Friday, December 7, 2012

Do The Seasons Affect You?

Deb and Barbara: This is the last of our fall series of Blogging Out Loud. Hope you enjoy!



(Okay, note the irony as Deb talks about "the absolute quiet, the dead quiet" of fall just as a plane roars overhead!)

As usual, we'd love to hear your take in the comments.

29 comments:

  1. I am like you Barb, I feel a little down in the fall. I hate to see the summer end and the trees bare (I love the colors while it's happening) But I find November a dreary month. The Spring is my favorite and I love that soft soft green color as the leaves come back. I do love winter too and love big blizzards and walking in the sparkling snow at night. Reading by a fire while it is a raging snow storm outside is one of my favorite things to do. Do you find that your sleep patterns change with the "change of seasons"?

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  2. LOL I still remember our skype "Deb...is it ok if I tag you in the painting" and Deb shouts "NOOOO!!!! NOOO!!!" she was talking to fanny.... I realized that after the mini stroke.... and when Barb tried to stop laughing and explain me WHAT that really was. :D

    I'm watching it right now. But because its buffering I thought I should tell you girls about the shift here. Deb, like you mentioned its not drastic. Because we dont have extreme cold here. Its just extreme hot. Like right now its 30 degrees(yeah in winter!). And we are RELIEVED because it was 32-34 a couple of weeks ago. The nights are cooler though. It shifts slowly down to... maybe 20-18 mostly. Not below that. Our coolest winter record was 5 degrees.(Yeah...why do you think I'm movin' there? :D)

    I do feel a lot of emotional shifts. Physical..yeah obviously... My skin has already started getting dry. I'm drinking plenty of water now coz we tend reduce water intake in winter. Its cozier now..... Just feel like sleeping... In rainy season I feel like sleeping and reading with soothing music on. In my case here...Summer is the time when we are in the apartment the most because the humidity and temperature is EXTREME! In winter though I do feel that I go out more...summer is full of Doctor who, Castle and movies. Winter I'm making plans to DOO STUFF not exactly going out much..but doing something!! And I'm a LEO...so...I'm ALLLL ABOUT NESTING too!!! Ive always beeeen a home person!

    I'm soooo glad I got to see you beautiful girls again....and also LOVED SEEING the boob-eating plant again...Wow Barb its was staring at your boobs this time....Hmmmm wondering what it will do in the next blogging out loud. :D

    Love you girls! xo

    Ohhh I do have a question for the pups. Do they feel the shift in the seasons??...OR do you feel their shift more than them??? I would appreciate if Bairn could give some enlightening advice again. :D

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    1. That's interesting....the woofers sensing the seasons change.

      I've noticed my cats sleeping more and wanting to be on my lap more as it's been getting cloudier/colder. I'm only saying this because I have half of my purring masses on my lap and Snuggie as I speak. :]

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    2. Awwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!! Give those kitties a cuddly hug from me!

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  3. Here in California there really is not a seasonal change for me. When the trees drop leaves (Chinese Elm on my curb side) I get allergies in October. Winter such that it is, the holiday lights change the mood for me. Other than that not much.But having been in Provincetown, Cape Cod for Fall I loved the changing of the seasons.

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  4. I was just thinking about this the other day, only because it's been cloudy and gray here for the past couple of days and it's going to be getting colder again next week.

    I think to some degree the seasons affect me. Even when it isn't colder I'm definitely lazier and more tired when it's cloudy/rainy as opposed to when the sun is out. But at the same time the Christmas season is my favorite time of year so it sort of balances itself out. I also despise cold weather. lol.

    My aunt definitely suffers from the changing of seasons; she's a stay at home mom and my cousins are ALWAYS on the go with school and sports and all. Stuff for them usually winds down about now and she definitely goes through bouts of depression.

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  5. Good morning all. Going to weigh in on the animals. Mine at least. I find they go into a kind of hibernation. They want to go out less, they sleep more. Spring comes...WOWZER-they're back!

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    1. Hmm....So theres no difference between me and them! :D

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  6. I get a bit down in the winter, which I guess is similar in temp/rainfall to your Fall. Then I can feel the depression lifting off me in the Spring as the sun comes out. It's not the lack of colour in the winter (everything is green and lush, there is no layer of snow covering everything!) but I think it's the lack of sunshine. Maybe my body really misses the vitamin D in those months..

