Operation October - week four

[mica]

Operation October - week four

Hey, RedHibiscus, Congratulations for not drinking your way through frustrating guests, horrible work mates and poopy kitties... You have really succeeded! Is the thing with your kitty new? or is it just since the guest-dog arrived? I'm sure you know the stress of having a new dog in the house could cause it, but if it has been going on since before the dog arrived, it could mean some kind of illness, and I know you'll take the cat to the vet. My cat has gone through the same kind of problem, and the vet was able to take care of it for us. Sorry about your carpets, though, when you have company. That is frustrating.
In regards to the woman at work, there are two books that might help: "Jerks at Work- How to deal with problem people" by Ken Lloyd, and "Dealing with People You Can't Stand" by Rick Brinkman and Rick Kirschner that might help you. I hope so. Good luck!

The funeral yesterday was very touching, and our little group of friends got together afterwards to lend each other support. It felt good to be having diet coke while the others weren't... but we really needed to all be together, and since my own husband had been in the hospital three weeks this past winter, too, we all really felt that we need to see each other more often. Any of us can get away from the others so easily, slip through the cracks. We are all so busy, and before you know it, it has been a few weeks since you've seen someone, and, .... none of us know the day of our death. We die when it is our day, and our time is always too short.

SO, today my sweet husband and I will spend some time helping my 91 year old mother and her husband, and then come home to watch the Steeler game together, in honor of our friend who died this week, a die-hard Steeler fan. And cherish our time together.

Happy Sunday, all. And Happy last week of October.

[Lavande]

Operation October - week four

Good morning October friends,

The sun is back today, yay

Good morning Pnut & LBH, I'm set to make those cookies today, can't wait!!

red, congrats on getting thru such difficulties AF! Sounds like trouble coming from all different directions at once, that's tough! Feel free to help yourself to a good dose of Lavan-ittude if you need a little boost

Dill, I needed a little dragging this week, honestly!! All the dark, damp weather negatively affects my mood & seriously increases my arthritic aches & pains.......... I have to be careful to avoid getting into a feeling sorry for myself mood - opens the door labeled Trouble for me!! I'm switching OTC pain relievers right now - need to remain flexible & happy

mica, you've had a difficult week as well! It's good that your group was able to provide support for each other. Sounds like you got thru it in good shape. God bless your mother at the age of 91, how wonderful to stll have her around. My mom was only 65 when she passed away, left a huge hole in my heart & life.

Well, on a brighter note I wish everyone a warm & comfy Sunday doing the things you like to do with the people you love
Lav

[sooty]

Operation October - week four

Happy sunday everyone. I'm glad to be here with you all. Got thru my friends party last night, I'd given an old lady a lift and she was miserable throughout because it was too noisy, I hardly knew anyone, the food was lousy so I was really happy to leave at 11 lol.
A blustery sunday here, daughter No. 2 needs a bag to take back to university and daughter No 1 needs new shoes for work tomorrow so in about 15 mins I'm off to town with my purse and my credit cards!!!
Its a real shame I didn't get one single number on the lottery last night!
Have a good day folks, see you later
Sooty

[sooty]

Operation October - week four

just had a quick look in the dictionary for ideas for November -
what about November navigators, neighbourly November, noisy november, Notable November - definitely not niddle-noddle that means wavering/unsteady - and that's not us!!!
I'm sure Dill will come up with some better ones and I'm happy whatever we're called!!
sooty

[FindingMyself]

Operation October - week four

Morning all,

Mica, it's nice that you and your friends are committing to keeping in touch.

Red, sorry for the stressful stuff going on, especially the work-related problem. I hope you can figure out a solution to that - it sounds serious if she wants you out. Let us know how things go and vent here whenever you need to.

Yesterday was a rough one for me, too. As last Sat, I started out in a very good frame of mind, but then started feeling a bit down. Eventually got through, as I did yesterday, but was feeling a bit depressed. That is a big bad place for me as I start having those thoughts of "it doesn't matter" and "I don't care". I had been taking 5-htp (mood boost) for the past month and a half and stopped about 4 days ago. Could be that, or it could be just a normal cycle of emotions. Anyway, bought some more 5-htp yesterday. If it helps at this point I'll take it. In the mean time I need to find other ways to deal with depression when it creeps in. I did force myself out of the house, went around to some shops here. Bought my Halloween books, came home read for a bit and fell asleep on the couch for 3 hours. Will try for a better frame of mind today – a nice long walk is probably in order.

Dill, haven’t read any of Rand’s work. How are you liking the book so far?

This email is taking forever to write this morning, so I’m going to sign off for now and get the day started. Will check in later. Hope everyone has a nice day.

[dill]

Operation October - week four

Mmmm! A sunny Sunday, eating warm pumpkin cookies just out of the oven! They are a hit! Thanks, Pnut!

Finding, I am totally engrossed in the book, but I don't know that this book would appeal to everyone. The theme of it is a little too close to home as it seems to be playing out what is happening in the world today as relates to politics and economics. It was written way back in the 40's!

Soots, you are off to a good start with those November names. I still haven't got any.

Lav, I'm having difficulty with my mood lately, too, but today's bright sunshine is a definite spirit lifter!

