Here we are... the last day of February. The weather has been gorgeous and we expanded our pandemic routine to include several sunsets on the beach. (Winters in Florida are the best!) I enjoyed morning walks with an audiobook, afternoon reading on the lanai, experimenting with a few new recipes, and chatting with family on Zoom.
I've allowed myself to start thinking about what life may look like as we emerge from our pandemic isolation. My husband is scheduled to receive his second dose of the vaccine in a couple of weeks, but there is still no indication as to when I may be eligible to receive one. Hopefully sometime this spring. Until then, I'll keep dreaming about a trip to the hair salon, eating outdoors at a favorite restaurant, and going into the grocery story for just a couple items in between major shops. I know it's coming...
Finished last week//
I am not the target audience for this book. It's a YA remix of Ibram X. Kendi's Stamped From the Beginning, which is much longer and, I assume, more dense and scholarly... not something I'm in the mood to tackle right now. Reynolds delivers Kendi's main ideas in a way that will appeal to younger (teen) audiences.
This is not an easy book to read. It examines the evolution of racism /institutional racism in this country. I was left feeling rather depressed and wondering how we, as a country, move forward. Stamped felt a little light on historical context, so I will read Kendi's book at some point. (This was a read/listen combination.)
My final read of the month was an impulse pick. Scrolling through goodreads, I noticed Stacy rated A Raisin in the Sun 5 stars. I thought I remembered reading (or possibly seeing) the play in high school, but couldn't come up with any memories of plot, characters, etc. Since it's Black History month and the play is short, I decided to give it a quick read before February ended. (I also found a recording of the original 1959 Broadway show on Overdrive and listened to part of that, too!)
In 1959 James Baldwin is quoted as saying "never before in the entire history of the American theater had so much of the truth of black people's lives been seen on stage." A Raisin in the Sun was a powerful follow-up to my recent reading of The Warmth of Other Suns. Also set in Chicago, the struggles of the Younger family in the play practically mirror the real-life hardships of Ida Mae Gladney and her family as detailed in Wilkerson's book. I'm so glad I made time to read this play.
Current reading//
This lighter read is just the change of pace I need... a perfectly timed recommendation from Les! Hope to finish it later today or tomorrow
In the kitchen//
Thai Basil Chicken Stir Fry from The Lemon Bowl was a hit last week. I didn't have Sambal Oelek Chili Paste, so substituted (too much!) Chili Garlic Sauce. The dish was too spicy for all of us, but we still didn't have any leftovers. Next time I'll leave out the chili sauce entirely.
We'd already done our grocery shopping for the week when the new air fryer arrived, so I experimented with what I had on hand... and made Zucchini Chips. I'm looking forward to trying other recipes this week!
Viewing//
We're enjoying CNN's Searching for Italy with Stanley Tucci. I'm not sure when we'll be able to get much closer to Italy than this. Have you seen it?
That's it for me this week. How have you been? What are you reading?
The Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.
It's Monday... What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date.
Happy Sunday JoAnn! It is sunny, my trees are leafing out, and everything has that green look of Spring. We got our second dose of the vaccine on Friday, had only a mild reaction and I will wait one more week and then get a haircut. It has been over a year!
ReplyDeleteGood on your Black History month reading, depressing as it may have been. I read a book about the horrific effects of what we have done to Native Americans, so you did not suffer alone. I made chicken soup and it seemed to give us something helpful as far as surviving that second Pfizer shot.
Judy - I'm happy to hear you've received the second dose and did so well with it... and I do envy your trip to the hair salon! Black History month reading was enlightening. Will keep in min that this is Women's History Month as I put together a list of March reads. Guess I'll have to make chicken soup before my husband gets his second dose!
DeleteI bet winters in Texas are amazing. That photo at sunset is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI would say that my primary accomplishments during the pandemic time are learning birds and trying out new recipes. I have loved experimenting with cooking. Thank you for the recipes you post.
I am looking forward to getting my hair cut, eating outdoors in a restaurant, and taking a (safe) trip. Shots are starting to be more available here, and I bet things will open up for you there soon.
I will look for (search for?) Searching for Italy, but I probably won't be able to find it until it comes to Amazon Prime or Netflix. It sounds great.
Deb - I should spend the rest of my pandemic time learning more about birds! I was focusing on that more last spring/early summer, then trying new recipes took over.
DeleteOnce the J&J vaccine supply picks up, vaccine appointments should be a lot easier to get. I'm really hoping to get one before the end of June!
