I think I'm officially overwhelmed, verging on depressed. I've gone back to bed with the Frankster. Need to make new business cards and a million other things, but I've got cramps and it's nasty rainy here.

Wishing you hot beverages and a good book, smonster.

Thanks. I'd have to get out of bed to get those things, but I think I have to get some painkillers, so maybe I will make tea and grab a book or DVD.

Holee shit. One of the new friends I've made as an extra is apparently literally knee-deep in water on the Diablo Cody set. Yikes!!

I'm sorry I've been such a lurking lurker lately. Whenever someone asks for ~ma, I do send it out even when I don't say anything. Need of hairpats and hugs? Same thing. I smile and think "Yay!" when good things are reported.

Sometimes I feel like I'm folding in on myself. Hmm. I'm thinking it may be time for me to talk to my doc about anti-anxiety meds, too.

I think I'm officially overwhelmed, verging on depressed. I've gone back to bed with the Frankster. Need to make new business cards and a million other things, but I've got cramps and it's nasty rainy here.

Last time I was officially unemployed, I was rather glad that the weekly job-seeking contacts form specified 3 per week rather than _ per day. Because there WERE days when snuggling four-legged members of the household was the big accomplishment. And there were plenty of weeks when I met the requirement with the actions of one day. So in this as in many other areas of life, some wallowing is natural and even healthy as long as it doesn't become all wallow, all the time.

I like that show, too. Even if Salon just came out and said I had no taste...it's a sitcom, she's a wiseass...they were expecting "Our Town?" Although I do agree that the old-dog episode did mark a turning point or something.

According to Italian custom, I should be wearing all black for the rest of my life, or until I remarry. Considering we are now in the 21st century, that rarely happens anymore. Two years seems to be the norm for all black, and after that, other dark colors are acceptable. Rob disliked the custom.

A good portion of my wardrobe is black, so there's no significant change, but I'm not avoiding the use of color. I could wear a button or ribbon, but I get tired of answering the question of "Why?". I was wearing his flight team dog tags and wedding ring on a chain, but it started to feel like an anchor rather than a comfort so I took them off and put them in my purse. They're still with me, but I don't get the questions. I can pull them out when I need them, and put them away when it's too much.

And because I didn't want to post these togther...

Is it advisable for me to start reading the Hunger Games trilogy now, considering my situation?

How do you feel about crying? It's going to make you sad, at the best of times, I think. It's not a specific illness trigger, but there's lots of death and loss, and I'm fairly sure it will have you in tears--I was pretty wracked with sobbing for Mockingjay.

If you don't want to be set off, avoid it. If you don't mind a contained hurricane of catharsis and bleakness, go ahead.

I would say no. I put it off during my post-tsunami depression and I'm glad I did so. And that wasn't nearly as personal.

Maria, if reading something that can be very sad about something that is unrelated to your own sadness at the moment, then I say read it. If you think it might make you more depressed, I say skip it for now. I have often found reading depressing things that are unrelated to my own problems at the time is actually helpful, but I know I am not the norm in that.