Three cheers!!

Three cheers for the light box!! Hip hip hooray!

I tell ya, I wasn't sure this would do the trick for me. I waited on upping my meds until I could give the light box a try so I'd know if it would work. As I said in my last post, I'd had it a couple days and wasn't sure it was helping. But after 4 days of using it every morning, I was starting to notice a difference. I wasn't as short tempered. I didn't feel like I had to nap all afternoon. I wasn't craving junk food all the time. I have more energy. I'm even sleeping better. It's such a weird transformation for me. I don't feel like I need to up my meds now. I'm just shocked. I truly am! (We'll see how things are when it's PMS time though!! LOL!!!) In the past with my depression, I DID notice an uptick of the symptoms each year in fall/winter, but I never made the connection.

My doc also had me read a book called, "Winter Blues" by Norman E. Rosenthal, MD. It's been very interesting. If you're interested in more information about the book or SAD, you can visit the author's website here. Or just ask me. I'm happy to share my own info, or even find other links for anyone as well. (I think I was a detective in a past life, lol.)

So instead of dreading the new year and more winter until the groundhog lets us know otherwise, I'm looking forward to it!

Once again...

...I have read an article that says exactly how I feel, but does a much better job of it than I could've come up with! I almost always enjoy reading Anna Quindlen, and this is no exception! Enjoy the article!

Frankincense In Aisle Five!

We all survived...

...the family christmas get-together on Sunday. As she promised, sis put on her "fake smile" and seemed to have a good time. I saw my BIL briefly yesterday and asked him how she was doing and he pretty much blew off the whole thing, so I get the impression he thinks she's being unreasonable too. Oh well. What can ya do short of tying her up and dragging her into a therapist's office?

The parents tried to leave on Monday, but their car wouldn't start. It got waaaay too cold here and the gas line froze. So after pushing it into my garage, parking a space heater near it, and adding some gas line antifreeze, it finally started. Yay! No towing bill and no repair bill!

I'm still in a very *blah* mood. Looks like the winter blues have hit me. My doc suggested a light box. I bought one off eBay and have had it for 2 days now. I'm not sure if it's making a difference. I don't feel quite as tired today, but I still have no motivation. Blah. After today, we will officially start having longer days!!! Woo Hoo! Happy winter solstice!

Speaking of solstice, did you know many christian christmas traditions are of pagan origin from the ancient solstice/yule celebrations? And have you ever thought about this - traditions of ancient people celebrated the birth of the *sun* and christianity celebrates the birth of the *son* ? Did you know that early Americans tried to ban christmas because of it's pagan roots? And that many stories many of us know about christmas aren't true? I'm not trying to knock christianity on it's behind by any means - just trying to show *the big picture*. I will say publically here - I do NOT believe christianity is the ONE and ONLY true religion. But if it helps someone to lead a better and more peaceful life, then I think it's wonderful. I think group spiritual practice is important to a community. But I also think it becomes dangerous when a group claims to be the ONLY group who's beliefs can be right or can be the ONLY way to god. That's when it scares me.

Out of the mouths of babes....

I'm sure you remember my recent vent about my sister.... Well, my sister called tonight and Frodo answered the phone. He says hi, and then proceeds to ask her:

"Are you calling to complain about the time of christmas again?"

Yes. He really said that.

Oh shit.

So sis and I had a loooooong talk, first about the reason she called in the first place - a wart on her son's foot and she wanted to know how to treat it at home. Then we talked about christmas. And mom. And dad. And how much it sucks to be pulled in multiple directions. And growing up in an alcoholic family and how it makes you really good at putting on the "public" face even if you're not feeling well inside.

Then after I was done talking with sis, I explained to Frodo that my sister didn't know we were complaining about her.... Just HOW do you explain this to an 8 year old? I learned my lesson - don't talk about anything in front of Frodo that you wouldn't want to have repeated!!!! ;)

Do you suppose...

...Diebold voting machines were involved here? ;)

A few things are...

...getting under my skin recently. And I'm gonna throw myself a little pity party here. ("It's my blog, and I'll cry if I want to! Cry if I want to, cry if I want to!" Sing it with me!)

