Depressing news and overworked-ness

[misscam]

I'm so behind on everything it's sad.

Sleep? Check.
Fandom stuff? Check.
Fics? Check.
World of Warcraft? Check. (Wah, my WoW.)
Cleaning and general Christmas stuff? Check.

Reason is of course work - specifically, overtime, Christmas work party (Tuesday - came home at one in the morning, got up at six for work again, fun times) and people at work being ill so I have to fill in for them too. Urk. (On the bright side, paycheck will be glorious. I might even use it to get a new harddrive, since my old is almost checking out.)

Then I've been reading Jesus Land, which is a book that depresses me on so many levels, and Terry Pratchett has Altzeimer's.

...

I love his books. They're funny, but they're more than that - they hold up a mirror to our world without being a lecture about it. They give me heart.

I haven't felt like this about an author since Astrid Lindgren died - it was like a punch to the stomach. A tribute to their ability to make writing an emotional connection between writer and reader, I suppose.

Altzheimer's is such a nasty thing too, I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

Tomorrow, it's mum's birthday and there are celebration things to do and that'll undoubtfully make me more tired. I want five weeks in the sun somewhere, getting oiled by hot males and served drinks by the same. Shut up, I can have daydreams.

All in all, I got the overworked, tired blues. So, o flist, what do you do when you're feeling down?

Comments

[falena]

I heard about Pratchett and thought of you. Poor guy, Alzheimer's such a nightmare.

I just sent you an e. with loads of squee that will hopefully rub off on you?*is hopeful*

You should call in sick and spend a couple days in bed, watching DVDs and eating chocolate. That should help with the blues and the exhaustion.

I just googled Jesus Land and, holy cow, of course you're depressed. Try something lighter.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Yeah, got the e-mail. Glad to hear the Christmas package got there - and no wonder the postman thought it was lead, that book is heavy and cost me the most by far in postage of everything I sent.

On the bright side, it should take you ages to read.

I call in sick, someone else gets all the overtime. Seems a bit unfair. I think I'll just survive - I got whole of Christmas off, I can sleep then. Next week should hopefully have some sick people back as well.

I started Good Omens again on the train, but then I heard the news about Pratchett. Finished Jesus Land on the train yesterday - couldn't not read it. It's like picking a scab. I didn't know the book contained sexual abuse as well, so that was a bit of a smack in the face given everything, but I'm kinda glad I read it.

Those youth ministries she writes about? Makes me feel physically ill.

[falena]

On the bright side, it should take you ages to read.

Yes. It'll have to wait for Christmas break, though, as it is not the kind of book I can carry with me to read on buses. :P

I call in sick, someone else gets all the overtime. Seems a bit unfair.

I know. But sometimes you need to think of yourself first. I mean, if you're dead tired and all zombie-like you won't be exactly the most productive memeber of the workforce and your colleagues will have to pick up some of the slack in any case.
Oh well, it's no use arguing with such a strong-willed, socially-aware Nordic person, I think. *g*


I read just a couple of reviews and that was enough to make me see red. The thing people do in the name of God make me feel deeply ashamed of sharing the Christian label with them.

Trying to focus on positive stuff, I leant my Pratchett books (including Good Omens) to a good friend of mine and she's enjoying them immensely.
You should be proud of your effective Pratchett-love spreading.

Yes, I'm madly in love with the edit-button!

[cincoflex.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the news about Pratchett is depressing as hell--I love so much of his writing for just the reasons you listed and more. Even my hubby knows I have a serious crush on Sam Vimes and the Patrician, sigh.

I guess if he's (Pratchett that is, not the Patrician)telling us to stay positive I can make the attempt though. I find rereading a favorite book, or finding a long piece of string and dragging it around for my cat is generally a good way to lighten my mood.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Vetinari is made of love and win.

You make me want to snuggle my cat and I still have work hours, woe. Hardly seen him this week at all.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

It would give you strong arms :P

And it's not quite as bad as zombie!state, really. I'm almost through today too, and then it's just Friday and some days where I can catch up on sleep. So I should manage.

