Anecdotes, Antidotes, and Anodes

Sounds of Silence

 Today's Mon Funday is being hosted by The Church Lady, and her challenge is this:

How do you beat the doldrums when you are stuck in the house either because it is too cold or too hot outside? Do you read? Cook? Complete a home improvement project? Watch movies? Scrapbook? Please share your ideas.

For ideas on how others beat the doldrums, go visit her in Pennsylvania. My suggestion is that you dress for the weather before you make the trip.

I've used the word "doldrums" for years, but never had taken the time to see what its definition is, so, I looked it up...

dol·drums

pl.n. (used with a sing. or pl. verb)

1. A period of stagnation or slump.

2. A period of depression or unhappy listlessness.

3. A region of the ocean near the equator, characterized by calms, light winds, or squalls.

4. a state of inactivity (in business or art etc.); "economic growth of less than 1% per year is considered to be economic stagnation

5. doldrums during June, July, and August are known as 'the dog days of summer"

OK. So, I'm stuck in my house. And yes, this can happen especially in the winter when my driveway is covered in snow and ice. That means it's probably gray outside. And probably cold, too. Like right now with big 'ole downy flakes coming down.

That's when I give myself permission to be less than productive. Hopefully, there is a pot of stew bubbling on the stove, the fireplace is rip-roaring, burning up pinon logs, flannel and/or fleece pajamas are on my body, and a book is in my hand. And then, I sleep.

 

Sometime our winter skies look like this.
(Mt. Garfield is in the left background and The Grand Mesa is in the right background.)

 

And sometimes, our skies look like this. GRAY. . .

. . . with everything frozen into silence, except that eagle . . .

If you listen very intently, you too can hear "The Sounds of Silence."

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For those who have nothing better to do, read on for the Urban Dictionary's take on 'doldrums.'

a.k.a Intertropical Convergence Zone (ICZ)

Early sailors named this belt of calm the doldrums because of the low spirits they found themselves in after days of no wind. To find oneself becalmed in this region could mean death in the era when wind was the only motive force available, and it was certainly a depressing experience to be isolated, in the middle of the ocean, in a hot, muggy climate.

In employment and financial terms, being unemployed and unemployable; a point at which being fired again has caused an unavoidable character evaluation from a jury of your peers; though not legally binding, court related, court appointed, or judicially enforced.

See also, "the pits".

Overwhelmed !

Where do I start ?

 

With a stack of mail like this one ? (There are three others just like it.)

 

Or with these boxes that are blocking the way to my cornpooter ? Yes, those are Christmas packages that have yet to be opened.

Of course, there are suitcases to unpack. 

And phone calls to return.

Not to mention that HansMan must have developed an allergy to hangers. Either that, or he forgot where his closet is because there are a piles of clothes on every piece of furniture in the bedroom.

Oh well. This will all wait. I'm off to take a nap.  Maybe when I wake up, the good fairy will have come and taken care of everything.