Happy, happy Friday, friends! Give yourselves a pat on the back and a warm embrace because you have successfully made it to this week’s finish line. Congratulations to you! For those of you who resumed school on Monday, I’m sure it was especially challenging to get to sleep at a reasonable hour and wake up early and alert for class. For those of you still on or just starting your Spring Break, enjoy it! Our break ended on Monday, but I’ve been chaperoning a class retreat since Wednesday, so it’s kind of the best of both worlds: I’m in school, but not. Regardless of where you find yourselves on the spectrum, take a break from whatever it is you’re doing and check out some of these incredible finds from the week.
Love Actually, 2017:
Red Nose Day is a biennial event in the UK organized by Comic Relief to raise funds for people in Africa and the UK who are experiencing injustice and/or living in poverty. This week I had a chance to catch this year’s special for Red Nose Day earlier than expected, a ten-minute follow-up to everyone’s favorite British holiday film, Love Actually (2003). This update reunited us with our favorite characters and shared what they’ve been up to since the film ended, and I couldn’t have been more pleased. I won’t spoil anything, but a highlight certainly includes the Prime Minister (played by Hugh Grant) dancing to Drake’s “Hotline Bling”–a huge shift from his previous dancing tune: the Pointer Sister’s “Jump.” Unfortunately, the content has since been removed, but no worries because this Red Nose Day Special will air on NBC in the U.S. on May 25th, so stay tuned!
Lend a Hand:
At Sunday’s Philadelphia Half-Marathon, trained runners put foot to pavement and ran the 13+ mile course. I can’t even run a mile without stopping or maybe even passing out. I am in total and complete awe of runners, and can’t believe how much they’ve trained and how fit they are. As superhuman as these athletes seem, it’s hard to forget they are indeed mere mortals who, too, grow tired and weary. If you’ve ever been to a race, you know how unbelievably supportive everyone is of one another, and this beautiful moment where runners helped a fatigued runner cross the finish line is the type of encouragement and championing we need. Take a look. Hopefully it’ll inspire you to also lend a helping hand.
Julie’s Greenroom on Netflix
Netflix just keeps creating brilliant content worth binge-watching, and with Julie Andrews and Jim Henson at its core, this new series is sure to be nothing short of perfection. Now, maybe I’m being sentimental, but Julie’s Greenroom is all things Sesame Street, Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, PBS, and Nick Jr. (oh how I miss my childhood) as each 30-minute episode follows Andrews, guest celebrities, and puppets as they learn all about the performing arts. Thirteen episodes were released on Netflix March 17th, so binge away! Who knows, you just might learn something.
Kermit Says... 
