Climate tantrums...how weather impacts mood

[peacetraveler22]

Draped in clouds, I can easily weave my own stories and fairy tales, and for a brief moment they existed on Saturday, when I spent the afternoon lying in this field of buttercups. Their damp petals were fully stretched to a softness that even butterflies would slip if they dare trod upon them. Now, again, we have grey skies and rain in my area for the 19th straight day. I can't remember so many consecutive days of this dreariness in my lifetime...uninspiring.

Many people have told me I always have my head in the clouds, and while I think this is mostly meant as an insult, they are absolutely right! :) I think it's better to be a dreamer engaged in afternoon or moonlit dances with clouds, petals or distant stars than to constantly live in a grey, expressionless or foggy void.

I suppose rain also has seductive charms, creating glistening eyelashes that easily entice, steady and rhythmic pulses like tap dancers on the streets or tin roofs, but the allure of these downpours is lost during the workday, sitting in the office and traffic. The bewitching spell is most often cast in the arms of a wet lover, silver liquid kisses...yep, they are enchanting. But I began to wonder why? Probably we are conditioned to believe such as a result of thousands of scenes from romantic movies, where lovers always become passionately entwined in downpours. Or, maybe it's just one of those things that simply exists and is felt, without explanation, as is almost always the case with love and whimsical emotions.

Anyway, I'm alive but don't have time or inspiration to write texts the past few weeks. I hope everyone had a wonderful May holiday, and is now in the summer mood, as I know this is the season where most people thrive and feel happiest. Weather seriously impacts my mood on multiple levels, and while I'm not normally bothered by rain and even find delight on it on occasion, after three weeks straight it grows tiresome...so, please send some gentle sunbeams my way. :)

Comments

[pin-gwin.livejournal.com]

These flowers are called "Chicken Blindness" in Russia. They say you may get blind if you will eat one. Not proven to be true. Hey, you don't like it hot, don't you? Cloudy may be better since DC is steamy in summer, so enjoy.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Why "chicken" blindness? I'm not sure how a chicken relates to the flower. :) Yes, I hate the heat, even worse than the rain. But it's only the beginning of May. Our brutal heat and humidity in DC usually doesn't arrive until July and August. Then, I live as a hermit for two months...

What is so hot in a dog?

[pin-gwin.livejournal.com]

There are not a lot of logic in the languages. Which part is from dog in a hot dog?

Re: What is so hot in a dog?

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Good point. :)

Re: What is so hot in a dog?

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Btw, I became curious about the origin of the term "hot dog" after your comment and found the explanation here, so I pass it along as a useless piece of trivia :)

Vendors were hawking hot dogs from portable hot water tanks shouting "They're red hot! Get your dachshund sausages while they're red hot!" A New York Journal sports cartoonist, Tad Dorgan, observed the scene and hastily drew a cartoon of barking dachshund sausages nestled warmly in rolls. Not sure how to spell "dachshund" he simply wrote "hot dog!" The cartoon is said to have been a sensation, thus coining the term "hot dog."

Re: What is so hot in a dog?

[pin-gwin.livejournal.com]

Once upon a time there lived a chicken that went to a field and died after eating the yellow flower. And they lived happily there after with a red hot dog.

Re: What is so hot in a dog?

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I'm not a fan of these tiny dogs. I like the big ones like labrador retrievers, german sheperds, huskies. And chickens - well, they are tasty but a nightmare to chase and catch. Like some women. :))

Re: What is so hot in a dog?

[pin-gwin.livejournal.com]

Wikipedia (in Russian only) states that, in fact, the flower contains some skin irritating oils, it could be the reason for the name.

[3as7.livejournal.com]

Yes, the heat is the worst part of the summer. I can't think straight in the heat, and the only thing I can do is to get outside. I feel more alive at nights in summer, even though I am an early riser.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I have a natural wool cap on my head - my thick, curly hair. :) So, it is very hot and uncomfortable for me in summer (even if I wear it up in a bun), and I'm always overheated! So, I'm rarely outside during July and August, except during the night when the sun goes down.

