10 Tips To Improve Your Mood During An Economic Crisis

Dear Citizen,

I don't know about you but I'm having a tough time keeping my chin up in these trying times. Of course, I don't have much of a chin, but you get my drift. Despite a few highlights, the ever-present news is mostly depressing - clueless and faithless congressmen, crooks and liars, tax dodgers, jobless claims, foreclosures, struggling stocks, disappearing 401Ks, Australian wildfires, contaminated peanut butter, irresponsible multiple embryo transplants, pot-smoking and steroid-using athletes/"role models", the horrors of celebrity weight gain, and too much analysis of fake Reality TV. No matter how optimistic you are (and should be for the greater good), for many of us, it's hard to feel "the love" right now.

10 tips to improve your mood:

1. Enjoy a piece of toast (whole grain with Brummel & Brown natural yogurt/butter spread, of course.) You'll be surprised how a simple piece of toast (no, it doesn't have to be a bagel) will magically lift your spirits.

2. Take stock in what you have. Revisit your book, music, DVD or other collection. This will make you happy - or make you pause - in the event you realize you had (have?) terrible taste in music (especially during the 80's) and own too many movie soundtracks that don't include that one song you were looking for. (I actually own the soundtracks from "Last of The Mohicans" and "Dawson's Creek - Season 3"). This will allow you to make fun of yourself and decide which items to select for next Christmas's inevitable re-gifting. Hmmm, I wonder if my nephew Ryan is a Joey & Pacey fan?

3. Smile. Do it by force or even if it feels creepy. After a few moments, it will occur naturally and be less painful. Your mood will improve over time and/or if the smile becomes stuck for more than 4 hours, someone will suggest psychiatric help.

4. Talk. To a friend, stranger, yourself, an object, plant (preferably an ivy) or pet. If necessary, join a support group of any kind. Recently, I read about a group of women - wives and girlfriends of investment bankers - meeting (in a bar) to bemoan topics like "This is not what I signed on for!", "I'm not sure I love him if he's not rich.", "But I deserve a McMansion and luxury SUV!" etc. Okay, in that case, just get over it.

5. Value experiences, not possessions. What really makes you happy? Okay, I admit I hugged a new magazine rack once and also kissed a new pair of shoes. Minor detail.

6. Get excited about the little things; i.e., fake-buttered toast.

7. Tell your significant other that you love, love, love him/her at least 3 times per day - even if you are mad at him/her for:
a) turning off the electricity without warning causing you to lose valuable, unsaved diary entries,
b) buying the world's cheapest detergent that inflames your sensitive skin when you specifically requested "Cheer - Free & Gentle" with a coupon no less, and
c) calling your cell phone repeatedly from the bedroom so that you can drop what you're doing in the kitchen and locate the remote sitting on the bedside table.

8. Play outside with your niece's adorable 2 1/2 year old (as long as he's had his nap and has dry pants). Observe the joy on his face as he smears mud on his clean shirt, crashes his matchbox cars into the curb, insists on pushing you on the porch swing, points out airplanes, birds and stars, and sneaks forbidden drinks of your diet coke when his mother isn't watching. This will please you.

9. Find a cheap hobby. I read that yarn is flying off the shelf and knitting while eating spam and saltines by candle light has replaced dining out at Chili's (same sodium content). If you're my mom, borrow our staple gun and fire away at fabric on those hand-crafted cornice boards. It's good physical therapy and will help you regain your strength. You also may sew. There's enough fabric in Mom's house to clothe the octuplets for life.

10. Clean your bathroom. It will remind you of how nice it is to have running water and to be thankful you don't have to use a latrine in the woods where there are raccoons.

It's all relative.

CitizenB

Movies Movies Movies - My 115

I love film; maybe not as much as Roger Ebert, bless his heart, but as an ordinary citizen, I really love the movies. Yes, more than pie.

Recently, I attempted to whittle down 15+ years of lists to produce a new list of 100 films to include a wide range of genres. These are movies that I love (or really like) whether blockbusters (not many) or straight to video (a few). In their own way, they made an impression, and if we had all the time in the world I could tell you at least one minor but interesting detail that I remember from them all. It's about the little things.

I labored to get the number to 100 but when the tally came to 115 I decided "close enough!" You will find them listed alphabetically to the lower right. Ever the analyst, I decided to consider the titles and see if I could learn something about my obsession.

