopped being funny ages ago... Although Elena reminds me a bit about Tamta, but in a good way).

 

This whole performance oozes sex-appeal. The song, the staging, the choreography, everything is so sexy you can't take your eyes off the screen. Also, can we focus on the dancers for a while? They are so skilled, it's a shame the audience looks only at the main singer. For me they actually made this entry.

Also, minor thing but I like the contrast between the costumes. Crystal dress and red body suits are a really clever combination.

15. Serbia: "Loco Loco" by Hurricane

Sweethearts, a new party anthem just dropped!

But really, this entry is incredible. Danceable song? Shiny costumes? Wild hair? It has everything! I also love how the girls share the spotlight: there are moments when the focus is only on one of them, thanks to which each has her time to shine. And last but not least, Hurricane somehow managed to pull absolutely wild choreography while singing and never got out of breath. Talk about stamina!

There is only one thing I don't like: the visuals with black-and-white stripes were quite unnecessary and too epileptic to my taste. They could have been exchanged for something less seizure-triggering.

14. Sweden: "Voices" by Tusse

The song itself is not exactly in my type, but I still like it. The performance is very emotional and Tusse did incredibly well. He has great voice, especially in the chorus. Also, the staging is nice, I like the changes in visualisations. It made the song much more epic.

13. Moldova: "Sugar" by Natalia Gordienko

One of the most fabulous entries this year. Natalia's breathy vocal is so hot, which fits the song's theme really well. And I love how she is clearly having fun while performing – she didn't stop smiling even when she dropped the mic. And the note at the end? Woah, talk about lung capacity.

 

The staging is one of the best. The rotating platform is a simple, but effective item, which makes the choreography more interesting. I also like the slightly futuristic vibe of the whole performance created by the visuals.

Only complaint? I quite miss the cake gore from the MV.

It was unexpected, but awesome.

12. Portugal: "Love Is On My Side" by The Black Mamba

You know, I appreciate the concept and can see, why people like this entry... But I still hate it. It just somehow manages to tick most boxes on my "things I don't like in music" list. I'm sorry.

 

11. Bulgaria: "Growing Up Is Getting Old" by Victoria

I have the same problem with this entry as with the Portugese one. Just... Not my cup of tea. At all.

But again, the concept is great and Victoria did well.

10. Greece: "Last Dance" by Stefania

I'll be honest, I totally didn't expect the green screen. But I have to admit, the idea is quite cool, especially when the dancers join. I only feel a little bit sorry for the live audience – it must have been weird to watch.

 

And the song? Well, I like the single version a little bit more, but still. I enjoyed it.

But I have to complain a little: where is the pegasus?!

9. Russia: "Russian Woman" by Manizha

A song about strong women performed by a strong woman. Despite receiving a lot of hate, Manizha didn't back out and instead did her best at the competition. Take that, haters.

 

Also, the staging is on point. The act of leaving the self-propelling dress symbolising a reborn? Working class jumpsuit? Blending modern elements with the traditional ones? The choir of different women from all around the country? I love every single fragment of it.

8. Lithuania: "Discoteque" by The Roop

Such a cute entry! It's extremely catchy, it's hard to sit down while listening to it. The silly choreography with a lot of arm flailing and jumping perfectly conveys the feeling of bouncing around to favourite music when nobody looks. Really, this song should be listed in the dictionary as the definition of fun.

 

7. Malta: "Je Me Casse" by Destiny

Another great song with feminist undertones. Destiny slayed both in terms of vocals and stage presence. However, the fact that Malta put so much pressure on her makes it a little bit hard to enjoy this performance. Poor girl, she was so stressed...

6. Finland: "Dark Side" by Blind Channel

Did I expect to leave this year's Eurovision with a new musical obsession? No. Do I mind? Also, no.

"Dark Side" was my absolute favourite from the first listening. It has everything I love: heavy guitar, melodic electronics, energetic vocals. While many people despise it as "too edgy", taking a closer look reveals it's much more than a simple rage song. It's a song about being an outcast and not giving a fuck about the world that excluded you. About flipping off all that shit that makes you tired and angry. About partying at the end of the world with others like you. About unity.

