Triple Digits

Last Saturday, June 20th, was the officially 100-day mark since my company's work from home order and since the pandemic became real.

Last time I wrote a post checking in, it was May 13th and I said I'd be working from home for at least another 48 days. That would've brought us to June 30th. The new return date is August 31st. That's 64 days from now and at that point the total days of working from home will be 171. (I think. Math was never my strong suit.)

171 days.

Honestly, I never thought that we'd go that long. (And who knows, it could go even longer.)

Let's see what's changed (or not changed) since my last check-in:

• 62 days is a LONG time to stay at home with only short trips to the grocery store and the pharmacy. I mean, a LONG time. Thankfully now, at day 108, I actually go more places! I've been to Walmart twice (although, honestly, after those experiences, not sure I'll go back), I've been to Home Depot, Lowe's, and we've gotten takeout a handful of times. I even plan to go to TJMaxx this week. Woo hoo!

• I will be working from home for at least another 48 days. Over ONE HUNDRED days. See above.

• Even though I'm an introvert, I miss being around co-workers. Still the case. I had a social distancing lunch with my friend/co-worker Terry at her house and that was nice. It was nice to see someone live and in person- not on a screen.

• We/I have done some really fun Zoom/Google Hangout happy hours and I have gotten to "see" people I wouldn't see even if there was no pandemic! This has slowed down a bit, although I did Zoom with my parents for the first time on Father's Day which was great. It was good to hear their voices AND "see" them. We also started an online Happy Hour for my department at work, which allows us to have some of that social interaction that I've missed.

• I have pretty much stopped watching TV. (Odd since my last posts were about binge-watching shows.) Call the Midwife makes me cry during every episode and I'm not in a place where I can handle that right now. (If you do need a good cry, I can certainly recommend some episodes.) John and I started watching Killing Eve on Hulu which was great at first and then you know what? I got tired of seeing multiple people getting killed in each episode. (Go figure.) I need a comedy that will make me LAUGH. Season 2 of Netflix's The Politician came out last week and we watched it. While it was good, I liked Season 1 better. But the clothes and the characters are enough to keep me watching.

• We have been getting creative in the kitchen with drinks and food- I'm hoping to share some of those soon. Still cranking out the recipes. As I type, John is making Jordan Marsh's Blueberry Muffins. If you're from Boston/New England, you  know Jordan Marsh, but you may not know that they were known for their legendary blueberry muffins. For those not from around these parts, Jordan Marsh was a department store chain - on the level of Macy's. My last recipe was No Bake Butterscotch Pie. It's really simple and can you really go wrong with butterscotch pudding & Cool Whip? (Don't mind my bad drizzling technique.)

• The weather is SLOWLY getting nicer here in New England, although John informed me that overnight recently we broke a 100 year record for coldest temperature on that day. Hot as blazes here. We had to buy a new window AC, as the floor ones we have sound like a jet is landing in the room. And the window AC we had, well, let's just say that it was a fire hazard.

• I have been slacking on the physical activity side of things. We walked today but hadn't the past few days. Same. The heat is getting to me. We've been walking but I need to get back on the Zoom Pilates bandwagon.

Let's end on some positive notes:

• Massachusetts has been opening up in phases and we are to the point where libraries are now during curbside pickup! Hallelujah! I am OVER reading on the Kindle. I miss real books! I will be able to pick up Julia Alvarez's new book Afterlife on Tuesday and I am pretty excited!

• I got a new desk chair from Wayfair and it has saved my back. While I love my cute upholstered chair from HomeGoods, it's tough on the back/posture. John put it together and voila- a whole new workday.

• I'll leave you with this. We use a local pharmacy and when I picked up my prescriptions maybe a month or so ago, this was in the bag. It was such a nice surprise. I keep it on my bureau and honestly, it makes me smile every time I see it.  I hope you have someone/something that makes you smile during these times.

Reading a Book About a Pandemic During a Pandemic- BRILLIANT (and other book reviews)

Admittedly, I had no idea what Station Eleven was about (my Mom had given me the trade paperback a year or so ago and since I had run out of library books, I decided to read it). Once I started reading it and realized what the story line was, I thought twice about continuing. I was already struggling "in real life" with the pandemic, why would I want to spend my downtime reading fiction about a pandemic? I am glad I forged ahead, though, as it a very good read and didn't spend too much time on the actual pandemic (mostly about what happened after), which somehow made me feel better about continuing.

