OT - Just for the fun of it.........

[Liz]

This is an OT post - but just to clarify, it's not about politics, religion, or other sensitive topics. It's just one friendly ol' moderator here, trying to lighten up a bit - and wondering if anyone else if feeling a bit "under the 'hot' weather?"

Did you ever have a day when you needed a good laugh? Well, for me, today is one of those days. This morning I woke up thinking "another hot day" and "look at all the work I have to do.......again." I was kind of feeling sorry for myself because it was soooooo hot, I had a headache, the cats woke me up too early, I was stuck in the office - and I was just plain grumpy.

Then, I met a friend on the way to the store, and she said "did you ever get to the point where you think that every day is the "same ole same ole" and feel kind of down?

That got me to wondering if other people feel the same way at times - maybe for different reasons. Not depressed - just not quite right. And I wondered how different people "lighten up" when they do. For me personally, I have to begin by not taking myself too seriously. And laugh at myself........and take it from there.

Liz

[julsoph]

I live a groundhog's day existence myself. But I have a "it don't mean nothin', not a damn thing" attitude for the most part, so I don't let it get me down too much. And the Zoloft doesn't hurt either...;)

I heart Zoloft.

But to answer the question, other ways I "lighten up", so to speak...well, this week my babysitter came here on Tuesday morning, and I went to the local coffeehouse and read Harry Potter for two hours. Lol.
But normal days, I try to get myself out of the house at least once or twice a day...the change of scenery really helps. When I worked out of home, I would go outside and walk around the block on my breaks.

[almo]

I live a groundhog's day existence myself. But I have a "it don't mean nothin', not a damn thing" attitude for the most part, so I don't let it get me down too much. And the Zoloft doesn't hurt either...;)

[another view]

"I'm in a groove now, or is it a rut?" - Neil Peart

I work in an office and am lucky enough not to have a window... Some days that drives me nuts but I've learned to live with it. I don't love my job but it's kinda along the lines of what I've done all of my working life so I don't know what else I would do, anyway. I think about the fact that I can leave at 5:00 and not have to think about it until the next day - and it stays there on weekends so I can go kayaking...

Ray's advice is good, too. I think it's definately a mind over matter thing. Kinda like seeing a great sunset or something else you'd really like to photograph but don't have a camera with you. Don't dwell on the negative, think about the fact that you're there to see whatever it is that you're looking at, and enjoy it for what it is.

Edit: Must be the server gremlins again. I'm referring to Ray's post that I read before I replied. However, it's showing up 13 minutes before Ray's post...

[schrackman]

Finding humor in the mundane is a great way to get out of the slumps. Yesterday I had to clean out a horse stable in the late afternoon heat, something that I really didn't want to do but it had to be done. It only took me a couple of shovels full of horse manure to stop and ask myself the question, "Hey, who's really the master here?" ;) After chuckling to myself for a while it didn't seem so bad.

[Liz]

Must be the server gremlins again. I'm referring to Ray's post that I read before I replied. However, it's showing up 13 minutes before Ray's post...

Well, that's worth a smile.

Nice post Steve - good points. We all have reasons to smile and even laugh. As I'm sitting in a.c. today when the temp is way in the 90's, I'm hearing that parts of CA has no power due to the intense heat. This usually happens here - so far, we've been blessed!

Liz

[Lara]

This thread being out of order is enough to make me cry/laugh, I don't know which.


Emily, I went to Barnes and Noble with the intention of picking up a book to lift my spirits, and guess what I came home with? Certainly not what I had initially intended!

This adorable young man (employee) was walking around the store wearing Harry Potter glasses, ....a promotional thing of course. I was so engrossed in something I had picked up to read that I didn't even notice until he walked by me and smiled. Well that did it! He brought back the magic of Harry in an instant. I had read the first 3 books and seen the movies, but hadn't read the last 3. I decided that a Harry Potter adventure would be so much fun to read for a change. I ended up buying the last 3 in the series. After beginning The Goblet of Fire, I felt like I had found a long lost friend. I love my books and my Harry Potter glasses ! They make me smile.

