I’ve spent most of this last week in bed, or in and out of sleep on respective furniture that I turn into a bed. But mostly in bed. During crash periods I have a lot of time to sit around and think and do nothing. And while “doing nothing” sounds a little worthless and at least a little depressing, I’ve gotten pretty good at feeling bad. That is, I’ve found ways not to succumb to complete boredom while spending my days and nights in the supine position. But I have to be decisive and proactive when it comes to mental stimulation. It’s easy to do nothing and think nothing and waste away hours watching cats on the internet. I’ve done a lot of that too.
.
Currently I’m reading “Further Away”– a book of essays by author Jonathan Franzen. It was given to me by my brother Nick, who wrote on the note inside to add it to our virtual book club. Nick and I don’t live in the same city and considering how poorly I keep in social contact even with people I care most about, we don’t talk so often. But we have similar taste in things and it’s true that I trust any literature from him will be enjoyable. Like the others this one doesn’t disappoint. I gave him the book “Why Does the Universe Exist?” and said it might be a good starter for the club. Nick is a full-time professor of architecture with multiple side projects and is a husband and father. I’ll be impressed if he has the time to finish it. I have nothing but time but in retrospect, I can think of at least three books in the last year I’ve simply left unfinished with less than 100 pages left. For whatever reason– It might be a commitment problem on my end. Because oddly enough I enjoyed the books I left undone. (Except 50 Shades of Grey. I just couldn’t do that one, even from a humorous standpoint. It was just so bad.) At any rate, I like that we’re trying. I know I need to read more and it is truly one thing, a gift even, that I can do whether or not I’m sick. I could read for hours and feel somehow refreshed at the end. TV and the internet are bottomless. I could be dead tired but watch more, click more, disengage more. It’s far too easy to fall in and at the end I never feel great. I’m like where am I? What time is it? How long have I been watching Tosh.0? I don’t know how many times I’ve watched the Kardashians and rolled my eyes thinking to myself that it’s the stupidest show on TV. And yet when it shows up on the guide, I almost unconsciously go straight to the channel. It’s like mindless auto-pilot in the way of my brain. I think it’s their hair that keeps me coming back. It’s just so pretty.
Speaking of the Kardashians, did you see the photo of baby North West? I think she’s cute. Wait, why do I know what their baby looks like? Because if you watched TV or were on the internet yesterday, it was everywhere. As well as mass hysteria about Ben Affleck becoming Batman. Maybe that says something about the places where I get information. But it also says something about the things that gain momentum and attention and a dialogue. Meanwhile, my state is sinking.I don’t totally understand the nature of a sinkhole. Except that I’m pretty sure it’s unnatural. And it’s a problem when entire trees are being swallowed whole. Something about salt domes? But why take the more effort-requiring time to find out when I could just look at a tumblr that makes fun of what Kanye’s baby looks like? It’s so easy to just lay back and look at what’s easy to look at and make fun of what’s easy to make fun of. But it’s not very wise for someone like me to do too much of that. I constantly have to remind myself to be careful with how I spend my time. I truly have a lot of it.
Anyway, maybe by the next post I’ll be much more knowledgeable about sinkholes. Or I’ll have a lot more photos of baby Nori. Anyway, I’ll continue my quest to be at least a half-way informed citizen and spend my horizontal time wisely. I love being outside but on weeks like this one, I’ve mostly been inside which can be wearing too. But don’t get me wrong, I’ll still watch internet cat videos because come on, that stuff is funny. And laughter is important. And if we spent all our days indulging in bad news we could succumb to despondency and boredom just as much as if we watched TV and internet videos nonstop. It’s all a balance and I’m always in search of the middle. So far, 29 has been just fine.
Health, Happiness, and Wouldn’t You Think Sinkhole Would Be Two Words? Me too.
I’ve finally reemerged out of my latest crash. I’m kind of tired of dedicating words to what being sick is like, so instead I’ll do it with GIF animations. Here’s how it went.
