Cure for the winter blahs?

Anybody else fighting the winter blues right now? I've got them bad this year. February is usually my toughest month so the next few weeks could be rough. I fought them off last year by scheduling a vacation for early February, but I had too much going on this year to do that again--and now I'm paying for it. I've been getting plenty of exercise and we've actually had a handful of sunny days of late (along with plenty of rain and some snow). I'm not sure what else I can do to ward them off. I feel really antsy and irritable. It's not pretty!

Have you ever tried full spectrum lightbulbs? They're supposed to mimic sunlight so they make you feel like you're getting sun/seeing sunlight instead of blah neon or incandescent lights that you would normally have inside. I think they've been used to treat seasonal affective disorder.

Maybe you could buy yourself flowers, too. They are always nice to have :D

Found this: http://www.fullspectrumsolutions.com/

Would some photos of beaches & warm sunny skies be ok? I'm happy to send postcards or even photos here.

:)

Take up a snow sport. I find myself much more cheerful when it's grey and cold and raining nonstop, because that just means more snow on the mountain! :D

In the winter when I can't bike I either do fitness walking or snowshoeing if there is snow.
Last night, I went one step further and went roller skating for the first time in about 45 years (!!) at the local rink. :eek: :eek: :eek:

Yup... easy cure :p
Move here... our winter is so short there is not really time for winter blues to take hold ;)

It's MARDI GRAS !!!

Throw me somthing, mister! Today's parades were cancelled due to the thunderstorm. But the front will pass through, and we'll have good weather for 4 days straight of parades. And if you're brave, you can mask and go to the French Quarter on tuesday. There is a 12pm curfew. (the party is over at midnight)

Come on down!

CC - I know I'd like some pictures:)

We're in winter blah mode here too. We're supposed to have a warmer weekend, so I will probably get some outside time, but since I pulled my back I can't really do much activity wise (doc said walking = ok, but I really have to take it easy).

How 'bout a spa day??

Maybe rent some really happy movies.
Paint
Buy a bottle of jasmin oil and smell it often
peppermint oil too is very uplifting
take a yoga class
buy a fish

art class--something you've never done before
or, a dance class--like salsa

I know what it's like. When I was only riding (and I am a cold weather wuss), I hibernated because I was used to sunny SoCal. I get tired, irrational (uh, sometimes!), and things that normally wouldn't bother me, bother me.

I agree with taking up new hobbies but I also think getting out is a good thing, if you can. Winter sports, running (if it's not icy out), etc. I actually just read a review of these clip things that go on your shoes for running in snow/ice. For me, if I can't exercise, I get strange and borderline depressed.

I'd also say to not be too hard on yourself. If there's a lot going on in your life AND it's winter, it's a bigtime double whammy. It will pass...just keep reminding yourself of that.

I get bad SAD. If I can't actually TAKE a vacation, just planning one is enough for me sometimes.

She says, trying to figure out where in the heck to take the Airstream, DH and two dogs in 57 days, 10 hours and seven minutes ...

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Originally Posted by Brandi

buy a fish

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And take it to Mardi Gras!

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Originally Posted by Brandi

buy a fish

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Originally Posted by zencentury

And take it to Mardi Gras!

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And watch Proteus, they parade on monday (Lundi Gras)

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'd love to take up a winter sport, but Indianapolis doesn't get enough snow. We were supposed to get between 6 and 8 last night and instead just have this slushy mess to contend with. I have added running to my weekly routine so that I can get outside on days when it may otherwise be too cold or wet to ride.

I'll just plugging along for now. This weekend is actually supposed to be decent enough. One day at a time, right?

Have a great weekend gang!

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Originally Posted by CyclaSutra

I get bad SAD. If I can't actually TAKE a vacation, just planning one is enough for me sometimes.

She says, trying to figure out where in the heck to take the Airstream, DH and two dogs in 57 days, 10 hours and seven minutes ...

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Cyclasutra - We should work out a house swap - you could come here and shop, see the museum, swim, we are smack dab in the middle of IF and Pocatello!

We could do all of the fun Jacksonish stuff - ski, see the elk, etc.

Vacation for both of us!

I have a friend who says the reason February only has 28 days (29 this year, though!) is 'cause we just coujldn't stand for it to be any longer. I was all kinds of bluesy last night - but since you posted this I shall attribute it to winter and defy it. So it's a late start today (no work - college closed 'cause of that snow that's slush for you... we got about 8 inches) but... I'm going to go START .

