Life can, especially in the white coldness of winter, be boring.
That can lead me to have crazy moments.
I’m able to take a great deal of stuff in stride, but being bored is not one of them. To stave off this condition, sure to make me grumpy, which depletes from marital harmony, I must—occasionally—do something different.
Sometimes I get the green croquet mallet and whack the yellow ball around the living room, practicing my straight shooting via the long hall into my office. Hitting in reverse, I’m doing fairly well at keeping it from going down the stairs of this split level home. Alex no longer questions what I am doing, merely advises not to hit it too hard so we avoid dents in the baseboards. I whack and whack thinking of the movie A Good Year, where childhood Russell Crowe and his Albert Finney uncle are playing cricket inside the house—the thick stucco wall pockmarked repeatedly, the joy on their faces evident.
Rearranging the House … and Myself
Occasionally Alex will walk into a room—any random room—and find me lying on the floor. He asks what I’m doing and I answer: changing my perspective.
For the last month, supper time finds me changing my seat at the kitchen table. He won’t budge, so that limits me to three chairs to pop between. I suppose I could always go to the adjoining dining room until I get done trying out each of those chairs. A man of routine, it’s making him crazy, but he lets it go.
I rearranged my office and moved onto switching about the kitchen. Yeah, yeah, there are only two movable things in that room, but hey they can be changed around, you know? The living room came next with the new arrangement allowing us clear line of sight to the bird feeder and the antics of multiple flying things and three kinds of squirrels.
At Christmastime there’s always the tree to provide a great reason to rearrange the family room for a month. Then I kindly put it back the way Alex prefers it.
Who said I’m Crazy?
My stylist, who keeps meticulous records, tells me that in ten years I’ve had 41 hair styles. Of course, she never shares the notes with me, so I’m thinking she exaggerates a little.
RoseMary Griffith 
She may be right.
Why can’t I change with the seasons?
Are you getting the idea? I must have change in my life—whether it’s the physical room around me or my attitude.
In the spring and summer, I’m less agitated (and agitating) because there are seeds to be nurtured—the trays of containers cover the dining room table—followed by weeding to be done and planting and mowing and new things blooming and flowers to be deadheaded and mulching…
Then autumn plunges into winter, daylight fades before five p.m., and I start to feel confined.
For the first time since I left Montana in 1999, I finally have solid winter gear—a nifty 3-in-1 North Face jacket is the start—that means cold weather wimp me makes herself go for a lunch time walk around the neighborhood.
Must. Have. Something. To. Do.
A long list of saved up winter projects help adjust that trapped attitude. Less outdoor activity means that I can finally get to that photo project I’ve been postponing (getting my 32K digital pictures down to a reasonable number—already at 29,818! What progress!). Perhaps I’ll attack the physical photos from my pre-digital days and whittle those down a bit further.
Year round, I’m diligent about protecting my writing time, but without yard work distracting me maybe I can get that cookbook project handled. You know, favorite recipes stored electronically, the physical books passed onto other cooks.
I might, if I find myself to be daring enough, even try to learn crocheting again. I attempt every couple of years and have created some delightfully wonky scarfs. Ask my sister, she uses one of them.
If you live in a seasonal area like the northeastern USA, what do you do in the wintertime to keep your sanity on course and your croquet mallets in the garage? Your ideas may stave off the next crazy thing my husband catches me doing.
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Read: Oh my rolling marbles
We need to start an online crochet club. I try learning that or knitting every few years too. But I never get far enough to make something fun. I think you know I don’t have real winter where I am. But this makes me remember the days when I did have to find creative ways to amuse myself.
The image of your husband walking in while you’re laying on the floor totally made me smile.
Try it on your hubby, Erica, and let me know how that goes!
Online crochet club! Now that’s a fun idea for the two of us. I also try to re-learn cross country skiing every so often, we can add that to our list! Brahaha. There’s always Big Bear, right?
I rarely get bored, but I can certainly relate to your need for change and couldn’t help but smile imagining you hitting that ball or shifting seats at the dinner table. My go-to thing is to head out to places unknown, which of course isn’t always possible in winter. Over the weekend, I hiked down to the bottom of the hill where the bus stops. Mind you, it doesn’t come up here when there’s snow on the ground, but rain is apparently no problem. So I jumped on the bus with no destination in mind. I didn’t want to have to deal with driving or parking, just exploring, so I sat there as the bus went all over Eugene, chatting with strangers as they came and went. I transferred a couple of times just to broaden my exposure by venturing into Springfield. Made a stop at Voodoo Donuts for nourishment and then eventually found my way home. What a wonderful day!
What a great adventure to take, Marquita! A marvelous way to disconnect from electronics and connect with people and place. I love it!
I only like the winter months for a short while – the UK really is not the country for me as we have roughly three warm months a year and even some of those days are not guaranteed to be hot! I prefer to holiday in hot countries as the cold weather is right here on my doorstep – no need to go anywhere and pay for the privilege.
I have to say you are funny Rosemary by changing seats at the dining table or laying on the floor. Your husband probably does not know what to expect on any given day. We can make life as fun or as drab as we like – I could take few leaves from your book as I can be serious at times.
Nice hairstyles by the way – so different yet each one suits your face.
But you have palm trees in the south, Phoenicia! I think that’s so fascinating. The UK is farther north than Pennsylvania and yet you have palm trees! I love those stupid things.
I’m with you, though. I lived in Southern California for three years and loved it. Warmth all the time.
