Of course there will be the move to a warmer climate post (yuck yuck yuck)don't go there it does'nt help. It is about catharsis and dumping for me.
Hasn't been that cold here just gray a lot in fact it's stayed pretty warm most of the winter so far. Blahs are blahs.... anyway doing physical therapy for my back for 3 weeks now some how I've convinced myself that if it were Spring I'd feel better about it. I've done light therapy, work therapy, play dough yogurt jump on 1 foot with a crystal therapy before discovering in therapy therapy that it's ok to be blah every now and then. It frightens some folks and they need they really need to cheer you up or fix it. It's like going to the principals office "are you sure your not depressed JOSEPH" ok so you saw a program on Oprah about depression & have the need to catergorize and pathologize all of every day existance (boy this is good got a nice rant going here). I just accept its part of the cycle and try not to value judge it as positive or negative just is and be there with it unless it really starts to interfere with every day life then I get help becuase it just might be somthing. Then I pet the cats. Edd has patented a velcro wrist and head band for times like this so that your wrsit attaches to your forhead and stays there while you go about your everyday duties....it comes with a woe mantra.
Woe woe woe woe......... (is me) may be stated but is not necessary as the gesture already implies woe is me.
I usually want to smack him around the time he explains this product. He's originally from Eastern Kentucky and his Hillbilly blahs truly outshine my Bronx Irish Catholic misery. His family has the passive aggressive blahs fine tuned and they punctuate every complaint with a list of blessings. We were never aloud to list our blessing while complaining lest some dark force forgot that it left us somthing good and take those away too.

I would not be so crude as suggesting a move to a warmer clime but I do wonder why people stay in the rain forest zone.We have had four overcast days in the last six months.Today is one of them.Otherwise showers and ``bows''.
Do love the Oregon wine country in summer.Walking on the beach,salmon fishing,miss the mountains so it evens out.When your country is good it doesn't get any better.About seven months a year we hide in our house between 9am and 6pm.So our gloating is more sour grapes if you read between the lines.
Ain't nothin perfect.

Joe, I agree! I find the best way to get out of the blahs is to just pitch a b**chfest and wallow in it a while and then get over it. Woe, rant, whine and dump fits me just fine today. Tomorrow will be different. And I just looked outside the believe it or not, the fog has lifted and the sun is shining (but it's still cold).
Kathy

Well you should feel this way this week as Jan 24 is the worst day of the year in the Northern hemisphere for hitting the winter low, but we are now on the upswing. Sometimes it just helps to write it down so we can leave our problems at the 'door' so to say.

I find knitting and hot herbal teas keep my body/hands warm and my mind occupied. Furbuddies will stop by as time permits in their schedule. :)

Jan 24 and Depression

Pete, you are right, "ain't nothin' perfect". I love Oregon summers and falls. Gorgeous sunny weather. But the winter.....well you know!

Orchids-Thanks for the link. The 24th is my DD's birthday. She is 29 this year. My other daughter mentioned that is was the worst day for depression. I have to agree. This started yesterday. But spring will come and summer can't be far after.
Kathy

I love Joe's post, lol.

OK, a suggestion because I'm genetically and environmentally programmed from an incredibly obnoxious list of engineers who always have to give a tip [just one if you are lucky!]

I like to go to lunch at a new ethnic place, or visit that store I've passed by, etc. Just SOMETHING NEW. Even a small new thing can do the trick for me, not totally, but then again I agree that the blahs are just in the course of life. Order delivery from a place in the phonebook that you didn't know delivered... [I swear that's still the same tip ;]

My rants? The usual ;] Except now I also popped my thumb out of some position and can't get my cast back on... but that's good 'cos I made an appointment with the Hand Place for Monday because of it. It only works out because I've been procrastinating in the first place and did need a push, lol. But I'm good and scared of my thumb now [pain] so that's a rant and whine for sure!

Orchids link was pretty interesting, didn't know that Jan 24th was pretty special. The sun and warmth came out finally for the 2nd day in a row here, so I'd already been soaking it up and I was relieved of grandma babysitting duties 2 hours early so that helped also. We're at like the 3 week mark of below 30 of freezing at night and the daytime temps have stayed pretty cold and gloomy at times too but at least not foggy lately, it's been too dry a cold for that, so we've got a break for a change, rather have the fog than 20 some degrees.

Yesterday I got out in the back and actually finished digging two holes, it took me 3 days to dig them for two bareroot roses that I've been soaking for over two weeks because they broke dormancy before the freeze and they were growing in the pail of water. It felt very satisfying to plant them. Today I wandered around HD just for fun looking at plants, not that they have much selection right now and I didn't want anything I've got some more roses arriving in a few days, but I picked up some ornamental fencing to put out tomorrow. It hit 60 again today and the sun was out and I didnt' have any kids to watch for a change. I also wandered around an outlet mall and picked up a couple of nighgowns just because I liked the colors and it's been cold at night and they were long sleeves.

