Shadow boxing is when you fight an imaginary opponent. It’s usually used as a warm-up in boxing to practice your basic technique and get your muscles ready. It also looks ridiculous: You’re hopping around, throwing jabs and ducking and swinging in the air as if you’re being attacked by a ghost.
We’re all fighting an invisible opponent right now in the form of That Thing, the virus. In Round 1 we have anxiety. In Round 2, economic distress. Round 3, staying in shape somehow while sitting in an apartment surrounded by stockpiled snacks.
That last one has led me back to boxing. I took up boxing in college and continued training at a gym in San Francisco, and it was one of the few workouts I consistently loved. Boxing has always fascinated me (I choreographed a boxing-themed dance routine for a sorority competition in college and also designed my personal portfolio website with boxing imagery). I think boxing conveys a number of things I admire: Hard work, stamina, a competitive spirit, the ability to get back up after a knockout.
My sister Georgi and I in full boxing getup for our sorority dance / lip-syncing competition.
Naturally we rhinestoned our letters onto the robes.
I haven’t found a go-to boxing gym in Denver yet, and it’s looking like I won’t for a while, but in the meantime I started boxing again at my apartment. I have to shadow box because I don’t have any equipment other than my gloves, but it works just fine. It maintains muscle memory for when I can box, keeps up my cardio fitness, and gives me an imaginary challenge to focus on when I otherwise feel useless.
It’s looking like these next two weeks are predicted to be the worst yet, and this is the part of the fight where we start to get worn out. We’ve taken so many hits and we’re getting exhausted. But it’s not over yet. This is our Rocky moment, the part of the movie when it looks like all is lost and then the underdog gets up for one more round.
We know how to defend ourselves. We know what we need to do. So. Let’s wrap up our hands (or wash them), put on our gloves (but actually) and kick some COVID ass.
See you in the ring.
Shred It In Place: An outdoor adventurer starts having adventures in his own living room, completing daring feats like the Kitchen Traverse.
Inside the Secretive Group Trying to Bring Down North Korea’s Regime: A deep-dive that has nothing to do with COVID and came highly recommended from Chris. He said it’s a shame that this story came out when it did, or more people would be paying attention to it. (Wall Street Journal)
For years, brands have been pushing an at-home lifestyle. No one expected it to happen like this. (Vox)
The Woman Who Lives 200,000 Years in the Past: “As we confront the reality of COVID-19, the idea of living self-sufficiently in the woods, far from crowds and grocery stores, doesn't sound so bad. Lynx Vilden has been doing just that for decades, while teaching others how to live primitively, too.” (Outside Magazine) Side note: What a time to be called Outside Magazine.
Queen Elizabeth Makes Rare Public Address Amid Coronavirus Crisis: Also, I got Chris to watch The Crown with me this week, which is how I know we are starting to crack. (HuffPost)
Cirque du Soleil Launches Digital Hub to Fill the Void: Forced to cancel all of its shows and lay off its staff, Cirque du Soleil launched Cirque Connect, an online hub where you can watch performances for free. Start with their 60-Minute Special (you can also find it on YouTube).
That’s right folks! You can now recreate the Disney magic of the overpriced churro cart right in your own kitchen. The ingredients are all things you should hopefully have: Butter, salt, flour, eggs, vegetable oil, sugar and cinnamon.
Side note: When I worked at Legoland in high school, I befriended the churro cart guy who worked during my shift so that I could snag churros on my break. I really miss that friendship.
Everyone is sending laundry lists of things to watch. My response: Here is just ONE documentary you should watch, if nothing else. I know commitment is hard, even when you literally have no other plans, so here is just one thing to commit to.
I present to you: McMillions on HBO. It’s about the McDonald’s Monopoly promotion that went corrupt. Much like Tiger King, things go very, very wrong in multiple ways. Also, The Verge’s review: “Finally, the burger-related true crime series we’ve been waiting for.”
People are reportedly morons and have stopped eating Chinese takeout. I love Chinese takeout more than life itself. If you know me you know I will defend Panda Express to the death and it genuinely almost made me cry when I read this Fast Company story about how Panda Express is fighting xenophobia and coronavirus concerns. How can our society be so lame. And that’s a popular chain restaurant. Imagine all the small family businesses going through this.
If I could buy takeout from all of the Chinese restaurants every day I would. But I can’t, so you all have to help me out. Go buy Chinese takeout. #PandaStrong
The last newsletter shared some tips on pantry cooking. This week’s focus is on interior design.
After working on the couch for two weeks straight (Chris gets the kitchen counter because he needs multiple screens) and yelling over each other on competing conference calls, it was decided that we need a home office. My low point was managing an interview with CNN from the closet.
That led to an entire Saturday of re-evaluating what we need to do to make our apartment the best living space it can be for however long we need to be in it.
Rearranging your apartment can give you a sense of control over your environment and at the very least gives you something to do. Why not switch it up? Here are some of the home improvements we suggest:
Finally resolve that one corner of the kitchen that gets crowded with random potatoes and appliances and jars of things. Chris reorganized everything and it’s magical what a clear counter will do for your sanity.
Move your bed to open up more space in the bedroom for a home office / yoga studio / boxing gym / conference room / gaming lounge / whatever it needs to be for the next few months.
Redecorate the fish tank. It’s like a mini room within a room that you can keep reorganizing.
Utilize the balcony more. It’s finally warming up and it’s amazing how much of a difference it makes to sit outside. Also last week our neighbors across the street held a Balcony Happy Hour that we participated in. Chris waved to him this morning. I think we might be friends now.
Adding to your bar cart with panic-purchased whiskey technically counts as decoration. I don’t make the rules.
If you’ve been waiting to find the perfect spot to hang up your signs and posters and snowboards that you hadn’t gotten around to putting up yet, now’s the time. Who cares where on the wall you put things? No one is coming over.
If you have a random extra closet or tiny room like our apartment does (the apartment complex called it the “Study” but it’s really just a tiny extra room) consider branding it the Activity Room and throw in a dartboard.
Use the Design Home app to live vicariously through much larger spaces.
“It’s a lot of pressure.” - Chris, when I asked him to give me a quote of the week.
Bohemia Pilsner
I had never tried a Bohemia until this week, when we went to Costco and purchased a Cerveza Variety Pack. Also, I 10/10 recommend the Cerveza Variety Pack, which has Tecate, Dos Equis and Bohemia. Would buy again. And again and again until this whole crisis is over. And maybe more after that.
Hope everyone is staying strong and healthy as we continue to fight the fight this week. As always, feel free to reach out if you need someone.
And subscribe below for a newsletter that hopefully is more uplifting than your average newsletter these days. Trying to keep it positive over here.
XO,
A
Share Type A