Here are the statistics (very unscientific) with some films falling into multiple categories:

The majority (48) qualify as dramas,
35 meet the romantic category (not necessarily chick flicks but, hey, I am a girl),
At least 34 are indies,
26 are comedies or try to be,
18 are classics (tough to pare down all the "greats"),
Films about social issues: 18,
17 are period pieces (not just one period!),
There are 13 foreign films and 13 thrillers,
At least 12 films center around strong but imperfect women (including a few total bad asses),
11 involve dark humor,
10 have a crime story and 10 are heart breakers,
9 are coming of age stories and 9 are political,
Action & Adventure films: 8,
7 are considered suspenseful,
6 are cult films and 6 westerns (with horses),
5 are low budget films. 5 are considered epics. There are 5 documentaries and 5 road trips or journeys,
4 were "Best Pictures", 4 are about war. 4 are musicals and 4 showcase food,
There are 3 spoofs and 3 films about aging,
2 were first films for the directors and at least 2 can be considered "film noir",
Horror: 1!

48 are from the 00s, 34 from the 90's, 12 from the 80's, 5 - 70's, 8 - 60's, 2 - 50's, 4 - 40's and 2 from the 30's.

A few directors pop up more than once including Ang Lee, Woody Allen, Lasse Hallstrom, Alejandro Inarrtu, Whit Stillman, Joel Cohen, Wes Anderson, Alfred Hitchcock, Quentin Tarantino and Curtis Hansen.

The actors range from the total unknown to Laurence Olivier. Wasn't he knighted as a film god? If I remember correctly he actually played Zeus in "Clash of the Titans." One of my faves, Russell Crowe (soooo intense), appears in at least 3. Billy Bob Thornton manages to pop up as an actor and a director. Al Gore achieves rock star status from An Inconvenient Truth. I was surprised that I liked a film with John Goodman and one with the guy from Kung Fu. But I did and do.

You really can't go wrong watching Annette Bening (she must be a great actress to be married to Warren Beatty), Juliette Binoche, Frances McDormand, Judi Dench, Toni Collette, Judy Davis, Cate Blanchett (she makes Brad Pitt look better) and Laura Linney - to name a few.

So what did I learn?

I like variety and movies that are intense, intelligent, unexpected, emotional, artistic, visually stunning, inspiring (without trying or preaching) and passionate; with broken characters. Throw in some quirkiness with the occasional cheese and insanity and I'm a happy viewer.

I'm tolerant but there are a few movies that come to mind that I severely disliked.

"Next" with Nicolas Cage was preposterous (I did like him in "Valley Girl").

"Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind" gave me a headache. Jim Carrey should never be allowed to act with Kate Winslet.

I hated, hated, hated "Swordfish". Halle Berry removing her shirt could not save that disaster of a movie.

I'm not a Tom Cruise fan and with obviously limited sexual experience, I didn't understand "Eyes Wide Shut". Besides, TC and sex? Ew. I did like "Minority Report" but more for the pre-mug shot Colin Farrell than T.C.

Johnny Depp must have been paid a huge pile of money to do 3 "Pirates" movies. Ugh. (Sorry, kids.) I did like "Sweeney Todd", for some reason.

Lastly, I was disappointed with "Leatherheads". George Clooney bombed with that one. Oh well, he made up for it with "Michael Clayton". That film made my "115" more for the actor Tom Wilkinson and the bizzaro actress - Tilda Swinton.

Oh, so many movies and so little time. Next I'll work on my Reading list.

That's a wrap,

CitizenB

Meat!

Just for fun and a few years ago, we had a contest in our house to make up our own word for "cool" and all the crazy expressions that have evolved over the years.

It seems we were tired of the usual exclamations of approval including "right on", "cool", "too cool", "way cool", "the coolest", "sweet", "nice", "excellent" and considering the times, an occasional "rad", "bad", "bad-ass", "I hear that", "word" etc.

Not being skaters, surfers, or Valley people, we never used a lot of radical expressions including "gnarly", "bitchin'", "fer sure", and "tubular."

I'll occasionally slip with a "far out!" and "neat-o!" Andy and Aaron use "off the hook", "dabomb" and "sooooo freakin' good" to describe their cooking. They get really, really excited stirring stuff on the stove. I've seen near seizure-like activity in our kitchen. Confidence is good, but don't fall face first into your paella.

Also, I'm lost on today's expressions but imagine most start with a "ph" like "phat", "phabulous" and "phantastic."

Back to the contest... the winning entry (mine) was - drum roll, please - "MEAT!" I don't recall the other entries but I'm fairly sure Aaron's entry was "This is a bunch of b-s."

