Monday Weather: Overcast and mizzly

[jadesfire]

1. I spent the weekend doing very little, and am exhausted as a result. Not doing much means I don't sleep well, and not sleeping means I'm exhausted. You'd think I'd learn, but no.

2. The grumpy mood I was in yesterday hasn't yet lifted, so I'm narrowing my eyes at everything on my list and wondering if I glare at it hard enough, can I just set fire to the page?

3. Being grumpy yesterday was kind of sad, because my Parents in Law were here, and we did a fun 'Treasure Hunt' around Oxford, solving riddles and spotting landmarks. It was a lot of fun, and we're thinking of getting another one to do in Bristol with a friend this coming weekend. (it came from these people, in case anyone's interested!)

4. Last week, I thought I'd want the empty week stretching in front of me. This morning, it's making me feel drifty and purposeless. I need a new, big project, either here or at home, to focus on. I'm a big picture person, and I can plough through endless tiny tasks, as long as I can see where they're getting me. Right now, especially as home, I'm sort of desperate for something to work towards, and not having it is making me restless. Maybe I'll re-reorganise the garage. Again.

5. In an effort to get my brain going again, I downloaded a bunch of first episodes from Netflix, but now I'm just looking at them gloomily, unable to choose between them. So tell me, oh friends list, what's your "go to" media? Is there a show/film/book you go back to when you're in a funk and need perking up? What gets your brain going again?

Comments

[tjs_whatnot]

I'm currently on my gazillionth re-watch of The West Wing on Netflix. It's been my escape and happy place since last year's presidential election went so very horribly wrong.

A great escape show that is super fun and slashy is White Collar...

Um... I'm sure there are others, but those are my go-to on Netflix... oh, and Sherlock. ♥

[jadesfire]

Oh gosh, see I avoided The West Wing for much the same reasons.

I used to watch and rewatch White Collar a lot, although only up to S2. That or Sherlock (I know S1 by heart) might be good background listening while I get through this pile of books!

[thisbluespirit]

I hope you can work things out a bit better now. <3

As to #5, my go to is very ancient telly, but this is a thing that works for few people but me! Cheery, perky modern things I've enjoyed nevertheless are Jane the Virgin and (for all its faults) I still love OUaT. Oh, and in UK TV Upstart Crow. They're not new new, though, any of them!

(You're a librarian, go at them in alphabetical order if all else fails? ;-p)

[jadesfire]

I'll get there, it's just all a bit vague and drifty at the moment, while we wait to hear about J's exams. Maybe I should start planning a holiday :)

Odd you should say that, because I've been thinking of doing a Sapphire and Steel rewatch. There's fic I want to write, and I could use a refresh - I haven't watched anything but Adventure Two in years. OUaT is on my list, but I haven't heard of Upstart Crow, thanks. Alphabetical or chronological, that's the question....

[thisbluespirit]

Oh, well, I'm definitely happy to support any S&S rewatching!

Upstart Crow is a comedy about William Shakespeare by Ben Elton, but it's really very good, I think. I missed S1, sadly, but I loved S2 and must catch the first one sometime.

Alphabetical or chronological, that's the question....

It's fiction, it should be alphabetical!! ;-) (At least, each individual series; you should watch the episodes mostly in chronological order...)

[alithea]

I particularly enjoyed the latest season of Upstart Crow - I love Gemma Whelan!

[thisbluespirit]

Oh, yes! I hadn't really come across her before to know the name, but I love Kate lots - she's definitely my favourite!

[alithea]

She was in the latest TV adaptation of 'Mapp & Lucia' as Irene... I may have a teeny, tiny crush ;)

[thisbluespirit]

Oh, actually, yes, I remember her in that too! A crush seems entirely reasonable. ;-)

[naye]

Honestly, I wish I had a go to media! When I end up with lots of things I could watch and none I really want to I usually end up disliking whatever I try.

Though something shorter I don't get so involved in is usually better for snapping out of it than starting a new series. Recently I had a spell of that and realized the Rivers of London graphic novels were available for digital download, so I got them on our tablet and spent a day or so reading through them. Another thing that might work is something like Drunk History, which I don't want to watch loads of but which might take my mind off the problem of what to choose. Finally there's always checking to see if any of my favorite podcasts have updated and downloading a new episode to listen to in the background while doing chores or something.

