“Lock-down Diaries” is a series featuring different members of The Citizen newsroom as they go about their day while under the shelter-in-place directive.
Thursday, May 7 – Friday, May 8, 2020
Oakland, Calif.
May 7, 2020
10:07 p.m.
I revise a profile I’m writing for my journalism class. After making the revisions I watch ABC News on my computer. They report California is going to open more essential businesses: to me this feels like we’re entering into stage two of the reopening.
10:22 p.m.
I head downstairs to play Call of Duty with some friends online. I snack on some oranges, a Pop Tart and a banana.
May 8, 2020
1:49 a.m.
I go upstairs and make my bed. I can’t sleep if my room’s a mess, so tidying helps. I play some music on my phone and finally drift off to sleep.
10:10 a.m.
I wake up to the sound of my music still playing and a lawnmower cutting grass outside of my house.
11:28 a.m.
I check my email to see if there’s any word from UPS about the status of my job application; still no update.
12:01 p.m.
I help my grandma bring in some groceries from FoodMaxx. Afterward, I do some yard work, sweeping up a pile of grass and dried leaves in the front yard.
12:55 p.m.
I do Bible study with my uncle and grandmother. We learn about the ten plagues of Egypt. A cold fan blasts air on me — the soothing feeling relaxes me, and I begin feeling very tired. I contemplate taking a nap.
1:41 p.m.
UPS calls, I got the job! Given the circumstances of the pandemic, I feel blessed to be working anywhere.
2:00 p.m.
I scan a code from Safeway to see if I have won any prizes. During the pandemic, the grocery store has been holding their Monopoly game every month as opposed to once a year. Every qualifying purchase is a chance to win a grand prize of 250 million dollars. The thought of winning that kind of money is amazing to me.
2:50 p.m.
I wake up from a nap feeling lied to. The weatherman said it would be 77 degrees, it feels more like 85. On top of that, my grandmother’s cooking is making the house even warmer. As the heat rises, I began to break a serious sweat.
4:33 p.m.
I wanted to see if Hello Neighbor was still in my computer file so I could download and play it again later on.
5:45 p.m.
I woke up from my nap when my grandma said “oh no, oh no! Someone ripped your LeBron’s,” so I got up and checked, and it turned out she pranked me!
7:15 p.m.
I ate an entire box of 8 delicious S’mores flavored Pop-Tarts.
8:11 p.m.
I start playing a horror-themed video game called “Welcome to the Game.” The plot is that you have to search for keys and then you go into the deep web and witness people getting killed. I end up playing it all the way to the end.
9:15 p.m.
My uncle and I decide to play NBA 2K20 with our friends online. Unfortunately, we lose 3 out of 3 games. Even leading a team with all-star Ray Allen, it wasn’t enough to pull out a victory.
9:50 p.m.
I work on two of my article drafts for journalism class.
10:00 p.m.
I eat a late dinner, BBQ Pork and Potatoes, and tune into an episode of Ben 10. I turn on the news, and to my disappointment; I learn that sports won’t be returning until stage three. I’m tired of waiting for sports to return. I miss seeing my favorite teams, the Golden State Warriors and the Las Vegas Raiders in action. After the disheartening news, I shower and go to bed.