The new sensation "Meat!" pops up during conversation; mainly when we are sitting down to a large platter of ribs. Now that's "Meat!"

There have been a number of "Meat!" worthy events lately. Amanda graduated with honors from UTA. MEAT! Andy survived his solo motorcycle journey to the far reaches of Eastern Oklahoma. Meat! Aaron is on month two of his vegetarian diet. Meat-o! Rush Limbaugh continues to prove he's the ultimate dolt. Double Meat with Gravy!

Remember. Always praise with "MEAT!"

Marshall's Quasi-Proust Questionnaire

Marshall is a perfect specimen of a tabby cat at age 7 - physically striking, mature but youthful, loving though aloof, simple yet complex. Here's what he had to say to Proustian and other important questions (note the questions were asked in random order to allow for the most spontaneous response):

What is your favorite music? Blues

What is your favorite cocktail? Blueberry Martini

What do you like most about your appearance? My spectacular stripes

What do you dislike most about your body? I am not ashamed to say... my shriveled testicles

What languages do you speak? English, Russian, Bahasa Indonesian, Sign, and Cat Slang including purring, hissing and yowling at different pitches and beats, Yo!

What is your favorite entertainment? Pouncing to Zydeco at Poor David's Pub and watching Animal Planet

What is your motto? One Life At A Time

Where would you like to live? Taj Mahal or a temperature controlled barn in Iowa

What is your most treasured possession? My prowess and ability to dart up a tree at record speed and give the Bronx cheer to salivating German Shepherds

What do you value in your owners? Loyalty, plus they open doors for me at any hour

Which actress would you most like to meet? Nastassja Kinski

What subject did you enjoy most in school? Biology; specifically dissecting frogs.

Which historical figure do you most identify with? Sigmund Freud

What is your favorite movie? Breakfast at Tiffany's

Which talent would you most like to have? Ability to woo Nastassja Kinski as a panther

What it the quality you most like in a mate? A good listener

What is your greatest regret? I didn't escape prepubertal castration

Who are your favorite writers? Rudyard Kipling, Lewis Carroll and Dr. Seuss

What can be found in your refrigerator? Mouse on ice, butter, olives and Rock Star

What is your current state of mind? Bored and not at all amused with these questions

What instrument would you like to play? Accordion or double bass

What is your favorite game? Ping Pong

Do you have political aspirations? Yes. Find a way to quash oppressive city ordinances and join in the fight to "remake" America

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? "Feed me" in four different languages

Who is your favorite musician? Brian Setzer

What is your greatest fear? There is nothing to fear but fear itself or maybe an open dryer door

What is your favorite occupation? Day dreaming and writing love letters

What is your favorite flower? One that I can eat and regurgitate without being poisoned

Which magazine do you enjoy? Vogue Knitting. Sorry, Vanity Fair, but yarn fascinates me

End

The Moon, Venus & Jupiter!

Tonight I was able to view a beautiful crescent moon accompanied by a very bright Venus and Jupiter.




An excerpt from Earth & Sky:

"Celestial trio in December 1 twilight
Tonight is Monday, Dec 01 2008

Yesterday, the blazing planets Venus and Jupiter were in conjunction at dusk and early evening. Yet, this evening’s sky show will probably supersede yesterday’s attraction. What is it about these gatherings of objects in the night sky that’s so alluring? Hard to know, but I’ll tell you that Venus and Jupiter will be almost as close together this evening as they were last night. What’s more, this evening, the waxing crescent moon will join the show in earnest, appearing very near the two brightest planets.

The view will be spectacular with the eye alone, although (it must be said) these objects are fairly low in the twilight sky as seen from the northern hemisphere. Oh, to be in the southern hemisphere now, where the trio stands high in the sky after sunset! No matter. People around the world will look up to see and be amazed by these worlds.

As seen from most of North America, the heavenly threesome will fit within a single binocular field of view. If you live in Europe, however, you might not see Venus for a portion of the evening tonight, because the moon will occult – pass in front of – Venus, blocking this world from view. Information on this occultation is available at the International Occultation Timing Association.

Look closely at the moon through binoculars and you might see the soft glow of earthshine on the dark side of the moon. The waxing crescent moon is about 16% lit up in sunlight and 84% in darkness. But as seen from the moon, the phase of the Earth is exactly the opposite, with the waning gibbous Earth about 84% illuminated in sunshine and 16% in darkness.

By the way, if you were standing on the night side of the moon tonight, you would see an almost full Earth lighting up your lunar landscape!

Written by BRUCE MCCLURE , 1 December 08"