Please help me entertain my sick friend
October 1, 2015 10:10 AM Subscribe
I have a friend who's going through a really tough chemotherapy regimen and can't leave the house much, so she's bored to tears. I'm collecting some light entertainment to send her over the next few months, both for at home and for the hours of chemo.
I'd like a combination of physical objects, files loaded on a usb drive, and links to online content. Can you give me some suggestions for any of those categories? If possible, please link to specific things (this podcast series, that funny cat video, etc).
Caveat: Like many chemo patients, she's easily tired and struggling with "brain fog", so nothing too complex or requiring more than a few minutes at once. Also bonus points for non-visual suggestions because she's been having some sporadic vision problems, but visual stuff is fine too. Thanks!!
I'd like a combination of physical objects, files loaded on a usb drive, and links to online content. Can you give me some suggestions for any of those categories? If possible, please link to specific things (this podcast series, that funny cat video, etc).
Caveat: Like many chemo patients, she's easily tired and struggling with "brain fog", so nothing too complex or requiring more than a few minutes at once. Also bonus points for non-visual suggestions because she's been having some sporadic vision problems, but visual stuff is fine too. Thanks!!
Does she have any gaming devices? If not, can you borrow one for her?
I say this as someone who had a fair few unexpected sick days this summer, and spent several hours of those lying in bed with my Nintendo 3DS propped on the pillow, smashing bad guys or tending to my virtual garden :)
posted by greenish at 10:45 AM on October 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
I say this as someone who had a fair few unexpected sick days this summer, and spent several hours of those lying in bed with my Nintendo 3DS propped on the pillow, smashing bad guys or tending to my virtual garden :)
posted by greenish at 10:45 AM on October 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
If you want to play an utterly silly, fun game that you can take and leave whenever (takes no brain power beyond some basics), I recommend Monster Factory. It's bright and funny and colorful and it's really easy and fun.
posted by xingcat at 10:45 AM on October 1, 2015
posted by xingcat at 10:45 AM on October 1, 2015
There are tons of Whose Line Is It Anyway? compilations on YouTube, which she might enjoy when she's feeling up to it visually; it's super easy to watch just a few minutes at a time, and there are many seasons' worth of content.
My Brother, My Brother, and Me, The Flop House, and How Did This Get Made? are all entertaining podcasts, though they might be a bit on the long side.
posted by neushoorn at 10:56 AM on October 1, 2015
My Brother, My Brother, and Me, The Flop House, and How Did This Get Made? are all entertaining podcasts, though they might be a bit on the long side.
posted by neushoorn at 10:56 AM on October 1, 2015
Vimeo series High Maintenance is wonderful- short episiodes (3-15 minutes) following a weed delivery guy around Brooklyn & NYC. There are a bunch of free episodes and then a group of paid ones for about $10, which are worth buying- they get better and better. One of the paid ones actually follows a woman who's in remission, and it's memorable- warm and funny and truthful and weird.
Online game/app 10-10 is addictive- like slow tetris. Just place the shapes and complete lines. It's soothing, meditative, and the sounds are really pleasant.
Key & Peele sketches are super funny, smart but easy to watch, and short.
The podcast Mystery Show is warm, funny, calm, and easy to listen to.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 10:59 AM on October 1, 2015
Online game/app 10-10 is addictive- like slow tetris. Just place the shapes and complete lines. It's soothing, meditative, and the sounds are really pleasant.
Key & Peele sketches are super funny, smart but easy to watch, and short.
The podcast Mystery Show is warm, funny, calm, and easy to listen to.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 10:59 AM on October 1, 2015
I recently was stuck home on an extended sick leave, and I binged through the Crash Course educational videos on YouTube. They're aimed at highschoolers and are each about 10 minutes long. Some of the chemistry ones still sailed right over my head, I have to admit, but the others ones I really enjoyed. History, government and the new economics series are my favorites. John Green also does the List Show for Mental Floss, which is just random trivia and lots of fun.
posted by backwards compatible at 11:01 AM on October 1, 2015
posted by backwards compatible at 11:01 AM on October 1, 2015
Streaming on Amazon (and free with Amazon Prime): the short TV series CATASTROPHE which is ridiculously funny. There are only 6 episodes, and they're only 25 minutes each, so it's not a huge committment.
posted by BlahLaLa at 11:09 AM on October 1, 2015
posted by BlahLaLa at 11:09 AM on October 1, 2015
"Files on USB" indicates she's on a Windows device, but my advice is to give some thought as to what she's using and maybe try to upgrade that. A tablet would really be SO much better than her phone or a heavy laptop. Used tablets are not too expensive, and really worth it. Add in the use of someone's Amazon Prime account, and she will have unlimited options at her fingertips.
