Magnificent Monday!

[CathyS]

Hi!

I've been to both knitting groups. I worked on a cross stitch while I was at both. Got some bead onto the piece finally. It's so fiddly to get those teeny tiny beads on to the needle.

Spaghetti and meatballs for supper.

It's been raining on and off all day.

Dh put my snow tires on this morning.

[Nancy]

I have been to lunch and my oatmeal bread was a hit.
I went to the thrift shop after and got a grey shelf that I was going to paint but it goes perfectly with the deck.
Also got a prayer journal.
Came home and walked the dog.
Change into comfy clothes.
Taking a bit of a rest break.
Dug out the plants that got froze.
Did up dishes from yesterday.
After a nap ...
Put the shelf in the shed found the perfect spot for it.
& put the dishes away.

[blessedw2]

so happy your oatmeal bread was a hit d Nancy! it sounds wonderful!!!

[blessedw2]

hello im resting today - waving at u all

[Lady Maverick]

Nancy & blessedw2- Thank you!

Fact of my life.....I detest teaching new Math methods. Using old Math methods to solve problems results in the correct answer almost instantaneous. VS Using new Math method requires having to break down the equation and write out the steps which are tedious and IMHO an unnecessary PITA. However, knowing the correct answer by quickly doing it in your head isn't acceptable. It isn't an option to use old methods in common core math class so DD12 and I teamed up to write out the new math methods of her math homework. I admit to using old math methods to instantly come up with the answer and then work backward to write out the detailed steps which satisfy new math methods.

[Twins' Mom]

LadyM, when I've been depressed I get weepy about nothing and everything and the world is black. I have trouble making decisions and I go off about little things that wouldn't bother me otherwise. I don't even like to think about it. At one point I was so depressed I couldn't read a book because I couldn't even focus my way through a paragraph.

I thought I was getting out of cooking dinner but turned out dh was offering to take me out. Since I didn't want to go out, I'm back to cooking. I have scallops thawing, will make a green salad and add berries to it. Keeping it simple.

I rearranged my stamping card stock to pull all the discontinued colors and add folders for the new colors. I did a little impromptu inventory and ordered what I need to stamp more often.

Tomorrow, I gotta carve out Q rewrite time.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

LadyM: re: depression

First, I check to see if it is the autumn. If yes, I start my SAD light. A long run of cloudy days will trigger it too but are not common enough although during the smoke days in June I pulled out the SAD light as I could feel myself spiraling.

Second, I try and get out for walks or time outside for my tea and chocolate. That helps a lot.

Thirdly, doing things for others helps but not heavy responsibilities. Running something over to the other building is acceptable (plus he is in the least amount of pain in the morning so it forces me to get up and dressed and outdoors to walk across the road, all of which are good things for depression.) Doing something that requires a real commitment is not.

Today was a long day. I'm relieved dgs goes home tomorrow.

He ended up sleeping 13.5 hours last night and didn't have a nap today. We went downstairs around 3:30 and he literally ran a circuit - into the social room, running up and down it 2x, then out the door, past the elevators, hitting the handicap buttons to get out of the building, running around to the other door, into the out lobby, wait for me to trigger into the building and then past the elevators to the social room. Repeat.

He wasn't well behaved in the bath and ended up with a very red ear from falling back while being super silly. He also was running wild with wet feet after I got him out of the bath and wiped out on the kitchen tile floor (but stopped himself from hitting his head on the tile.) I eventually physically grabbed him, put him on his back, my leg over his pelvis and got him diapered and into pjs. He was really mad at me but that pressure point is pretty disabling so he was trapped.

He went to be at 7:25 (a half hour early) but I'll wake him up at 7:30 tomorrow instead of letting him sleep really late. I've learned my lesson.

I'm not sure what the plan is for tomorrow. His parents are driving home tonight from NYC. I have to do Halloween setup and handout tomorrow so need to be back here by 4 at the latest if I'm dropping him off, which means he'll have a short or non-existent nap tomorrow unless his parents pick him up from here.

[Harriet]

Magnificent BAKING DAY! Lovely cupcakes all ready for decorating tomorrow and a layer of cake in the freezer. Have a plan for a fun assortment of cupcakes and other treats. Little brownies already made need decorating, Pretzels already dipped need a bottom to sit upon. On the chance there is time, I might get the layer out, thaw, and make something bitsy from that, but it isn't necessary.