Monday: I tried to get out of bed, but it went something like this.
By Tuesday I was still lifeless and sick, so my mom brought food to me in bed, which went something like this:
By Wednesday I’m like this is crap! I’m going outside to play! Which went like this:
So back to bed I went, like this
Then I woke up like 20 hours later like this:
And then someone with enthusiasm calls and says “Hows it going Mary?!?!” and I respond “Great!!!”
Then after a long day of exhaustion, I try to go to sleep, which goes something like this:
Then alas I get to bed, and when I wake up, my body feels like it’s done this to itself all night…
Being awake feels crappy so I go back to bed, like BYE WORLD!!!
Then I wake up to Bill O’Reilly playing from the living room…
Meanwhile Monty is bored to death with his owner so he decides to go out in the world on his own…
Then finally I wake up with enough energy to get out of bed and be a functional human being!
1. Write the name of an alcoholic beverage and a question mark followed by “Don’t Mind If I Do!”
Ahhh much needed.
2. Talk about how INSANELY busy they are and the massive amount of things they have to do! So much so they spend the next two hours on Facebook talking about it!!
3. Use “LOL” questionably and in an overabundance. “I have cancer lol” “Me too lol”
4. Some version of this picture, allll up in your biz.
The bottom half of my body enjoying the beach.
4. Talk about preparation for tomorrows workout, take a picture of today’s workout, or reflect on the burn from yesterdays workout.
5. Delve into the recent cold they caught, list all the corresponding symptoms of said cold, then tag a photo of Dayquil and Hot Tea. Potential Caption: Yucky sniffles AND a sore throat! :(
6. Take a picture of herself scandalously dressed and tag it with this caption: “Hey you.”
And by you I mean me.
7. “Today I am thankful for gratitude lists.”
8. Attempt a really inspiring, self-written life quote. “Never take advantage of anyone. Life is short but regret is forever. Always thank your lucky stars and never forget to dance. Even in hard times, the sun will shine through the night.”
9. Talk some major smack about football and/or their fantasy team. Then talk some major smack about The Bachelor.
10. Take a picture of basically anything and caption with: LOVE. <3 <3 <3
LOVE.
12. Girls Night Out!! Prepare for pictures, captions and a play-by-play before the night is halfway over.
11. Something borderline horribly offensive followed by “Just Sayin.”
13. Picture of the hubs taking a nap with the baby!
LOVE.
14. Vent a frustration beginning with WOW. “Wow, I was under the impression that a STOP SIGN MEANS STOP.”
15. Duckface. Forever and Ever and Always.
Yall come to the party I’m having by myself in the bathroom!
A few of my close friends have taken the plunge off of Facebook. I’d like to show those friends what they’ve been missing. You’re welcome!
At first I was like Woah, too much information. But then I was like what, no pictures?Thank God!!!!!!!Yeah!! Wait, I never signed anything.Thank God for hard hitting local news.Let’s talk about the definition of ‘literally’…Totally agree.Like this status or the kitten gets it!!!!Thanks!!!Kids, don’t eat the peeps.He’ll appreciate this when he’s 20.I don’t trust this, bro.Totally. Wait what?Talking about milk is fun!!!Something happened to my friend Noah.This sounds serious.Health and Happiness.
1. The “You Spend Too Much Time With Your Friends and Not Enough Time With Me” Fight. It’s not that I hate your friends, I just think they’re stupid and don’t really want them around.
2. The “You’re Terrible With Money” Fight. Did we really need these $20,000 life-size Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em robots?
Yes, yes we did.
3. The “I’m Allowed to Talk Shit About My Family but YOU BETTER NOT” Fight. Excuse me, nobody calls my sister a slut but me.
4. The “You Drink Too Much/Smoke Too Much/Work Too Much/Play Video Games Too Much/Sleep Too Much” Fight. You do all the wrong stuff, too too much.
5. The “ANYTHING Regarding Facebook” Fight.
Who’s that slut who wrote on your wall?