As an only child with aging parents, I spend a lot of time in hospitals and waiting rooms, and I never leave home without my iPad tucked in to my large purse or bag.
posted by raisingsand at 11:56 AM on October 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
As an only child with aging parents, I spend a lot of time in hospitals and waiting rooms, and I never leave home without my iPad tucked in to my large purse or bag.
posted by raisingsand at 11:56 AM on October 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
In the podcast area, I'd recommend:
Tom & Lorenzo's Pop Style Opinion Fest -- commentary on fashion, TV, and celebrities. I think it would work especially well in this case because they do little "commercial breaks" throughout the episodes which breaks up the content and could be a good stopping point for your friend if she is feeling fatigued.
If your friend is an X-Files fan, Kumail Nanjiani's The X-Files Files. Kumail is one of my favorite comedians, and he brings on guests to chat about past X-Files episodes. Pretty light and fun, and easy to dip in and out of even if you're not paying a lot of attention. (But would only be of interest to people who liked the X-Files.)
If your friend likes sci-fi, The Incomparable. They do a variety of different episode styles, all around various sci-fi topics. This past summer they did this series of "super hero showdowns" where different superheros face off in a bracket...the discussion of each pairing is maybr 4-5 minutes, so I think this would be a good choice for little chunks that she can then pause the podcast between (again, if she likes superheros!)
Happier with Gretchen Rubin. This is a sweet podcast done by a self-help author and her sister, basically around little tweaks you can use to make yourself happier. I don't know if this would feel depressing to your friend so tread carefully, but I actually like it just for the banter between the two sisters and getting a peek inside their lives.
posted by rainbowbrite at 12:06 PM on October 1, 2015
Tom & Lorenzo's Pop Style Opinion Fest -- commentary on fashion, TV, and celebrities. I think it would work especially well in this case because they do little "commercial breaks" throughout the episodes which breaks up the content and could be a good stopping point for your friend if she is feeling fatigued.
If your friend is an X-Files fan, Kumail Nanjiani's The X-Files Files. Kumail is one of my favorite comedians, and he brings on guests to chat about past X-Files episodes. Pretty light and fun, and easy to dip in and out of even if you're not paying a lot of attention. (But would only be of interest to people who liked the X-Files.)
If your friend likes sci-fi, The Incomparable. They do a variety of different episode styles, all around various sci-fi topics. This past summer they did this series of "super hero showdowns" where different superheros face off in a bracket...the discussion of each pairing is maybr 4-5 minutes, so I think this would be a good choice for little chunks that she can then pause the podcast between (again, if she likes superheros!)
Happier with Gretchen Rubin. This is a sweet podcast done by a self-help author and her sister, basically around little tweaks you can use to make yourself happier. I don't know if this would feel depressing to your friend so tread carefully, but I actually like it just for the banter between the two sisters and getting a peek inside their lives.
posted by rainbowbrite at 12:06 PM on October 1, 2015
Daniel Pinkwater's podcast is short and entertaining. The audiobook version of Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! might be good as well - most of the segments are relatively short.
posted by Candleman at 12:23 PM on October 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Candleman at 12:23 PM on October 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
While recovering a couple of years ago, I watched all of Firefly, and all of Deadwood. They were from the library.
posted by Oyéah at 12:28 PM on October 1, 2015
posted by Oyéah at 12:28 PM on October 1, 2015
There are some really fun coloring books for adults. A couple of books and a pack of colored pencils and a sharpener would make a good gift.
If she needs to rest her eyes some fidgets might give her something to that's not a puzzle (which would be hard with a foggy mind). I like Tangles and Thinking Putty.
posted by Saminal at 1:12 PM on October 1, 2015
If she needs to rest her eyes some fidgets might give her something to that's not a puzzle (which would be hard with a foggy mind). I like Tangles and Thinking Putty.
posted by Saminal at 1:12 PM on October 1, 2015
Maybe the Sims? It requires way less continual play than other video/computer games, and is engaging but requires zero brainpower.
2nding High Maintenance on vimeo, it's amazing and short.
Also, maybe light/fluffy audiobooks?
Best wishes to your friend.
posted by hejrat at 3:10 PM on October 1, 2015
2nding High Maintenance on vimeo, it's amazing and short.
Also, maybe light/fluffy audiobooks?
Best wishes to your friend.
posted by hejrat at 3:10 PM on October 1, 2015
British radio dramas on Audible. I love Cabin Pressure especially. It's silly and funny, and the episodes generally hang together, but she doesn't need to follow every second. Along the same lines, Wodehouse audiobooks could be good too.
posted by Ragini at 6:01 PM on October 1, 2015
posted by Ragini at 6:01 PM on October 1, 2015
I'd buy her a custom made rod-arm puppet. Get a light one. Easy to fiddle with. Fun. Even if it isn't used its entertaining just sitting there. Memail me if you want some suggestions for makers.
posted by cjorgensen at 11:04 AM on October 2, 2015
posted by cjorgensen at 11:04 AM on October 2, 2015
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posted by ryanshepard at 10:22 AM on October 1, 2015