The meaning is punctuated by amazing performance, full of flashing lights, pyrotechnics and this unique feral energy. Blind Channel boys don't only pour their hearts in their music. They're living, breathing it. And it shows.

Another reason I adore this band are the members. Blind Channel consists of six cute dorks, who clearly love music and each other. They feel comfortable together, often joke and are affectionate. It's really hard not to love them. They're awesome.

And yeah, I have a massive crush on Aleksi. But come on, he's such an adorable cinnamon roll!

5. Ukraine: "Shum" by Go_A

Folk is awesome. Electronic music is awesome. And what happens when you mix it?

 

Perfection. Perfection happens.

 

"Shum" is a shining example of how to incorporate Eastern European folk elements into an entry and make it appealing to broader audience. The song is catchy and mesmerising, blending traditional music with wild rave. Futuristic visuals and TRON-like dancers complement it nicely, creating unique atmosphere that you just want to experience. And these vocals? Incredible.

Yes, I'm absolutely in love with Kateryna Pavlenko, why do you ask?

4. Iceland: "10 Years" by Daði og Gagnamagnið

I have a problem with this entry. Surprisingly, it's not the song. I mean, the song is okay, not my taste, but whatever, if someone likes this slightly retro vibe, then fine, enjoy it.

 

I have a problem with the performance. Due to one person from the group testing positively to COVID, Daði og Gagnamagnið didn't perform live. Instead, the footage from the rehearsal was shown both at semi-final and the grand final. And okay, I understand that, the band didn't want to compete without one person... But still, I can't shake the feeling that it was kind of unfair towards rest of the contestants. Let's be honest: performing live in front of the giant audience is completely different from recording the song. It's additional stress, so many things can go wrong... Twice. And they didn't have to deal with it.

I'm not saying that Iceland didn't deserve such a high score, I actually feel quite sorry for them that they couldn't perform live. But still, I have mixed feelings towards whole situation.

3. Switzerland: "Tout l'Univers" by Gjon's Tears

You know that I didn't like this song in the beginning? But then I reached the chorus, Gjon hit the high notes and I got swept away.

 

I love it. I just love it.

 

The entry is extremely ethereal and full of feelings, you just get lost in it. Gjon's angelic vocals match it perfectly. Also you can see that he's pouring his heart and soul in the performance, like his whole self belonged to music.

 

However, I have to admit that this entry gave me a little anxiety – at the end, when Gjon is waddling, I was afraid he's going to fall. Fortunately, it was just my paranoia.

Gjon's such a sweetheart, I just want to hug him... (Is it just me or there was a lot, I mean A LOT of cinnamon rolls among contestants this year?)

2. France: "Voilà" by Barbara Pravi

*sighs* And what am I supposed to sat about this entry?

 

Don't get me wrong: Barbara is a great vocalist and she nailed the performance. However, again, "Voilà" just ticks everything of my "I hate that in music" list (and a little more). The minimalistic staging doesn't help either. Sorry.

1. Italy: "Zitti E Buoni" by Måneskin

If the fact Italy won isn't an ultimate proof how horny everyone was this year, then I don't know what is.

This entry is so sexy and I don't only mean the band looking hot (although they do). The vocals are sexy, the instrumentals are sexy, the way everyone move and interact with each other is so, so, SO sexy. I don't usually listen to this type of rock, but "Zitti E Buoni" somehow managed to capture me with it's sexiness and unapologeticness, especially the latter. Måneskin don't care if they are perceived as inappropriate or rude (they even performed the uncensored version as a reprise!), they just create and don't give a fuck. And that's beautiful.

Congratulations, Italy! You deserved it.

***

And this concludes this year's Eurovisional posts. It was a wild, but very satisfactory ride. I can't wait till next year's contest.

See you all in Italy! Take care! 💜

Image sources:

Giant trumpets of uneasiness: https://youtu.be/VxNOynEJ6wc?t=48

Finger: https://youtu.be/1m0VEAfLV4E?t=184

TIX: https://eurovision.tv/participant/tix-2021

Cake gore: https://youtu.be/1zvnsvxA3to?t=168

Stefania and pegasus: https://youtu.be/duqBorqR2sM?t=97

Aleksi my beloved: https://youtu.be/t6UVdzwjhuE?t=374

Kate my beloved: https://youtu.be/lqvzDkgok_g?t=61

Gjon: https://eurovision.tv/participant/gjons-tears-2021 

The year everyone got horny (Eurovision 2021 1/2)

I know, I know I was supposed to start writing this post in May, but... Well... Let's be honest: life hit me with a force of a fucking train. Fortunately, lately I've somehow managed to sort most things out and sit down to work, so... Better late than never, eh?