Yeah - all the described racsism in the book is also rage-inducing. But it is a good I'm glad I read, still.

Ah yeah, that's right, I sent you Good Omens. You should read more of Pratchett - he's just smashing. Discworld can take a bit getting into, but it's just a wonderful world.

[tilly-stratford.livejournal.com]

Pratchett? No, that's too sad! But it says, "a rare form of early Alzheimer's disease", I wonder what the difference is.

I find that sleep is a good no. 1 priority when everything else is coming belly-up. I'm with Falena, you should call in a few days sick and treat yourself.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Might mean it usually has onset when you're much older? That's what I understood it as, anyway. And yeah, it's just... Wah.

I'd feel too guilty if I did and wouldn't be able to treat myself, sadly. But it's just a little over a week till Christmas and I know I'll be able to relax then, so it should be all right.

[evilstorm.livejournal.com]

If Pterry's condition has you down--consider donating towards Alzheimer's research like at the Fisher Center For Alzheimer's Research Foundation. turnberryknkn explains why this is more significant than it might appear.

When I'm down, I listen to good, happy, crackfilled music, and I go browse kittenwar.com. The latter can pick me up from almost anything, including stories and images of horrific cruelty and abuse. (I deliberately seek those out, so I occasionally need sanity buffs. It's all part of the cynical bastard training.)

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link. I'll have to look a bit closer first, and I might find I prefer donating to a Norwegian charity, but it's definitely a good idea. Haven't picked all my chairities of the year yet either.

Ah, good idea on the kittens. They do make everything better.

[evilstorm.livejournal.com]

:) Doesn't matter where it goes, as long as it goes somewhere reputable. I only mention the link cos turnberryknkn suggested it and he should know what he's talking about, he works in medicine, and apparently they use 90 cents of every dollar as pure research money, which is bloody impressive. But any charity in that general direction is great.

[rivrea.livejournal.com]

I second the suggestion made above of spending lots of time in bed, watching DVDs (possibly neither intellectual nor depressing ones) and eating sweets. That, combined with taking walks in the fresh air, usually works wonders for me.

As I'm not sure whether you even saw the comment I left on some old post yestersay, what with being so overworked and all that, I'd like to thank you again for your Christmas present. There was much squeeing when I discovered the books, and the "God Jul" card is ever so cute. Thanks a lot!

*hugs*

[misscam.livejournal.com]

It's so freezing here now I'd rather not go out, brrr.

Didn't notice that one, no. But glad it arrived and you liked it :)

[rivrea.livejournal.com]

Than just watch one DVD more! ;)

And I did like the gift a lot -- especially the "How to talk about books you haven't read" book. It seems to epitomize my career as a student of literature. I think I should let you know that I posted my parcel for you last week, but I've got no idea how long it'll take to Norway.

[fried-flamingo.livejournal.com]

I haven't felt like this about an author since Astrid Lindgren died - it was like a punch to the stomach. A tribute to their ability to make writing an emotional connection between writer and reader, I suppose.

I think you've summed up how I feel exactly. I connected with Pratchett when I read my first book of his (Moving Pictures). I was about 15 at the time and I couldn't stop thinking about what I'd read. He's able to merge broad ideas and grand narrative with very intimate character portrayals and relationships. He's one of the few authors whose books I can still be thinkg about days/weeks after I've read them. I can't express how upset I am at this news.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

He's one of the authors I regularly re-read, which is a very strong tribute to him.

It's just depressing - but as he did say himself, he's not dead yet. Perhaps we can hope advances in Azheimer research might benefit him.

[elvenpiratelady.livejournal.com]

When I first saw the news, I thought it was Paul Kidby who had Alzheimer's, since it was on his website. When I realised what was actually happening, I was crushed. I still feel flat. I've never felt like this about an author before. Roald Dahl died in the year I was born, and Tolkien was long in his grave when I picked up LOTR. I have no idea how I'll deal with it.