Searching for Italy is on Sunday at 9PM on CNN. If you have the 'on demand' feature, you can watch it any time. It's a good show!
Sounds like you had a great week! Love all the sunset pics!
ReplyDeleteAngela - The beach sunsets here are the best! We try to get there two or three nights a week.
DeleteI love Stanley Tucci so I'll have to check out the show. I've had a tough time finding a show that holds my interest and it sounds perfect. My daughter got her 2nd vaccine and it looks like my husband technically qualifies as an essential worker so I'm hoping he will get his soon. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteKatherine - Tucci's show is on CNN Sunday at 9PM. We have on demand with our cable, so usually watch it later in the week. Hope you husband gets his vaccine!
DeleteI do dream of winter in Florida, or living in Florida, period! Enjoy your spring by the ocean!
ReplyDeleteHarvee - We're so happy to live here now... especially in the winter!
DeleteThanks for the reminder about Searching for Italy - now I just have to remember to search for it when I am trying to decide what to watch!
ReplyDeleteRaison in the Sun sounds great--I tend to not like actually reading plays, so maybe I will get the film version and read along while watching it. Not sure that will work, but maybe.
Sounds like you had a lovely week - it's been cold and snowy in Colorado, so a sunset beach in FL sounds wonderful!
Stay healthy and read on!
JaneGS - I almost never read plays and even this time I supplemented it with the audio of the original Broadway show... Ruby Dee was in it! Still not sure I read it in high school, but it was a great follow up to The Warmth of Other Suns.
DeleteMy family in NY is bracing for another streak of frigid weather, snow and high winds. Makes me appreciate the beach even more!
I think a lot of us have been dreaming of spring and post vaccine life. The hub will be fully vaccinated Wednesday and I'll get #1 on Wednesday - different location. I hope you'll get your turn soon as well.
ReplyDeleteThe shrimp dish looks good, we love shrimp and eat it a couple times some weeks.
Diane - Maybe with the J&J vaccine on the way, post-pandemic life may come even sooner. We love shrimp, too. Hoping to try coconut shrimp in the air fryer this week.
DeleteI must start going to the beach to see the sunsets as winter definitely has the best ones. I think getting me out of my routine would be good.
ReplyDeleteHelen - Mixing things up a bit is good! A beach sunset is always a welcome sight :)
DeleteRaisin in the Sun -- Ya know...I don't think I've ever read a play. I've seen plenty of them, but never occurred to me one could read a play. Yah I know...duh. Hello.
ReplyDeleteAdded it to my TBR.
Jinjer - I'm not a big reader of plays... probably haven't read one in almost a decade. This was a good one!
DeleteI think that if someone in your household is eligible for the vaccine then everyone in the household should be able to get the vaccine. But that didn't ask me. LOL. See what I read at Girl Who Reads
ReplyDeleteDonna - I wish they did ask you! That makes perfect sense.
DeleteYour Shrimp recipe looks delightful. Shrimp is one of those things that I love but eat very seldom. Yum! I also thought STAMPED was very, very good. My Sunday Salon post this week
ReplyDeleteAnne - That shrimp was so good. We all love it, so I cook shrimp almost weekly. Stamped made me want to read Kendi's Stamped From the Beginning!
DeleteWow! What a beautiful sunset. We've had a lot of rain, but sunset season is just around the corner!
ReplyDeleteWith 5 stars, you've convinced me to try A Raisin in the Sun. I never read it in school and feel it's one of those classics that should be read. I'm glad you liked it.
Whoohoo for Young Jane Young. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Mmm. That shrimp and couscous recipe looks delicious. We eat shrimp at least twice a month and I'll have to add this to my menu planning. I just need to convince my husband to try the couscous.
Thanks for the link to Tucci's show. I've never been to Italy (and don't know if or when I'll ever go), so this will be fun to watch. He's one of my favorite actors. Did you know he's in a movie with Colin Firth? It's called Supernova and I'm anxious to watch it once it's free on Amazon Prime.
Have a great week, JoAnn. So glad your husband is getting close to getting his 2nd shot!
Les - Love that you have a "sunset season"... it's one of those small pleasures we've tried to embrace throughout the pandemic!
DeleteAfter reading A Raisin in the Sun, I'm not so sure I did read it in high school. Nothing at all was familiar. The recording of the original Broadway show was excellent, too. Ruby Dee was in it!
Young Jane Young is exactly the book I need now! So many heavier reads for Black History Month and I needed a break. Can't wait to pick it up again tonight. Have already recommended it to my mother!
