Staying Apart, Together: Getting used to and liking the new normal are two different things

Welcome to issue No. 3 of Staying Apart, Together, Paste BN's newsletter focused on coping with the massive change caused by the coronavirus pandemic. 

I’m Alison Maxwell, managing editor of the Paste BN Life & Travel team, filling in for our usual doyenne of newsletters, Kelly Lawler, who will be back in action next week.

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I’m getting used to our new normal.

There, I said it.

Obviously getting used to and liking are two very different things, but every step is progress, right?

I’m slowly learning to find joy in the quarantine routine – my heart flutters when I’m on a conference call and Mikey, my 8-year-old boxer yips and growls, deep in a doggie dream. I’ve set up a makeshift “office” in our guest room – and I’m proud that I assembled my own mail-order desk that came in 300 parts with instructions more confusing than those from Ikea. Heck, I’ve even rediscovered my love of frozen peas because our freezer just got that empty.

Anyway, I’ve rounded up some of the things that are getting me through this tough time, and I sincerely hope you can find something among them that makes you smile, too. So off we go!

Today's entertainment

I'm convinced that AMC’s Dispatches from Elsewhere is the show everyone needs right now. Created by Jason Segel ("How I Met Your Mother"), "Elsewhere" focuses on four diverse strangers, struggling through challenges in life, that unite to find magic in the world. It’s fantastical, surreal, mind-bending, and it's one of the few things that has made me smile during this dark time. The camaraderie created by breakout star Eve Lindley, Sally Field, André Benjamin (better known as André 3000 from Outkast) and Segel is relatable and sweet, and their journey of self-discovery in alternating realities is joyful, a nice antidote to what we're all living right now.

On the recommendation of my sister, my husband, Jeff, and I have also been bingeing "Schitt’s Creek." Created by Eugene Levy, and his son, Dan, who also stars in it, this six-season comedy is a riches-to-rags delight that has heart, charm and plenty of witty one-liners. Watching the Rose family navigate going from bazillionaires to living in a small town they once purchased as a joke is the perfect mindless diversion, and at about 24 minutes an episode, you can easily clear a quarter of a season in one sitting. (For other streaming options this weekend, see our handy guide here.)

Today's self care

The folks at the Ross Center have helped me through some challenging times, most notably the stress and anxiety of my husband’s chronic illness. (For more on that, see our blog here.)  So it’s no surprise that they’ve got plenty of resources available to assist with coronavirus fears. This page includes essays and explainers on finding calm in the chaos, how to address the uncertainty of the coronavirus and meditations to help you through the day.

Today's reads

• Is there a formula for happiness? The Atlantic tries to answer this question in its inaugural How to Build a Life column, “The Three Equations for a Happy Life, Even During a Pandemic”
• You know Henry David Thoreau is the OG of self quarantining, right?
• Guilt. Anger. Frustration. Paste BN's Gary Dinges, Maria Puente and Kelly Lawler explore these three emotions consuming some people during the pandemic. 
• "We're leaving you with a bit of a mess here." What you don't want to hear your plumber say in the midst of a pandemic.

Today's recipe

There's nothing like a pandemic to bring on the "who gives an eff" attitude about calories. So when Jeff and I are looking for comfort food (which is seemingly every night), we turn to this cilantro pesto pizza with shrimp recipe by Emeril Lagasse. We skip the chorizo, but we load up on the other colorful toppings. Feel free to make your own dough (if you have flour or can find it), but the recipe works just fine if you purchase pre-made pizza dough at the grocery store. Optional: a glass of Malbec. (For some easier recipe options, try these.)

Today's heartwarmer

I firmly believe there's nothing a little Journey sing-a-long can't fix. So kudos to Steven and Jana Heller's family who battled boredom while stuck in their home during the coronvirus lockdown by taking a trip with the '80s rock band. 

The family of six perfectly recreated the band's 1983 "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)" video shot for shot around their Maple Valley, Washington, home, some 30 miles southeast of Seattle. They dubbed the lip-sync extravaganza the 2020 "Heller Quarantine Edition."

Today's money tip

I haven't driven in so long that Jeff asked me the other day to start the car just to make sure the battery wasn't dead. So it makes sense that car insurance companies are offering refunds and credits to policyholders. Our fantastic Money team breaks down how to get $$$ while you idle. 

Today's Awwww...

Meet Ajax the donkey and Rémy the Great Pyrenees. They enjoy long walks around the Leaping Donkey Farm in Leicester, Vermont. 

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That’s it for this Saturday. Stay safe, stay well, and we’ll be back in your inboxes on Tuesday. If you want to have your pet featured, a question answered or have anything to share, email me at amaxwell@usatoday.com or my colleague Kelly Lawler at klawler@usatoday.com. Know someone who should be getting this newsletter? Forward this email, and they can sign up here. And feel free to fill out our survey at any point to help shape the direction of this newsletter. We want to do whatever will help you the most.