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I’ve seen a couple of articles lately about “editing” as a result of COVID-19. People who are streamlining and/or eliminating things from their life either because it cost too much, doesn’t bring happiness, or it’s simply no longer necessary. I will say that some of the articles mention “editing” people who are racist, homophobic, misogynistic, xenophobic, or just plain toxic. You know what you want and/or need to edit out of your life. Here are a few things we’re thinking about this month.
Watching | Hot Ones
> This is a YouTube series where celebrities answer questions while eating spicy chicken wings. It’s oddly fascinating for several reasons. I’m meeting people who I didn’t know were considered celebrities. I’m learning that chicken wings are a more popular food than I thought, and people are very opinionated about them. Finally, I’m learning that people’s tolerance for spicy food varies greatly (given how little they edit out of the show). Honestly, it’s kinda a fun distraction.
Reading | Sourdough: or, Lois and Her Adventures in the Underground Market
> I couldn’t resist picking this book up since we’re making sourdough starter as a quarantine project. It was a fun quick read about a San Francisco tech employee who is given some sourdough starter and has to figure out how to keep it alive. That’s all I’m telling you about the plot! You’ll have to read the rest for yourself.
Remembering | The pandemic isn’t over
> It’s very tempting as states reduce restrictions and businesses reopen their doors to think COVID-19 is a thing of the past. Not true. Part of our “edit” has been to find reliable information sources to stay on top of what’s going on. In addition to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, NPR is Tracking the Pandemic and a group of public health and crisis experts have started a site called “How We Reopen Safely”.
Feeling | Knowledgeable
> Speaking of Johns Hopkins and COVID-19, we just finished taking a MOOC (massive open online course) about contact tracing. This free course is being offered to help people learn some basic skills because states are planning to hire thousands of contact tracers over the coming months. While we’re not planning to quit our day jobs and become contact tracers, I found the course to be very informative about the virus as well as what contract tracers can/can’t do should one contact me. The class on privacy, confidentiality, and ethics was well worth my time.
Working On | Organizing the pantry
> Thankfully, we enjoy cooking so being at home hasn’t been too much of an inconvenience. What I do miss is wandering around the grocery store! Loved picking up new and unusual items to try. As stores open up a bit more, we’re feeling more comfortable wandering the aisles and looking for new foods. It also means our pantry is getting full and needs some editing rearranging.
Planning | A closet edit
> This blog post from “A Well Styled Life” reminded me that I’m due for a closet edit. I made quite a few impulse purchases while we were renting and had our belongings in storage. Now that all of my wardrobe is in the same place, it’s time to be more strategic. I’ll also be dusting off my Cladwell app to see if I can find some new ways to style older pieces.
Loving | Yaupon Brothers American Tea Co.
> As a small business owner, I love supporting other small local businesses. And I love tea. So, when I found this Central Florida company selling tea from the Yaupon Holly plant, I was intrigued and had to give it a try. The indigenous people of Florida used to roast the leaves then steep them in boiling water for a naturally caffeinated, antioxidant-rich beverage. My favorite was the Florida chai, very smooth and no bitter aftertaste.
Geeking | Sensor Trash Can
> We splurged on a sensor trash can recently and OMGosh, it’s fabulous! Just pass your hand over the top and the lid automatically opens. After a short countdown cycle, it automatically closes. Need to keep it open longer? Just hit a button and it stays open until you manually close it. Very convenient for home cooks like us. And great for cleanliness!
What’s UP with you? Stay safe!
Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby while exploring the streets of Reykjavik, Iceland