Does this have to do with depression chat here today... ..
Dd25 and I have been having really deep, philosophical chats about CREATIVITY bringing people joy and being GOOD FOR YOU because we are meant to be creative. She says it's how we're made - both the deep concept of being made in the image of a greater artist, and that of having a longing inside to find an outlet that pleases us/others/potentially that greater artist. She states it so well, you can tell she's thought about it a lot. I am nagging her to write it down.

She says she watches me, for instance, and notices that I am whimsical/cheery/funny when I have creative outlets sparking, even if the house gets messy.

However, I can get teary when overwhelmed, specifically - try to avoid overwhelm (I know, I know).

More

Otherwise, visually seeing actual SUNSHINE, Vitamin D (must be supplement this time of year). Get tested for Vit D and you never know - that can be a culprit. Who was it who just said they are back to taking B-12 - Cathy? That can be a helpful supplement, too. Brazil nuts, just one or two in any one day, are naturally rich in serotonin, which helps us with even moods. Others with some studies to back them up: Walnuts. Greens. Apples. Tea. Sweet Potato. Look in the mirror and wink at yourself and wonder what she's got that she's cooking up because she is interesting, unpredictable, and you get to be her best friend.

[Harmony]

Kathryn, you really are busy. I don't know if I could keep up with what all you are doing. I doubt it.

Depression: my symptom is sometimes anger. I'm interested to read what everybody's solutions are. I know what NOT to do, take on major projects, add to my work load. I like to sit quietly and read a good book, that gets me "out of my head about whatever is bothering me." Stress eating does not help. Going outside is nice but not strenuous exercise. Time out alone, maybe a walk around in a store seems to take my mind off things. Maybe the solution is different for everybody.

Ok, I was out the door at 8:40 with DH in tow. We went to next town and found our way to the Drs. office. Here's the funny part (well, not funny) a little later we were talking about our schedule and I asked if he remembered how to get to that office...and he remembered that's where we went but not that I was seeing someone in the same office he's going to on Friday. How did he get that confused? Oh, so THAT was Dr. G___'s office? Yes that's what I told him, that I was seeing the nurse in that same office. sigh...it's 30 minutes from our house, how badly can he get lost?

I don't make appointments for him on Fridays when I am out and unable to go with him. They had called to cancel Thurs apt and change it to Friday and he took that call and said ok. I saw the nurse practitioner today and I liked her very much. She had a lot of knowledge about what is going on with me. I asked her what exactly this is and she gave me the name of something I had found on the net, picture and all, so I was right. She called in an Rx, something to take orally for a few weeks and said to use one of the ointments I already have. Told her that was one that burned and itched and I couldn't use it...but she said use vaseline first and then this and it should be alright. So I'll try it. How it gets through the other to do any good is puzzling, but she seemed to know what she was talking about. She was very very nice. I haven't picked up the Rx yet, it is there waiting, so I'll go tomorrow morning.

I put on my loose nightgown and that's a mistake. All comfortable and sleepy so I curled up in bed and didn't get up till it was time to make dinner. We had chicken and yellow rice, gravy and brussel sprouts. Man tonight I'm itchy all over. I sure hope I can get this better.

Harriet, I wonder if that creativity thing is the same for everyone. I'm not as creative as you are. I am satisfied and content when I get messes cleaned up and organized nicely. Creative ventures are rather stressful to me. Is it that we are happiest when we acknowledge whatever side of our brain is calling out to us? Really wonder what you think about that. I suspect more Shes are creative than organized. I've always found creative projects stressful to do and not especially fun, my fun and sense of satisfaction comes when it is done. Then I am happiest and keep looking at the finished project, just like I do when I get a closet organized or files straightened. Same feeling. Any of this make sense?

[lucylee]

CI:
So good to see you, Kathryn -- but I definitely understand where you're coming from... time with dgs has to be exhausting! FUN, rewarding, happy... and EXHAUSTING. I had my usual weekend with dgd Fri. night, dgs Sat. night, and both Sunday night. Took them to school this morning, and dgd was already wanting to come back "and stay at least an hour?" I told her I had to take groceries to dmom and tonight was not good.

DH said when they came in to get their things this afternoon, dgd was very quiet and would barely talk to him. She has times like this -- she's just moody and doesn't want to talk. DH tends to take it personally and start thinking she doesn't like him or something, but I think it is just her moody temperament. I dread when she reaches those pre-teen years.