[moskitow.livejournal.com]

I'm going to Italy soon, I will send you plenty of sunbeams (and kisses from hot Italian machos too) :)
Sorry for the weather, I don't like excessive rain either.....

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Great! Enjoy! I don't like these men full of machismo! :)) I like the dark hair/complexion of some Italian men though, and they are quite different in stature compared to American men. It seems the Italians are very short and compact, but I've never tried one. :)

[xena-kost.livejournal.com]

Yeah, this weather sucks. I doubled my vitamin D doze, ate chocolates, but dense fog interrupted only by rain eliminates all my efforts. This is Chicago in May! I am supposed to wear a ton of sunscreen by now

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I've been very lazy, mostly reading, cleaning, but it gave me time to redecorate and paint my room! :) I love Chicago. I was thinking about taking the train there in a few weeks, to take a long haul ride on Amtrak and write a report about it.

[xena-kost.livejournal.com]

Now I know where my cleaning fits are coming from - bad weather! Chicago is beautiful, just come to visit when the fog clears... then it will be scorching hot, but who cares :)))

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Chicago heat is more bearable than in my region where we suffocate with oppressive humidity. :( Summer is my least favorite season. I like Chicago in winter, with the blustery lakeshore winds that freeze your face and tickle your nostrils. Refreshing. :))

[xena-kost.livejournal.com]

Yes, we do have some harsh weather conditions all year round, but nothing can bit the views :))

[kremlin-curant.livejournal.com]

I love incremental weather. Not sure it is because I'm crazy or old.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

You don't need to be old or crazy to enjoy such things. I like violent storms, when the ground or house rattles from pounding thunder or lightning bolts illuminate the night sky. Or even blizzards. Mother Nature's reminder that we're mere specks in the world, and there are many powerful forces that impact our lives in ways we can't control. But this drizzly rain is boring. :)

[kremlin-curant.livejournal.com]

Oops. I guess I misunderstood what the phrase "incremental weather" mean.
I actually tried to say I love the nasty weather- boring drizzle rain, slush and so on.

[notabler.livejournal.com]

Very poetic !

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Over the years, I've written tons of poetry, as this was a main focus of my literary studies during university. I never publish it here because LJ and the audience on this platform will not appreciate or be drawn to it, unfortunately. The main traffic now flows to superficial posts critiquing the appearance of others, banal topics or politics. But thanks for your kind words. :)

[notabler.livejournal.com]

But very many Russian poets write poetry to LJ. I'd like to read just one of your verses, because it's would be the first such case in my 9 years long LJ experience - a English verse

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I will try to remember to dig some of the old poems out, and send them to you in a personal message. Most of them were written hand-before Internet days, in notebooks, loose pages or nice stationery. I still collect the latter because I write a lot of notes by hand and mail them to friends overseas.

[eltelfo.livejournal.com]

всё правильно, отдыхать от интернетов надо

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's good to disconnect on occasion, and just have quiet time and solitude. I'm the type of person that needs this frequently or I get out of balance.

[theodorexxx.livejournal.com]

YAHOOO! You are alive though in a bad mood. I thought maybe your work sucked all your energy

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

You are always worried that I died. :)) Don't be concerned. I informed my sister that if I die tragically or unexpectedly, she is to update this blog with a short note about my passing so readers are aware. I've communicated with many of the same people here for many years, and even though they are only virtual acquaintances, I somehow feel they should know I've faded from planet Earth and drifted onward, or maybe nowhere. :) This is unusual for me to be in a bad mood for such an extended period of time. I guess everyone goes through such life phases, but next week I hop on a plane again. This will help lift the spirits, and I'm dealing with a terminally ill relative, which does not help the situation.

[theodorexxx.livejournal.com]

Now i'm concerned even more . What if Shannon passed a year ago and you are her sister who updates the blog ?

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

My sister hates writing and is not skilled at it. And you should be able to tell it's me by the spirit and tone of my texts, which hasn't changed much over the years. If you read my blog, it's quite simple to understand the basics of my personality.

[elena-88888.livejournal.com]

I'd like not to have direct sunbeams but just warm... around 22 Celsius...

