Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic? Don't Panic! {DIY Hand Sanitizer}

So we're living through a pandemic right now.

Crazy, isn't it?

I must say, I never once in my entire life anticipated anything like the coronavirus, nicknamed COVID-19.

It was very strange going to the store for a regular grocery run and seeing zero packs of toilet paper on the shelves. All I needed was one pack, yet there were none. Why toilet paper? This isn't an illness that causes the runs, so I'm not quite sure why there's a run on TP, other than stocking up in case you get quarantined for weeks on end. Even that doesn't make much sense to me, though. If everyone only purchased what they need for a week or two, like we do under normal circumstances, there wouldn't be shortages now. But panic-buying is apparently a thing, and it's just as contagious as the coronavirus is presumed to be.

Even with the shortages of available sanitary items, I've remained calm through the entire thing. Why? Because if it's my time to go, I'm prepared to meet my Maker. He has taken wonderful care of me through the ups and downs of life so far, and I don't see why that should change simply because a new illness has arrived on the scene. The question through this event, for me, has been...

Do you trust God or do you not?

My answer is a resounding yes.

November Review {part 3}

Movies and Sports

November was quite busy with both movies and sports for me. This included hanging out with friends and family, which is always a special thing for me. I never take for granted that these incredible people are in my life.

Movies

There were quite a few movies out at the theater last month that looked quite interesting. The following are the ones I saw, and I enjoyed all of them. It was fun to not uncover a dud among the group. As often as I go to the theater throughout the year (not normally as frequently as it has been in recent weeks), it’s not unusual to stumble upon a movie or two that didn’t quite make the cut for me. It’s always a treat when I hit a streak of great and enjoyable films.

Characters Who Celebrate Christmas In the Story {reading challenge}

Holiday Baking

It's the week of Thanksgiving here in America, and that means I'm busy baking and cooking up a storm. I finally decided on the new recipes I'll be trying. I've been told holidays are not the times to test out new-to-me recipes, but I beg to differ. I've only come across a couple of duds over the years, and thankfully they were ones I taste tested before sharing... which means I didn't share those couple of things. But I've found some really great dishes over the holidays through my teens and twenties. Now that I'm in my thirties, I feel like it's practically tradition for me to try something new for Thanksgiving and Christmas and sometimes even New Year's Day.

NaNoWriMo Has Arrived!

My new computer is working great. The transition came just in time too, because this month is NaNoWriMo. Now, I'm editing on paper this year, but that doesn't mean I don't use my computer. I still have to log in my word count. And if I need to look up something in the manuscript I'm working on that might be found hundreds of pages apart, I can quickly open the computer document and do an easy search. Plus, there's research that needs to be done along the way to make sure that special layer of atmosphere satisfactorily saturates the reader in the world my MCs (main characters) are living in.

The story I'm working on is one that's been in the works for over a decade, first as a screenplay and more recently (since 2012) as a manuscript. I would, of course, love to see both the book and movie versions come to a reality that readers and viewers could enjoy at their leisure. But this writer's got more work to do on them both first.

Things I might be researching while I edit this baby:

A Classic Experience

Recently, I've been reading this book:

After finishing each story within it, I have paused my reading long enough to enjoy a movie version of the tale I just completed. This has been delightful thus far, as each movie has enriched my experience with these delightful characters Miss Austen created. I only have Persuasion left to watch, as I just finished reading that one yesterday afternoon, and I'm quite looking forward to it.

Things I Miss While On Deadline

Note: There is some fun news at the end of this article, so stay tuned through the very end.

Have you ever wondered what sacrifices editors make in order to make sure the books you’re reading are as polished and accurate as possible?

This is not a comprehensive list at all, as I’m only speaking from my own personal experience.

Here are a few things I miss when I’m on an editing deadline.

1. FAVORITE CLOTHES

Laundry tends to pile up a bit more when I’m on deadline, because I like to stay in the editing zone instead of make the time to do a load or two of washing. So my favorite tees, jerseys, and comfiest comfy pants often end up in the bottom of a mountain of clothing to be laundered once I’m off deadline… and I end up wearing some of my least favorite things in that final week of work. Bonus! I’ve rediscovered some neat t-shirts I picked up on vacations over the years.

A Whimsical Adventure

Have you visited your childhood lately?

Neither has Christopher Robin, but in the new Disney movie that shares his name, he’s about to.

If you enjoyed Winnie the Pooh at any time in your life, this movie is a must-see. It’s a fun bit of whimsy that will transport you on an expotition (expedition, for those non-Pooh fans out there) into the sweet Hundred Acre Wood… and your childhood.

There were mischief and adventure, stubbornness and grace, family and heroics, danger and encouragement. It was everything that Winnie the Pooh always stands for… plus lots and lots of honey.

Pardon my gushing (or join me, if you like). Christopher Robin, starring Ewan McGregor, is one of my top two favorite movies of this year (tied with Tomb Raider, starring Alicia Vikander). It’s everything I think a movie should be. Sweet, funny, sorrowful, happy, family-oriented, and full of adventure and hope. Did I mention whimsical? That isn’t necessary for every movie, but it never hurts.

A Perfect (for me) Stay-cation!

Summer is practically upon us, as thermometers and The Weather Channel folks have been telling us. What are your plans? Are you getting ready for a vacation?

