Technology is making it possible to join friends and family at a fully virtual, pandemic-era Super Bowl party that shares the fun while maintaining everyone’s safety. Hulu premium subscribers can use the Teleparty app to watch the game together on their screens, CNET says, or try Zoom, Microsoft Teams or Skype to “gather” remotely while watching the live broadcast. To get everyone engaged and involved, try a party game such as Big Game Bingo or rate the commercials together.
Tag: social distancing
Have a Safe Super Bowl Party Outdoors
While the pandemic has put a damper on most social activities, you can still have a small group over to enjoy the Super Bowl together, the Forever Freckled blog says. Have your party outdoors (weather permitting) and space out seating to maintain social distancing. Offer single-serve snacks such as Buffalo chicken sliders, and portion out dips and chips rather than serving from a communal bowl. “Everyone has different anxieties, stresses, and fears about the virus,” the blog says. “Everyone should feel comfortable without being judged.”
One-Quarter to Watch Super Bowl With Others
A Seton Hall Sports Poll says one-quarter (25%) of respondents plan to view Super Bowl LV — this weekend’s NFL championship game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — with persons from outside their households. If you are among those people, limit physical contact, wear a mask and avoid shared foodstuffs. If possible, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says, have or attend only outdoor get-togethers where you can safely socially distance and still enjoy the game.
Fauci Advises Super Bowl Social Distancing
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s most prominent advisor on the COVID-19 pandemic, says this year’s Super Bowl must adhere to proper social distancing protocols. Tampa Bay’s Raymond James Stadium will be held to one-third capacity for the game, and the NFL will provide KN-95 masks to in-person spectators. If you plan to host a gathering at home to watch the Chiefs and Buccaneers play, consider inviting only members of your coronavirus “pod” or hosting a halftime Zoom conference in order to stay virus-free.
Holiday Fun for the Socially Distanced
It’s going to be a difficult holiday season for anyone who’s used to getting together with family and friends. With the COVID-19 pandemic still raging across America, many are choosing not to travel or to celebrate only with a handful of close contacts.
But that doesn’t mean that the fun has to end!
The most obvious way to celebrate is to fire up the phone, tablet or computer and have a videoconference with your loved ones. Yes, it can be disconcerting to keep your eyes on the screen for hours on end, but it’s a great way to keep in touch.
Add a #festive virtual background to your call, Good Housekeeping suggests, to keep the #holiday spirit alive. An added bonus? You can speak from a pretend winter wonderland, a professionally decorated drawing room or the set of your favorite Hallmark movie.
You can still engage in traditional holiday pastimes such as baking cookies, taking a drive to see the holiday light displays or sending letters to Santa without getting into too many strangers’ airspace, Postable says.
Another activity is to send the holiday cards you might not have had time to send last year. Even though this blog is going live with only 10 days until Christmas, nobody is going to complain if your greeting arrives a day or two late or send a New Year’s card instead.
Consider sending one of your cards to a local #veteran you know (or find one at a nearby chapter of the Vietnam Veterans Association or other organization). They are getting older and will need to stay isolated to protect their health this year, and a card might brighten their season.
If you find yourself beset with holiday #clutter after all of the virtual celebrations are over, consider bagging and boxing your unused and unwanted stuff and contacting ClothingDonations.org for a pickup. It will be resold to new households, and the proceeds will benefit veterans programs.
The Organizing Blog wishes you and yours a safe, happy, healthy and clutter-free holiday season!