Here is the review of that book and the three I read after.


Book #21 of 2020: Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

Summary: This book takes place in the Great Lakes region after a fictional swine flu pandemic, known as the "Georgia Flu", has devastated the world, killing most of the population. The book mostly focuses on what happens after the pandemic and the way in which those remaining survive.

Rating: B-. Maybe I would've given it a higher rating if we weren't living through a pandemic?

Book #22 of 2020: Troublemaker by Leah Remini

Summary: Troublemaker  is a biographical memoir by the American actress, producer, author, and comedian Leah Remini. Published in November 2015, it chronicles her life, her acting career, her experiences as a member of the Church of Scientology from a young age, and her subsequent split from Scientology. 

Rating: B. I am fascinated by all things Scientology (cults, in general.) I watched Remini's Lifetime series about people who have left Scientology and went they went through and was excited for this book. There were some tidbits that I didn't already know (Tom Cruise is an even bigger jerk than I originally thought), but most of it was a repeat from her show. Still worth the read.

Book #23 of 2020: Key Lime Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke

Summary: It promises to be a busy week for Lake Eden, Minnesota's favorite baker Hannah Swensen. Not only is she whipping up treats for the chamber of commerce booth at the local fair; she's also judging the baking contest, acting as a magician's assistant, trying to coax her cat to end his hunger strike, and performing her own private carnival act by juggling the demands of her mother and sisters. But moments before the fair closes for the day, Hannah discovers the body of Willa Sunquist, student teacher and fellow bake contest judge, alongside an upended key lime pie. Hannah smells a murder, and as the week draws to a close, she cranks up the heat in a bid to catch the killer red handed before it's too late.

Rating: C+. I'm pretty sure the last Hannah Swensen mystery I read, I said I couldn't get out of my head the cheesy Lifetime Mysteries movie series based on the book series starring the chick from Days of Our Lives & Biggest Loser- Alison Sweeney. Well, I can confirm that is still in the back of my mind as I'm reading these books. One more- I will give the series one more try.

Book #24 of 2020: Betrayal of the Blood Lily by Lauren Willig

Summary: In the sixth book in the Pink Carnation historical fiction series, Penelope Deveraux is whisked away to nineteenth-century India and plunged into the court intrigues of the Nizam of Hyderabad, where no one is quite what they seem. New to this strange and exotic country- where a dangerous spy called the Marigold leaves venomous cobras as his calling card- she can trust only one man: Captain Alex Reid. With danger looming from local warlords, treacherous court officials, and French spies, Alex and Penelope may be all that stand in the way of a plot designed to rock the very foundations of the British Empire...

Rating: A-. Unlike the Hannah Swensen series, this one seems to be getting better with each book. I enjoyed the change of scenery (not the usual England) and the story line had a little more pep than its predecessors in the series.

Day 62 (plus three book reviews)

Today is day 62 of quarantine/since I was ordered to work from home.

That's just over two months for those of you that math is not your strong suit.

Some thoughts:

• 62 days is a LONG time to stay at home with only short trips to the grocery store and the pharmacy. I mean, a LONG time.
• I will be working from home for at least another 48 days. Over ONE HUNDRED days.
• Even though I'm an introvert, I miss being around co-workers.
• We/I have done some really fun Zoom/Google Hangout happy hours and I have gotten to "see" people I wouldn't see even if there was no pandemic!
• I have pretty much stopped watching TV. (Odd since my last posts were about binge-watching shows.) Call the Midwife makes me cry during every episode and I'm not in a place where I can handle that right now. (If you do need a good cry, I can certainly recommend some episodes.) John and I started watching Killing Eve on Hulu which was great at first and then you know what? I got tired of seeing multiple people getting killed in each episode. (Go figure.) I need a comedy that will make me LAUGH. 
• We have been getting creative in the kitchen with drinks and food- I'm hoping to share some of those soon.
• The weather is SLOWLY getting nicer here in New England, although John informed me that overnight recently we broke a 100 year record for coldest temperature on that day. 
• I have been slacking on the physical activity side of things. We walked today but hadn't the past few days. 