 

But let's get to the topic: Eurovision 2021. After two years of waiting everyone was Eurovision-starved (me included), so no surprise that this edition was... Special. Really special. I mean, it's been something like two months and I still haven't gone down from Eurovision high, so yeah. In short, there were emotions, a lot of fun and many wonderful people. And songs. I'll be honest, the variety of songs this year was amazing. So, let's start the annual tour around entries!

As last time, the order is determined by country's placement. And we're starting with...

39. Latvia: "The Moon Is Rising" by Samanta Tina

Wait, what?!

 

When I was checking out songs before the contest, I got pretty hyped up for Latvia. Okay, maybe this year's entry isn't as much my taste, as the previous one, but I still liked it. It's amazing song with feminist message sung by a strong woman with powerful voice. So what went wrong?

Everything. Everything went wrong.

Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating a bit. The staging is weird, but fits the chaotic energy of the song. Same for the costumes. What failed are the vocals. Samanta has gorgeously powerful voice, but for some reason couldn't stay in the right key. I doubt it's the stress – her voice is too consistent for just being nervous. Several people theorized that her earpiece fucked up and she couldn't hear the music, which I think is the case here. Quite a pity. "The Moon Is Rising" is fire, it's painful to see it killed by technical issues.

38. Georgia: "You" by Tornike Kipiani

Despite said musical variety, we still couldn't escaped mandatory tearful ballads. (Yeah, I'm not a fan of ballads on Eurovision, why do you ask?) "You" is well written and performed, but for some reason it just feels... Empty. Empty musically and visually. Maybe I got spoilt with electronic and metal music, I don't know. This is just not in my taste.

 

But I have to admit, the moment when lyrics are being displayed on Tornike is quite cool.

 

37. Ireland: "Maps" by Lesley Roy

Another song that sounded great as a studio version, but didn't do as well live. Lesley has a good, powerful voice, but still I can't shake the feeling that something was off on the stage. Maybe it was stress, maybe tiredness (so much running...), I don't know.

But I have to admit, the staging is unusual. It brings to mind these children books with 3D illustrations, which is an interesting idea. Okay, maybe it didn't look as good when seen from the auditorium, but damn. Greece had similar problem and no one complained, so why would I?

36. Czech Republic: "Omaga" by Benny Cristo

Woah, that's a lot of glitter. Or crystals. Or whatever they glued to his jacket. It sparks.

This is one of the songs I call "typical Eurovision". It's... Safe. There's nothing really outstanding. The song is nice, the visuals are nice, the choreography is nice, everything is... Nice. And that's all. For me there's no surprise that it didn't qualify. Sorry.

35. North Macedonia: "Here I Stand" by Vasil

Okay, who had "disco ball cosplay" on their Eurovision bingo card this year? *ba dum tss*

Jokes aside: while the song is totally not my jam, the performance itself is marvellous – very aesthetic and well done on technical level. Vasil has strong voice (holy shit, the high note on the end!) and sings very emotionally, which was completed with some nice visuals. To be honest, I didn't expect this entry to get so little points... But well, surprises are integral part of The Eurovision Experience^TM.

 

34. Australia: "Technicolour" by Montaigne

Aww, they did Australia dirty this year! Despite remote participation (fucking pandemic, can this shit finally end?!) this entry is awesome. The staging is lively and suits the song, the choreography is interesting and, last but not least, Montaigne slays as a vocalist. Her vocal range is phenomenal, she is also very invested in the performance. I was sure this song would get into the final.

Anyway, now you know why I never play any lottery...

33. Poland: "The Ride" by Rafał

(People will probably hate me for this, but fuck it).