I took a Zofran to calm down and sleep last night and I've been fine today. (See J&C if you missed the reason for my panic attack last night.)

Hmmm -- what to do when depressed? Dmom told me a long time ago when I was having a time with depression: "Do something nice for somebody else." It really did help.
DOING anything is usually a good starting point, (cleaning, working on something that requires physical activity just for fun, anything that gets you moving), and getting out of the house and seeing other people usually works to some extent, also. * Spending time with the animals seemed like a perfect outlet for your dd, btw!
Sometimes losing myself in a book is a good "escape."
Talking to someone who is a good listener and who can offer some objective viewpoint.
Keeping a gratitude journal is good too, but sometimes it's hard to come up with three things, if a person is really having a hard time.
And of course, I would recommend prayer, Bible reading, and sometimes singing hymns to myself helps.
These are all good aids for anxiety, too. (But last night, nothing would work till I took the Zofran and got my stomach to stop churning.)
Do ds & dd get along well, LadyM? Is he the type person she can confide in and who is willing to be a helpful big brother in times like this?
Harmony -- I think I am more organized than creative, really , although, as I may have told y'all -- all my classmates expected me to have my first novel written long before this age! And I do love to write, but with dh hogging the computer, sometimes it is difficult to find time. I do love organizing and like you, love to look at the finished product! Finding the energy & motivation to get started is sometimes my problem, and that may be a sign of depression, or just mental exhaustion in itself.
Harriet -- your thoughts, and your dd's are very interesting on that subject.

After a long weekend like this, I always feel like I've been away from y'all forever!

Twins, my dh LOVES scallops. How do you fix yours? Do you just start with frozen scallops from the grocery store? I've never done them at home.
Cathy's spaghetti sounds good too! I like spaghetti with just meat sauce -- tomato sauce with ground beef and seasonings. I haven't cooked any in quite a while, but that is one thing I can do that everyone likes and I like to make.


And LadyM, I would be the same way about "new" math. I saw something on FB yesterday showing how to do multiplication. It was the most convoluted thing I've ever seen. I kept thinking, "or we could just do it the same old way that has worked for hundreds of years..."

Blessed, you have certainly earned some rest! Being the "on call" person for your dh AND your dmom is just as exhausting as caring for a grandchild!
Even if they don't NEED anything, it's a mental exhaustion of knowing they MIGHT be depending on you. And it is depressing to have someone you love in poor health and feeling helpless at times, too.

Nancy, how many journals do you keep on the long term? I know I've asked you that before -- but I'm thinking now, not just for the fear of someone reading them, but also the space required to store them.

Rose -- what are you taking??? I need some of that energy!!!

No snow here, of course, but brrrrr... the temperature is definitely dropping. We have a freeze warning for tomorrow night, I think. It may get that low tonight.

It has been laundry day here -- starting last night with Sheldon's towel/underwear marathon. I have a load of jeans & colored clothes in the washer now and probably will only have one additional load. Need to get everything done so I can iron Wednesday or Thursday.
I've also run a bunch of errands and had a lot of phone calls today:
* Doctor's office for Sheldon's rx renewal (which led to their request for his labwork in two weeks. He blamed ME for keeping them on the phone too long. I told him, "Henceforth, do your messages yourself."
* Transmission man... no we don't have our Tahoe back yet... MAYBE by Friday... told him how important this is, that I do NOT want to drive a 20 year old truck to Nashville alone!
* DBIL re: !&*_(*&!#! condo. Good news, dbil has talked to the Servpro people and seems fine with handling details from here on out. Of course, he doesn't really care if it takes forever; it's not HIS bathroom that's torn down to the studs.)
* Dmom re: a thousand different things...
* Went to drug store for dh
* Went to other drug store for me & dmom
* Went to grocery store for dmom
* Took dmom her groceries, with dh
* Went to eat supper with dh
* Continued laundry before/during/after all this -- had a scare that dryer wasn't working but apparently it was a false alarm, everything else has dried just fine
* Talked to ddil re: tomorrow night, dgd's bday, feasibility of a girls' trip to the beach with dmom (ddil is ALL in for that!)
* Just talked to dbil again re: dgd's bday celebration and the upcoming weekend. He and his dgf will be going up Friday and staying till Sunday, so no chance of tagging along with them, even if I wanted to -- he asked me to check his mail periodically -- he is leaving tomorrow for a conference and will not return till after ballgame weekend

Whew...