So, all this to say that I'm surviving. Some days are better than others (as has been the case since the beginning of this pandemic.).  I hope you're surviving, too. As difficult as it is to sometimes see out of the rabbit hole, we will emerge...slowly.

And here are some book reviews, because what else is there to do besides read? (We are out of puzzles!)

Book #18 of 2020: A Bend In the Stars by Rachel Barenbaum

Summary: WWI-era novel and epic love story of a brilliant young doctor who races against Einstein to solve one of the universe's great mysteries

Rating: B-. I started this before the pandemic, read 50 pages and thought I would NOT pick it up again. Once the library closed and I knew I'd have the book for an extended period of time, I decided to give it another try. Once I pushed past the first 50 pages it got a lot better! The timeframe/setting was fascinating and it was well-written historical fiction.

Book #19 of 2020: Grown Ups by Marian Keyes

Summary: They're a glamorous family, the Caseys. Johnny Casey, his two brothers Ed and Liam, their beautiful, talented wives and all their kids spend a lot of time together--birthday parties, anniversary celebrations, weekends away. And they're a happy family. Johnny's wife, Jessie--who has the most money--insists on it. Under the surface, though, conditions are murkier. While some people clash, other people like each other far too much...

Rating: B+. Marian Keyes is easily my favorite author ever. While this book was good, it wasn't her best by any stretch. I did LOL once (which is my gauge for how funny her books are) but I usually LOL repeatedly. However, as always, I will wait faithfully for her next book.

Book #20 of 2020: Death Comes In Through the Kitchen by Teresa Dovalpage

Summary: Set in Havana during the Black Spring of 2003, a charming but poison-laced culinary mystery reveals the darker side of the modern Revolution.

Rating: F. I found this book at work way back when. I can now see why it was abandoned. It was awful. The characters were completely unrelateable/unbelievable. I thought maybe the recipes would be the saving grace but they were not. At all. If you see this book, run fast the other way.

TV Shows to Binge During Self-Quarantine: Part III (and some book reviews)

Here we are at the end of the alphabet in my list of binge-worthy shows during self-quarantine.

U

Ugly Betty:  This is an American comedy-drama television series that revolves around the character Betty Suarez, who despite her lack of style, lands a job at a prestigious fashion magazine. 

America Ferrera stars as the title character and she is FABULOUS! There are also some bigger names that guest star/have supporting roles- Vanessa Williams and Judith Light. There are four seasons of laughter and drama.

You can watch this on ABC.com & Hulu.

V

Veep:  This is an American political satire comedy series that aired from 2012-2019 on HBO. The protagonist of Veep is Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), a fictional vice president. The series follows Meyer and her team as they attempt to make their mark and leave a legacy but often instead become mired in day-to-day political games.

In full disclosure, I have NOT watched this show. However, since I couldn't find a show that begins with "V" that I had watched, John is standing in as my proxy. He loved this show and would highly recommend it.

You can watch this on Hulu, HBO & Amazon Prime.

W

Will & Grace:  I am talking the original Will & Grace- NOT the reboot. (The reboot may not be bad, but I only watched one episode and wasn't overly impressed.)

This is a sitcom that originally aired from 1998-2006 and focuses on four hilarious characters- Grace Adler who lives with her best friend Will Truman. Karen Walker, played by Megan Mullally, is Grace's HYSTERICAL assistant (usually with a martini in hand). Jack McFarland is everyone's friend. They deal with gay relationships, straight relationships, and friendships. It's pretty funny.

You can watch this on NBC & Hulu.

X

I've got nothing for you. (There are shows, but none that I can recommend...Xena: Warrior Princess? Yikes.)

Y

Young Sheldon:  I haven't seen a lot of this show, but what I have, I've liked.

This is a "prequel" of sorts to the TV show Big Bang Theory. It centers around Sheldon (a grown adult character on Big Bang Theory) in his childhood and growing up in the religious South. While a genius even as a child which made him stand out, I feel like this show makes him more "real"/likeable.

You can watch this on CVS, YouTube TV & Amazon Prime.

Z

Another "X"- I've got nothing. I wasn't a big fan of Zorro when I was a kid and I can DEFINITELY say I've not seen Zombie House Flipping...

