It’s been a stressful couple of weeks around these parts as Florida caseloads keep climbing. There’s new software for work we’re trying to figure out, the dog keeps scratching at a spot on her face so she’s back in the cone, and we’ve been trying to figure out what to do for the kid’s schooling in the fall.
I found myself at loose ends the other day, not really wanting to play Animal Crossing or watch TV. I’d just finished a book, so my brain was like no reading right now. Had also just finished writing for the day, so none of that.
The husband suggested taking dumb photos of Sam Porter Bridges in Death Stranding.
I hadn’t messed around with the photo thing they added to the game, so I loaded it up. I took a few shots, but then found myself accepting cargo to deliver. I found a truck, drove down the very nice road we have all built out of Lake Knot City, delivered whatever the hell it was to … the Engineer? I think? Then I Fragile jumped to Heartman’s lab to borrow the spa, let Lou swim around a bit, and delivered some time-sensitive samples to the Evo-Devo biologist (oh my god was that a goddamned chore. I literally destroyed a truck. Had to go to the Paleontologist’s to get some floating carriers, come back, track down all the cargo, then drag the stuff the rest of the way. I did make it in time, though. Barely).
I avoided all the BTs. No fighting. Just me and my BB delivering the mail.
The thing about Death Stranding is that you’re post-apocalypse. It’s quiet. If you ignore your email, you don’t get a lot of people’s opinions on what’s happened or what’s happening. Once you complete the game, you don’t have the other characters interrupting you as you make your way from one place to another. Likes and information about who delivered what are text-based and easy to ignore, but also nice little reminders that you’re not entirely alone in the world. Your only responsibility is the baby, which only becomes an issue if you fall on your face too many times. It doesn;t hurt that the game is really pretty.
It was nice. 100% recommend for those times when you need to turn the noise down.
Laura E. Price 
My problem has become spending way TOO much time on Animal Crossing. The numbers here in Florida are terrifying so I’m like, “you know where there’s no corona? My island. LET’S GO FISHING!”
That’s how I ended up with a spacious 2 story house with basement on mine!
RIGHT?! Probably the only place in my life that I’ll own a house