The New Normal: Eric Geiselman On Toaster Strudels And Why His Mom Won’t Let Him In The House

Florida is on the precipice of a massive COVID-19 beach party. Thanks to 1,000s of eager young spring-breakers that give zero fucks about the pandemic, the beaches are packed, the booze is flowing, and the locals are tripping.

Eric Geiselman’s riding out the wave in the Sunshine State, and were it not for his cluttered bedroom full of guitars, amps and other music gear, he’d probably be going insane. Stab caught up with him before he headed out for a solitary evening of fishing. Here’s how he’s hanging in there:

Stab: Where will you be riding out the germ apocalypse?
Eric Geiselman: New Smyrna Beach, Florida, baby, the homeland! 

Who are you quarantining with and are you sick of them yet?
I’m solo. I have hung out with my brother a little bit. If we go to my mom’s house we go in full face masks. She doesn’t let us inside and we just hang on the porch. 

What’s your average screentime from this week?
Oh my God, my phone is like 200 degrees right now. I should plug it in. It’s going to die. 

When not using a device, what have you been doing to keep your mind occupied?
I’ve been fishing a bunch lately just cause it’s like that time. I’m normally never home this time of year, but the fishing’s really good. So, I’ve been fishing a little bit. And playing guitar. Same old stuff.

Eric’s orchestral lair.

And your body?
I do all the Instagram push-up challenges. That’s my workout program right now. 

What are the three most essential apocalypse food requirements?
You know, it’s weird. It’s not like normal where I’m on this health kick. It’s been the opposite. I went and bought toaster strudels, and I haven’t had one of those in like 10 years. I’m like loving those. I’ve been doing a lot of fruits, making smoothies. And then I’ve been catching fish. So, I’ll say fruits and veggies, fish and toaster strudels. 

And three inedible possessions (devices excluded) that you couldn’t quarantine without?
I definitely couldn’t quarantine without my guitar, my skateboard, and luckily they’re still letting us surf, so I guess my surfboard for now. But I don’t want to encourage people to go surf. Keep it down, folks. 

When was the last time you surfed?
Um, yeah. I surfed today. But I’ve actually been playing video games. I’m not a gamer, but I’ve been playing old-school video games lately. Sunny Garcia Pro Surfer is the best game out there. I’m not like a new-age millennial gamer. I like the throwback stuff. It’s too tech for me to learn.

Who is the last person you’d want to be quarantined with? 
Ooo, that’s a heavy one…like somebody industry-related?

Could be. It’s wide open. 
Hmmm, I’m trying to think about that. I don’t know what have other people said?

Everyone’s refused to answer this one so far.
So, I gotta knock this one out the park…I got it! [Surfline editor] Matt Pruett. You know how insane he’s probably going right now?

Do you know anyone with COVID-19?
I’ve just been seeing people on social media. There’s this girl that I follow that I don’t even know, but I follow her ’cause she got hot, but she came down with it. It sounded like her symptoms are pretty severe, actually. It’s really respiratory, you know, almost like a constant bear hug, but like painful bear hugging. But nobody I know close to home has come down with it, thank god. 

First place you’re gonna go following the pandemic?
Let’s see, hopefully this will be over by the middle of summer. The Caribbean would be sick. Definitely somewhere that’s not Third World right now. But there’s all those little waves and good fishing in the Caribbean. 

Final thoughts on these strange and chaotic times?
Just hunker down, stay positive and just try not to pollute anybody else with the germs. We’re living through history every day.