Scratch that trip to the middle east

[clevermanka]

I mentioned a couple weeks ago that one of our grad students showed the secretaries his photos from Egypt and Dubai. He encouraged me to go ahead and consider a trip there, since he and his travelling companion had no problems and were welcomed everywhere they went.

OK, well nix that, I guess. What a shitty situation to be in. I can't imagine how terrifying.

In other news, I'm feeling better today, although still very tired. My body feels heavy and my brain is sluggish. I fell back asleep after my alarm went off this morning--something that happens so rarely I can't remember the last time. I think I am, as a couple of you have mentioned, a bit depressed. But being at home alone yesterday for a couple hours was restorative. When mckitterick asked me what I did after he left for work, I honestly didn't know what to tell him. It felt like the time flew by, but I wasn't busy or anything. I just sorta sat around and relaxed (in between loads of laundry).

I used to be on Wellbutrin from October to April for SAD, but haven't had to take it for a while. I wonder what's changing? I wonder if I need to talk to my new doctor about it. I guess I'll see if I start feeling better anytime soon.

American Science & Surplus has a baaaaaby Tesla coil for sale. I wish it wasn't $239. That's two hundred dollars that could be way better spent. It's just so pretty...

Speaking of pretty, I bought some a-may-zing yarn from bestill that will be used for My First Sweater Project. Yes! I'm knitting a sweater. bestill and fireguarder (who've both seen the pattern) think I'm off my gourd for trying this as my first knitted garment. They're probably right. I might back off that and make a double-breasted vest pattern first--then dive into the sweater project. There's no way I'm getting the sweater done for this winter, anyway, so might as well attempt something I have a hope of finishing before the weather gets warm again. But anyway, the yarn I got from bestill is gorgeous hand-dyed stuff that mottles from dark cranberry that's almost black to a light pink. I picked it over the equally gorgeous brown/green/gray because it will go with black, brown, or gray skirts.

Oh, and what's currently on the needles? Some steampunk legwarmers. I know, I know. Legwarmers? Trust me. They might turn out really cool.

I just realized that yesterday was the first day I broke my current New Year's Resolution. Dang. Guess that means extra drinkin' tomorrow.

Comments

[darkgaze2002.livejournal.com]

Oh! Steam punk????
Are you knitting on dpn or are you knitting straight and will seam them up the center back? What kind of yarn? what size needles? How are they steam punk?

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

They're knitted flat and will button up the side. They look kind of like long, bulky spats. Hopefully.

I'll write up a pattern when I'm done.

[solan-t.livejournal.com]

I hope to high heaven I never have to go to Dubai for work, either. *shudder*

[scary-manilow.livejournal.com]

This is the longest I've made it without breaking a resolution. Do I win an award?

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Do I win an award?

You bet. Drink up!

On SAD...

[ladyniniane.livejournal.com]

(second try - I had issues on the first posting)

If you have not already done so, change as many as possible of your light bulbs at home to the true daylight variety. I've used both of the GE brand ones (Reveal and Daylight). The cost is a trifle bit higher than standard bulbs in either version (less than a dollar in most cases), and the color takes a bit of getting used to (it is heavy in the blue spectrum), but it really does make a difference.

I tried the Reveal bulbs about two years ago, when I was looking for better lighting for our bathroom, and it really brightened up that area. Then I put one of the fluorescent versions in the main fixture in our bedroom (a stronger wattage, so it was really bright) and noticed an odd thing - the hanging plants at the windows of that room suddenly started showing healthy new growth in the wintertime on the sides facing *into* the room, even with southwest-facing windows.

It was about that time that I realized that I wasn't nearly as draggy in the mornings as I used to be. I do not have a SAD diagnosis, but I, like most people, notice that my energy levels during winter mornings can be lower than I like. If slightly-blue-tinted light bulbs can make that much of a change (especially at a cost substantially cheaper than the prescription lamps), I'm all for it.

When we moved down here to Parsons, we replaced every dead or nearly-so light bulb in the rental house with Daylight bulbs - not quite as blue, but still enough of the daylight spectrum to make things better, especially in my bedroom which has no outside-facing windows (yes, it's an odd house).

Re: On SAD...

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the info about the lights. Unfortunately, the light bulb thing didn't do beans for me. I tried it back when I initially had troubles. We already have the energy-saver fluorescents in all our fixtures at home for environmental reasons.

The Tesla coil wasn't for lighting--just as something really freakin' awesome to have in the living room. How cool would it be to have a living room that looked like part of the set from Young Frankenstein?

I think what would help me most is getting more exercise. It's kind of a Catch-22 situation.

Re: On SAD...

[royal-spice.livejournal.com]

The Tesla coil wasn't for lighting--just as something really freakin' awesome to have in the living room. How cool would it be to have a living room that looked like part of the set from Young Frankenstein?

YES! This idea is made of awesome!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Hooray for people who share my wacky design sensibilities!

[kalimeg.livejournal.com]

Oh what ambition! I never did finish the sweater I started in 1964....

I did make 2 and a half afghans, however. The half is in a box somewhere, waiting patiently for me to finish it. The other two went to my son and my goddaughter. I made a pillow cover to go with the girl-child's, but she absconded with it so her dolls would have a blanket that went with hers. Good enough.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I never did finish the sweater I started in 1964....

Hey, the retro look never goes out of fashion. You should dig it back out!

[kalimeg.livejournal.com]

You credit this thing with a "look". I don't think so.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Oh, dear. Just a basic long-sleeved crewneck, then?

[bestill.livejournal.com]

Wow, that Dubai entry is terrible.

I'm glad you like the yarn. And, just remember I'm happy to help you on that sweater. If you decide it's over your head, you can undo it and use the yarn for something else.

I didn't realize you are a SAD person too! (Meaning I suffer from SAD as well.) Are you just taking the Welbutrin on and off as you need it? I've never tried Welbutrin, but with antidepressants, you have to take them on a regular basis. And when you go off of them, you have to taper of v e r y s l o w l y. But maybe welbutrin is different.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Wellbutrin is nice in that you can go on and off it like *snap*. It's why it's so commonly prescribed for SAD. I haven't taken it in years, though. Haven't had to!