Why haven’t you changed your relationship status?
Why aren’t I in your profile picture?
Why are you still friends with that person?
Why won’t your dad accept my friend request?
Who is Brittny and why did she poke you 2 years ago? Defriend her. NOW.
6. The “You’re Always Tired When It’s Time for Sex But Wide Awake When the Kardashians Come On” Fight. Come on, you know you love Scott.
Nuff said.
7. The “You Give Terrible Presents” Fight. Awesome. Another candle. Thanks babe.
8. The Failure to Agree on a Show You Both Like So You End Up Watching Stuff Neither of You Really Likes Fight. Oh look, No Reservations is on again.
9. The “I Shouldn’t Have to Ask You To” Fight. Because you should be able to read my mind by now.
10. The “You Have Terrible Phone Etiquette” Fight. There’s this thing. Called a phone. Try it out…
11. The “If You Like It You Better Put a Ring On It” Fight. Because nothing sets the mood for an engagement like the threat of a breakup. Or physical harm.
Whoa Oh Oh Uh Oh Oh Oh
12. The “I Was Lying When I Told You I Didn’t Want Anything for My Birthday and You Should Have Known That” Fight. You could have at least gotten me a card. God.
13. The “You’re Nicer to the Dog Than You Are To Me” Fight. Well he’s a better listener!
Tell me. Everything.
14. The “I Went Through All Your Shit and Found Something That Makes Me Not Trust You Anymore” Fight. You never told me you ran track in high school.
15. The “If I Didn’t Pick Up After You, Our Apartment Would End Up on Hoarders” Fight. Why do you put your clothes next to the laundry hamper?
Here is the truth; you’re not missing out on anything if you don’t get on Facebook today. I’ll fill you in: Someone got engaged. Someone had a baby. Someone is angry at Obama. Someone cooked spaghetti. And someone is hung-over after going out big last night. But if you spend the day on Facebook, you’re missing out on all the rest. You know, like on life. So now here’s 10 things you can do instead of get on Facebook, that might actually make you feel better.
1. Forgive somebody. There is probably someone or something from your past that needs to be let go of, moved on from, and it might even be you. Letting go of things in the past opens up room for good stuff in the future. Go!
2. Appreciate who and what ya got. Having a gratitude journal sounds super cheesy I know, but once you start writing down everything you’re thankful for everyday, you’ll see very subtly your whole perception change for the better.
3. Create. Make art! Or a sweater! Or music.Or dinner! You’ll be surprised at what you end up making. And have someone in mind when you create. The best gifts are home-made.
I made you this sweater for your dog!
4.Exercise. Even if it’s just a walk outside or 15 minutes of yoga… exercise releases serotonin and adds years to your life. Imagine if you did 10 sit-ups/push-ups for every 10 minutes you spent on Facebook. Everyone would be all muscley and stuff.
5. Bake a cake for someone. Anyone. Just because you love em. It’ll make their day! Let us eat cake.
Because You’re You and I’m Me
6.Organize your closet, dresser, room, or junk drawer. Cleaning things out just feels good, it’s free, and the end result will make you breathe easier.
Aaah.
7. Occupy Wal-Street. Just kidding. Couldn’t think of a good O verb. Uh, organize your second closet!
8. Kidnap someone and bring them on an awesome adventure. Dont actually blindfold them and throw them in the backseat of your car or anything..just bring them to lunch or something. And then maybe antiquing.
9. Read a book. Remember books? Instead of getting lost in an anonymous persons wedding album on Facebook, (ahem, yeah that’s me) get lost in a book. It’s such an awesome feeling. And you don’t feel like a creeper by the end.
10. Write and send a letter. Not an email, not a text. A real letter, written in your own special handwriting. Old school mail dude, it’s the best! (May take 2 weeks to arrive though. The post office has had a rough year.)
Health, Happiness, Lifebook. (See what I did there?)
FibroM.E.-Awesome 