Sam's Weekly Quarantine Digest #28: September 28, 2020

 Hi all,

It's been a long week - work has been incredibly busy, and as the days get shorter this fall, somehow they've been feeling longer than ever!  The last few posts have been heavy ones, too, so I'm going to start this week off with a few random links that will hopefully make you smile.  Enjoy!

Previous digests can be found on my blog at thatsthewaythecookiecrumbles.com.  If you have suggestions or would like to stop receiving these emails, just let me know.

Best,

Sam

Reasons to smile

• The Guardian's Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards finalists
• A very happy dog in a swing.  Also, if you're not already, you really should be following WeRateDogs on some medium (Twitter and Instagram are probably the easiest, but you can also sign up for emails)
• Post Malone and Jimmy Fallon Go to the Olive Garden
• Axis of Awesome's montage of four-chord songs
• Actual theme song from a Nintendo-64 game that might be the best video game song ever created

Entertainment and field trips

• Hoping to go leaf-peeping this fall?  Check out this handy map that shows you the predictions of when each region's foliage will be in peak form this year.  Thrillist also offered up a guide to this year's best spots to see fall foliage if you're looking for a weekend away.
• Wondering how to go apple-picking safely this fall?  Check out these apple-picking guidelines and tips from the New York Times.
• If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!  That's the tack taken by a homeowner who, after initially getting annoyed at daily alarms from his motion-sensor security camera when the same neighborhood kid drove his bike up the driveway each evening, decided to build the kid a racetrack using sidewalk chalk.  If you haven't seen it already, check out this heartwarming video chronicling the saga.
  
• The New York Film Festival is going virtual - see how to participate and watch this year's recommended films online here.
• Want to be blown away by a 10-year-old's drumming skills and awesome personality?  Check out Nandi Bushell, who challenged her hero, Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters, to a drum battle - and then won the vote when he accepted!  The Twitter exchange between the two, and Nandi's enthusiasm and grins mid-song, left me beaming for an hour.
• Been meaning to learn American Sign Language?  It's been on my wish list for years!  Gallaudet University in Washington offers free ASL classes online.
  
• Feel like your imagination runs a little rampant sometimes?  You're not alone.  Blaseball, an entirely fictional sport, has developed quite a following on the internet, especially among sports fans who were going a bit stir-crazy without live games this summer.  The Blaseball universe now includes a Wiki full of player bios and backstories, betting systems, all manner of fanfic renderings, and voting on rule changes for each upcoming season.  Read about Blaseball here or here, or just jump right in, pick a team, and test the waters here.
  
• The NYCB is back!  Although we won't be gathering in person at Lincoln Center, you also don't need to purchase tickets to enjoy their incredible talent this fall.  The season kicks off tomorrow (Tuesday) at 8pm with an all-Balanchine program, introduced by Principal Dancer Maria Kowroski.  The stream will be available for one full week.  You can watch it on Facebook, YouTube, or NYCB's website.
• Love scary movies?  Netflix is known for their great lineup around Halloween, and Thrillist has put together a highlight reel.
  
• Looking for a reason to leave the house, and somewhere to drive to?  Woodbury Commons will be hosting a Halloween-themed drive-in experience throughout the second half of October.

Food and Sweet Treats

• Going apple picking this fall?  Try this mug-cake version of an apple crisp!  Peel and dice 1 apple.  In a microwaveable mug or bowl, toss with 1/2 tbsp flour, 1/2 tbsp brown sugar, 1/4 tsp cinnamon, and 1/8 tsp salt.  In a separate bowl, melt 1 1/2 tbsp, then mix in 2 tbsp oats, 1 tbsp flour, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1/8 tsp cinnamon, and (optional) 1 tbsp chopped pecans.  Spoon the crisp mixture on top of the apples, then microwave for 2-2.5 minutes (the apples should be bubbling at the end).  Let cool and top with vanilla ice cream.
• Did you know that new restaurants are still opening in NYC?  See here and here for lists.  There are also a number of restaurants scattered throughout the surrounding areas, from Montauk to Lenox, MA as NYC's top chefs have fled the city and reopened their franchises elsewhere.
• I have devastating news: due to required coronavirus precautions, the Peeps factories have been forced to drastically reduce their production levels, so the makers of Peeps will not be offering any special holiday Peeps for Halloween, Christmas, or Valentine's Day this year.  Mock me if you must, but the Sugar Cookie Peeps around the winter holidays are some of my favorites and I have seriously been counting the days until I could sweeten my quarantine with them once again.  On the plus side, the Easter 2020 treats are still available on Amazon if you're desperate.
• Missing Smorgasburg?  They're back (albeit take-away only).  See details here.

News and Coping

• Worried that you or a loved one (especially older, more vulnerable adults) might be at risk of falling victim to fake news?  Check out this story about a program from the Poynter Institute that's designed to teach seniors to become more savvy about media claims, or tune into a virtual "Fact Check Happy Hour" hosted by the Desmond-Fish Public Library in Garrison, NY, every other Wednesday from now through the election.
• Here's a new perspective on gratitude: Recognizing those people in our lives who affect us so positively that we'd be willing to "pay admission" to be able to hang out with them.
• Looking for real facts about Covid-19 vaccines and their timing?  This article breaks down the science behind the earliest promising vaccines and what the distribution plan might look like.
• Looking for some new podcasts for your playlist?  Check out these recommendations from the New York Times, each of which tackles mental health and wellness from a different perspective.