What I'm thinking today: blanket forts

Monday, 24 November 2014

Monday Moanings - November 24, 2014

Calling in Sick

image courtesy of Snoopy on Facebook®; ©Peanuts Worldwide LLC

It's been a while since I had a really good moan on a Monday, so I'm making up for lost time, or so it seems. I'm having trouble mustering up the energy to even enter the weak today. And YES I did use the right homonym! Did I mention that I'm a tad cranky, irritable, out of sorts? All that too describes me today.

I'm not asking for encouragement, a pep talk (please spare me) or even a hug - okay well maybe a hug would be okay - I'm just stating the facts pertaining to me, today. There are days when I'm just not up for the challenge and today is one of them. Today, I'm calling in sick.

When my children were in elementary school, if I sensed either one of them approaching overload - a gradual but certain progression into indifference with occasion tantrums - I declared a mental health day for them, having ruled out all other causes (tests, real illness). Morning would arrive, I'd see those listless eyes, a little body going through the motions, no protest, no emotion, and I knew it was time for a mental health day. Such days were made of blanket forts in the living room, colouring books, maybe a video or two, a grilled cheese sandwich, homemade soup, and an afternoon nap. Pure luxury.

Sydney Wildlife World, March 2010

On a very few occasions I called both kids in sick to the school, but that was more about my needs than my children's. Let me call a spade a spade here, and admit that I used my kids to justify my need to take a day away from work. It sounded so much more noble to say that I couldn't come into work today because both kids were sick than to say I wasn't feeling well enough to come to work today. And besides, I know we all benefited from our joint or separate mental health days. Kids went back to school refreshed and renewed, I went back to work energised to make up for any lost time.

I can dream, can't I?

So today, I'm calling in sick. I've got some crayons if colouring strikes my fancy, a video or two to lounge through, both set in warm climates, the carcass of the roast chicken from last night's supper is simmering its way along the road to soup, and there will be an afternoon nap. Pure luxury!
There's just one problem: how do I explain the blanket fort in the living room?

from August 1993

Have a great week!

Monday, 16 June 2014

Monday Moanings - June 16, 2014

A Slow Start

Grey damp accompanied by cool breezes gave way to rumbles of thunder and soaking downpours this morning. Not an inspiring beginning to a new day or a new week. The seeds of the doldrums are fertilised by mornings such as this one.

I wrapped my listless groans and grumbles around a steaming mug of cappuccino and soon found myself in the living room of my childhood home tucked up in the comfort of a blanket fort. Cardboard boxes emptied of the grocer's delivery travelled as trains, buses, cars and boats between the tented sofa and chair like gondolas on the canals of Venice.

Ah Venice - now there's a place like no other...

I marvel at the seamless transition from blankets and boxes to canals and gondolas; from one faraway place to another. Time travel is a perfect antidote to mornings like this one, nipping any hint of doldrums in the bud. The rain has stopped. The sun has come out to play. The world outside my door is verdant, dripping with the colours of life.