Let me paint a picture of what quarantine looks like in my neighborhood. I often find myself on long stretches of just-rained-on streets by myself, but every now and then, a six-feet-away surprise. Two days ago, an old man pulled up next to me in his car, wearing a fedora. “Excuse me,” he called out, “is it Thursday or Friday?” That pretty much sums up life in quarantine for everyone, doesn’t it? I, too, have lost all sense of time. Then on an Easter morning walk this a.m., dark and threatening clouds rolled in overhead, so I began to run the two miles home. Halfway there, I heard tiny footsteps catching up to me on the other side of the street. I turned to see a little boy, maybe 4 or 5, running to match my pace in his space pajamas. “Good morning!” he shouted joyfully, his dad laughing and hot on his heels. I laughed, too, and shouted, “Good morning!” back to him. I’ve been facing quarantine entirely alone, but these little far-off moments are giving me so much concentrated joy. Below are a few more gems to keep you smiling.
The High-Low, one of my tied-for-first favorite podcasts, is back! After a much deserved hiatus, the timing of its return is perfect and welcome. Listening to fresh new episodes, as usual, is absolute bliss. And Dolly Alderton, I love you, please be my friend!
Two of my favorite Illustrators, Helen Stephens and Katie Chappell, are part of the magnificent trio (rounded out by Tania Willis), have joined forces to create The Good Ship Illustration, giving advise to aspiring illustrators. They recently released their free Sketchbooker’s Friend, which is a wonderful sketching exercise I plan to return to again and again and again. Highly recommend.
The podcast Office Ladies was recommended to me by my best friend to combat quarantine blues and give me something to do — listen to an episode, re-watch an episode. It’s been so entertaining to hear what happened behind the scenes on set and such a comfort to revisit a show that had your heart so long.
This week I tuned in to Healthy-ish’s Instagram Live to learn how to make Bon Appétit’s Classic Caesar Salad. Molly Baz is the queen of the “Cae Sal” and it was wonderful to watch her at work in real time. While that was a live event, you can still watch her making it here. I followed her recipe to a T, anchovies and all, the next day, and it was decadent.
My last Whole Foods order include a bar of Oat Milk, Rice Crisp Dark Chocolate by Endangered Species. Oh. My. Gosh. My next order might only be this chocolate bar?
Doesn’t it make your heart swell to see how your community bands together? Austin’s put together Happy Hour With Your Favorite Bartenders, a virtual way to see your favorites at work and put money in their pockets in this strange strange time. I tuned in for one with Nickel City staff and, I can tell you, they’ve still got it.
Can you imagine getting on a train? A plane? Going anywhere at all?! Run premieres on HBO tonight, and I cannot wait to live vicariously through it. Domhnall Gleeson is a bonus, as ever, but the fact that it’s from the creators of Fleabag is the real cherry on top.
Some Good News with John Krasinski, episode 2. When the entire original cast of Hamilton pops on a Zoom call with John and a little girl who didn’t get to see the musical because of quarantine and sings the opening number for her… Oh. Oh man. As John Krasinski says, “Oh, man, my brain is broken.”
Happy Easter, darlings. Be well and have courage.
xoxo,
Sally