To my giant surprise, this year's song is... Not bad? I mean, it's very upbeat, danceable and just nice to listen to. When I was checking out songs before the contest, I quite enjoyed it. Of course, I still didn't expect much from the performance... And I was mostly right. Mostly. I mean, the performance itself is nothing special – rather mediocre compared to others this year. Also, Rafał's voice just sounds weird without the shitload of autotune. However, if we compare it to entries from previous years, we can see that Poland is actually making progress. Not much, but if we keep that up, in a few years we might actually get a good score. For now I can say we are heading in the right direction... And hope we don't fuck it up next year.

 

However, there is one thing that kept bothering me: displaying "Warszawa" everywhere was completely unnecessary. Like, damn, everyone knows it's Poland's capital, no need to flex!

 

32. Slovenia: "Amen" by Ana Soklič

If "Incredibles" has taught me something, it's that capes are extremely bad idea. Sorry.

I'm not very fond of this song, it's quite boring for me. However, I have to admit that Ana has amazing voice – the "hallelujah" part is awesome. I also liked the visuals, rather minimalistic, but matching the tone of the performance. But as a whole, the performance didn't make me change my mind about eurovisional ballads.

31. Estonia: "The Lucky One" by Uku Suviste

Shout out to Tumblr user, who made the UwU Suviste joke. Now I have to watch myself so I wouldn't call Uku that. Thank you, I hate it.

Rather solid entry, but also not outstanding. For some reason it reminds me about "Arcade" and "Scream", dunno why. Maybe it's the visuals... Also, please, can someone teach Uku how to tie a bow tie? This untied one around his neck looked rather sad.

30. Austria: "Amen" by Vincent Bueno

In retrospect, it's quite funny that there were two songs called "Amen" this year... And neither qualified to the final.

 

Totally not my jam, but I like how emotional this entry is. Vincent poured his whole heart into performing and oh my, it shows. Especially near the end – he almost started crying.

 

29. Denmark: "Øve Os På Hinanden" by Fyr Og Flamme

A cool, energetic song with cool, energetic performance. It also has a distinct retro feel, which is great. And I'm always for songs in national languages, it makes a nice difference in English-dominated music scene. Also, Fyr Og Flamme definitely had a lot of fun while performing (these cute dances are my favourite part). Watching them brings a lot of happiness.

28. Romania: "Amnesia" by Roxen

Interesting entry. The song is nice and has a great message. I also like the staging, especially the choreography. However, I'm not sure if Roxen should have moved that much: as someone pointed out, she often sounds out of breath, which affects the overall performance. But still, her vocals are quite pleasant, at least for me. Quite a pity Romania didn't qualify.

27. Croatia: "Tick-Tock" by Albina

Another entry I was sure would qualify. The song is catchy and well performed, I especially like the language change. The dancers also did amazing. And the visuals? I love them.

However, despite being this great, Croatia still got screwed by the points. Well, shit happens.

***

This concludes the post. Next time (don't ask me, when, my life is too chaotic to promise you anything) I'll talk about the songs from the final. Stay tuned, sweethearts! 💜

 

(And if you want to make sure you don't miss anything, you can follow me on Twitter! Look for @kikihakanate there! 💜)

Life OST: Songs to get quarantined to

Hello, sweethearts!

We all know 2020 is incredibly shitty year. Fires, riots, escalation of racism and queerphobia... And, on top of that, raging pandemic. Despite the last thing, Polish government (and not only they, I've heard United States' one wants to do the same) decided to open schools in September. It's obvious that in this case ensuring safety is impossible and we will probably end with another lockdown. So, why not make it a little bit more bearable with appropriate music?

To make things a little bit more interesting, I decided to not include songs made during pandemic about pandemic. Enjoy!


鬱P feat. 鏡音リン "コロナ"

Okay, I know this song has nothing to do with the pandemic except the name and that jokes about it have already been done hundreds times, but damn, I still find listening to it now quite funny. Also, it is actually very pleasant to listen. It's dynamic, heavy and Rin's voice is rendered really well. 鬱P in his finest.

Sub Zero Project "Patient Zero"

I think we have a 2020 anthem. And I should stop joking right now. I found this song by accident, while browsing electronic music on Spotify and fell in love immediately. I love the bass and hard, delicious drops. This piece has also very catchy melody, ideal for humming.

To be honest, I felt quite jealous watching the music video. I want to go to a concert...