My poor husband. Since he began traveling for work again, I know that he worries what he might get home to on a Friday! 🙂
It’s a great compliment that you think I am funny. Providing humor is one of my favorite things to do in life!
I get restless in the winter too, then complain about the lack of time all summer because I spend so much time gardening. I think a love of change is a good thing, it keeps us fresh. Having said that, I’m pleased to note that my husband enjoys keeping things on a more even keel. He doesn’t mind change, but he doesn’t believe in it for its own sake. His attitude reminds me to enjoy the moment.
We are kindred spirits, Debra! Is there such a thing as too much time gardening?
My husband’s feet are firm on the ground and although he indulges my changing of things, like yours he prefers things stay on that same even keel.
Ha! This is great! Wish I were more like you….I’m rather boring. I love when you live with me and when we travel as you keep me hopping!
When have you ever been boring? We are good travel companions. “What now?” “Who knows?” — “What do you want to do now?” “Anything.”
I can’t remember the last time I was truly bored. I do remember recently saying “there is nothing good on tv but how can this be with so many channels?” I do enjoy a good laugh with “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” or “Frasier”. As for house projects, I’d rather read than clean or weed than clean or bake than clean or anything than clean!
Brahaha, Carol. For me, it’s rather do any of those things than dust! What a dreaded chore. It’s done and two days later, you have to do it again. We watched an episode of Big Bang Theory last night and laughed out loud–I love when that happens, don’t you?
Some North Face technical clothing usually helps to get everyone out of the house – you know what they say: There’s not such thing as bad weather, only inadequate clothing. I’m not sure I entirely agree with that and anyway I live in a country that has been brought to a halt twice in almost as many weeks by what many of my American or European friends would consider a light dusting of snow so what do I know? But if you get a dog, you know you have to go out (unless of course you get one like ours was – he hated the rain and didn’t understand snow – much like most of Britain’s inhabitants!)
Such a true saying, Monika … at least in theory. ha! Snicker on the dog and the Brits not getting the whole snow thing. Yes, I know a dog would get me out even more–is that a reason to procrastinate?
I take advantage of housebound time to bake and cook up a storm! (get it bad weather – storm).
Yes, that’s usually when Alex gets gobs! Of course, my punny cousin!
I only recently became aware that some people thrive on newness. That sounds like you, RoseMary, and I think the things you’re doing sound like fun!! Yes, even lying on the floor; I might try that sometime. I don’t like getting bored, but for me I don’t require lots of stimulation to relieve it. Sorry I don’t have any suggestions for you. But here’s a positive thought: Spring is just around the corner.
Thriving on newness is important, Karen, even if it’s just my attitude that needs to be new! Truly, I am rarely bored, but if anything will do me in, it is winter. So happy to have spring arriving.
Let me know how that floor view works out for you.
It must be interesting living with you! I rarely get bored. I can always find more projects than I have time for. But I do understand getting stir-crazy with a long winter. For 5 of the last 6 years I’ve avoided that by travelling someplace warmer for a good part of the winter.
Tee hee, Donna. I think Alex would say that I am entertaining!
And your posts about all the marvelous places you spend winter sure does keep me hanging out. Today has been glorious–spring sun–there’s a different warmth to it–and getting a long walk around the neighborhood without my nose freezing off. Yippee!
Hi Rose. Having lived in a climate with a long winter all of my life, the only way I can handle it is to get away. It doesn’t have to be for long, but I need to feel the warmth of a summer sun on my skin. We have tons of winter sun here in Manitoba, but it’s not the same as having it with real warmth attached. I suspect you don’t have a pet? I don’t think you’d be bored if you had a dog to walk, or a cat to play and cuddle with. My cat keeps me sane thru life’s challenges. It’s almost April, so we’ve almost made it, Rose. Hang in there!
Hanging in there, Doreen! No pet–I keep talking about it, but with all our travel, I am having a hard time committing. My boredom is most assuredly attached firmly to WINTER.
I’m with you in the escaping to warmth. Our short week in Savannah did wonders for my creativity.
Rose, get a kitten! they adapt very easily to YOUR schedule. Ever since we’ve had Jimmy, he knows that I go away and come back. but the times that we are together are magic.
No way! I’ve had two cats and they were uniquely wonderful. But I need a non-shedding dog in my life at this stage–cut down on the allergy issues I’ve developed in PA.
Cats are way more friendly than many people think.
Possibly it would drive me crazy if my wife kept switching seats at the table. I’d do my best to ignore it which I suspect is what your husband is doing.
Ken, he ignores me well. Like today in the middle of baking cookies, I accidentally tapped a wine glass with a wooden spoon, which led to my playing him a rendition of jiggle bells. I kept at it until he finally said: What are you doing?
Yes, I am his three year old.
This is what happens when you get married in your fifties!
This explains so much about me!! Now I know where I get it!
You had really great influences during your formative years, little sister.
When my kids were little and had snow days, we would prepare to have a beach party picnic right in the middle of the living room floor. We would spread out blankets or beach towels and then put on our bathing suits (which I didn’t like because I HATE being the least bit cold). Food was all of the eats that you missed from summer….hot dogs, potato salad, fruit salad, etc. Then we would wait for the kids’ dad to get home from work to surprise him.
I love that you did this with your girls, Dar. Are you teaching it to the grand kids? And when are we doing it? JJ I used to do this when we were roommates. After a hard week’s work, one or the other would shout, “Snow Day!” We’d close all the curtains, pretend we were snowed in and just relax. Gilmore Girls and wine was often in order.