I guess I have a case of the blahs too. :( I can't get motivated to paint and when I do, it's like pulling teeth. This week was particularly bad. Wednesday I almost laid in bed all day. I've been able to get outside and play up until this week when the weather has been so bad. I did go outside and play in the snow with my girls and Luke and that helped. I feel better today but I still can't seem to get anything finished that I've started. :confused:

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Originally Posted by Flybye

Cyclasutra - We should work out a house swap - you could come here and shop, see the museum, swim, we are smack dab in the middle of IF and Pocatello!

We could do all of the fun Jacksonish stuff - ski, see the elk, etc.

Vacation for both of us!

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You mean Grand Targhee is a huge long way beyond Jackson Hole? And those funny large brown things I been looking at all these years in Whydaho aren't elk? Who knew?
Just say it! You wanna go to Jackson Hole cause the grass is greener or the snow is deeper, or sumthing or other is more bettah', on the other side of the mountains.:p

You girls have it right ... deeper snow, mo' prettier, etc.

But I still have to go to FlyBye's side of the Tetons to find a mall where things like socks, bras and oil changes can be found for a reasonable price. If I had kids, I'd prolly be in Idaho every other weekend for clothes/grocery shopping.

Mmm, retail therapy for the winter blahs ... plotting how to finance it ...

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Originally Posted by indysteel

Anybody else fighting the winter blues right now? I've got them bad this year.

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Indiana can be grey in the winter. I get SAD bad. I'm much much much better off with a south facing office window. When my window was north facing, I got suicidal in Jan/Feb. It's not just being outside...sunny days help. pinkey is right - full spectrum bulbs can help, but I think sunshine is best.

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Originally Posted by CyclaSutra

But I still have to go to FlyBye's side of the Tetons to find a mall where things like socks, bras and oil changes can be found for a reasonable price. If I had kids, I'd prolly be in Idaho every other weekend for clothes/grocery shopping.

Mmm, retail therapy for the winter blahs ... plotting how to finance it ...

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Hmmm...going to Idaho to shop...now THERE'S an idea I wouldn't have considered:D:D;)

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Originally Posted by CyclaSutra

You girls have it right ... deeper snow, mo' prettier, etc.

But I still have to go to FlyBye's side of the Tetons to find a mall where things like socks, bras and oil changes can be found for a reasonable price. If I had kids, I'd prolly be in Idaho every other weekend for clothes/grocery shopping.

Mmm, retail therapy for the winter blahs ... plotting how to finance it ...

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Um...Idaho isn't that far from WA. It's not like I've been to Idaho though I should go but WA has wonderful bras and maybe socks and perhaps oil changes. My car dealer does oil changes and washes my car AND gives me flowers. I can't cheat on them.

I think, however, that warm weather is needed. We were in Southern Calif last weekend and it was decidedly rainy. All things considered, it's Hawaii or Cancun time.

Not to brag or anything, but I do have the nicest bras and the cleanest oil in the land!!! :D:D:rolleyes:

The funny thing about all this is that last week I got the oil changed in my car and later in the day, went bra shopping. Yesterday, we changed the oil in the truck!

Idaho Falls is where Jackson-Hole-ians really have to go to stock up. It is about an hour and a half drive from there, but only a half an hour drive from my door stop. It is the second biggest city, if I remember correctly, in Idaho! Prolly has a population of 15,000 or something like that :D:D:D!!!

http://www.ci.idaho-falls.id.us/main/Index.asp

The grass is greener in Jackson - they have an Elk Refuge with a bazillion elk, lots of museums and culture, the Tetons, and it is just plain old beautiful there!

I have seen a moose at the end of my street, pheasants in the backyard, and a skunk that I'd rather not remember in my front yard :eek:, but never an elk!

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Originally Posted by Flybye

Not to brag or anything, but I do have the nicest bras and the cleanest oil in the land!!! :D:D:rolleyes:

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LALALALALALALA :o:o I'm NOT LISTENING :o:oLALALALALALALALALALA

I know you can handle it, Mr. (On second thought, better stop reading)

At least nobody mentioned hauling one of the girls up into her rightful spot, or bending at the waist to shake them into place.

Speaking of that ... anybody have a favorite D-cup that doesn't look like grandma's bra? It's not good to spill over the top, but so many of the old-school brands only make this size in the matronly version.

I do OK in picking exercise bras, but not everyday double-barreled slingshots.

I take vitamin D supplements in the winter to help with the Blah's. It really has helped, I notice a big difference. I have more energy and have a better attitude about life in general. It's called Active-D.

