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* A friend of mine told me over the weekend that whenever her mom (who lives in Ohio) is feeling down, she watches this video and feels better…

Obviously, that’s from the pre-mask period.

* The Question: Do you do anything particular to cheer yourself up during these trying times?

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 2:00 pm

Comments

I think about how much happier I was when I believed that if I did my part it would only take 14 days to stop the spread.

we all watched tiger king, we ordered mexican food and paid for margaritas to go, the roads were empty.

what a memory

Comment by Rick Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 2:04 pm
Legal cannabis. It always makes me smile and giggle a little. Hmmm, now I’m hungry again…

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 2:05 pm
Salt licorice. It’s not good for health (too high of carbs and well, uh, salt) but man is it satisfying.

Comment by cermak_rd Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 2:09 pm
Checking out gardening catalogs and doing some ordering for Spring 2021. This is usually the time of year we are resting up from our gardening year but the COVID crises has made it more important than ever to have something to look forward to.

Comment by Give Me A Break Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 2:10 pm
“Can I offer you an egg in these trying times?”

Comment by Boone's is Back Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 2:11 pm
Exercise. Anything to get the blood pumping in these old veins.

Comment by SSL Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 2:12 pm
The wife and I put up our real Christmas tree. The 48th one to be precise. Didn’t make me feel happier by any means, quite the opposite. But it did reinforce the fact that if our marriage could survive the ordeal of putting up said tree, Covid-19, quarantine and mitigation is a walk in the park.

Comment by Blue Dog Dem Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 2:13 pm
Stephen King books. Seriously, he’s a great writer.

Comment by Cheryl44 Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 2:22 pm
Been painting since lockdown started. I’m no good, but it’s calming.

Comment by Suburban Mom Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 2:22 pm
My wife and I try to go for long walks, mostly within a few miles of our house but we try to go to parks and nature trails too.

Being outside and listening to the birds always cheers us up.

Comment by Big Jer Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 2:26 pm
Summer 2021 vacation planning.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 2:27 pm
I pour myself a drink and read.

Just a reset helps, that and talking to my wife who deals with COVID professionally, provides some perspective, and the pride I feel about her helps.

Blue Dog, the only piece of marriage advice I got from my dad was ‘Don’t wallpaper together’, as I grow older it seems wiser all the time.

Comment by OneMan Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 2:27 pm
Watch Seinfeld bloopers online.

Comment by L.A. Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 2:29 pm
I snuggle with the puppers that came to live with us this Spring. We hadn’t planned to get a dog, but fate won, and the dog is now comfortable in his new home. And he is so darn cute!

Comment by Observation Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 2:31 pm
My wife and I playing online XBox games with the grandkids (They tolerate our play despite our limited controller capabilities). Gaming has changed!

Comment by Res Melius Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 2:35 pm
I try to give myself credit for positive things I’ve done. It’s a meditation exercise. You’re meant to start really small - I got plenty of sleep last night so that I’m rested, I got dressed, I took a walk for my health, I fed the cats, I ate a healthy breakfast, I did my dishes, I was pleasant to the checkout person in the store, etc. It helps some, but I admit I rely more on distractions.

Comment by Earnest Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 2:38 pm
The Grateful Dead

1) The Dead has a streaming channel.

2) 30 Days of Dead (https://www.dead.net/30daysofdead) The Dead have been offering up 30 free, downloadable mp3 files every November for at least a decade. Some great stuff…

Also, Santana never fails to cheer me up…old stuff, new stuff, and everything in between.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 3:01 pm
Mr/Ms Rick makes a good point.
We have kept the “slow the spread” post card Trump sent everyone. It has made a big difference.
It is like being lashed by Durbin and remembering the national Ds got wiped and he remains in the minority.

Comment by Annoin' Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 3:02 pm
Hard to beat anything with sea otters, but I always go with Baby Yoda…

Comment by Veil of Ignorance Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 3:15 pm
I sit outside with my wife and sing along to “Some Girls Do” by Sawyer Brown.

