household supply and postal delivery

The R-kioski that is the central/default package pickup location for regular mail and several other delivery options (eg the slightly cheaper domestic freight inside long-distance buses... which weird that they're still doing that now I think about it?) has restricted their hours right now, closes at 7 pm on weekdays... that is truly shocking. Not really a problem though. It's in easy walking distance and I could go at any time, but I waited for Wax to be done with work yesterday and we walked together and picked up a new box of insulin pen needles for Snookums.

We still have several more packages to pick up in the near future: bunny kibble (brand is important because dwarf angoras have higher protein requirements than other bunnies, from both the dwarfism and all the extra fur they grow) from Musti ja Mirri, tea tree oil from The Body Shop, a plastic soprano recorder from Thomann.

We also have to buy more fresh greens for bunny salads. Fresh greens just do not keep very long and there's nothing that can be done about that (short of building the greenhouse). We might order them for pickup later, but it doesn't seem necessary yet.

We should probably stop leaving out birdseed soon; the birdsong is changing already and the crocuses are in bloom, even though there's a bit of snow on the ground now and it may still snow this year. I didn't know this before, but Wax says it makes wild birds unhealthy if they eat it through the season when their natural foods are plentiful. I don't want to stop seeing birds through my window though, so when that happens I will have to put a birdbath of some kind out. Maybe I can attract them to nesting materials? I could put tufts of wool and angora fuzz out on the branches near where the feeders are now. Does one make a birdbath or buy one? What does one make it out of?

[cw] Entertaining pandemic news from Finland: 'If we have a furry epidemic after this one...'

§ In this article from March 23 the national news agency, Yle, recommends becoming a furry and making your own fursuit as an antidote to boredom in these trying times.

Now there's a reason to stay at home! 30 tips to help you enjoy yourself indoors The corona virus pandemic requires staying at home. With these tips you won't get bored.

We're living in unusual times. The corona virus's arrival in Finland has changed our everyday lives in a very short time. Even though the situation is grave and is causing a lot of worry, on the other hand it can also free up healthy people holed up at home to do things they wouldn't normally find time for in daily life. The show Puoli Seitsemän (Half Seven) listed thirty tips for things you can do if you're at loose ends:

[...] Prepare for your old age by making a musical will & testament. [...] Relaxed moments can also be used for sex. Try making your own lube. [...] Give food preparation a new twist! Try preparing food in the dishwasher or with a waffle iron. [...] Develop your own fursona, make your own fursuit and become a furry.

The other 26 were mostly fairly normal, like baking or running or cleaning out your closet. And then there was this.


§ Last night the government announced they were making use of influencers to get the message about social distancing measures and hand-washing out. Apparently influencers have been part of their emergency contingency plans for the past year and a half already. They're recruiting influencers freely now and announced that "anyone who thinks they're an influencer" can join their program.


§ There are enough Finnish Facebook groups full of neighbors eager to help out who are feeling disappointment that people are not asking them for enough help that somebody gathered a bunch of interviews with them together and wrote an article about it, and I can't help but chuckle. Most of Finland has seen very few cases though, and while people over 70 are asked to stay home, they are still allowed to go out for essential purchases, and at least here that's what many of them are still doing. Stores are organizing elderly-only hours in addition to their delivery systems too, so there may not be that many people who need errands done for them. Of course there are plenty of people in immunocompromised risk groups too... though I can see there could easily be fewer of them than of healthy people who are bored and anxious to help out.