We have museums, retail therapy, and parades that give out prizes. Mardi Gras, the cure for winter blahs!

And for the next 5 years, Habitat for Humanity is committed to help rebuild houses, so you could sign up to help build homes too. I heard on the news recently that much of the US STILL thinks we're flooded! Thanks to hard work by a variety of agencies, Germany and the Netherlands - the city was drained dry in 3 weeks after Katrina.

So Mardi Gras mambo mambo mambo - the cure for SAD! Mardi Gras, the best free show in North America.

Ah yes - Indiana in the winter.:rolleyes: I grew up outside South Bend. I ended up as far north as I could get, and my sister ended up as far south (Austin TX). My childhood memories of winter consist of mud & ice & slush (with a grey, Novemberish look all winter long) along with infrequent massive blizzards that would shut all the roads down for days. Usually not enough snow to do anything, and too damp & clammy to be outside.

Winter sports saved me. Around here, the people who ski are happy & love it, and the people who don't ski hate it here. I'm actually glad February is here, because we start having some sunshiny days. January is generally pretty sunless.

How about ice skating?

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Originally Posted by Mr. Silver

LALALALALALALA :o:o I'm NOT LISTENING :o:oLALALALALALALALALALA

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Mr. Silver I have to say thanks for the laugh.

When I took up ice skating, I fell and broke my elbow. LOL. Then, a few weeks later, we had a big whomping snow storm.

I'm trying to make the best of things instead of being depressed about the inconsistent outdoor riding conditions (black ice during my usual riding hours). Spinervals make me stronger, as does rowing. If I can't bear the thought of a longer Spinerval, I've been combining two. On Friday, I did two of my favorites--Uphill Grind & Zoot Challenge--back to back. Wooohooo. I'm also putting extra effort into my weight training.

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Originally Posted by CyclaSutra

Speaking of that ... anybody have a favorite D-cup that doesn't look like grandma's bra? It's not good to spill over the top, but so many of the old-school brands only make this size in the matronly version.

I do OK in picking exercise bras, but not everyday double-barreled slingshots.

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It had been ages and ages and ages since I had shopped for regular bras. I pretty much just wear what *we* sell. :) But I decided I wanted to get some traditional "lingerie" bras, since they really do provide a nicer bust line under regular apparel.

On my sister's recommendation, I went to Soma in January. It's the undergarment division of Chico's (and it's usually right next door to Chico's in the mall, with a passage between the two). They have LOTS of different bra styles in plenty of larger cup sizes. I've not been measured for a bra in eons, and although I've gained a little weight, I blithely pulled some 36Ds off the racks and sailed into the dressing rooms. Holy moly;not even close. I walked out of the store with 3 new bras. 36DD, 36DDD and 38DD. :eek::eek:

Anyhoo, I'd highly recommend them. The sales staff was helpful, the selection was good and the prices were reasonable. They even had some of last year's bras 70% off! They have a website too. http://www.soma.com/store/home.jsp? This one is very nice http://tinyurl.com/36cv3k It's the only one I needed the DDD in, because it's a molded cup. Apparently, they usually run a little smaller than non-molded cups. Nice coverage without being matronly.

Hope that helps,

Susan

I recetly got some nice victoria's secret bras in 34D, not matronly at all at their semi-annual sale. I got the ipex demi-cup. I got fit in the store and then mail ordered to get my colors.

Having good fitting everyday bras makes me now hate my exercise bras. I'd worn terry cyclomesh bras for years, but I look so droopy in them. They have zerio support. I've gotta try some of the nice D cups Susan has, but its so hard to be fit for a bra online.

Talk about thread drift! I'm having a great laugh over the fact that we went from talking about SAD to bras!!!!! That's perked me right up!!!!

And on that note, I have no recommendations for D cup bras. I'm about as A cup as they come!

Be thankful for being perky! There's no perkiness left over here!!!! lol.

Karen

Yay, Susan, thanks! And it's great to hear from other girls with ... girls.

You're right, ladies, I totally hijacked the thread and used it for my own titillation. And you are all too perky this early in the morning. But to prevent further saggage of the baggage, it's all important info.

Think sunshine...

When I get the winter blahs, I plan my garden. I have a vegetable garden and lots of flowers. I always try to plant something different, particularly in the veggie garden.

Here in Virginia the crocus are blooming and the tulips are poking up. I was in NC last week and the daffodils are a good 4" out of the ground.

Things are looking up! Plus, the days are getting noticeably longer already.