I looked at the Amazon summary of Jesus Land, and wow, you're brave. I couldn't get through 1984 because I got too paranoid.

As for happiness, I look through the archives of metaquotes, or find some good and happy fic. The emotions have to come out somehow, and crying with laughter is better than the other sort.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

I suspect I shall feel gloom about it all day. I still gotta tell my brother, who's a huge Pratchett fan, and I'm dreading it.

I didn't know what I was reading until I started it - friend passed it on to me without comment. By the time I realized how painful a book it was, I was already kinda hooked in a way too.

It is a good book, I have to say.

[kahva.livejournal.com]

Playing with my kitties (this is Arwen in my icon) helps me when I'm down. Putting in one of my LOTR or POTC dvds and drooling over Orlando Bloom, James Davenport, David Wenham and such also helps. I will also self-medicate with chocolate milk.

If I'm very aggravated, stressed, or royally ticked off, I'll load up Dirge of Cerberus or one of my Kingdom Hearts games and blast the bejeebers out of stuff. Self-medication with chocolate milk also happens here. If I really need to feel like I'm inflicting some sort of pain or distress or something similar because of something aggravating (like last night, when my work relief was 42 minutes late AGAIN) I'll hit the chocolate milk and put one of my Katamari Damacy games in the PS2 and have at it. There's a perverse kind of pleasure in rolling up invisible people screaming in high-rise buildings and snatching airplanes and helicopters out of the sky while rolling up a nice katamari. Of course, this all provides much pleasure even when I'm not ticked off or angry about something, but watching little weird people run away in panic from your katamari rolling is just very fun addictive crack. :)

In short, I play with kitties, drool over mail eye-candy, threaten the world's (or at least the immediate local area's) chocolate milk supply, and wreak havoc on the virtual world to the tune of people and alligators screaming. In fact, since I can't get back to sleep right now for some reason, I think I'll go wreak some of that destruction for a little while right now...

[misscam.livejournal.com]

I'm expecting a DVD with much John Hannah goodness any day now. That should help :)

I often use WoW to release tension as well, but I haven't had time to play it much. Woe. I want to smack some bosses. Always theraputic to do.

[kahva.livejournal.com]

{Slaps self} Jack Davenport, I meant to say, not James.

And yes, smacking around bosses in games is always fun therapy. :)

[smtfhw.livejournal.com]

And Terry Pratchett has Altzheimer's.

This has depressed me more than I can say... I can't imagine a worse diagnosis for someone with a brain like his.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know :(

[airofmystery.livejournal.com]

Poor Pterry. I don't even like much of his stuff (the best thing he ever wrote in my opinion was Going Postal), but I don't want him to suffer through Altzheimer's (or indeed, at all).

I did get a major lift recently from watching the first few episodes of Naruto on YouTube. (Dubbed, because my taste in anime is questionable, and it brought back fond childhood memories.)

In your case, however, sleep is probably better than YouTube. Possibly you should migrate to the couch for a decent amount of time, if there's anything good on where you are.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Going Postal is one of my favourites, actually. And yeah, I wouldn't wish that disease upon anyone, not even people I heartily dislike.

I got a TV near bed, so I can snooze and watch brainless entertainment at the same time. I just tend to fall asleep instantly these days, as I'm too tired.

Brainless entertainment is a good way to relax, though.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to find other people who like Going Postal! I suggested it as a first book for someone interested in Pratchett and a whole bunch of other people turned up their noses.

[shadowednavi.livejournal.com]

To add to the loads of kitty comments, i can has cheezburger is FULL OF THE CUTEST CAT PICTURES (and now other animals too) with adorable/hysterical captions.

When I'm down, I love to just find one creative outlet and explode in some sort of way, whether it be writing, sitting down and playing piano for more than ten minutes at a time, drawing or something... Negative energy can easily turn into creative energy in a positive outlet. **hugs** I hope it helps and that you feel better soon. Tis the season to be jolly, right? ^^

[misscam.livejournal.com]

I didn't know that site. Thanks!