[ladybirdheart]

Operation October - week four

So glad you were able to talk about what you were feeling, Red, for a long time I could either go through something or talk about it, I couldn?t do both. A major stressor with a coworker can eat you alive. I used to have to write performance evaluations on a super bright fellow who was generally very competent and credible but was a secret bully and he actually scared me. This is probably going to sound really lame but for me it helped to pretend to be somebody else. I had a favorite teacher who was a very well known expert frequently called into court where attorneys used everything in their intellectual arsenal to pick away at him and he would just speak his truth without fanfare and with a loving heart. Anyway, I pretended to be him, conjured up the sense of him, sent him to the rescue, said what he would say. After a while I calmed down and could be myself. It is funny because once my teacher told me when he was very scared or overwhelmed he pretended to be somebody much wiser than he. I would like to find that person! I also understand about not having your house in a clean and serene state; I can?t really rest until I put things back together after an upheaval. Finding, I have had trouble with depression and associated anxiety off and on; it is really mean because it feels real and whatever we experience gets interpreted as consistent with our mood. You are doing really well and I hope you soon feel it again also! Love to everybody and lets get through this regardless of what gets thrown at us, Ladybird.

[redhibiscus]

Operation October - week four

Thanks Dill, Mica, Lavanda and Findingmyself for the support and encouragement. Mica, I wrote down the names of the books and will go to the library this week, they sound helpful and interesting.

The company left, we cleaned the carpets, and things seem a little better. The frantic mood passed. Send positive thoughts to me regarding work this week as I am nervous. I will be clearheaded and calm and I am so glad to be AF.

This afternoon, I had a bad moment. Asked hubby, hey, you want to go out and have a beer and not cook. Luckily, he said no, made me some cheese and crackers, and I started cooking. I am so happy I am AF. I really needed his support as I have had a rough week or so. And again, when I am hungry and tired, the crazy thoughts start, and I consider "having a drink." HaHa. Just one. It is so ridiculous, and on a Sunday, too. Well, I made it through and it sounds like findingmyself and mica also have made it through, despite cravings. Looking forward to posting this week. Take care.

[redhibiscus]

Operation October - week four

Ladybird, what a great idea to pretend to be someone else. I think I can do that. It is vital that I remain calm and cool. And I will. I am going to think about this tonight. I really appreciate the support.

It is hard to feel depressed and anxious, and I also have been feeling upset from time to time. I need to learn to deal with it, as it always passes. It is hard to deal with life and not have that buffer (alcohol) to take you away. At least for awhile. But, the cost is not worth it.

[lilmea]

Operation October - week four

It sounds as if most of us have had a rather difficult time this week.

Red-congratulations on handling some very difficult situations af. I love to have my girls visit but it's always very chaotic for me and my 4 cats, when they bring their dogs.

Finding-I hope the 5-htp helps with the anxiety. I hope you managed to take your walk. They always help.

Mica-I know this has been a difficult time for you as well. I'm glad all your friends where there with you.

Sooty, Dill, Lav, Pnut, LBH, Chops, Pam, Cyn- I hope you all had a good Sunday.

I woke up today feeling cranky and mean. No particulat reason, no traumatic even. It was just a really bad mood. So I've spent the early part of the day working on an attitude ajustment. Watched a lovely sun rise, did a workout tape and cleaned my house. Took a long walk outside and enjoyed the sunshine. It worked. There are just certain moods I can't alow myself to be in. Cranky and mean is definitley one of them.

I hope everyone has a peaceful evening.

[lilmea]

Operation October - week four

Hi Red-cross post

[sooty]

Operation October - week four

Evening all, I had a good day and hope everyone elses sunday was peaceful and pleasant.
I had a good one but am so tired now so going to bed soon.
See you all tomorrow, take care everyone
Sooty

[dill]

Operation October - week four

LBH, I have read that often when we react negatively to someone, or just don't like the person, it is because they are displaying a trait or behavior that we don't like in ourslves. I imagine that can work both ways. The traits you admire in your teacher friend, are also within you and are reflected back to you through him. When you are calling upon yourself to "act like _____", you are probably just being yourself, but on a more conscious level. From your posts here, I can tell that you are one who speaks your "truth witout fanfare and with a loving heart". You just need a little booster in difficult situations.

Yes, Lil, I believe we've all hit some rough patches. I managed to get through a social situation today which was so uncomfortable that even Mr. Dill was joking about needing a drink! But when I offered to go get him a beer (OH! I so hoped he would accept my offer so I could then go ahead and 'join him'), he said, "No thank you." So, I let it go. Well, not immediately. I fantasized about sneaking a glass of wine for myself, but, I thought of you friends instead. Eventually, I let it go. I knew one would not be enough, anyway!:H Is it ever?

[Pamina]

Operation October - week four

Evening friends, I too had a good day though the start wasn't too promising. I woke up in the middle of the night with a headache and nausea. I think my stomach is grumpy with all the crap it was fed last week. It's happier now after salmon and tomato soup. I'm sure the pumpkin cookies are yummy but I'd best hold off on flour and sugar for a while yet. Well done on the successful mood management on the thread today. So many good suggestions, I'd just like to add the glucose connection. Watch out for those highs and lows. I trudged over to a special apple fair at Borough Market today and feel healthier already. Have a good evening everybody.

[Lavande]

Operation October - week four

It's late but I wanted to say good night!

Busy, busy, but good day!
Finding, Dill, Lil - the sunshine helped me out of my mood swing
I baked a double batch of Pnut's pumpkin cookies - very good!!

Red, tough for days for you but you're hanging in like a champ - good for you! Be proud of yourself

Sooty, I actually thought of Notable November too.......not bad.

See you all in the AM, be well!
Lav