    The temp goes up to around 45 degrees in the Summer, and I find that much easier to take than the 5 degree nights in Winter. Except when I'm pregnant- it's going to be 35 degrees this weekend and I'm not anticipating being able to get much done other than waddle around looking a bit pink and sweaty. It's frustrating because I'm usually such a Summer girl!

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  7. my favorite season is the winter, since . it's almost Christmas this is like my favorite time of the year. the only time that I ever do get really depressed through this time of year is after Christmas. since 2012 was not the best year for me , I'm putting my money on 2013. I'm excited to see with the new year is going to bring me. as far as the seasonal changes, I always feel excited when winter comes. I like all the other seasons,, and Fall is not bad. but I like the snow.

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  8. Jo, I really notice my sleep patterns change -- I so want to sleep in more in the winter! The only reason I appreciate the time change thing (which I hate for the damn early nights). It would interesting to love in a lush hot environment like Samara and Shalaka and Madge, et al. Year round warmth. So so different from our lives!

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  9. Ok I must share....Had an amazing evening last night and I still on a high from that :) Best mood I have been in in a while YAY. Here is how I relate this, If it wasn't freezing outside last night I would have been outside and not hanging with friends inside. :) Cold weather means family and friends and board games while warm weather usually means allergies and sweaty walks with the dog. So I usually like winter better. More of a homey and bonding attitued towards winter.

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  10. I think I tend to become more of a homebody in fall but that might be because in summer we tend to get away while in fall all the scheduled things start up again; school, sports, music lessons etc. Also Fall is when we always end up with dentist, eye care, doctors appointments and what not. So fall seems to be getting ready to get down to business while spring is getting ready for summer fun.
    I also do the spring cleaning in fall! I always thought I was a little odd with that but I guess it's more common than I thought. The idea of getting ready to come inside in fall versus getting ready to head outside in spring makes perfect sense.
    I do love winter and winter activities so fall is always about looking forward to those things and of course Christmas. My least favorite time of the year does happen during a particular part of winter though. In late January/early February whenever we get that years cold snap. That bitter cold time of year when no matter how well dressed you are you can't spend time outside just sucks. When it's -40 (and yes we get -40 for about a week or two each year)with the North wind blowing I get a little miserable. I need my outside time!

    Question about the plane, do you live under a flight path? We do but far enough away from the airport that you don't hear it indoors (unless it's F-14's)but it drives me nuts when outdoor conversations get interrupted by planes.

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    1. In TO, it's like every house is (at some point) directly under a flight path. They come from all directions. Usually it's not a problem, but some days, yup, you hear it.

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  11. There's a joke about the seasons in Alabama, and it's that our seasons are summer, summer, summer, and almost summer. Seriously, the highs this week have been in the 70s! As far as I can tell, the changing of seasons doesn't affect me. Spring and summer aren't terribly exciting, because I spend most of my time indoors. (I sunburn ridiculously easily.) Fall isn't overly exciting, because it's usually just a continuation of summer. And winter's, well, winter. It's cold (if we're lucky, that is), and I have to listen to my dad complain because he hates winter. All in all, a very dull set of seasons...

    (Sorry if my post is a bit dreary. I've had a very miserable week.)

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    1. Well, sweetie, thinking of you!! xoxo

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    2. Thanks, Barb. I'm hoping next week will be much better.

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  12. Love Blogging Out Loud!
    The seasons do affect me. I am happier in Winter and Fall, and I am more moody in Spring and Summer. I feel more relaxed and less stressed in winter.
    I love winter the best.

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  13. I love warm weather and get depressed in the winter. Cold, clouds, rain, snow, short days... I have a hard time getting out of bed, going out of the house, exercising, smiling. Last year I had bronchitis that lasted weeks and recurred all winter. That was the final straw for me and winter.
    I've been saying for years that I will move somewhere with no winter, and this year is the year I am making it happen. I will find a place I love and make it my home. I hope the warmer weather lets me be the person I am in the summer, the me I love.

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  14. So many no winter girls here! I do sometimes dream of it. Just not sure it's for me...

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    1. Well, you can also visit Mumbai and check ;) I'LL BE PLEASED!

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  15. I must admit that I'm a bit of an odd duck. I love the season I'm in.

