Gail's Top Ten Ways to Kick the Blues'
It's WARW's "Top Ten Weekend." They're the local classic rock station and they're playing a variety of Top Tens. Right this minute it's Top Ten Aerosmith songs. With that in mind, and since I've been feeling a little lonesome for the flatlands, here -- in no particular order -- are my Top Ten ways to kick the blues'.
1 Drive down the road with all your windows down, your sunroof open and your radio LOUD, listening to the opening rifs of Heart's "barracuda" (#3 on WARW's Top Ten Women Who Rock. #1 was Bonnie Raitt)
2 Do a little laundry. As housework goes, it's not very taxing & still brings a sense of accomplishment. If you want to pull out the big guns, hang it outside to dry and take a good deep breath when you bring it in (hopefully not at 10:30 pm in your jammies, having forgotten it was out there until you hear the first sprinkles on the roof), or Swiffer some hard floors, but be careful. DO NOT dwell on how much easier your life would be if you didn't have: a dog capable of producing dust bunnies the size of a canned ham in the time it takes to watch American Idol, children who leave 3 1/2 pairs of shoes under the dining room table & a science experiment on top of it or a cat who thinks any small thing on a horizontal surface would look better on the floor.
3 Shine your shoes. This works especially well on shoes with smooth, closed toes (sandals, not so good). Now every time you glance down at your feet, they're grinning back at you.
4 Talk to someone interesting. Or funny. Or professional (which profession is your choice.) If you're lucky, all three.
5 Have some rhubarb -- muffins, crisp, or sauce will do but pie is the most powerful. For amateurs, throw in some strawberries. It tastes like Spring.
6 Read an essay or two from Amazing Grace by Kathleen Norris, Something More by Sarah Ban Breathnach or flylady.net. Read a bit of Moby Dick by Herman Melville. (This also appears on my top ten list of things to do to fall asleep.)
7 Do some little thing about which you've been procrastinating. (Sew on that button, mail that check, change that furnace filter, learn to sail ...)
8 Knit something with really nice yarn in a color you adore, not just something you "should." Alpaca is my preference. If you don't knit (yet), paint or play a musical instrument or work a puzzle or can some jam. Every artist has his medium. (Loved the rainier cherry preserves with brandy & cinnamon.)
9 Brush your hair. Brush your dog. Brush your dog hair (off your suit).
10 Sit up straight. Do those back & abdominal exercises your physical therapist/chiropractor/osteopath/Jedi Master has been begging you to do.
11 Go bra-less. This obviously has more appeal for some than for others.
12 Go to the Paine Art Center in Oshkosh and see the "Electric Tiffany" exhibit (June 3 - October 8). This is probably my priciest suggestion, especially if you have to fly in from out of town.
13 Drink water.
14 Write in your blog, your journal or both.
1 Drive down the road with all your windows down, your sunroof open and your radio LOUD, listening to the opening rifs of Heart's "barracuda" (#3 on WARW's Top Ten Women Who Rock. #1 was Bonnie Raitt)
2 Do a little laundry. As housework goes, it's not very taxing & still brings a sense of accomplishment. If you want to pull out the big guns, hang it outside to dry and take a good deep breath when you bring it in (hopefully not at 10:30 pm in your jammies, having forgotten it was out there until you hear the first sprinkles on the roof), or Swiffer some hard floors, but be careful. DO NOT dwell on how much easier your life would be if you didn't have: a dog capable of producing dust bunnies the size of a canned ham in the time it takes to watch American Idol, children who leave 3 1/2 pairs of shoes under the dining room table & a science experiment on top of it or a cat who thinks any small thing on a horizontal surface would look better on the floor.
3 Shine your shoes. This works especially well on shoes with smooth, closed toes (sandals, not so good). Now every time you glance down at your feet, they're grinning back at you.
4 Talk to someone interesting. Or funny. Or professional (which profession is your choice.) If you're lucky, all three.
5 Have some rhubarb -- muffins, crisp, or sauce will do but pie is the most powerful. For amateurs, throw in some strawberries. It tastes like Spring.
6 Read an essay or two from Amazing Grace by Kathleen Norris, Something More by Sarah Ban Breathnach or flylady.net. Read a bit of Moby Dick by Herman Melville. (This also appears on my top ten list of things to do to fall asleep.)
7 Do some little thing about which you've been procrastinating. (Sew on that button, mail that check, change that furnace filter, learn to sail ...)
8 Knit something with really nice yarn in a color you adore, not just something you "should." Alpaca is my preference. If you don't knit (yet), paint or play a musical instrument or work a puzzle or can some jam. Every artist has his medium. (Loved the rainier cherry preserves with brandy & cinnamon.)
9 Brush your hair. Brush your dog. Brush your dog hair (off your suit).
10 Sit up straight. Do those back & abdominal exercises your physical therapist/chiropractor/osteopath/Jedi Master has been begging you to do.
11 Go bra-less. This obviously has more appeal for some than for others.
12 Go to the Paine Art Center in Oshkosh and see the "Electric Tiffany" exhibit (June 3 - October 8). This is probably my priciest suggestion, especially if you have to fly in from out of town.
13 Drink water.
14 Write in your blog, your journal or both.
posted by Gail | 4:15 PM
2 Comments:
Moby Dick??? If boredom and/or malaise cure the blues, then I guess it could work. Heck, why not go all out and go with "Billy Budd"? Speaking of boredom, smf started reading "Murder Room" over the weekend, and she said it took P.D. 10 chapters just to introduce the characters! What can I say? In my never-ending quest for instant gratification, I prefer authors who get to the point, already!
Liked the one about doing a little laundry. Whenever I feel like I should be doing something constructive but don't have the ambition to really tackle something, I head for the laundry hamper. It's my favorite way of feeling virtous about accomplishing something when I really don't feel like doing anything.
Post a Comment
<< Home