Or how about a stay-cation?

That's what I'm doing right now!

I have two weeks off from my copyediting and tutoring jobs but no money to travel this time. So, I've decided a stay-cation is the perfect vacation for me. How am I spending it?

Catching up on household chores, for one thing, but that sounds like too much work to focus on for long.


The fun stuff includes:

March Movie Madness

Picture by Andrea Cox

While other folks are hosting college basketball watch parties for March Madness, I'll be hosting a new reading challenge here on Writing to Inspire.

In January, we read books from our ever-growing to-be-read piles.

For February's reading challenge, we read books that were all about love.

This month, I thought we'd have a bit of fun. There will be two phases to this challenge. The second one is optional.

Roman Holiday

by Andrea Renee Cox

Did you know your local movie theater might show a classic film every now and then?

A couple of weeks ago I discovered that the theater I frequent was planning on featuring Roman Holiday, my favorite Audrey Hepburn film. Of course I had to see it! And, thankfully, one of the showtimes was on a Sunday afternoon, a time at which I could attend.

I was the first one in the theater, and chills washed over me as I thought of what seeing this film must have been like for the moviegoers of the early 1950s (the movie originally released in 1953). As I sat there waiting for the movie to begin, I realized again just how much the movie experience had changed over the years (not that I was there for all of the changes, considering I was born in the late 1980s). Though I won't go into the details today, here's a neat article about some of the differences.

Friends for Life

by Andrea Renee Cox

When I was growing up, my family lived out in the country and had few neighbors. My only playmate was my sister; we quickly learned how to get along well and have been the closest of friends ever since. Once I was in school, I made friends, but none were close enough to call “best friend.” Switching schools a few times didn’t help, and neither did being really shy. So I’ve wondered practically my whole life what having close friends (other than my sister) would look like.

What's Your Favorite Christmas Movie?

By Andrea Renee Cox

Instead of doing my end of the month movie wrap-up, today I thought we’d talk about Christmas movies. There are so many options out there, too many to squeeze into one month of TV time, or even one blog article. What I like to look for, when choosing which ones to watch, is a good message of hope, which reflects the reason for the season: Jesus Christ. He is my hope, and I love seeing rays of hope in films during the season that celebrates His birth. When I watch movies with this theme, especially around Christmastime, I feel so inspired to keep working hard to overcome my weaknesses and, in the process, gain more characteristics that reflect the God I love and serve. With His grace, these characteristics will help me serve Him in new and wondrous ways that will spread His Light into the world around me.

Here are some of the Christmas movies I try to watch every year. They each make me hopeful in different ways and make me smile (and sometimes cry) every time I view them.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

You can’t really go wrong with Henry Winkler. Ever since he played The Fonz, this man has made me laugh. When you team him up with the holiday spirit, there’s much laughter to be shared. In this movie, Winkler’s niece schedules everything about Christmas. Can a vagrant show her how to “do Christmas” before her son stops believing in Santa Claus?

Iron Will

Now, this one isn’t technically a Christmas movie. It’s about a kid and his dog sled team that try to beat the odds to win a dangerous cross-country race. If that’s not a story filled with hope, I don’t know what is.

Arthur Christmas

When a child gets missed on Santa’s trip around the world, Arthur launches a rescue mission of sorts to make sure the present ends up under the tree before the sun comes up. Will he make it in time? This animated flick is humorous and fun and allows adults to feel like kids again. And tell me … can anyone not bust out laughing at Arthur’s unique chortle?

I’ll be Home for Christmas

What happens when a college student’s rival dumps him in the desert, dressed as Santa Claus, right at the beginning of the Christmas break? He has the adventure of a lifetime trying to find his way home and win back his girl … and maybe even discover a little bit of humility and self-respect along the way. (There is some crude humor and inappropriate language in this one, so please use discretion when watching with your children.)

It’s a Wonderful Life

Jimmy Stewart at his best. How can I describe this film to bring across its sense of family, despair, hope, and joy? An impossible task. But I’ll give it a shot. Unexpected things happen to a guy who aspired to escape his boring little town, trapping him there for a lifetime, it seems. One night, he receives a gift. He gets to see what life would have been like if he had never been born. As he sees the results of the lack of the impact he made on the lives of the people in his boring little town, will he learn to appreciate the life he had in time to get it back? One of my favorites, it will renew your hope when you feel like life is spinning out of control.

White Christmas

Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye might be an unlikely duo, but they’re really going places in this movie. What happens, though, when Danny’s character tricks Bing’s into joining forces with a couple of dames in order to help an old pal in the Army? A little comedy, a little music, some dancing, and a whole lot of fun! This one is, by far, my favorite Christmas movie of all time. Bing and Danny are a great team, and Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen hold their own with the boys quite well. Again, it’s difficult to get across just how special this movie is. You’ll just have to see it for yourself to get the full experience of the hope it spreads around. I challenge you not to cry by the end!

What themes do you look for in Christmas movies? Which holiday flicks do you like to watch with your family? What other traditions do you enjoy for Christmas?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

See you in 2015.

Thanks for stopping by today! I look forward to hearing your thoughts in the comment section below. And don’t forget to drop by next Monday for my latest article.

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