The shrimp recipe was really good. That's the first time I've used pearled couscous... tasted a lot like pasta/orzo.
Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci? I definitely need to watch that one!!
Hope all is well with you. Take care!
I read Young Jane Young a while ago, and enjoyed it. A timely story.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week, and stay safe! Glad you might be going out more soon.
Laurel-Rain Snow - Yes, Young Jane Young is timely again! I'm enjoying it very much. Hope your week is off yo a good start.
DeleteIt sounds like you are making the best of your time in lockdown, hopefully it will be safe to resume normal activities soon with the vaccine rollout
ReplyDeleteWishing you a great reading week
Shelleyrae - All things considered, lockdown is going well... but I'm hoping it doesn't last too much longer! Have a good week.
DeleteYum! That meal looks amazing! It's making me quite hungry lol! I hope you enjoy your upcoming reads! Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Penelope. The week is off to a good start :)
DeleteSounds like you had a good week. I just got my first shot yesterday and am already looking forward to my second at the end of this month. Your recipes look good too. We had a stir fry yesterday that had a little more chili garlic sauce than I would have preferred but it was still good. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteKathy - Happy to hear you got your first shot! There's finally light at the end of the tunnel. I don't use chili garlic sauce all that often and tend to forget how potent it is! Hope your week is off to a good start.
DeleteVicki - Jason Reynolds did such a good job in making this book accessible to teens, but it's still a tough read. You need to choose your time carefully for this one. A Raisin in the Sun was wonderful!
ReplyDeleteSo glad your husband is getting his vaccinations! Hopefully you will get yours soon. My mom gets her second dose tomorrow! It is so weird to imagine life now, after the last year. We all have our own dreams and things we miss doing. And I have learned there are some things I don't need to do again too. I did go to Target with my sister-in-law yesterday morning, as soon as they opened (and we were masked). It was so nice to be with her again - and we had the store to ourselves practically! It was my first time shopping like that in a year!
ReplyDeleteErin - I could definitely use an early morning at Target! We're grocery shopping at 7AM, so it wouldn't be much of a stretch to do it for Target... what a treat!!
DeleteOh, I am jealous of your Florida Winters!
ReplyDeleteI'm still waiting to hear when my husband and I can get vaccinated. I'm hoping that now that there is a 3rd vaccine I'm hoping things will start moving faster. - Melinda @ A Web of Stories
Melinda - Winters are glorious here, but summers are brutal! Vaccinations should start to ramp up when J&J can get to full production. I'm hopeful things will be much better in a few months!
DeleteI have recorded several of the Tucci episodes but I heard that you must have pasta ingredients on hand because you will be craving it once you finish a show.
ReplyDeleteI can get the vaccine now since I work in education but I have to wait because I got the shingles shot and apparently the two can react and cause problems. I can't book until after 3/17. I'm sad because I have managed to find numerous appts that I can't take.
Ti - We're definitely craving pasta after watching Tucci's show! I'm sure you'll be able to find an appointment after 3/17, too. Things should really start to open up soon... fingers crossed.
DeleteI have not seen Tucci in Italy yet ... but I wonder about maybe getting to Italy in 2022! I probably need to read the Hansberry play too .... it's too important a play in the 20th century to not be totally familiar knowing. The Zevin book looks sort of fun. Enjoy.
ReplyDeleteSusan- It is starting to seem like travel may be a possibility again, isn't is? Maybe 2022 will be the year. Alternating between listening to the original Broadway show and reading added to my overall enjoyment of the play. The Zevin book was fun, but the first half was so much better than the second.
DeleteA raisin in the sun is on my TBR :) I haven't watched Tucci but I've been to Italy once, years ago, in Venice and Florence. And I have a fond memory of the only word of Italian I learned there and remembered : gelati !
ReplyDeleteIzaBzh - Yes, gelati!! A Raisin in the Sun is well worth reading... hope you enjoy it whenever you get there.
DeleteI'm glad you mentioned the Thai chicken with basil, sounds great.
ReplyDeleteMy reading has been up and down but I did enjoy A Bit About Britain;s History recently. We had been camping so I am behind in posts.
Tina - It was a great recipe, but my substitution may have been misguided. Hope you enjoyed your camping... I enjoyed seeing your pictures. A Bit about Britain's History sounds like a good read!
DeleteI really like Stanley Tucci so I’ll keep an eye out for this show!
ReplyDeleteHeather - It's on CNN at 9 PM on Sundays, but if you have that 'on demand' cable feature you can watch it any time.
Delete