Comment by pool boy Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 3:16 pm
I watch old clips of Chris Elliot in the 80s as he worked on Late Night with David Letterman.

Comment by Dutch Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 3:17 pm
Once a week, I try to get out to my cabin on the woods.

Comment by Huh? Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 3:20 pm
Ah, yes the good old days. Before we lost our collective minds and decided it was a good idea to endanger our friends and relatives because… Freedom

Comment by Bruce( no not him) Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 3:23 pm
I long for the early days of stay at home. Driving to Kenosha on empty roads for the best grocery store in the world, Festival Foods, stopping for gas and chicken at the Kwik Trip on the way home. Making tik toks with my college kids, game night, margarita night - I can go on and on. Now its like Groundhog Day.

Comment by PMS Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 3:24 pm
Root beer floats

Comment by Banish Misfortune Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 3:35 pm
Live concert videos on Youtube with headphones. May start with Foo Fighters pulling a fan from the audience (Kiss man or the little kid who plays Metallica), then start picking choices Youtube presents. Hour later, just smiling/laughing at how good many of these bands are. Live music, just great.

Comment by zatoichi Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 3:55 pm
I fake a smile…and feel better…try it?

Comment by Dotnonymous Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 4:05 pm
Driving a few miles shifting the manual tranny on the old vette usually gives me a giggle.

Comment by Rabble Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 4:06 pm
Nope

Comment by JDuc Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 4:07 pm
When the weather was warmer, I’d put the top down on my old convertible and take a nice drive. Always makes me fool good. I also enjoy a good cup of coffee or a cocktail with a good book. A nice long walk with my dog is always a good diversion too.

Comment by Manchester Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 4:12 pm
To answer the question, recreational marijuana does help.

Comment by Bruce( no not him) Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 4:17 pm
Uh, I just realized that “all in” doesn’t just refer to everyone getting invested in the cause but also cleverly refers to being inside. We are all *in*doors.

Comment by Dan Johnson Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 4:21 pm
“Do you do anything particular to cheer yourself up during these trying times?”

Since the pandemic began, I’ve hit my heavy-bag approximately 518,000 times.

I can’t say it cheers me up, but it does make me tired.

And most days, these days, that’ll do.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 5:03 pm
I watch Saturday Night Live. They crack me up.

Comment by PublicServant Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 5:17 pm
I’ve taken numerous walks to new places or places that I haven’t visited in years. Cemetaries, parks, neighborhood streets. I definitely know the city better and got some good exercise.

Comment by City Guy Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 5:22 pm
I cook. I run. I “watch and/or binge” media.

I try to be creative. I try to find the good to smile.

I look to those that make me smile. I check on others to sympathize.

It’s tough, but I try…

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 5:49 pm
@OW. Are you a runner like who goes out to run miles? Interesting if you are would never thought it. Myself been at running now in 43 years. Much different than years ago though

Comment by Cler dcn Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 6:56 pm
- Cler dcn -

I’ve “come back” to it, probably for the mental aspect. It clears my head, I’ll put some miles on my shoes, yes. I find a peace now these past months, I’m grateful.

A big athletic idol of mine, flaws included, is Steve Prefontaine and while I’m not physically breaking records running any distances, during this time, I can understand the mental more than I ever did.

Whew, 43 years, good on you, my best to your health, physical and mental.

Be well, stay safe.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 7:06 pm
I have a variety of ways to improve and distract myself, and I love the people I live with, but the phone-a-friend option lifts my spirits better than anything else.

Comment by yinn Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 8:40 pm
I dress up in bright colors, because they cheer me up. I remind myself that I am spending this pandemic year at home with my husband of 29 years, who is the only person with whom I could ever possibly quarantine, and our cats. And I watch every Biden press conference, because the competence and intelligence is just so soothing.

Comment by tully monster Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 9:19 pm