And now for some book reviews:

Book #15 of 2020: This Side of Murder by Anna Lee Huber

Summary: The first in the Verity Kent mystery series- a tale of deceit, murder and betrayal set just after World War I. 

Rating: C. It's bad when I've already forgotten what I did/did not like about the book (this is why I need to write the reviews as soon as I finish- UGH!) I just know that I thought it was average.

Book #16 of 2020: The Red Address Book by Sofia Lundberg

Summary: The Red Address Book is a charming, but very sad tale about Doris, a lonely 96-year-old woman who lives in Stockholm. She reminisces about her life and those individuals she encountered as she pages through an old address book she received from her father when she was young.

Rating: A+. Yes, it was sad (and I bawled at the end), but it was an AMAZING tale of a woman's life and the characters that came in and out of it the tale that was woven. Read it- it's just plain great.

Book #17 of 2020: Amnesty by Aravind Ariga

Summary: This book focuses on Danny- an illegal immigrant living in Sydney, Australia. He works as a house cleaner and gets caught up in a friendship with one client that leads him down a dangerous road.

Rating: D+. This was just an odd book that didn't capture my attention. It moved too slowly and none of the characters were likeable.

TV Show to Binge During Self-Quarantine: Part II

I am back with the second part of the binge-worthy TV shows (aka the almost to the end of the alphabet). I hope you find some on my list that you haven't seen and might enjoy!

L

Land Girls:  This is a British television period drama series that focuses on four girls doing their bit for Britain in the Women's Land Army during the war. It was only on for three seasons, but is an interesting historical series.

You can watch it on Netflix.

M

Marvelous Mrs. Maisel : Do I even need to describe this one? (I think probably everyone has seen it. And if you haven't (yes, I'm talking to you), you MUST! This is a comedy/drama series, created by Amy Sherman-Palladino (also created Gilmore Girls). The series stars Rachel Brosnahan as Miriam "Midge" Maisel, a housewife in late 1950s and early 1960s New York City who discovers she has a knack for stand-up comedy and pursues a career in it. And so much more. It's hilarious. Huh-larious.

You can watch this on Amazon Prime.

N

NCIS: New Orleans: This version of NCIS follows a team of Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) agents stationed out of New Orleans, Louisiana and led by Special Agent Dwayne Cassius Pride. The team focuses on crimes that involve personnel in the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and their territory ranges from the Mississippi River to the Texas Panhandle. The supporting cast really make this show- from CCH Pounder as the Medical Examiner to Darryl Mitchell as the computer whiz (who just happens to be in a wheelchair) Patton Plame.

There are five seasons and you can watch on CBS.com, Hulu & Amazon Prime.

O

One Mississippi: This is a (dark) comedy inspired by events in comic Tig Notaro's life. Starring as a Los Angeles-based radio host, Tig is still dealing with serious health issues, including recovering from a double mastectomy. When her mother becomes gravely ill, Tig returns to her hometown in Mississippi, where she is forced on a painful (and at times, hilarious) journey that unearths uncomfortable truths about herself and her family. In order to heal, both physically and emotionally, Tig must reconnect with her roots before moving forward.

In the beginning, this was difficult for me to watch, as the double mastectomy plays into multiple storylines and at one point, she shows the results.However, it's a poignant series about real life stuff.

You can watch this on Amazon Prime.

P

The Politician: This is honestly one of the top three favorites of the shows I've listed. I briefly mentioned it in a previous post I wrote. Honestly? It seems impossible to accurately describe it and not turn off the person reading it...LOL. Here's a scripted summary:

Wealthy high school student Payton Hobart has known since he was 7 years old that he is going to be the president of the United States. The first step toward that goal is to become his school's student body president. To do that, he will have to navigate the treacherous political landscape of Saint Sebastian High School. Hobart feels he needs to win the election to secure his spot at Harvard and continue on his projected path to success. To achieve his goals, he'll have to outsmart his ruthless classmates without sacrificing his own morality and -- most importantly -- carefully crafted public image.

It is weird at first but then it sucks you in.

You can watch it on Netflix.

Q

Quantum Leap: Since we already have one Scott Bakula series (NCIS: New Orleans) on the list, may as well go for two!

This goofy sci-fi series aired from 1989-1993. Bakula is a physicist who leaps through spacetime during an experiment in time travel, by temporarily taking the place of other people to correct historical mistakes. 