I'm gonna start the bitch list with dinner on Friday night. I get home from work on Friday night to find out hubby has made dinner plans for us to go out with a friend of ours to a new "diner" type restaurant in the area. (Who am I to complain about not cooking?!!??) We had to wait 30 minutes for a table. No big deal - it was a Friday night at 6pm, I figured we would wait. We got our table and ordered an appetizer. I don't think ten deep fried cheese curds are worth $6 even if it's plated pretty on some colorful lettuce. Whatever.

We sat and froze while we waited for our food. I think it was about 50º in there. Our waiter was a pleasant guy though. Once our food finally came, we all ate it up. It wasn't spectacular, but it wasn't horrible either. Just so-so. We paid and headed home and our friend headed to her home.

That's when the fun started. Four of us ate there. Three of us were sick. The three of us that were sick had burgers. The fourth had chicken. Two hours of being sick. I'm so glad I have two bathrooms in the house. One for me and one for hubby. Needless to say, I'm NOT eating there again.

The rest of the weekend was hearing about how one of my sisters is pissed off about family christmas get-together time.... I am so ready to give her away to the first taker, but I highly doubt anyone would take her. As a whole, all us gals (me, both my sisters, step sister, and mom)discussed and chose which day to do family christmas. We picked the 18th because it was the day that worked best for my one sister. It doesn't necessarily work the best for the rest of us, but we could manage. Now, she's all pissed because I chose to have the meal at about 1:00 because step sister and her daughter have their christmas program at church in the morning, and her daughter has gymnastics practice at 5pm. So the only time they could make it would be between 12-4. My sister is pissed because that's when her baby (10 months old) TAKES A NAP. I told her to bring the baby over and we'll get her down for a nap while the rest of us are eating. She tells me, "She won't do that. She won't sleep because of the noise." My mom offered to bring a portable air cleaner - it makes a bit of *white noise* so it covers up the rest of the noises. My sister says, "I can guarantee that won't work." My mom says, "Can't she skip a nap for one day?" My sister says no. So she's all pissed off at me because now her hubby is going to stay home during our dinner time so the baby can nap then he'll come over with her later. (Personally, I think he'd rather stay home anyhow.) So basically, she's all pissed because I'm not having the get-together at a different time that fits her baby's nap even though others wouldn't be able to make it at all at other times. I am sooooo tired of her temper tantrums.

Other than that, I really don't have too much to bitch about except for the long list of things to do and the short time in which to accomplish those tasks. But I KNOW I'm not alone there. ;)

Oh! I do have one other gripe - I keep seeing ads for "Sonic" burger joints on tv and on local internet sites. I gripe about this because the nearest Sonic is over 5 HOURS away! LOLOL!!! I wonder what demographic they're trying to reach - maybe the ones that drive loooooooong distancese just to eat at a burger drive-thru? No thank you!

Ok. End of bitch session. I'm PMSing, so give me a day or two and I'll be fine. ;)

A few things are...

...getting under my skin recently. And I'm gonna throw myself a little pity party here. ("It's my blog, and I'll cry if I want to! Cry if I want to, cry if I want to!" Sing it with me!)

I'm gonna start the bitch list with dinner on Friday night. I get home from work on Friday night to find out hubby has made dinner plans for us to go out with a friend of ours to a new "diner" type restaurant in the area. (Who am I to complain about not cooking?!!??) We had to wait 30 minutes for a table. No big deal - it was a Friday night at 6pm, I figured we would wait. We got our table and ordered an appetizer. I don't think ten deep fried cheese curds are worth $6 even if it's plated pretty on some colorful lettuce. Whatever.

We sat and froze while we waited for our food. I think it was about 50º in there. Our waiter was a pleasant guy though. Once our food finally came, we all ate it up. It wasn't spectacular, but it wasn't horrible either. Just so-so. We paid and headed home and our friend headed to her home.

That's when the fun started. Four of us ate there. Three of us were sick. The three of us that were sick had burgers. The fourth had chicken. Two hours of being sick. I'm so glad I have two bathrooms in the house. One for me and one for hubby. Needless to say, I'm NOT eating there again.