[Lara]

A couple weeks ago my kid in Iraq mentioned that it was starting to feel like that Groundhog Day movie over there. 5 out of 7 days are 115 to 120 degrees and the run a misssion or two every day with 45 pounds of protective and other gear. Yesterday he called again and said that it had been up to 126 degrees there. I've felt downright cool ever since.

This will most likely be out of order, argh!

Chunk, I wasn't aware your son is in Iraq. How long has he been there, and when he coming home?

After reading about the heat being up to 126, I'll never complain about the heat again! Well maybe not for a while anyway.

[Chunk]

A couple weeks ago my kid in Iraq mentioned that it was starting to feel like that Groundhog Day movie over there. 5 out of 7 days are 115 to 120 degrees and the run a misssion or two every day with 45 pounds of protective and other gear. Yesterday he called again and said that it had been up to 126 degrees there. I've felt downright cool ever since.

[mjs1973]

Liz, your line about "feeling a bit under the 'hot' weather" made me think of this sign.

Steve, I know exactly what your talking about. I too have a job that I don't love, but it's ok. I walk out the door at 2:00, and work is the farthest thing from my mind. I'm lucky enough to have a window seat, and I love it. Today I spent about an hour watching a huge thunderstorm roll through our area. I work with a pretty good group of people, and we are able to have a little fun at work to help break up the day.

[julsoph]

Lara...that's great that you picked up the new Harry Potter books! They're really great reading. Doesn't hurt to run into an adorable bookstore boy too, right?? Hehe...

[Liz]

Lara,

This thread is really out of order. I read all the answers before I read the questions. Then I thought you posted the sign. I guess we're getting a laugh just being on PR today.

Glad you got your Harry Potter fix. Enjoy!

I haven't done much work today.......and I'm feeling guilty - so I'm working tonight. However, I'm eating a snack so figured I'd check in again.

Liz

This thread being out of order is enough to make me cry/laugh, I don't know which.


Emily, I went to Barnes and Noble with the intention of picking up a book to lift my spirits, and guess what I came home with? Certainly not what I had initially intended!

This adorable young man (employee) was walking around the store wearing Harry Potter glasses, ....a promotional thing of course. I was so engrossed in something I had picked up to read that I didn't even notice until he walked by me and smiled. Well that did it! He brought back the magic of Harry in an instant. I had read the first 3 books and seen the movies, but hadn't read the last 3. I decided that a Harry Potter adventure would be so much fun to read for a change. I ended up buying the last 3 in the series. After beginning The Goblet of Fire, I felt like I had found a long lost friend. I love my books and my Harry Potter glasses ! They make me smile.

[Liz]

126 degrees and no a.c. Wow! What can I say! I'm with Lara, I need to stop complaining about the heat. Thanks for posting the reminder that your son is in Iraq. I will pray for him.

Liz

[Liz]

Wow! I love the sign. That's appropriate to say the least!

Liz

Liz, your line about "feeling a bit under the 'hot' weather" made me think of this sign.

Steve, I know exactly what your talking about. I too have a job that I don't love, but it's ok. I walk out the door at 2:00, and work is the farthest thing from my mind. I'm lucky enough to have a window seat, and I love it. Today I spent about an hour watching a huge thunderstorm roll through our area. I work with a pretty good group of people, and we are able to have a little fun at work to help break up the day.

[another view]

Today I spent about an hour watching a huge thunderstorm roll through our area. I work with a pretty good group of people, and we are able to have a little fun at work to help break up the day.

Wasn't that a great storm? Had to go outside to watch for awhile. Yeah, some people think I'm nuts but I get used to it. I do work with a good group of people too - my title (livin' the dream) came from a co-worker using it sarcastically in response to "how's your day going"...

[opus]

Do you feel better in winter?

The reason I ask is because for myself, I just *love* the heat! There's no such thing as "too hot" for me! I get so energized in the summer that I rarely feel down in the dumps. But winter is another story, and that's when I usually feel my depression.