You can watch it on NBC.com

R

Rock of Love with Bret Michaels: This might be the one show on this list I'm embarrassed to say I watched. (And I watched more than one season.) It's an MTV reality dating show with 80's band Poison singer Bret Michaels. 

So cheesy. So obviously NOT a dating show. So many bad dye jobs. So much skimpy clothing. Oh, and they all live together and drink heavily. Sounds like a recipe for disaster? It is. But a disaster I could not look away from. (Don't judge!)

You can watch on Tubi and Hulu.

S

Stranger Things: Like Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, this show needs no introduction. It's a science fiction series set in the 1980s in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana. It focuses on the investigation into the disappearance of a young boy amid supernatural events occurring around the town, including the appearance of a girl with psychokinetic abilities. I wrote about the allure of this series set in the 80's in this post.

You can watch this on Netflix.

T

I'm guessing most people would recommend This Is Us or Tiger King. I watched the first episode of This Is Us and back & forth between past/present but the presence of Gerald McRaney really threw me off. Maybe I'll go back eventually. I watched two episodes of Tiger King and couldn't stop thinking about the welfare of the animals so I decided to cut that off. So, what did I choose?

Tiny House Nation: This is what it says it is! A reality show where two renovation experts help tiny house buyers to get the house of their dreams in less than 500 sq. ft.

You can watch this on A&E, Netflix & Hulu.

Mid-to-Late Week Sanity Check, Some More Binge-Worthy TV Shows & Two More Book Reviews

It's Thursday. April 2nd. Some of you may have lost track of what day/week/month it is. I get it.

Today was day #21 of staying at home/working from home/quarantining/AKA the "new normal."

In some respects, I have a routine down and am following my own advice that I posted in this blog post.

I've been better about getting up, showering and eating breakfast right away, as if I was going to the office.

We've also been out on walks everyday except maybe three (due to rain/snow). But, on those days, I step outside and either get the mail or walk around the yard. Fresh air is essential.

My anxiety still comes in waves and I am doing my best to manage it, as I get the sense this will go on longer than I hoped (or anyone hoped!)

I also want to take a minute to thank again doctors, nurses, pharmacists, grocery store workers, and all those considered essential during this time. Stay safe.

Now that I've checked in, how are you doing?

On a lighter note, let's get back to my TV shows to binge watch during quarantine. I had two thoughts after I made my last post.

1. There is another "C" show which merits inclusion on this list (thanks to John for reminding me about it).

Catastrophe

This is a British rom-com (leaning more heavily on the "com.") It is created, written by, and stars Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney, who portray single people who become a couple after she unexpectedly becomes pregnant following a fling while he is visiting London on a business trip. Delaney is from a town not too far from where I live, so it's cool to have that Massachusetts connection (it plays in at the very end of the series.) It was a bit raunchy (for me) at first, but once I got past that, I loved watching this couple go from virtual strangers to falling in love.

It can be seen on Amazon Prime.

2. The show I originally intended for "I" but completely forgot about should be noted.

Indian Summers

I absolutely positively loved this show and am sad it only lasted two seasons. It's a British drama series that details the events of summers spent at Simla, in the foothills of the Himalayas, by a group of the British governing and trading community at the time of the British Raj. The characters are amazing. The scenery is amazing. The costumes are amazing.

It was shown on Masterpiece Theatre on PBS, so you can view on PBS.org or stream on YouTube/iTunes.


Book #13 of 2020: Fodor's Travel Chicago by Fodor's

Summary: This is a typical travel guide by the legendary Fodor. It details history of Chicago, current state and recommends activities/sightseeing, places to stay, and restaurants.

Rating: B. It was helpful in acquainting me with the various sections/neighborhoods of Chicago. I was able to get a sense of what's near our hotel and what restaurants we might want to try. (We have a Father's Day trip planned, but now who knows if that will happen!) 

Book #14 of 2020: The Golden Hour by Beatriz Williams

Summary: A dazzling epic of World War II in which a beautiful young “society reporter” is sent to the Bahamas, a haven of spies, traitors, and the infamous Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

Rating: B+. This was interesting, but a bit too long. I loved the backdrop of the Bahamas (I wish I was there now!) and the intrigue. Williams is a great writer.