Allyson Whipple

Tag: quarantine

  • The Best of It: 36th Birthday Edition

    Birthday cannoli with pistachios and Luxardo cherries
    1. Two kinds of chile relleno for dinner tonight, made from scratch.
    2. The fanciest cannoli I’ve ever eaten, made from scratch.
    3. Being able to meet with the Austin Haiku Group via Zoom.
    4. A partner who will do his darnedest to make this a special day even under quarantine.
    5. Officially releasing my new yoga nidra EP on my website and major streaming services.

  • The Best of It: Creative Quarantine Edition

    Manuscript pages
    1. I have a new chapbook manuscript.
    2. I sent it to a chapbook contest.
    3. Tomorrow I’m hosting the Austin Haiku Group via Zoom, and am grateful we have a chance to get together virtually.
    4. I was asked to judge a contest in the Austin Poetry Society annual awards.
    5. I have three projects-in-progress right now, and I am enjoying working on all of them.

  • The Best of It: Music and Teaching Edition

    My beer stein being used for coffee
    1. Not setting my alarm clock.
    2. Being able to work on a nice dinner in stages throughout the day.
    3. Waking up to find a surprise disco playlist in my Spotify account.
    4. The playlist John has curated for his History of the Blues/Global Power of the Funk course at Texas State this semester.
    5. The way that the current situation has allowed my students and me to be more open with each other.

  • The Best of It: Working From Home Indefinitely Edition

    Chile Colorado and red rice from Friday night
    1. Wearing yoga pants every day of the week.
    2. Not having to pack my lunch.
    3. That I had the foresight to bring my work laptop home when I left for spring break, even though school hadn’t officially been closed yet.
    4. That I actually have been using my work laptop for work rather than just using my personal machine for everything.
    5. That I listened to my instincts about what I needed to do for my class, rather than defaulting to all the pedagogical noise, and I can tell that I made the right call.

  • The Best of It: Kitchen Organization Edition

    Everyday use items
    Pots and pans in the style of Julia Child
    Common cookware
    1. Yesterday, John helped me put up a peg board so I could hang my pots and pans. I love how it looks, and I am thrilled with how this has opened up cabinet space.
    2. John also reorganized my shelves to make common dishes and cookware easily accessible. I’m really grateful for his sense of design.
    3. We got takeout from our favorite Chinese place, and it felt so decadent.
    4. I got to lead a yoga nidra practice via Zoom as part of the Austin Wellness Collaborative Corona Series.
    5. Every episode of Brooklyn 99 fills me with delight.

  • The Best of It: Hearth and Home Edition

    Turmeric-coconut curry with pork from the March Bon Appetit
    1. This morning I woke up without sinus congestion for the first time in I don’t know how long.
    2. Chris Morocco’s turmeric-coconut curry with pork recipe is both easy and amazing. John and I ate nearly the entire thing.
    3. My weighted blanket arrived this morning, well ahead of schedule. I can’t wait to sleep under it tonight.
    4. The Le Creuset French press is wonderful. Ceramic definitely keeps coffee warmer longer.
    5. Adopting a pretty new house plant that I found left on the curb during last night’s walk.