Some things to lighten up:
I write in my blog and get my whining off my chest there.
Retail therapy.
Plan a vacation (or actively dream about one, picking up brochures and visiting websites).
Audition for a play.
Make a date with yourself for the end of the week, and take yourself someplace special.
Avoid a chore. You'll find ways to amuse yourself in order to get out of doing it. Well, it works for me...

[Lara]

Lara...that's great that you picked up the new Harry Potter books! They're really great reading. Doesn't hurt to run into an adorable bookstore boy too, right?? Hehe...

The books are great. It's really interesting that Rowlings works appeal to all ages.

[Lara]

Lara,

This thread is really out of order. I read all the answers before I read the questions. Then I thought you posted the sign. I guess we're getting a laugh just being on PR today.

Glad you got your Harry Potter fix. Enjoy!

I haven't done much work today.......and I'm feeling guilty - so I'm working tonight. However, I'm eating a snack so figured I'd check in again.

Liz

I know....This is the pits, and I did report several complaints.

[Chunk]

This will most likely be out of order, argh!

Chunk, I wasn't aware your son is in Iraq. How long has he been there, and when he coming home?

After reading about the heat being up to 126, I'll never complain about the heat again! Well maybe not for a while anyway.

He went over in January so he'll probably be over there at least until the end of the year except for perhaps 2 weeks of leave in August or September.

[paulnj]

126 dry heat..... VERY HOT!!!

It was 92- 96 in my house with 85-93 % humidity (I have a great weather gauge) for nearly the full week my CENTRAL AIR was out(complete new system installed). Need I tell you I was in a "funk" that week ;)

BUT, I was safe from harms way, so I feel bad for even complaining now !!!!!!

[Asylum Steve]

Liz, I can relate...

I'm a New York Yankee in Central Florida's Court, and while I have acclimated to the heat and humidity over the years, I still much prefer cool weather.

The average temperature in my studio in the spring, summer, and fall (only room in the house without AC) is between 85° and 90°. That's at night too. The only way I survive is with a good ceiling fan, and a small personal fan right next to monitor blowing directly on me most of the time.

Plus, I feel I'm living in one of the most boring areas on earth (at least compared to my last home in Miami Beach), and my renewed career as a freelance photog has what seems like a hundred ups and downs in the course of an average week. It's a roller coaster ride for sure...

My escapes? Well, this site for one. Plus, my garden, which I try to tend to in either the early hours of morning or in the late afternoon when it's cooler. Also play some fun video games a bit, and have gotten back to working out a lot, including swimming a few times a week.

Also, I think about some of the trips I have planned, such as to Miami for a photo shoot next month, or better yet, to Chicago this coming November for what I know will be beautifully crisp weather. I see these as rewards for my hard work.

Anyway, for me the tide has turned, and now I'm fairly content and motivated most of the time, with only the occasional moments of dejection. A far cry from a couple of years ago, when the balance was probably close to the opposite.

Oh, and when it's all said and done, I know it's my sense of humor that's kept me going...

[Liz]

Oh, and when it's all said and done, I know it's my sense of humor that's kept me going

That's the key - thank God I have a sense of humor too.......but some days I have to remind myself - and dig it out.

Today is a much better day - my "not so up" times usually don't last through the entire day - yesterday it was just too hot!

Good post Steve. Thanks

Liz

[adina]

This thread being out of order is enough to make me cry/laugh, I don't know which.


Emily, I went to Barnes and Noble with the intention of picking up a book to lift my spirits, and guess what I came home with? Certainly not what I had initially intended!

This adorable young man (employee) was walking around the store wearing Harry Potter glasses, .....

I'd like to go to the store and come home with one of those!

[Lara]

He went over in January so he'll probably be over there at least until the end of the year except for perhaps 2 weeks of leave in August or September.

I hope he comes home as soon as possible Chunk. He's in my prayers to stay safe and be well.

[Chunk]

...run through the sprinkler!