Edition #15: Some Activities to Spruce Up Your Isolation
Plus, doctor's in Italy are facing the impossible, the origins of phrases like "close, but no cigar," and something to make you laugh
A Note from the Editor
It's a wild time in the world right now, particularly in a city like New York. Yesterday the coronavirus situation reached what seems to be a fever pitch-- offices closed through the end of the month, nearly every grocery store is out of toilet paper and hand soap, the streets are decidedly quieter, and those still taking the subway are wearing masks and gloves, side-eyeing each other skeptically.
During this new period of working from home and social distancing (read: isolation), I've been in close contact with my loved ones, curious to know how they're spending this newfound free time. My boyfriend has already cleaned out his entire spice rack and re-organized the kitchen cabinets and a girlfriend has been on a serious cooking spree, attempting to chop, saute and poach her way through an entire cookbook.
If you find yourself in some form of isolation, stay positive and try to think of this time as a temporary, well-deserved break from the chaos of everyday life. And when you're bored or stir crazy, here are a few ideas for how to spend your free time:
Bake the very best chocolate chip cookies that exist, then try not to eat them all in one sitting (you probably will)
Write a letter of appreciation to a friend or family member
Get to know yourself or your relationship on a more intimate level with a game/workbook from this online shop
Deep clean your living space (it's both cathartic and necessary)
Read, read read. Now is the perfect time to ignite your inner reader, and you can start here
Cheers my dears, and thanks for reading.
P.S., when you're at the grocery store/bodega/pharmacy, make it a point to ask the workers how they're doing. Some people don't have the luxury of working from home or the option for paid time off, and they're just as alarmed as the rest of us. A friendly smile and a kind word can go a long way.
Three Piece of Content Worth Consuming
Doctors in Italy are Facing the Impossible. Of all of the crazy coverage on COVID-19, this article struck a serious chord for me. In Italy, cases of the virus skyrocketed from 322 to over 10,000 over the course of two weeks, and hospitals simply cannot treat all the patients who need help. As a result, doctors are putting out a shared set of guidelines deciding who they should and shouldn't treat, including measures like limiting the age of those who can receive intensive care to best utilize their sparsely limited resources.
Here's Something to Make You Laugh. They say laughter (and hand sanitizer?) is the best medicine, and when I saw this piece a few weeks ago I actually laughed out loud. To add to the list of faces my IPhone doesn't recognize: my "work from home" face, my "mouth hanging open during the Love is Blind finale" face, my "seeing myself on a video conference call" face, my "mom just suggested a visit to NYC in the midst of a pandemic because of cheap flights" face.
Close, But No Cigar (and Other Phrases) Between a rock and a hard place, easy as pie, play it by ear-- the English language is full of funny little phrases that make English an even more difficult to master. Recently, I've gone down an internet rabbit hole of exploring where these phrases originated and the results are fascinating. Spoiler alert: back in the day, they used to give out cigars as prizes to carnival games.
Perhaps You Should...
Sign This Petition Demanding COVID Testing
Sign this petition demanding the US government provide a sufficient number of COVID-19 testing kits to all 50 states. The most consistent criticism of our current administration's response to the virus has been a lack of testing kits, making it more difficult for doctors to identify and isolate those who are affected. A travel ban to Europe isn't going to stop the current spread of the virus within the confines of the US, but adequate testing and quarantine will.
**Bonus Content** (to Stop Your Face Touching)
I didn't intend for today's newsletter to be wholly virus themed, but here we are! If you're not freaked out by your machine "watching" you, this nifty tool uses AI to train you not to touch your face-- and scolds you every time you do. Now that I'm working from home for a few weeks, I'm considering incorporating this method into my daily routine.
A Quote From a Book You Should Read
"Just remember that Dumbo didn't need the feather; the magic was within him."
-On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
This newsletter is best served with a side of conversation, so drop your opinions, reflections, and thoughts in the comments below and let’s get to talking.
Or, share the most thought-provoking piece from today’s edition with someone you love, then call them up to discuss, debate, and percolate. As a wise woman once said, “Great minds discuss ideas.”