    Winter is cooler, and I have many happy childhood memories with winter - going out to the Big Pasture and tobogganing down the hills, or skating by the barn on our home made rink. Or having a game of shadow tag at night. But nothing quite beats a clear night with a full moon kissing the snow out in the country. But as I get older, I am happy curled upon my sofa after being outside for a bit.

    I also love spring, but it doesn't love me too much - silly snow mold allergies. :( But it's the "promise" of what is to come. Especially early spring - with the snow melting... I even enjoyed the smell of snow mold.

    In summer, I tend to have a bit more energy - I wonder if that has to do with the fact that I am outside, and that my body is naturally creating vitamin D. I know I have to increase my intake of Vitamin D during the rest of the year because my levels are so low otherwise. Anyhow ... the things I love about summer is that I go to the "summer home" (a.k.a. Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan) and volunteer and hang out by the river! Yay! The biggest drawbacks are Mosquitoes and The Heat. I'm the preferred buffet for most mosquitoes, and I have yet to find a bug spray that works well. But the mosquito coils are a wonderful invention!

    I love the autumn as well - nothing quite beats the sight of the elm trees - the leaves changing colours and then falling to the ground, and I get the added benefit of a break in temperatures. :)

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    1. lovely lovely examination on all the seasons, Jo. Thank you!

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  16. Souzan Rezai from Vancouver, BCDecember 13, 2012 at 2:29 PM

    I love what Jo says about loving the season you're in. I think as I get older I feel more of that, but I love fall, and will always have a special place for it in my heart. It's just so CALM. Summer is fun, but for me I always feel it's a bittersweet, somehow melancholy beauty. It's going to end, and it's going to end quickly; summer feels more like the end of the year to me than that funny ol' day the calendar picks in the middle of winter...
    Summer's the big finally!

    But Fall is beautiful in a calm, inclusive way (sometimes I feel like Summer is beautiful without me). And I adore Vancouver in the Fall. The sweet spot before the rainy season (yes they're all rainy. But when it's less rainy, we call it dry). This year we had a perfect October, and I spent most of it walking for hours just about the city.
    It's so true how Deb says Fall makes her want to clean and nestle, I am the same! But I feel like I get a surge of wanting to "spring clean" at the start of EVERY season! each new season gives me a burst of "Oh, hey, it's [insert season]! let's throw out junk and start anew!

    Physically I unfortunately get migraines when the season and pressure change. I feel like a cross between Eyore and a dog when somedays I just get a hint of it about to come, and go all slumped and dejectedly say "It's gonna be a gross one tomorrow."

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  17. Doing some catching up, before going to bed. I like dry fall, cold winter, dry spring and sunny summer. Unfortunately I work from home, so I haven't been able to go out as much as I would have liked during the past few years. I love outdoorsy stuff. Anyway my problem is the sun. We have few hours of sun at the moment and that's rounding it up. I just like to sleep, sleep and sleep some more. I burn easily but not as easily as red heads. So during the summer I need to be careful.

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  18. There is a season, as in, fall, winter, etc, then there is "the holiday season." Having the holiday season during a time where the days are shorter, the nights are longer, and, mostly, the weather is colder and not as comfortable for some is not a good mix for me.

    I wonder what I'd be like if Christmas was in late June or July? When it was warmer, brighter, MAYBE less hectic? (What do I know?) I'm not talking about just going to the Bahamas for the December Christmas season. I wonder if I'd be different if it were in July for EVERYONE?

    Tonight, I feel like a rock skipping along the water, sometimes hitting the water with the solid hit of what I want to say coming out coherently, and sometimes zipping through the air not knowing exactly WHERE or WHEN I'll be landing on a surface next.
    Now is NOT a good season for me, and, though I'm certainly safer than I was this time last year, I'm still having a tough time getting through things, having a tough time WANTING to get through things.
    I end up doing some kind of balance beam act, trying to keep going while carrying and doing as much as I can, then feeling relieved when I finally get to the end, only to look back and see that I've actually accomplished very little, and most of that wound up looking like crap.
    Thanks for letting me land here for a little while.

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    1. Dawn, you know you can land here anytime --we love to hear from you. The one thing I would add to this is that maybe it's not the best idea to "look back" and measure what you've accomplished. I think being on that balance beam is difficult and amazing enough to be an accomplishment all on its own, ya know? Keep looking ahead (platitude warning!). xoxo

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