Happy Friday! Hope you all had a great week or at the very least managed to locate the much sought after carton of eggs (Why take all the eggs, guys? Why??) and sill-scarce TP that you needed. Sigh. I sincerely hope that everyone can just cool their jets soon.
Well, we\’ve made it through week three of isolation to Friday, my friends! Working from home is going almost too well here although there\’s some concern about being furloughed/laid-off. About half of my company\’s employees have already been furloughed for the duration. I\’ll have to wait and see what comes of our department meeting this morning.
Anyway! Be sure to check out some things to help you pass the time and hopefully keep you in good spirits. Enjoy!
1) 5 Good Things:
A creative math teacher is giving lessons while also social distancing. Clever!
Some nurses have taken to the hospital\’s helipad to pray for patients and their families. Lovely!
Israeli researchers have found a COVID-19 vaccine. Of course, it will be some time before the serum is approved and distributed but this is a major step in the right direction.
Speaking for the virus, some NBA players who recovered from that ordeal are donating their blood plasma to help others. In that clinical trial, doctors are attempting a treatment using the antibodies from people who were sick. Sounds like another great possibility!
Ford Motor and General Electric are retooling operations to make ventilators. Keeping America healthy and their employees on the job… win-win!
2) 5 Things to Read:
Unorthodox by Deborah Feldman. I\’ve probably plugged this book before but here it is, again! Deborah\’s life as a \”not-so-normal\” girl in an Hasidic community and her life after leaving are extremely well-written. In a culture where women hold little value and get little education, it is inspiring to see her realize that she is valuable and intelligent to boot!
Lost in Austen by Emma Campbell Webster is a choose your own adventure book through the Jane Austen universe. The beauty of this book is that you aren\’t quite done after the first or second reading because there are still options to explore… and disasters to be made of classic novels.
Agatha Christie\’s The Seven Dials Mystery is one of the very first of her books that I ever read and holds a special place in my heart. Thankfully, it\’s now available as an ebook because my paperback copy is hopelessly falling apart. The slew of characters and their relation to one another is a big draw for this one. Can you guess who the perpetrator is?
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is the story of one woman whose legacy lives on in the most interesting ways. It\’s the story of medical breakthroughs and also medical ethics.
When was the last time that you read the classic The Little Prince? If ever? Perhaps an oddly-appropriate story given our current, isolationist society as well.
3) 5 Things to Watch:
After you\’ve read the book, the Unorthodox Netflix series is also worth a watch. The show is built on Deborah Feldman\’s experience in the Hasidic tradition but does depart from her story somewhat. A good watch, overall, and a visual glimpse into the traditions of the faith. If you watch, be sure to check out \”The Making Of…\” segment which is just as intriguing!
I Love Lucy is on Hulu! The older I get, the fewer \”classic\” sitcoms seem to stand the test of time. Lucy and Desi are still funny even today because you know that you need to laugh. Seriously. The show is even a nice escape from the internet era.
Leverage on Amazon Prime is one of those shows that is just cleverly crafted. Think: the A-Team but with more developed characters and better writing!
If you want to binge-watch a soapy TV drama, I\’m a big fan of McLeod\’s Daughters now available on Amazon Prime and Hulu. The show is shaped around sisters who inherit their father\’s sheep station in the Australian Outback. Like I said, a lot of drama but also a glimpse into Outback life.
The series Wanted on Netflix is another great binge option. Two strangers are forced to flee together after being framed for a crime that they didn\’t commit. I\’m hoping that this one goes for another season!
4) 5 Things on YouTube:
Dancer Amit Patel has been hosting some great stretch classes on YouTube. Even if you can\’t catch them live, the videos are still there whenever you\’re ready!
The Bon Appetit crew shows us how to make their favorite morning beverage (mostly coffee). Now I know how coffee snobs roll. Haha!
Here\’s a challenge: See how creative you can get with your card stacking skills.
Check out a super-simple butter biscuit that takes a page from the puff pastry cookbook. I\’m excited to give these a try!
Jimmy Fallon and The Roots sing a very appropriate song for the week: \”Stuck in the Middle With You.\”
5) 5 Virtual Vacations to Enjoy:
Since you can\’t venture to India, let the Taj Mahal come to you!
How about the Grand Canyon?
There\’s also the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens…
….a tour of the Louvre…
And Carlsbad Caverns!
Okay, that\’s all for now. Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!
theajennda.com 