I hate global climate change. While I don’t demand perfection from the weather, I do prefer some level of predictability. And I’ll define that very loosely, too, but I do wish we could come up with something vaguely familiar for this time of year in this locality.
I’ve been at high whine for a month, since we officially topped 100oF. Although we have had some respite, it has been too close to the century mark too many days. I am way past tired of this. Nothing is growing properly – I don’t know a single person around here with a decent tomato crop, the blackberries are shriveling and dying on the vine, not a single squash plant had any blooms. Even though we are getting rain along, it doesn’t seem to be helping much and my garden is dismal. But so is every other garden around here. And to top it off, the 17 year locusts didn't show up, but they were replaced by a plague of tiny grasshoppers in some areas and bag worms in other locales.
I know many of you are dealing with a similar situation and probably don’t want to hear about it. So let me tell you how I’ve gone about improving my mood (if not that of my husband). This week I did one of my favorite things – and one that I’ve missed for many years now.
I created full blown chaos in my home this week. It doesn’t work for everyone, but it is a sure-fire way for me to get out of a funk. Everything moved – every piece of furniture, every book, every DVD. The dining rooms became an office, a bedrooms became the den – nothing is where it was before, even in the kitchen. And I am happy. Exhausted, but happy.
My impetus to initiate the great leap forward came with two phone calls – one from a friend, the other from a relative. Our friends were coming to visit this weekend, which gave me my time frame. The other call was from my SIL, who is coming on vacation next week, which gave the idea to change everything.
Since I have been in and out of the hospital lately, my housecleaning has really taken a beating. My husband tries to keep up, and he is really very good at it, but there aren’t enough hours in a day. Guess what gets by with a lick and a promise. Well, this week that promise was fulfilled.
We moved, we cleaned, we took down drapes and washed windows. We cleaned carpets and rearranged furniture. We painted walls and facings. I finally got my books in order again, and we only had to add one bookcase. We had a delightful visit with friends, who left this morning to continue their journey. Tomorrow I am on to my next project – creating a catalog for my fabric stash.
Although my husband is a little resistant to change, once it is underway, he usually gets on board. I have really not been able to do any major furniture moving in 4 or 5 years because of my COPD, so this took him entirely by surprise. And while it was probably a lot more than I should have done, I am very happy with the results. It’s the next best thing to getting a new house.
So tell me what you have been doing to improve your mood lately. But first, a word from our sponsors.
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Tonight’s Top Comments . . .
From
Dragon5616:
In kos' front page post Can the GOP win millennials? Good luck with that, I got a laugh from this comment by citizenx.
CA ridebalanced tells about meeting Rupert and Liz Murdoch in the mid-90s in Brit's rec list diary FALL OF HOUSE OF MURDOCH VI: Elisabeth actually said "James and Rebekah F*cked the Company".
From
bronte17:
From Hedwig... Welcome to the GOP's version of the "Real" America... defaulting on our people and society... from It Has Gotten To This Point by webranding.
From
Expatjourno:
GreenSooner points out that embarrassing the Republicans is not a victory if it locks Democrats into bad policies, in Hunter's diary Krugman: GOP does not accept the legiutimacy of Democratic presidency.
From
frandor55:
This comment by gmoke in my diary 40 Tears On...Marvin Gaye: "What's Going On" .....crystalizes the effect of Marvin Gaye's classic song.
From
Angie inWAState:
Top Comments Nomination for this comment by Dragon5616 in the excellent ericlewis0 diary Animal Nuz #55. Because Truth must be recognized wherever we find it!
From
me:
SingleVoter provides some details about sharia law that explain why GOPers hate it -- not only does it require the wealthy to pay an additional tax to assist the poor, it forbids usury and unfair trade practices.