Friday, January 23, 2009

A Cabin Fever Friday Five

Singing Owl has cabin fever, and reports:
Here in snow country we are settled in to what is a very long stretch of potentially boring days. The holidays are over. It is a very long time till we will get outside on a regular basis. The snow that seemed so beautiful at first is now dirty and the snow banks are piling up. Our vehicles are all the same shade of brownish grey, but if we go to the car wash our doors will freeze shut. People get grumpy. Of course, not everyone lives in a cold climate, but even in warmer places the days till springtime can get long. Help! Please give us five suggestions for combating cabin fever and staying cheerful in our monochromatic world?

Well. I admit that relating to this dilemma is not easy when today's forecast is "sunny and 78 degrees", and the camellias are in bloom. So I started thinking about what I like to do in mid-August, when it's 98 degrees outside with 90% humidity, and I hunker down in the house, thankful for central air conditioning:

1. Make a list of all the movies you've been wanting to see (having a Netflix queue helps, of course), and watch one or two per week.
2. Play your favorite music. Sing along, loudly.
3. Think of a meal that sounds interesting and delicious, and prepare it with your favorite kitchen assistant at your side. If you are so inclined, open a special bottle of wine to accompany it, not the everyday stuff. (Go ahead! What are you saving it for?)
4. Read, read, read. Nothing heavy, though; light fiction and travelogues are perfect.
5. This does NOT apply to me, but if you are crafty like Mindy, or love to sew, make something colorful and cheerful.

Well, it's supposed to be colder tomorrow, so I guess I should go out and pull weeds now. I'd rather stay inside!

15 comments:

LutheranChik said...

Numbers 3 and 4...oh, yeah.

Di said...

Travelogues are maybe my very favorite escapism reading!

RevDrKate said...

Love 3 and have 2 on mine also! Trying not to covet my neighbor's weather, though.

Rev Kim said...

Love 2 and 3 - we try to do that one, especially the wine part on a Friday evening!

Princess of Everything (and then some) said...

I love me some Netflix! *grins* you too can craft...I promise.

Lori said...

Netflix and home karaoke! You cannot be grumpy with those.

Sally said...

love this esp 3 & 4, not 5 so much though as I can't sew.

Auntie Knickers said...

Good ideas, even coming from Camellia-land. And to tell the truth, I'd prefer what I've got to that 98 degrees stuff.

Terri said...

I could go for a movie marathon right about now...it's in the 60's here, but rainy (what a nice relief rain is)....such good ideas!

Julie said...

Great play! I love to snuggle up with a book and read just for FUN. :)

Ruth Hull Chatlien said...

We have a collection of about 300 videos (hubby has a degree in film and video), so we just watch those.

RevAnne said...

Music and movies, how could I forget?
Great play!

Anonymous said...

These are great ideas (1-4 for me, at least) in subzero temps as well.

Stratoz said...

weeding. hmmm. did you get outside?

zorra said...

I did! There's always MORE weeding to be done, though.