The rest of the weekend was hearing about how one of my sisters is pissed off about family christmas get-together time.... I am so ready to give her away to the first taker, but I highly doubt anyone would take her. As a whole, all us gals (me, both my sisters, step sister, and mom)discussed and chose which day to do family christmas. We picked the 18th because it was the day that worked best for my one sister. It doesn't necessarily work the best for the rest of us, but we could manage. Now, she's all pissed because I chose to have the meal at about 1:00 because step sister and her daughter have their christmas program at church in the morning, and her daughter has gymnastics practice at 5pm. So the only time they could make it would be between 12-4. My sister is pissed because that's when her baby (10 months old) TAKES A NAP. I told her to bring the baby over and we'll get her down for a nap while the rest of us are eating. She tells me, "She won't do that. She won't sleep because of the noise." My mom offered to bring a portable air cleaner - it makes a bit of *white noise* so it covers up the rest of the noises. My sister says, "I can guarantee that won't work." My mom says, "Can't she skip a nap for one day?" My sister says no. So she's all pissed off at me because now her hubby is going to stay home during our dinner time so the baby can nap then he'll come over with her later. (Personally, I think he'd rather stay home anyhow.) So basically, she's all pissed because I'm not having the get-together at a different time that fits her baby's nap even though others wouldn't be able to make it at all at other times. I am sooooo tired of her temper tantrums.

Other than that, I really don't have too much to bitch about except for the long list of things to do and the short time in which to accomplish those tasks. But I KNOW I'm not alone there. ;)

Brr

Today was one of those days where it was really hard to warm up. The day started this morning when I took Frodo to school. I checked the thermometer outside my dining room window and it says 0ºF. We bundle up and I, in classic ultra lazy American style, DRIVE Frodo the block and a half to school. (My excuse was that I was going to go to the grocery store right after dropping him off. Worked for me!)

My new vehicle has a thermometer in the rearview mirror. Frodo makes note that it says 25º. We're in the garage yet. I tell him to keep an eye on it. As I'm backing out the driveway, it starts dropping, one degree at a time. We start counting out loud and giggling as each degree drops. By the time I get him to the front door of the school, it reads 8º. By the time I drive the two miles to the grocery store, it reads 2º. Brr.

When I got home, I just couldn't warm up! I'm already wearing a turtleneck, a hooded sweatshirt, flannel lined jeans and thick, fuzzy socks. So I grab an extra cup of coffee and a blanket. I'm still not warming up. I jack the thermostat up a few degrees. Aahh... That helps a little.

Next thing I know, I'm asleep on the big chair in the living room. All warm and cozy under the fuzzy blanket. :) By the time I wake up, I actually feel warm. After my big, warm nap, I got a LOT done this afternoon and evening! I cooked dinner (you can all pick your jaws up), I did dishes (don't act so surprised!), and I completely cleaned off "The Thing". (What can I say? It was just too darn cold to go shopping tonight! The cold weather must've done something to my brain....)

"The Thing" is a little hutch *thing* in my dining room. It catches EVERYTHING - papers, pens, pencils, stamps, rubber bands, crayons, art projects, playdoh, paper clips, puzzles, photos.... You get the picture. I don't know how "The Thing" gets so full! I think the stuff that goes on there multiplies as it sits.... It took me 3½ hours to clean "The Thing". I don't think anyone will recognize it now. I bet nobody knew there was an actual piece of furniture under the pile of stuff!

Next stop, the tupperware cupboard. (Eek!!) But not tonight. Although, after having a nap today, I sure am awake now. Sigh. 6:30 is going to come awfully quick....

Currently, it's -1ºF with a windchill of -13º. Maybe I'll try the warm fuzzy blanket trick again.

This woman ROCKS

This exact subject has been weighing on my mind for a few weeks now. I kept trying to think how to put it in words. I'd start a post, then delete it because I had a very hard time getting my thoughts clear and coherent on paper/monitor regarding this subject. Today, I read an article by Molly Ivins - a syndicated columnist based in Houston, Texas. I've read other articles of hers and I really enjoy her. And on this subject, she said it perfectly for me. Like I said, this woman ROCKS.

So without further ado, read the article, and let me know what you think.