Chamaeleon "Suppression"

Actually, it's a very personal choice for this list. During pandemic I have only on-line classes and professors give much more homework than usually. I always listen to music while working and lately I've been really into aggrotech. Surprisingly, it helps me focus. And this song is one of my favourites, I can listen to it all the time.

Kill The Sleeper "What If"

Another aggrotech masterpiece I discovered by accident on Spotify and listen to a lot while working (and not only then). The catchy melody and amazing harsh vocals are so beautiful I sometimes play it more than one time. Generally, it's one of my most favourite songs ever.

Keiichi Okabe "Possessed by a Disease" from "NieR: Automata"

If Coronavirus had a boss theme, it will be this one. No more jokes, I promise.
I think "NieR: Automata" has one of the best soundtracks in whole computer games' history (generally, it's one of the best games in whole history and don't try changing my mind, because it's impossible) and any time is good for listening it. "Possessed by a Disease" is one of my favourite pieces. It's epic and very energetic, perfect choice when you are stuck at home and need to make your chores a little bit interesting. And it has a very appropriate title. I'm sorry.

Terence Blanchard "End Credits [Chapter 4]" from "Perry Mason"

If someone follows me on Twitter (which I encourage – look for @kikihakanate), they know for last several weeks I was watching newest HBO crime series. I'll be honest, is there better time to catch up with various series and movies than quarantine? "Perry Mason" is great and I really recommend it. And while I didn't enjoy its OST that much (it mostly consists of jazz and I hate jazz), I fell in love with this particular piece immediately. It's eerie and beautiful.

Creep-P feat. Ruby "TV"

Speaking about watching TV, it's perfect time to bring up this gem. All works by Creep-P are amazing, but this one is my absolute favourite. It has catchy melody, nice instrumental and just sounds fantastic. Also, I love the lyrics. And the message (which is very, very, VERY actual now). And everything.

Sweet Revenge feat. 巡音ルカ "Dirty Duty"

With so much shit going on, it's hard not to feel like in a movie. So, why not ramp it up with a fitting song? "Dirty Duty" has a nice apocalyptic vibe, perfect to listen when you are sitting at home, wondering what next months will bring. And à propos apocalypse...

Lord of the Lost "Doomsday Disco"

...why not dance a little to another fittingly apocalyptic piece? Lord of the Lost made an amazing song about having fun during the end of the world we know, very rhythmic and catchy. I love it.

The Crüxshadows "Indivisible"

Because things got a little too dark, let's listen to something uplifting! A song about unity and overcoming hardships, brought to us by one of the best bands ever – The Crüxshadows. Catchy melody, pleasant electronic instrumental and Rogue's angelic vocal make a perfect song to lighten up mood during these hard times.


I think it's enough. Actually, if I listed everything I've been listening to during pandemic, this post would be horribly long. And, in your opinion, which songs match quarantine?

Stay safe, sweethearts! Take care!

References are a treasure, change my mind

Read from right to left (and click for better quality).

A very quick and messy edit, because I'm neck-deep in shit too busy with my studies and have no time for anything else. The fact my productivity is oscillating around zero certainly doesn't help. Thank you, pandemic.

I borrowed the upper panels from first chapter of "Mushishi", page 37. Here is the link.

Lockdown, day... What day is it?

Actually, leaving the house isn't illegal (yet) as long as you wear a mask, but I still feel weird when I go out. Any pros of this situation? I can wear my badass anti-pollution mask and no one comments on it.

Okay, I know I shouldn't leave my flat at all (except for emergencies), but I can feel how I'm slowly descending into madness at home. Going for a walk is a fucking part of self-care.

Apropos self-care...

E-learning is great...

...except for the fact, it isn't. I mean, while staying at home and not having to commute to the university is quite nice (at least I can sleep longer), the rest isn't. Now I'm so overwhelmed with work I barely have time for anything else. Also, let's be honest: e-learning apps tend to be problematic. Servers are constantly overloaded and sometimes it's impossible to have any on-line classes without any technical problems. And when I don't have technical problems, I have more, well, human-based problems: it's just hard for me to keep track of the classes, homework, deadlines and other shit like that. Generally, I have problems dealing with the actual situation, which stresses me as hell.

