Man, mornings are the hardest right now. I swear when I went to bed last night, I was feeling pretty good. But this morning, I’m wiped out again. Completely. Terribly. To the point where I don’t even want to get up to download the (kitty) photos that are on my camera.
Sigh. That’s my grumble for the day. Overall, I’m much better, and I think I’ll be up for a day at work tomorrow. We change shifts this week, so I’ll only work Friday and Saturday, then have two days off and start back on midnight shift (9pm-7am) on Tuesday night. Six months of midnights! I’m happy about that because it means I’ll have Sat Sun Mon off for the summer, and I have LOTS of things to do on the weekends in summer. Three music festivals, Pride, my BIRTHDAY (the day after July 4th)….
But I have a new plan. We’ll see how well I implement it, but I’ve discovered something this last sick week. This may be a “duh” moment, but I’ve found that it’s very nice to do nothing. (I never do nothing.) And towards the end of my recovery here, it’s been difficult to keep myself down, but when I succeeded, I found it was very nice to move from the bed to the couch and back to the bed again. My new plan is to give myself a day or two like that a month. For people with families and great big houses to maintain, I understand this would be an impossibility, but for me and my two kitties, it’s do-able. I don’t even look to these days as knitting days, because that’s Doing Something. If knitting happens, so be it, but if just reading happens, so be that, too. It’s been a wonderful quiet time here at casa del’Rachele and I want more of that in my life.
We speed up so fast, don’t we? It’s hard to slow down. I want to practice.
But on the flip side, today is the day I get up. No, really, I know I’m ready. First, I’m going to do laundry (which is easy, just walk it down the corridor outside to our machines). Then I’m going to have coffee with a friend (more on that tomorrow, hopefully). And maybe a spot of grocery shopping. We’ll see about that one. That’s it. But for a gal who has done NOTHING for a week now, that feels like a hell of a lot.
Well, I’ll confess. I did one thing Monday night. I realized it was a bad idea about ten minutes into it. But by then I’d made the commitment and had got out all the tools, and I didn’t quit till I was done. I hung my white twinkle lights (thanks to Gina’s generosity)! It might seem silly, but I always need my white lights (I turn the twinkle off) wherever I live. They make me happy and they let me know I’m home. I was covered in sweat and shaking by the time I was done, but I just took a bath and then relaxed on the sofa, under the happy lights. Damn, now I HAVE to get my camera. Hang on.
Okay, see?
And because every day that I stay inside turns into a photo op with the cats, here’s a sun shot of Adah. She’s a rolly little tub, but somehow she manages to stay on the sill:
Sigh. Do as little as is possible today, okay?
I have too many days where I end up doing nothing. What I really need are days where I do much and think nothing. Keep feeling better.
Girl, I’m so happy you’re on the mend! Good for you taking it easy when you had to.
And as for that “doing nothing” thing, I think your buddy Adah is doing a *fabulous* job of demonstrating exactly how that’s done! I particularly love the way that left front paw is paused so delicately in the air, as if in some kind of permanent regal wave…..by George!
MaryB
Now that’s more like it ~ you sound GOOD! And I so love the lights. Are they the holiday sort? Many times I’ve plotted a sort of sabbatical day per month, but never made it happen. I hope you do, because you are right, doing nothing can be good for us.
You’ve inspired me! Many times I have wanted to put up lights in the house for year round, but I felt hesitant even though I really liked the idea. Now, I’m gonna do it! Glad you’re feeling better Rachel…go slow tho, okay?
Lisa in Oregon
I am SO GLAD you’re feeling better, but don’t rush to be “normal,” ok? Take your recovery nice and slow.
July 5th, eh? Duly noted.
Hello again from dreary Boston. The lights are great. I once had a large empty glass “bottle” from one of those old water coolers. It was about 3 feet high and I would put a string of the little white lights in it. It was a pretty effect. I am glad you are feeling better. Take it easy. I do have a question for you, did you find the Must Have Cardi to be small ? I wear an xl and I thought it worked up ‘teeny’. Tare care.
