It's hard to know what to say right now. I know we're all scared and anxious and it feels like we don't have a lot of answers.
I trust everyone is doing the right thing and staying home self isolating, and following any other advice from your respective local medical authorities, thereby protecting yourselves, your loved ones, and strangers across you community.
If anyone in your life is having trouble understanding why we have to self isolate, or taking risks by still going out, I'd direct them to this little infographic to explain how this all works. We can get through this, but only if we all do it together.
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We have to acknowledget that the world just feels strange and off kilter. I don't know about you, but I didn't think anything like this would ever happen in our lifetimes. Epidemics like this are the sort of thing we learn about historically, along with the invention of vaccines, which seemed to make this sort of thing impossible.
The only thing I can think is that at least the advances of technology that made this all seem impossible, also means there are advances in technology that are helping us deal with this. Quick global communication to allow us to react and stay home, ways to stay in touch with loved ones, stay fed without needing to risk grocery stores, stay entertained and support each other.
It doesn't make this scary, isolated, anxious time simple by any means, but it makes it a little bit easier. And I am grateful to be living in quarantine now, and not in 1918 at least!
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So take care of yourselves, and others.
Stay safe, stay healthy, stay home.
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I know the instinct is to keep busy while at home. We're all going to get so much done! We're all going to write King Lear! But you're not alone if you're having trouble focusing on work. Everyone I know is too. Myself included. Which can be tricky when we all want to keep our mind off of everything going on out there. So in light of these weird times, I thought I would sharing some recommended distractions in case it helps anyone at all!
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8 Podcasts to Distract you
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1. My Favourite Murder
A lot of you are probably arleady Murderinos, so this is redundant. But in case you don't already know about it: This is a True Crime Comedy Podcast. And right now, I think we can all use a reminder that it's ok to laugh in dark times.
My New Favourite Podcast. You have already seen me recommend this on twitter AND on Instagram over and over again. Dana Schwartz perfectly, artfully, and compactly recounts little tales from past nobility. It's an amazing immersive story that will take you out of quarantine to another time and place for 30 minutes.
3. How Did This Get Made?
Chances are you're going to be watching some bad movies while in quarantine. If you want some virtual company in your bad movie watching, this is the podcast for you. The seriousness with wich Paul, Jason, and June dissect absurb movies elevates them from awful to art. It'll make you LOL and shout GEOSTORM!
4. Unspooled
If you would like to watch some actual GOOD movies in quarantine I recommend this podcast. The podcast goes through the AFI top 100 Movies list, 1 per week and discussing the story around them, their place in movie history, and whether they really deserve to be on the list. Some of my favourite movies on the AFI list are Casablanca, It Happened One Night, and Silence of the Lambs. Some I really want to see include The Maltese Falcon, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and A Night At the Opera.
5. You Must Remember This
Once you've found yourself obsessed with classic films, this is the podcast for more stories about the first century of Hollywood. Some of my favourite series' are Star Wars: Hollywood Stars During WWII and MGM Stories.
6. The Adventure Zone
Start with The Balance Arc. Episode 1: Here there be Gerblins. It's the 3 Brothers from My Brother My Brother and Me, and their Dad, starting off a game of D&D to casually try it out and fumbling through the rules. And then quickly turns into an in depth, character driven, amazing and hilarious piece of storytelling. An amazing distraction!
7. No Such Thing as a Fish
If you want to load up on fun facts to tell people on your Zoom calls this is the podcast for you. A podcast by 4 QI researchers, they discuss quite interesting facts every week. You'll retain about 10% of them each time, because it is too much fascinating for my brain to contain.
8. My Dad Wrote a Porno
A lot of you are probably on top of this one already too. But if you have not yet been introduced to Belinda Blinks, and need something to make you laugh out loud until you fall over (like I did in the supermarket once) or cut your finger open (like a friend I recommended it to did while listening and chopping vegetables) this is for you.
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8 Books to Make you Feel Good
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1. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
Did you see the 2004 Movie? Did you hate it? Nevermind that, you should read the book it's so different and so much better! To mis-quote the Princess Bride, through my childhood, this was my favourite book I had never read. I had it on audiocassette and listened to it over an over again. It's charming, it's got lovely writing, it's tongue in cheek about fairytales. I can't recommend it enough as a comfort read!
2. The Princess Bride by William Goldman
Did you see the 1987 Movie? Did you love it? Great! You should also read the book, it's got some fun differences and is maybe even a little better than the iconic movie?
3. Heist Society by Ally Carter
The Book that got me back into YA. Ocean's 11 but with teens. This book is so much fun and has a special place in my heart. Go read it!
4. Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend
Look, I'm sure a lot of you are re-reading Harry Potter for a bit of lumos in these dark times. But if you want a bit of a change, Jessica Townsend's Nevermoor series is the ONLY book that has given me the same feeling as Harry Potter on reading it.
5. The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan
Most of you are probably all over this series. I first picked it up in the Daunt Books that's across from Chelsea Hospital, when I had to go there for an eye emergency when I first moved to London and then had to wait an hour to collect a prescription. I wanted something light and fun to read while half of my face was swollen shut and I only had one eye to read. It fit the bill! And if you're suffering now, it might be good for you too.
6. Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
This series is Laugh out Loud. I read it in one sitting the first time, chuckling to myself quietly to not look like a weirdo. If you need a pick me up, to pick it up!
7. Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
I have loved this series since I was a kid. It's the story of a princess who, to escape marrying a prince, volunteers to be abducted by a Dragon. Which the dragons inform her is, not how things are done. Fairytale subverting adventure ensues from there. It will make you smile if you are having a rough time!
8. The Hobbit by JRR Tolkein
I mean...need I say more. You know you want to re-read it, since you're probably binging the LOTR trilogy while in confinement at some point.
And just remember! Even though some bookshops are currently open, please please do not go to a bookstore. Alot of local indies in the US or UK will ship out, just give them a call. Or order your book on Waterstones.com or B&N.com. Or get them on Audible so you can listen while you wash your hands. Just stay home. Let the books come to you!
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