We hope this week’s Intermission Edition finds you and your family in good health. Isolation can be incredibly challenging, and we hope you are taking care of yourself. While this is not a time to feel the pressure of productivity, members of our staff have shared what they are doing to stay centered, connect with themselves, and remain calm during this difficult time. We hope some of these ideas spark a little joy while we all #stayathome.

READ

• Theatre of the Oppressed by Augusto Boal
• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
• The Collected Poems of Lucille Clifton
• White Fragility by Robin D’Angelo
• A Pure Heart by Rajia Hassib
• Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
• Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

LISTEN

Musicians/Artists:

• Tallest Man on Earth
• John Prine
• “Miss Universe” by Nilufer Yanya
• “Wasteland, Baby!” by Hozier
• Onafur Arnaulds
• “Free Spirit” by Khalid
• “Ghosts I-VI”  by Nine Inch Nails

Musical Theater: Six the Musical, Hamilton, Evita, Les Misérables

Podcasts: “Dolly Parton’s America”

Other: white noise tracks, anything on KEXP 90.3 FM 

WATCH

TV:

• “Dark”
• “The Magicians”
• “Joe Pera Talks To You”
• “Schitt’s Creek”
• “Dispatches from Elsewhere”
• “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”
• “Taskmaster”
• “Love, Death + Robots”

Movies: films by Bong Joon-ho (The Host, Parasite), The Color Out of Space

Other: Cellist Joshua Roman Livestreams himself from quarantine playing cello suites every evening on his Facebook page

PLAY

• Ticket to Ride, Codenames (board games)
• Jackbox, Star Wars: Battlefront 2, Stardew Valley, Division 2, Dying Light (video games)

SKILLS LEARNED & HONED

“Puzzles and to knit! Kind of.. very slowly…” —Tyler Krieg, Assistant Production Manager

“Instead of trying to learn a new skill, I’ve been pouring more time into the hobbies that already make my heart happy.” —Janet Shaughnessy, Donor Relations Officer

“Does cultivating my first-ever beard count?” —Jeff Herrmann, Managing Director

“I have been working super hard on my Photoshop skills, so even though I can’t leave the house I’m traveling to other worlds.” —Claire Koleske, Patron Experience Director

“After letting my guitar sit in its case for a long time, I started playing again a few weeks ago.” —Chris Quilici, Donor Relations Officer

“Growing flowers.” —Vinita Gupta, Director of Finance and Operations

“Before the world turned upside down, I purchased a mid-century dining table and chairs. The chairs needed to be reupholstered so... I watched some videos and now I have four beautiful, newly reupholstered chairs!” —Sann Hall, Production Manager

EAT

“PIZZA – we’ve very much enjoyed putting everything we can find in the refrigerator onto our pizza with homemade dough!” —Tyler Krieg, Assistant Production Manager

“I whipped up some amazing Shakshuka last week.” —Kaytlin McIntyre, Director of Casting & New Play Development

“My go-to, quarantine or not, is Budget Bytes. I recommend the spicy coconut vegetable stir fry.” —Kate Neville, Institutional Partnerships Director

“Chocolate swirl coffee cake. Try it with your favorite flavored chocolate bar—I made this with espresso chocolate!” —Nabra Nelson, Arts Engagement Director

“Breakfast, soyrizo and eggs or breakfast burritos.” —Brian Fauska, Technical Director

“Sour cream and onion biscuits from Bon Appetit.” —Noelle McCabe, Publications & Digital Content Manager

DRINK

Morning:

• Lots of coffee
• Fresh strawberry juice (blended strawberries with a little simple syrup).

Home Happy Hour:

• Kentucky Mule (bourbon, ginger beer, and lime)
• Dirty Gin Martini
• Raspberry Mojito
• Big Rum and Coke (moderate amount of ice, lots of rum, lots of coke)
• Jameson Cold Brew Irish Whiskey mixed with a Mocha

CONNECT

Free Yoga with Adriene on YouTube, free trial of guided meditations on Headspace, walk one (or more) of Seattle's many public staircases. Plus, whether you've got five-minutes or 30-minutes, get a few more self-care tips courtesy of a few expectant mothers on our team:

Devonnie Black, Patron Services Lead: “I use a heating pad for my wrists and tailbone/lower back. Even something as small as propping my feet up when I’m sitting is a game-changer. Essential oils in my diffuser have been saving me—creating a nice blend helps me relax when I’m feeling overwhelmed. I’ve also been working on my poetry book and filming content for my YouTube channel and that helps me feel like I’m not just working, eating and sleeping every day. It’s been nice to feed my passions. I’ve also been reading a bunch of pregnancy/birth books so that has been nice especially since we can’t take any classes.”

Allison Dunmore, Social Media & Press Manager: “I’ve started meditating twice a day: once in the morning and once before bed. Each meditation is only five-minutes, and gives me the opportunity to focus on myself and relax. I’ve been using Peloton's free 90-day trial (tip: Peloton has family classes and meditations!). Being six months pregnant, I’m experiencing constant pain (think hips, back, and all over). For me, taking a bath helps with sore muscles, but I also turn it into a mini-spa by putting on a mask, lighting candles, playing music, and using some kind of bath salt. Smoothies take five minutes to put together and allow me to use up some of the older fruit/produce in my fridge. I recommend following Bon Appetit and Molly Baz on Instagram for inspiration.”