Grey Skies Are Here Again
April 17th, 2007 ·
If you don’t live in New York and you haven’t seen the news, you may not know that the weather here is (for lack of a better word) really “shitty” at the moment. I hate shitty weather. It depresses me. Literally: shitty weather makes me depressed. I think it’s the grey skies. Rain is annoying, but that bothers me less than the lack of sun. Okay, so, late Monday afternoon. I’m sitting at my desk, and I’m depressed. Depressed that the skies are grey. Depressed that I haven’t heard back about a job that I interviewed for. Depressed at myself for feeling depressed. Then, I receive a message from my friend “The E.” She tells me that an American comedian who lived in The Netherlands for five years will perform at the Upright Citizens Brigade. She wants to know if I want to go.
Hell yeah. I need a laugh.
So, after work, I exit our building and face the leaking grey skies above. I take the train to 28th street. The E and I grab a pre-show drink at Trailer Park Lounge. We talk about our career goals, and our future plans. (I’m surprised that the conversation doesn’t depress me further.) I can’t wait until I get a job with benefits again. I need a therapist. It’s cathartic to tell the frustrations of life to the ear of a stranger. They don’t know you, so there are no judgments. I’ve been in therapy (off and on) since I was 17 years old. I like to work out to guard myself against the fattening effects of some of the shit that I eat. And, I like to see therapists to guard myself from getting depressed when things don’t work out the way that I want them to. I consider therapy Yoga for the brain.
Okay, so, now, it’s almost 8pm. The E and I leave Trailer Park and head over to the UCB. We pay $5 to see Brendan Hunt and his show “Five Years in Amsterdam”. It’s a good laugh. And, when the show is over, I feel a lot better. Less depressed. Ahhhh, sometimes laughter is good form of therapy. So, now it’s your turn. Tell me: What do you do to make yourself feel better when you’re depressed?
Hi, I'm 
I’m a fairly cheerful person, and it’s mainly the weather that gives me the blues… And this is a terrible admission but I rent a couple of movies from Blockbuster and veg out infront of the tv with Chinese takeout AND sushi AND chocolate.
I always feel better afterwards :)
Right now my life is “Ridiculous! The Musical” I am a generally upbeat person but when I’m caught in the occasional emotional riptide I usually feel better after a workout - my life may be in the crapper but at least my abs are ripped! My daschshunds Max and Seymour were a wonderful help (RIP) and it’s profoundly true that pets enrich our lives. If I’m pacing-the-floor worry, I will throw myself into the challenge of a new recipe, or (my new passion) knitting - takes my mind off myself and into a creative space quickly and satisfyingly, and the knitting’s portable - great for those on-the-go emotional riptides, and I have something beautiful by the time the issue is resolved.
Lastly, I volunteer - helping others is always needed, and always a good thing.
When I am feeling down, I have sex with myself and it always cheers me up. I know “Too much information” Mwah!
Chocolate, alcohol and good music preferably cranked up to eleven! Since I passed my driving test I have discovered that driving can be relaxing especially late at night. Hope all is well with you, sorry I haven’t been in touch recently, too much shit hath hitteth the fan!
Shop. Too much damn shopping.
Blogging, too.
Warm bath and a glass of wine? Maybe two glasses would be better.
Stop by unannounced somewhere & notice how happy someone is to see you? Stay a while and chat.
Read a crime novel? Congratulate yourself if you figure out whodunnit.
distar: I can eat an entire container of New York Fuper Fudge Chocolate icecream in one sitting. It’s not pretty, but it’s very very soothing. :-)
Susan: I thought of getting a pet. Not for the companion thing, but because I wanted to work out by going for runs for a big dog and/or get a cat to ensure that the mouse debacle never happens again. Are those selfish reasons to get a pet? Probably.
tonito bandito: Funny! :-)
Nics: Congrats again on passing your test! And, oh, I’ve had my fair share of “shit hath hitteth the fan” days over the past weeks. Life has been ridiculously busy lately, but it will be back to smooth sailing next week. And, ooh ooh ooh … K-mac is coming to New York for a visit!!! I’m really looking forward to that. I’ll post pictures, of course.
ChiGirl: I saw the *CUTEST* dress hanging in a store window the other day!! I miss my days of crazy shopping.
Pegs: Thanks, Pegs. Get suggestions! :-)
Oddly enough, I feel waaaay better today than I did when I wrote this post. I’m not kidding; the comedy really helped.
Few glasses of wine, ice cream, good book…anything to distract me really…
I *SO* know what you mean about depressingly shitty weather.
That’s right! You’re in Scotland. I’m sure you know *exactly* what I mean. :)
The weather in Amsterdam is what made me depressed…