Hello my fellow bookworms,
I am sure you are sick of reading these posts by now, and are feeling overwhelmed and anxious, but I want to share some happier news with you. Read on for more information...
We are in turbulent times and it is imperative to know the most recent
updates on the status of COVID-19 (coronavirus) in your community. Many
businesses are working remotely, so you can still obtain food and other
necessities of daily life. Be sure to take a walk and stretch out! It is
necessary to take care of yourself during these hard times, and be sure
to lend a hand to a neighbor if they need it--especially those who cannot leave their home.
Whether you are working from home, or have to go into work and can only quarantine yourself before/after work, try to not be glued to a screen! It is easy to be stuck on your computer or television set. If you can, try to step out to the library and stock up on some reading materials. Listen to an audio book, paint, do a puzzle, play an instrument - anything to keep your mind going and the boredom (and craziness) away.
What if you're stuck inside already? Well, that's okay, I have some links for you:
Fun Links:
- Metropolitan Opera (The Met Opera is hosting "Nightly Met Opera Streams" to provide opera to audience members, best seat in the house you can get!)
- Wattpad (You can write or you can read - or you can do both! Check out some fun stories here, some of which ended up being published!)
- Swoon Reads (You can preview and vote on books to be published! Be sure to create a free account.)
- Webtoon (My latest comic addiction.)
- Hoopla (Be sure to create an account if your library has a subscription! You can take out up to 6 "items" a month, whether it be a comic book, audio book, movie, television show, or ebook.)
- RB Digital (Another library subscription app/website - be sure to check out whether or not your library has a subscription.)
- Youtube - the best free video service to help keep you sane! Try these channels for a good workout that you can do at home:
- Vudu (They have a section of free movies that you can watch with ads.)
- Radio Links:
- iHeartRADIO (I tend to channel jump based on what I feel, oldies or Top 40.)
- Movin 92.5 (Brooke and Jubal in the Morning - funniest talk show you'll hear!)
- 101.1 WKQX (Alternative music, but the morning show is fun to listen to.)
- Pandora (You can create your own playlist, but with ads.)
Information and Podcasts for COVID-19 Updates:
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- Center for Disease Control
- Don't Touch Your Face by Foreign Policy's James Palmer and Amy Mackinnon (Podcast that explains how the virus is affecting everyday life)
- Coronavirus: Fact Versus Fiction with CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta (Podcast)
- EPIDEMIC with Dr. Celine Gounder and Ronald Klain (Podcast where you hear from leading infectious disease and public health experts on the latest information)
- Everything You Need to Know If You're Traveling During the Coronavirus Outbreak by Cailey Rizzo and Christine Burroni of Travel + Leisure
Be sure to also check out your local news channel, news website, and radio for listings on closures and alternate ways to purchase items. Some pharmacies are allowing free delivery of medicine, many restaurants have delivery of food items that they will leave by your doorstep, and some delivery services are finding ways to provide you with your online orders without your physical signature. If you are out driving, be careful of the tollways, since they are operating by pass or online purchase only.
Please practice social distancing, safe hygiene, and be sure to drink lots of water - at least one sip every 15 minutes. You can also practice a quick breathing exercise that can help determine whether or not you should visit or contact a doctor: Take a deep breath and hold it for 10 seconds. If you can hold it without coughing, discomfort, stiffness, or tightness, that is a good indication that you do not have an infection.
I know with the spread of the virus, many events that make us happy (including book fairs, sports, movies, and conventions), have been cancelled or postponed. But, you can still Skype, Face Chat, call, email, online chat - reach out to those you love and care for. We will all be together again soon. Before you know it, warmer weather will be here. I hope that we can all overcome this together and that you read many new good books while we wait for this to calm down.
Happy reading - I hope to post again soon. If you have a favorite app or
website that you have to read books or watch movies, let me know in the
comments. I love to learn about new things!
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| Misty May Morn by John Henry Twachtman (Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of John Gellatly, 1899) |
