POST HOLIDAY BLUES

I heard it on the evening news.

Monday, January 18th, the bluest day of the year.

This is supposed to be because we have all suddenly awakened from our Holiday Bliss to discover: a) credit card bills from Christmas; and b) back to work responsibilities (collectively hereinafter referred to as “Freaking Sucky Reality”).

Okay, maybe that was a little harsh...

No.

It wasn’t.

I will not retract it. It was good sarcastic legalese (see “See More Here” on the right-hand sidebar, or click on this link, scroll down under “Specialized Training, etc”, read that last line there, and you might understand). :)

Who needs Monday, January 18th?? Crap, I was blue beginning Monday, January 4th, when I had to go back to the “day job”. I have been existing in a seriously blue Post-Holiday Fog ever since. **sigh**

I’m working on it, though. I believe in good attitudes. I believe in making choices about who we want to be, and how we want to feel. That doesn’t mean it’s easy, instantaneous, or without the occasional temporary failure.

I’m in such a state of Temporary Attitude Failure right now.

I’ve tried the chemical boost. No, not drugs (per se). I’m talking about red wine, margaritas (no, not in the same day, and not everyday - and not in excess - well, okay, I had 3 margaritas at one sitting last weekend but I had a heavy TexMex meal and a designated driver), chocolate - dark and milk, mac and cheese... **sigh** Alas, no joy. LITERALLY.

No.

Joy.

I’ve tried making sure I’m getting 8 every single night (hours, not minutes).

I’ve tried the Patchouli/Sweet Orange Bubble Bath Solution. Very nice, but no go.

I’ve been on the indoor bike off and on, but I’ve only done one really hard weight workout after the holidays.

It has become obvious this calls for the following Absolute Guaranteed Cure for the Blues. Here’s the recipe:

1. Put on your workout clothes and socks, dummy (dummy is me, not you).

2. Plug the iPod into the surround sound system and set it on the Absolute Guaranteed Rockin’ Workout Playlist.

3. Turn that mother on and rock that volume up so the walls vibrate just enough to feel it, but not so much it scares the cat (or so the neighbors can hear it - which would have to be pretty loud, because their houses and mine have a reasonable distance between them). Luckily, kitty doesn't scare easily - he's a rocker at heart.

4. Go into the gym (f/k/a one of the spare bedrooms in my house).

5. Slip your mitts into those weight-lifting gloves, put your butt and back on that bench and start pumping some serious freakin’ iron!!!

6. Then rock out some curls, overhead tri extensions, upright rows, bentover rows, etc. - you get the picture.

7. After all that, sit your butt down on that indoor bike and pedal off some serious speed for some serious minutes (like 18 or 19 mph for 45).

8. Finish with a protein recovery drink (a/k/a protein fruit smoothie made in my own blender).

9. Shower - when your legs quit wobbling. :)

10. Kick back in bare feet with an nice, refreshing glass of iced hibiscus tea (unsweetened - I’m a purist when it comes to herb tea).

11. Reflect on how good life really is.

Ahhhhh......

I’m off to fill this prescription, people. Be back soon with a better post and a better attitude.

Polla Filia,
J.F.

THE FRUIT OF THE VINE

The holiday vacation is about to come to an end. **sigh**

It has been a great break - much needed. I have re-grouped and re-prioritized and I am ready to move forward on many goals.

I have some great plans for the new year, and I’m excited about that.

There were a lot of good things I thought about/discovered/decided during this time off. Most of them were big things, and too personal for this blog. I also made some real progress on the next novel, which is very exciting and good news for me.

Symbolic of good discoveries during this time is a bottle of wine I found. Finding it was total chance. I stumbled over it in the wine section of my grocery store! I had a good feeling about it. It has a good price point. I took a chance, and as soon as I un-corked it I knew my small risk had paid off in a big way. It’s a beautiful Zinfandel from Sonoma called Rancho Zabaco. It is smooth and rich and it spoiled me for some other wines I had. That’s how good it is.

I’m hoping that’s a harbinger for how my new year will go. I don’t drink champagne (it gives me a headache), so the Rancho Zabaco is what I drank to ring in my New Year. Maybe the new year will be as nice of a surprise as this new wine. I hope the year goes down just as smoothly - for all of us.

Polla Filia,
J.F.