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

+1C is the perfect temperature for me, but still with blue skies. :) We are lucky in my area to have great sunrises, sunsets, and it's rare to have grey skies. So, I'm not accustomed to this dreary landscape for weeks at a time.

[3as7.livejournal.com]

During the rain I feel sentimental, and I love the rain even when I have to commute while it rains.
I also enjoy the snow, the magical transformation of the nature that happens when it falls, the silent whisper of the falling snowflakes, the bite of a blizzard.
I love summer and sunshine, but I am thoroughly enjoying the shade, autumn, spring and winter as well. I would not be happy without the changing seasons.

If I would ever move to CA, I would be missing the seasons a lot, and eventually I know that I'll end up in the Northeast.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

My favorite seasons are autumn and winter. And rain also makes me sentimental, but I don't need rain for it lately, as hospice arrived at my home this week and set up a bed for a relative who is now in her final days. So, it's overall gloomy and depressing in the house at the moment, and even though I'm not so close with this person, you don't wish to watch anyone suffer in pain like this. :(( I wish for her to pass quickly so this suffering ends.

[allanyan.livejournal.com]

It is so poetic! I feel (and I believe, a lot of people feel the same way) that cloudy days in a row are so depressing.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Very few people appreciate such lyrics or text, unfortunately. :(

[rollson.livejournal.com]

I see you are in romantic mood!
be careful in Georgia!
you can be an easy mark for some Georgian macho!

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I'm almost always in a romantic mood, even when I'm alone. :)) Georgian machos? :) People keep warning me about these men, but I'm pretty sure I will have no problem handling them in the event they become a nuisance, which I doubt. And I'm not going there until October, so I have to wait many more months to encounter their Southern charms.

Как всегда - мудрость

[andrey-kaminsky.livejournal.com]

Keep your text simple:

Oh no, not me
I never lost control
You're face to face
With The Man Who Sold The World

- a worthy example to follow

Re: Как всегда - мудрость

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

You don't like the thought of lying in a field of buttercups or kissing in the rain? How sad. But I never envisioned you as a romantic anyway. I don't like that song - not when Bowie sang it, or Cobain.

Re: Как всегда - мудрость

[andrey-kaminsky.livejournal.com]

It is not a song, what is important. It is important to write a sentence of no more than 5 words. English has become an international not because of the poetry and complexity, but because of the simplicity.

Re: Как всегда - мудрость

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

There's nothing complicated about the words in this post. They are all simple, but descriptive. If you don't have the desire or imagination to put the visions together, then skip the post. You're the only person to complain about the nature of my words, and texts. This is the way I express myself. If you don't like it, go read other bloggers who write dumbed-down, short texts for the masses, or simply show narcissistic photos of their tits and ass. I will certainly be sad and miss your wit and humor, but somehow I will survive and life will go on...:))

Re: Как всегда - мудрость

[andrey-kaminsky.livejournal.com]

8(

Re: Как всегда - мудрость

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Do not be sad. I am just being overly harsh and irritable this week. The mood will pass. :)

[moonrainbow.livejournal.com]

Hey, be happy! It is easy to say though when it is sunny, and the sky is blue, and there is a gentle wind touching your skin... Not so, when it is cold, and grey, and all colors are gone and the world is monochromatic, and the days are short, and the nights are endlessly long, and there is mud and dirt instead of white snow. I become depressed after a few weeks of such a weather. I am clearly addicted to the sun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0G0c_1JPGJQ
This is a song about weather in the meaning of "bad weather" from "Goodbye, Mary Poppins" movie filmed in the Soviet Union. I believe you know this "ideal English nanny" character (who also does magic by the way).

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Sure, I know Marry Poppins. :)) I don't mind grey skies, or brutally cold weather, but these extended periods of rain somehow drain all energy from me. I got your other message, and will respond shortly. :)

[ivan ivanych (from livejournal.com)]

Shannon, definitely cloud hiding the sun. A little more, and it is sure to peep out

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Hi! Yes, the sun made a brief appearance over the weekend but now we are back to another rainy week. The one upside is that everything is vibrant green now - the lawns, trees, and lots of flowers. :))