No one wanting anything, no one wanting me to fix them food or set them up with a craft or fix something that was broken or pay them attention, listen to them chatter while my head is killing me.

Now all I have to do today is corral one of the 20 pound cats I gave a tranq to this am and take him to the vet and see why he's scratched all the fur off behind one ear wonder how much this visit will cost:)

I think OR is beautiful country and I love the rain especially if you can be inside in front of a fire and crochet or work at a craft and not have to be outside in it in the winter. My sis lives in Milwaukie and as much as I complain about the heat here I couldn't deal with what you described. She also moved there by choice 15 years ago or so and hasn't had any asthma since so it's wonderful for her.

Sometimes you just gotta let it out and it feels better for doing that and sometimes you need to treat yourself to something different and you'll feel better for that too:)
Leslie

Susanna, my husband told me he heard this on the radio about the most depressing day/week.
My problem is I hate to be cooped up or closed inside. That and the dry heat bother me but I've got a trusy humidifier. I'm thinking of painting some bird houses to keep me busy. Can't wait for spring!!!!!
Oh, I want a couple days away with DH, I hardly ever see him anymore and with those days, NO KIDS and no kid's friends. Was that a run on sentence? Also no driving kid or kid's friends. :)

Carla

I knew I wanted to add to this, and I think I am just rescuing it before it tipples over to the next page.

Kathy, Hope this week finds you feeling more chipper!
You may not know it but I am so greatful to you. You offered assistance and for me to e-mail you. Nearly sent the e-mail. I wrote several pages in long hand first and was about to type away, but I guess I did not want to dump my doom and gloom on you when you were trying to drop it yourself. So I never did type it up into an e-mail, (I still have the written pages.:) )but it did not matter, your encouragement gave me the strength when my doctors appointment came around to let no holes barred. It was obvious I was in a state and with recent panic attacks, which he had been aware of, that had raised my blood pressure to dangerous levels. This ended up my being hooked up to a 24 hour blood pressure monitor. Normal high blood pressure was ruled out as a result of this - I am relieved to say, and it appeared that the elevation went along with the panic attacks which also brought on an incredible urge to go asleep. (not fun when you are driving by yourself). Apparantely panic attacks and depression ofte come hand in hand, so I was heading that way for sure. Looking back now, I feel I have been depressed for a long time but guess I was in denial - certaily never really had the guts to talk about it before. Anyhow he was wonderful with me and prescribed anti-depressants and told me that I would be feeling better in time for Christmas - an how so right he was. Even better after Chrismas. I cannot believe it. Some horrible things happened with my garden stuff because of the state I was in that was very unfortunate, but I have to accept that it is just the way it is and my health is more important.

I have come this far, I may as well tell you. I think you may have seen my beautiful geraniums that I have had for many years, well We started to get them ready for winter early - a really huge job. We had worked at it for a week. Geraniums from large tubs were lifted, topped and tailed and repotted into new medium. So that that in the Spring they could be placed directly on decks and patios without being disturbed. All other Geraniums were cut back and lifted then roots cut and potted into suitable sized pots. We were just about done, not quite, another day's work I guess, so they were all sitting out of the greenhouse waiting for the next phase which was to spray them for aphids before we put them to bed for the winter. This is when I totally gave up and went into my own little shell - my movements were slow to a standstill and I walked so very slowley, then stopped. I could not care about the geraniums, my garden or anything, I had no life left in me. My husband was very good as he knew this was not normal and also new of the pending appointment, which if you remember seemed to take for ever.
Our friends came back from a trip and saw all the geraniums sitting there in the place they were before they lift. They insisted on coming one day and the four of us got stuck in finished of the geraniums (bar spraying) and we got them in the greenhous - this after three days of frost. I have to admit that they did not look good and was this a waste of our time. I still have not put my nose in there, but I can see some green topping some of the pots, so if we get half make it, I will be happy.

The other thing which I still cannot believe happened and I am wondering if it was not entirely my fault though, though I just cannot say. I put out an SOS here on the board, saying "Help my Hortio Roses have been shipped out" I got all kinds of great advice, as it was snowing at the time and I did not know which way to turn. We still did not received them for another ten days (I am pretty sure) At the time I was on the mailand gone to visit and help out my daughter and her family. She had a nasty soccer accident and broke her leg badly having to have surgery to have it screwed and a huge nail put into it she claims. Anyway when I got back The roses had arrived. Alan put them in a bucket of water in the Garden shed. Despite all the good advice I received from folk here. Anyhow - Christmas came immediately and I never could deal with the darn roses. We were busy way into January, and when I finally looked in the shed they were black as the ace of spades. So they have been frozen for sure. I am taking the blame for this, but I wonder if it was entirely my fault.
The other thing. In september I bought approx 200 bulbs for spring blooms - was pretty excited - was going to have a great garden next year. Time is going on - we are up to our eyes in a kitchen makeover but hubby checks into garden shed and a damn rat had got into it and devistated most of the bulbs - even eater, they have a three inch long green shoot on them.