Hello again from dreary Boston. The lights are great. I once had a large empty glass “bottle” from one of those old water coolers. It was about 3 feet high and I would put a string of the little white lights in it. It was a pretty effect. I am glad you are feeling better. Take it easy. I do have a question for you, did you find the Must Have Cardi to be small ? I wear an xl and I thought it worked up ‘teeny’. Tare care.
Ooh, the lights are pretty pretty. And I love Adah on the sill…our little schmoos really know how to relax, don’t they? I need to take a cue from my dogs.
Take it easy and keep feeling better….
🙂
Okay, I’m using my Mom voice here: Be sure to take it easy and not do too much. You don’t want to get sick again, do you hear me?
(not bad eh?)
I’m glad to hear you’re feeling better and I agree about the do nothing days. We have those on the weekend a lot here. With both of us working and the kids in daycare it’s important to have time where nothing is scheduled and stuff just happens.
My birthday happens to be the day after our national holiday, and right around the same time (Canada Day, July 1, Stephie day, July 2). Neat. You’re a Cancer too. If I believed in horoscopes, I would say that makes sense.
Okay, well it was probably wise not to reveal the twinkle light escapade before now…but I’m glad they make you happy. They would make me happy, too.
As for doing nothing, I can’t even brush my teeth without multitasking. It’s a disease.
A few years ago I had mono for almost six months. The last month was particularly hard–I just ate saltines and popsicles, drank Gatorade and Ensure, popped Vicodin and slept all day. I had golfball-sized glands, a pretty constant fever, and a rash all over my body. Anyway, when I started to feel better and began to feel alert again, I realized I hadn’t left my apartment in weeks. For that first month of recovering, just going for a ride in a car felt like a big event. I still remember that feeling really well. When you have been cooped up at home feeling crummy and out-of-it, just having some kind of action to punctuate your day, especially if you can leave the house for a bit, can make such a big difference in your morale. Don’t push it, of course, but make the most of that feeling of being back in the land of the living.
p.s. Go Cancers! My birthday’s July 9th, myself.
Doing nothing is good!! The lights look beautiful, and your apartment is just great. If you’re going to be bedridden and ill, seems like a good place to do it! Hope you recover fully. Don’t overdo it!!!
Do nothing more often, my darling…it’s better for me when I come over to your house. I get to see your new fiesta lighting and and your fiesta kitties…and you’ve already decorated the place with my favorite flower (tulips.) Dang. I wish we were physically actually neighbors.
I love the lights. So cozy and cheery and friendly, just like you. I’m so glad you’re feeling better, but take it easy so you can stay that way.
I’m not good at doing nothing because I always feel like I have to make the most of my free time, but I’m going to try to live by your example and do more Nothing. I have a feeling this weekend will be full of it, especially if it keeps raining.
Of course, lights! We have the multis up 365/24/7, and they make it feel like a holiday EVERY day. Take care of yourself, & get well soon!
I’m so glad that you’re feeling better! Still, take it easy and don’t do too much. Give yourself lots of time to recover.
I *love* your twinkle lights. And I’m not surprised that you’d have them. You know how to find fun and comfort in the most wonderful things.
Love those lights. And doing nothing, that sounds like a great plan to me. Glad you are feeling better.
Sweetie, sweetie, darlin’ — love the lights. Glad you’re on the mend.
And I think the monthly Day of Rest is brilliant.
I’m glad you’re feeling better, the kitties are great, I need to take a couple shots of my monsters getting along one of these days 🙂 I have some purple lights that I put up wherever I live…they aren’t up here yet…probably because of the 10-12 foot ceilings and no ladder! I should get around to that… 🙂
Please don’t do too much too soon. You’ll end up right back in bed!
Sending good twinkle-y thoughts!
So glad to hear that you’re doing better!!!
I have a white light obsession too 🙂 My whole family room ceiling is covered in them!! I should definitely take some pics 🙂
Hope you continue to get better! and don’t over do it today!