To deal with it, I decided to make a bingo. I based it on mine and my friends' experiences with e-learning.

It isn't the best bingo in the world, but I'm still proud of it.

You can download it from my DeviantArt account: https://www.deviantart.com/kiki-the-autogoth/art/E-learning-bingo-837483211

Feel free to do the bingo and post your results on-line! Have fun and take care, sweethearts!

It's Corona Time

Before the whole shit started properly, I had been already tired of it.

I'm not a person, who watches news on TV or reads newspapers, so I missed the very beginning of the pandemic. I mean, I was receiving some signals about it, but I didn't care that much. I only got concerned when I realised someone I know and care about was in China at the same time the whole mess started getting serious. Fortunately, she's fine. More, after coming back to Poland she assured me the epidemic wasn't as bad as media was painting it. I felt relieved.

The relief lasted short. Very short.

When I heard about COVID-19 appearing in Europe, I pretended I didn't care. However, deep inside, I was afraid. I was afraid of the plague. Of the quarantine. Of the virus coming to Poland. Of having my life disrupted. But I tried to hide it. I was acting cold and indifferent, criticizing the quickly escalating panic and people, who made laughs of the epidemic. I quickly became fed up of the topic. Not that it was difficult – wherever I went, someone was mentioning coronavirus. Acting with slight disdain towards it was my only way of fighting with growing fear.

And then shit hit the fan.

When information about first instances of COVID-19 in Poland came out, people went absolutely mad. They were buying unholy amounts of soap and antiseptic gel, wearing surgical masks and basically hoarding supplies. You know, like world was about to end. My pole dance trainer even told my group she had problems with getting spirit to make pole-cleaning solution.

I shrugged it all off. People were just panicking, right?

Right.

And then my university cancelled all classes.

Shit, that escalated quickly. 

***

Due to horrible pollen allergy, I have constantly running nose.

Last Tuesday I was coming home by bus. At one point, I sneezed. Actually, it was a pretty elegant sneeze – not too loud, with mouth and nose covered with arm.

Fuck, just ordinary sneeze by ordinary person. And yet an older lady, who was sitting next to me, ran to the other end of the bus like she was being chased.

***

I mentioned people started to hoard supplies, yeah? Well, you can only imagine what's happening now.

On Wednesday I had to do some shopping. The drug store I was to got rummaged some time earlier. People had bought all soaps, antiseptics, toilet paper, wet tissues... And condoms. No, really.

When I entered my neighbourhood's hypermarket, I was greeted with empty shelves and freezers. To be honest, it looked like it had been visited by people preparing to zombie apocalypse. Frozen food, canned food, noodles, rice, sanitary pads, tissues, toilet paper, most things were already gone. I couldn't even find bloody lactose-free butter. Holy shit, what were people going to do with such absurd amounts of frozen meat, butter and condoms?!

.

.

.

You know, actually, I don't want to know. Sometimes ignorance is bliss.

***

I'm torn.

My rational side insists on being distanced and collected. However, my emotional one has already gone crazy with fear. And I sway between these two states. One moment I'm calmly discussing with others if Polish government is doing well with containment procedures. Half an hour later I'm wildly washing my hands and disinfecting my cell phone (and mind the fact I've been a hygiene freak for most of my life, so if I do some more washing than usual it means the situation is really bad). In the morning I exchange coronavirus memes and plague doctors GIFs with my best friend. In the evening I cry, because I'm worried about my friends and family.

I feel overwhelmed. I want to leave my house. To attend some classes. To meet my best friend and eat together at my favourite Asian restaurant.

I. Want. This. Madness. To. End.

But this madness seems to have different plans.

***

So, what am I going to do now?

First thing, stay sane. Somehow. It will be difficult, given the fact I succumb to panic pretty easily (media having only bad news about the virus definitely don't help), but I can't let some stupid virus mess with me. At least not without fight.

Secondly: stay healthy. I don't want to catch something and then infect my family.

And last, but not least: stay at home. My university has already started preparations to on-line courses. Also, I want to catch up with books and drawing. And movies. And games. And sleep.

There is no thing like "too much sleep".

And I recommend you doing the same.

Stay safe, sweethearts! Remember to wash your hands! And don't let the overall panic take over your lives!