'Tis the season to be stressed :P Actually, once the season actually start on December 21st, I will probably be jolly since I'll be off work until the 3rd. Huzzah.

[lotus79.livejournal.com]

Didn't you? BAD ME. I get a daily email of catpics from them--how did I never link you? Sorry...

[chicklet73.livejournal.com]

What's guaranteed to make me feel better when I'm down? Anything and everything to do with David Tennant. Seriously. I can watch him in anything from a two-minute interview to a full-length feature film; I can listen to a commentary or a book-on-tape or the excerpts of his scenes from Tales of Para Handy. I can simply look at photos. It gives me a little boost, cheers me up immediately.

I also snuggle or play with my dog. Which is a much deeper and abiding sense of contentment and happy. Hooray puppy therapy!

[mademoisellenon.livejournal.com]

Go into hibernation but that's just me.

I've never read his works but it's a disgusting disease and it's unfair that someone, who is so beloved and needed throughout the world would have to deal with that.

Maybe I am too much of a wretched optimist but hopefully it's not the worst stage and he can pull through.

Joyeux Anniv to maman! Hugs and kisses to you both!

[maureenlycaon.livejournal.com]

*snugs* That is truly a tragic way for a man with his mind to go. We can only hope they'll find a cure or at least a treatment quickly . . . or that he'll die quickly and painlessly of something else before the damage gets too bad. Or, that he'll have the slowest onset ever. I don't know what else to say.

But no matter what happens, we still have all the books he's already written, and the joy they gave a lot of people.

When I'm down, I usually sleep. Not much else seems to work.

I am reading the uber-wank that spawned from an entitleidiot on time_and_chips in Fandom_Wank this morning. *offers you a stiff drink* Jeez, the batshit is strong with this one . . .

[mthespinner.livejournal.com]

Gah-Altzheimer's-I couldn't even wish it on Phelps, and that says a lot.

When I am down, I some good apples and a stack of well loved books, turn off the phone and eat and read till I feel better or fall asleep.

Also, don't overdue it at work-can you take a walk at lunch?

[jvgymnast.livejournal.com]

Received your parcel today. Thanks so much :0) The calendar's going up in my cubicle at work.

[crimedoc1.livejournal.com]

Awwwww..... I'm so sorry to hear about Terry Prachett. *big hug* It's funny how invested one becomes in a well-loved author, even though you don't know them personally, and if something happens to them... well, it hurts. I was rather devastated earlier this year when Madeleine L'Engle passed away; I've loved her books since I was a child and the thought that I'll never get to tell her that, and that there will be no more books from her, is most depressing.

Chocolate generally helps this sort of depression, as do reading new books from my monumentally tall "to-be-read" pile. And watching DVDs, although NOT depressing ones - avoid stuff like Doomsday at all costs!!! Generally with a lot of diet Pepsi, a basket of apples, and a box of chocolate graham cracker sticks (I'm seriously addicted to those!) at my elbow. Ooh, and Cheetos generally help - it is very hard to be depressed while eating something that is coloring your fingers day-glo orange! ;-)

[vowel.livejournal.com]

...I think I just died a little inside. T-----T Terry Pratchett's an awesome writer. Don't want this. T-------T

And a late happy birthday to your mum. Heh heh. Daydreams are fun~. XD

...I get emo when I'm feeling down. You'd probably wouldn't want to try that. ¬___¬;;

[lotus79.livejournal.com]

I want five weeks in the sun somewhere, getting oiled by hot males and served drinks by the same. Shut up, I can have daydreams.

*indicates bed in her spare room, carefully shoving aside whopping great piles of mess* As for the hot men... I can see what's in the yellow pages?

Ugh, I am depressed, too. It is the 18th already, and I do not have a SINGLE present bought. Not even the ones that need to go overseas. I suck.