Yesterday I had bladder repair surgery, so I wont be able to lift or do anything heavy for at least to weeks, so gardening is out once again. Tee-hee! it goes on, does'nt it, but you know, I am really very happy right now, we will fix up things the best we can, I have a lot to look forward to especially in April - we are just doing our kitchen up and am loving the new look, so life is finally good, and I hope it is going to be a very long time before I come of the medication.
Another thing that I do in the fall, which was never accomplished is I lift hundreds of primulas which I keep in shady beds in the summer to be placed back to their place of honour in the fall for winter and Spring. I think I could do with a whole crew this Spring to get me going again - Anyone fancy a trip to the island. Tee-hee! - Life is good here.
Love Pauline - Vancouver Island

Kathy, I agree. We have had such a bad winter, and I am sick of being cooped up in the house. We have a 4 month old puppy that can best be trained by walking him, but that is so difficult in this weather. Once I get home from work, change clothes, and eat a little snack, it is very cold - just like you described.

I need to exercise everyday, but I don't want to do it in this weather. Sometimes I accomplish nothing after work, and other times, I have obligations and find the energy. The energy is there. When I do nothing, it is either mild depression or anger at the weather. At times if I will do it, I will take 20-30 minutes to run in place or around the house, run up and down the stairs, jump 30 times, etc. I rotate these, and then feel that I am at least exercising. I also feel so much better if I lift weights.

We will surely have a break in the weather before too long. I believe the name for this condition is SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)- everything has a name anymore.

I have purged my friends who make it a practice to always be negative and bring me down. I used to have casual friends who had problem after problem, and never a resolution. They would not merely describe the problem - telling me as a friend, but they would give me 15 minutes of extra details that didn't support the problem. Those people and those who instantly have a negative twist are now acquaintances or colleagues. If my school tells us we must do something, I don't mind an "oh, darn, not something else". But I hate a rage, and an attempt from some to try to protest.

I am much happier with associating with people who are optimistic.

I have written too long for this hour of the morning. We will all feel better when we can share our garden discoveries.

Sammy

In the east, the weather is playing a cruel trick on us. We thought we were dancing through another warm winter with highs in the 40's or 50's almost every day. But then, it was real winter with highs in the teens and windy. No snow. Just frozen tundra and wind every day. I own no coat which will allow me to spend time outside. Extended forecast shows no break. People are going bonkers.

That's why I have inside hobbies too. I need something to get excited about. So, I do half-@$$ home improvement projects or woodworking. Then I can walk around my house with a beer staring at the results (planning).

Hi everyone:
Thanks for reviving this post, Pauline. I have emailed you offline.

I know that Jan and Feb are usually the hardest months for me. I have been following the news reports about the horrible cold in the midwest and east. I just heard this morning that upstate NY may get up to 100 inches of snow! I don't think I could stand to be cooped up with temps below zero. When I hear about that weather, and of what Oklahoma just went through with freezing rain, I feel lucky. We finally got through our cold spell (only down in the teens) and it's back to the usual low 40's and raining.

One thing I learned about depression is that it isn't logical. Your life could be good or bad, but if you don't have enough seritonin (or other neurotransmitters) you'll see everything through a dark cloud. I am doing much better today than when I wrote my tirade last week. I guess I just needed to vent. Mostly I am getting through the winter ok. I use my SADlight every morning, take my vitamins and Lexapro, get exercise, and play loud music with my band boys every week. It all helps.

Sammy, I have an almost 2 year old "puppy", and I sure know about having to exercise them. Sometimes I think Freddy is the only reason I get out and walk. He makes me walk him or he drives us all nuts. He is a constant source of amusement. When the weather is too bad to get outside, I use one of those laser pointers, stand on the stairs, and he chases the "evil red dot" all around the house. A total crack up!

Harry, I think you are so smart to have a inside hobby to get you through the winter. And JB's and Midge won't eat the gorgeous wood projects you make.

I have noticed that the days are getting longer. When I walk in the morning, the sky is starting to lighten, and I actually have time to walk before dark when I get home from work. Last weekend, we had a rare break from rain and it got up to 55. It felt like the tropics. I got out and pulled some weeds and cut some blackberries. I noticed that the dafs and tulips were poking their green leaves up through the dirt. There is hope!
Hang in there everybody,
Kathy

"He's originally from Eastern Kentucky and his Hillbilly blahs truly outshine my Bronx Irish Catholic misery."

There's gotta be a tv sitcom, or maybe a learned paper, in there...