As much as I should provide critical analysis of recent events and “Zoom University,” as it’s been dubbed online…I really, really don’t have it in me right now. Maybe next time. So, between completing my now all-too-meta Disaster Recovery Handbook reading for my SRA Capstone, and being much more concerned than I previously expected to be about my Ballroom Dance grade, I’ll write about some things that have provided me with some comfort in the past week. I hope they might help you too.
Podcasts
I’ve previously written about “The Daily” by the New York Times as something that helps me find a routine and feel grounded. The creators of the podcast are now rather uniquely catering to and taking care of their audience. The host, Michael Barbaro, reports the news as usual on the pandemic, the primary, the stimulus bill, etc. At the same time, the writers are churning out Special Episodes to break up the often-distressing news and give listeners a welcome distraction. On my drive home from State College, I listened to a story about one writer’s experience interviewing Tom Hanks, and her reflections on his work, his kindness, and on Mr. Rogers. I had already read this piece online months ago, but something about listening to it and revisiting it with a different lens was reassuring.
Here’s the episode: “This Tom Hanks Story Will Make You Feel Better”
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4acWhuSb1XqTZseaHixdqW?si=Btk-OOShQjGSmAaEptemJQ
I also highly recommend Reply All – in some episodes, the hosts open a hotline to tackle internet mysteries and tech problems. In another recent story, correspondents covered the tension between opposing factions within Alabama’s democratic party. The variety keeps it interesting, and I’ve circled back to the show many times within the past few years.
My mom’s banana bread
I had to take a picture because it looks authentic and home-y. This may seem obvious, but the riper the bananas, the higher the sugar content – they’ll also mash a bit more easily. Use a fork if you don’t have a heavy-duty potato masher. I recommend underbaking it a bit so that the top is just a little bit gooey.
If you’re an inexperienced baker, this is a great place to start. If you’re more experienced, you can just go on autopilot and take out some frustration on mashing the bananas.
I’ll keep compiling my list of comforting things, for friends and for myself. Let me know if you’d be interested in making a combined list for PLA as a whole, or if you end up trying the banana bread.
Sending love.
Maybe I should share the recipe for challah bread that I made the other day!
Hi Bailey!
As I was scrolling though blogs to read today, I saw so many about the pandemic. And while that makes a whole lot of sense, and a lot of them I’m sure provide a super great analysis on some aspect of the whole situation, like you I just don’t have it in me right now. We’re all constantly surrounded with conversation and news about the pandemic, it’s nice to step away from it in any way possible.
So, I instantly clicked on your blog to read because we all need some comforts right about now, and by “we all” I mean I do haha. I’ve never really been into podcasts, but I think I want to start. I hear so many good things about listening to podcasts on a regular basis, and I’m sure there’s one for me out there if I spend the time to look. I feel like this would be a great time and it’d help keep some sort of routine in my life. Also, it’s so funny you talked about making banana bread because I just made banana bread like a week and a half ago! My mom used to make it all the time whenever our bananas went bad, and I three bananas go bad so I thought… why not? Turns out I had all the ingredients I needed in my house and so I just looked up a simple recipe and made it and it was great! It was a lot of fun just to take a little bit of time out of the day to do something like that, and I think comforting is a perfect word for it.
Thank you for sharing:) Stay safe and healthy!
Kerry