Hope you find something to get you started again!

[jadesfire]

Oh yes, I love the Rivers of London graphic novels. It's not my preferred medium in general, but knowing the characters well really helps, and the stories have been great.

Unfortunately, Drunk History really doesn't work for me, and the problem started when I ran out of podcast episodes. There are disadvantages to being able to listen to things during the day! I'm feeling a lot better today, so hopefully things will pick up.

It's nice to hear that I'm not the only one who gets like this too, though. I never want to pick up a favourite when I'm in this sort of mood, just in case.

[naye]

It's such a bother, isn't it? As a manga fan, picking up a new volume of something I enjoy but don't fan on is another option - manga volumes are short enough that they entertain without becoming huge commitments... But then I need to have an unread one around!

How about movies you've heard of but haven't watched yet? Especially when going in to it prepared to pause and walk off. (Though I can't say that works for me very often!)

Finally - something completely non-fiction; something you can enjoy intellectually but not necessarily emotionally. Including Wikipedia articles or random links. At least then I get a little bit of satisfaction from having learned something? :D

[jadesfire]

I could try that - I've been meaning to watch Ant Man, which is the only MCU film I don't know, and is supposed to be pretty okay. It's just one of those grumpy, unsatisfied moods, where my brain WANTS, it just doesn't know WHAT.

I might DL some factual audiobooks, that's a good idea. I need something to have on in the background while I work, so I could go with something I've listened to before, or that I'm not fussed about too much. Anything to stop me going mad while sticking labels on books!

[summerstorm]

4 has been my life for the past few months. I'm a small picture person, though, and I suck at doing anything if the only time I'm going to see a reward is too long into the future. But I can't even do the normal stuff because I've lost the habit. It's bad.

I'm currently watching Cougar Town and I do really enjoy it. Brooklyn Nine Nine was a great thing to rewatch a while back when I was feeling super down; I still remembered it well, I could mostly do other things during, and it made me want to like, reward myself with it? I don't think I ever did much but it did get my brain going.

[jadesfire]

I think sitcoms are ideal for this sort of mood - B99 is pretty accessible here, and maybe I'll see if there's anything I've missed on the BBC.

It's hard, being stuck in this sort of rut. I normally try to kick myself out of it, but if that doesn't work, it just has to be waited out :/

[spikedluv]

Maybe I need you to get me to clean out my computer junk room.

I see someone already mentioned White Collar. How about Leverage? Grace and Frankie? Yuri on Ice?

[jadesfire]

Oh yes, I am excellent at sorting through other people's clutter. My own? *looks shifty*

I've heard fun things about Grace and Frankie, so maybe I'll see if I can find that somewhere to at least give it a go. Thanks :)

[spikedluv]

Grace and Frankie is so good! I wrote a little pimp for Snowflake one year and basically said it's laugh out loud funny and sob your heart out heartbreaking, like one moment to the next. But in a good way?!! (That was for s1.) (That said, I know some people who were turned off by the premise, so I just want to make sure you know what you're getting into.)

I'm only half-way through s3 and s4 just came out! I need to get moving on that.

ETA: Here's the link to my pimp if you're interested in checking it out. There are some minor spoilers. https://spikedluv.dreamwidth.org/1205406.html

[mf_luder_xf]

My go-to is definitely The X-Files. The number of times I have rewatched some of those episodes...

I also tend to go back to Stargate: Atlantis and The West Wing. Boo-wise if I'm in a funk, I'll pick up one of the Xanth novels by Piers Anthony. They're ridiculously heterosexual (nearly 40 books, not one LGB character), but quirky and funny and I grew up with them so they always bring back good memories for me.

[jadesfire]

There's a lot to be said for rewatches - like an old blanket, they're very comforting.

I've been considering an SGA rewatch, although I might have to steel myself for some of it, or skip the episodes that made me eyeroll at the time :)

[sholio]

I don't know how you are about sitcoms, but just for mindless/fun background noise, how about Parks & Recreation? It's a mock-documentary show set in a small town parks department in the US, and it's very cute and funny (though some of the humor can be kind of mean, just to warn you; overall it's very upbeat and optimistic about people, though).

I enjoyed it from the beginning, but some people dislike season one (it's true that it's slower-paced and not as funny) and say it's better to start with season two instead.