#check-ins

so much LMAO but it’s all good. basically working on work things, commissions, writing, organizing and cleaning, exercising, graphic design work, pop up events, tour prep, all on top of traveling dhdshks

it’s a whole lot to juggle and most days i have to take quick naps just to function. but we’re doing things🤸‍♂️

"Do you need anything else?"

"I'm okay, Garnold, but thank you."

2nd check in: May 30th

3rd check in: June 6th

4th check in, 1st artist check in: June 13th

Last author check in: June 20th

Last artist check in: June 27th

Just a little update as we roll into the check-in date this weekend. The check in is set for Sunday January 30th. At this point in the event, we’d like you to show us if you've started your gift. If you haven't started, we’d like if you could please confirm if you have an idea of what you'd like to create. For the check-in process, Jess and I would like you all to send us your progress or idea for your creation. You can do this by either sending a DM to either Jess (@acklesology) or Bex (@starrynightdeancas), or you can send an ask to this spn valentines sideblog (@spnvalentines) or send an ask to either Jess or Bex.

For the check in: if you're writing a fic or poetry, you can send a google docs link or screenshot or tell us what you plan to write. If it's an art/edit/gif, you can send us a screenshot or sample of what you've created so far or again tell us what you plan to make. For a playlist, you can tell us what songs you're starting to pick or again show us a screenshot of what you've chosen so far. And if you're making a fanvid, you can tell us what you're doing or send us a screenshot to show us that you're working on the video.

Please complete the check-in by Wednesday February 2nd. If you don’t check in by this date, we’ll unfortunately have to excuse you from the event and reassign your partner to someone else so that a pitch hitter can have some time to make a last minute gift. 

Please remember to reach out to Jess or I if you have any questions, comments, or concerns. Thank you for participating in this valentines event, we hope you’re all having fun and enjoying creating your gifts! <3

Tagging everyone below who is participating in the event:

Hey there!

We would like to see progress at the check-ins, yes. This might look a little different at the different check-ins;

During the first check-in (8/10/22), just having ideas you can articulate and a direction you're planning to go in is fine. - For artists, this may be a discussion of concepts and ideas and/or sketching and doodling that's been done in the planning phase. - For writers, the creation process is obviously different, and at the stage of the first check-in just being able to discuss the ideas you're having and present them in like, a brief description is plenty (though if you've started writing and are comfortable sharing, then by all means)

During the second check-in (29/10/22), we will be wanting to see the work that's been done on the piece so far. At that point, we'll want to see your WIP as it stands at that time.

Can you hear those jingle bells?  We can!  It’s time for our second check-in!

The second check-in will take place today, December 15, 2020.  One of the moderators will contact you before midnight (pacific time), and we will ask you when you plan on posting your gift.  You don’t have to give us a specific day; something approximate is just fine.  The posting period for all gifts will be from December 21, 2020 - January 01, 2021.  You may post any time during this window.

If you have any questions or concerns about finishing on time, please let us know.  As always, all participants have 72 hours to respond once contacted, so please keep an eye on your inbox.  You may also contact a moderator in advance if you wish.

We're so excited to see what you all create!

What is the situation like where you live?  Are you experiencing any hardship?  How’s self-isolation treating you?  Have you found/made/seen anything cool that you’d like to share?

I’ll go first!  I am in Pennsylvania, which is in the Northeastern part of the United States.  We are #11 in the 50 United States in terms of COVID-19 cases--right now in my country there are a few hotspots with thousands of confirmed cases, and every state has a few.  We are near the “top of the middle,” with a couple hundred, but only about 3000 people in my state have been tested.  I don’t know anyone who has it.  One person in my state has died.  

Public operations in the state have been gradually shutting down--last week, schools were closed, and mass-gathering places like sports and performance venues.  Monday, the governor asked “non-essential” businesses and workplaces to close or go remote.  My job, at a community college, was part of that.  Yesterday, Friday, the governor ordered “non-life-sustaining” businesses to close, with legal enforcement beginning Saturday.  This is because many people and businesses didn’t comply with the earlier recommendation to close.  Now, bars and restaurants have to close (restaurants can still do take-out), and stores selling clothing, household goods, and specialty things like craft supplies have to close.  Grocery stores, pharmacies, and big general stores like Wal-Mart are still open, but for limited hours. 

I went out for my regular weekly grocery shopping today (which is still OK under the current rules). The stores are out of a lot of things, but there is plenty of food--you may not be able to get exactly what you want, but there is a reasonable amount of choice and prices are normal. Toilet paper, disinfectants, and medicines are harder to find.

Personally, I am doing OK.  I am an hourly-wage worker at the college library, and right now, we are working our normal number of hours from home.  The library will be closed until at least March 30.  My biggest worry is that, if we are asked to stay closed for longer, they’ll start cutting hours. The state has extended unemployment benefits to anyone in that situation, but you only get a portion of your lost income (I think it’s half) and what I make normally is just enough to meet my expenses.  

I am also worried about my parents, who are over 60, and my grandparents, who are over 90, but for now everyone is healthy (or as healthy as they were before, anyway).  My dad & grandparents are retired, and my stepmother and my sister are working from home.  My nieces’ and nephew’s school is closed, and my brother-in-law works for their school, so they are all also at home.  

I don’t go out much anyway, so self-isolation isn’t bothering me too much!  I went for a drive last night, and the state Health Department issued a reminder that going for walks outdoors is OK as long as you stay 6 feet from other people, so I may take my dog out to a local nature trail tomorrow.  I’m keeping in touch with my family and co-workers over email.