Comments on: Battling Winter Despair

By: robodad

robodad — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 06:22:46 +0000

Strangers should totally high-five each other more often.

I take colorful pictures of my happy children on flowery spring days. I frame these pictures, put them on my desk, otherwise save them for winter and other dreary times.

High-fives and happy children. Yay!

By: sandi

sandi — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 15:07:27 +0000

I’ve been pretending that winter doesn’t exist here in the Northeast. With temperatures up in the high 50s and 60s and even the sun out (usually when it’s warm here, it’s overcast and glum)…well, I just decided that we were done with all that stuff. And now I read that we’re to get a FOOT OF SNOW overnight, I am pushing back despair myself. Sometimes I can get through snow by enjoying the fact that everything just stops, you stay in your pajamas all day, sipping tea by the fire and reading…but mostly it’s tough because you CAN’T do that stuff and you have to go out and shovel and try to get down your hilly driveway to do stupid errands and go to appointments that you promised back when the sky was sunny and blue and winter wasn’t coming back. *Sigh* Spring takes soooo long to come here to Connecticut. Late May, really, before you can count on it.

By: bloglily

bloglily — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 18:03:01 +0000

Hello Chris, and welcome! I think you are on to something. It is in contrasts that we find pleasure. I’ll be sure to remember that when I’m opening my umbrella!

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 12:46:37 +0000

Perhaps I’m a minority of one, but I like winter.

And hell, if we didn’t have winter, how would we know to enjoy summer so much?

By: bloglily

bloglily — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 20:49:43 +0000

Oh, you are all so wonderful!

Jana — Yes, I think finding something creative to do is part of the answer to the weather. I can’t wait to see your drawing and hope you post it!

High five to you too Sylvia.

It’s so nice to see you over here, Estarla. As you probably know, those of us who live in the real part of California look askance on those who live in the other part and cannot deal with even a smidge of rain.

mmm Courtney. Your house sounds like a little outpost of beauty and fun.

Dear Emily, I wonder too if the snow would be better than the rain. I think it’s a bit of a wash, really.

Welcome Capt. Cat — Your blog is really terrific and what an interesting life you are leading. I love the idea of ruthless honesty, as long as the person who’s being ruthlessly honest is telling me, for example, how much they love the idea I have for my novel, or the deliciousness of the short story I’ve sent them.

Hello Eoin, That mug works wonders, it really does. We should all have one such.

Hey Kamigoroshi (edrei!), How fun to have a 9rules person here. I love your thought about being out in it all and enjoying it and will try to do that. Thank you for the reminder.

Welcome Bert — You know, you and my husband are quite similar. He was thrilled about the rain, jumped right in the car, flew up to the mountains and had what he claims is the best skiing in decades. I like the snow too, but sometimes I’m a sit by the fire person.

You know Bora, I’d like that too. Work=nonsense=high five.

Debbie, you always make me laugh. As long as my cave has good food in it for when I wake up in the middle of the night, I’m good with the whole hibernation thing.

Goodness Sarah, that’s a LOT of weather. I can see how a little rain and gloom would be welcome. (And glad to see you here, by the way!)

Dear Ann, You’re right — the change in how much daylight we are getting is a good thing to look out for. The trick, I think, is to be sure to remember to look for it. xo, BL

Hello litlove, The garden in one’s head! Yay for books that do that.

Charlotte, I like thinking of you going for walks with your children by the river. It sounds like just the right thing for right now.

Edwin, High five for all that! Wine, cat, loved one, coffee. What more is there?

As always, dear Mandarine, you are so right!

By: Jana Bouc

Jana Bouc — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 06:36:54 +0000

The picture of the toast was so perfectly heart warming. Nothing like some good carbs to fight the January blues. My malaise was so bad this week I couldn’t even go to work. I went in Tuesday (my first day back from vacation) and then couldn’t face the raw weather (and was fighting a cold) on Wednesday and felt even worse today so I’ve basically stayed in all week, feeling blah and even more down from being literally “under the weather” — well, probably not literally because that doesn’t make sense at all, but gives me an idea for a drawing! Now I’m inspired! Thanks!

By: Sylvia

Sylvia — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 20:44:21 +0000

Heh. It’s a wonder what can happen when we let ourselves be human. High five!

By: Esther

Esther — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 17:19:42 +0000

When it rains in Los Angeles, we have two kinds of people, and no more. Those who hate the rain with a vengeance, and those who love it. Those who love it, do so because it’s so rare – and they appreciate that it clears out the smog when it’s all done with. The former, quite frankly, are spoiled little children. Haha.

*high five to bloglily*

By: Courtney

Courtney — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 15:51:33 +0000

I’m been finding myself in a pretty black mood lately as well, but normally I don’t so much mind January, so I don’t know if it’s the winter or stress or other things contributing to my mood as of late. By the way, your toast looks delicious! Today I am appreciating the smell of garlic roasting in my oven for a new tapenade (I’m working from home) and my ridiculously huge cd collection…I am enjoying browsing through it and choosing just the right cd each time…other things that make me happy are Oscar worthy movies and college basketball…January isn’t ALL bad thanks to those two things.

By: Emily

Emily — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 12:03:11 +0000

I guess I’m the sole lover of winter, although I’ve moved to a place where we don’t seem to get any snow, and we’ve had tons of rain, so maybe I’ll start despising it at some point. Meanwhile, next time I’m feeling gloomy, because we never get any snow, I’m going to come back here and look at your pictures.

By: Captain Cat

Captain Cat — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 11:13:56 +0000

I’d have high-fived you if you’d said that to me – it’s a pretty awesome, ruthlessly honest response.

I found your blog on Mischief Mari’s blog – what a fabulous find. Love your posts and your thoughts. And your clothes! (reading about browns and boots and belts).

Hope you have a wonderful time in London, which is one the coolest cities on the planet.

By: Eoin Purcell

Eoin Purcell — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 08:37:42 +0000

BL,

What a cheery mug you have there! Hope January gets better. It can be such a tough month! I echo your High Five!

Eoin

By: Edrei

Edrei — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 06:51:41 +0000

Or we could go out and enjoy the moments as it is for ourselves. The fall of the rain. The crisp freshness of the air.

Winter time for me is one of those seasons where it gives me all the reason to feel alive. All it takes is to step out not because we’re pushing back our despair, but genuinely happy for the fact, there is so much we take for granted and we have now to revel in it all.

By: Bert

Bert — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 04:40:04 +0000

I dont mind winter, as long as there is snow and I can ski. We’ve had a few -20 to -30c nights here.
At least the days are getting longer again.

By: Bora

Bora — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 23:23:29 +0000

I don’t mind January, the dark, the rain and cold, per se. It’s all this go to work, be a functioning adult nonsense that gets me down. Let me stay in my pajamas and read and play board games with my kids. I’d be the very picture of cheerfulness.

Thanks for the post.