Questions Bipolar Version #8

I think so, in NYC. I think it was warm cashews. We have a street venue fair every year (outside of the pandemic) I would like to try to go some time. Do you ever look back from time you had serious S.I. And assess whether you would have missed anything if you chose the darker path.

@Bipolarchic14 and all:

Yes, i occasionally think of all the wonderful things i would have missed had my succeeded. The thing i would have missed most was meeting my dog, the light of my life, my best friend and constant companion.

Do you wear a night-guard, the dental device used to cover bottom teeth to prevent tooth-grinding due to stress?

Ta!

Jane.

No, but I'm sure I should. I have had two dentists say I should have a good one made (meaning they make), but rejected the idea. I have bought an OTC one from the pharmacy on two separate occasions, but both eventually got tossed because of lack of use. Though my face looks younger than my years, my teeth look older. An endodontist told me that I have the teeth wear of an elderly person. That was when she was doing two root canals that were clearly needed because of daytime bruxism. Yes, actually more daytime than nighttime. In any case, at the moment my bruxism is less than many times in the past. It varies according to my moods. We'll see what happens.

What is something you don't do that you think you should? What is something you do that you should?

Floss. For years I flossed daily, but for the past several years it just feels like flossing is one of the hardest things. When I do floss, I realize it's not the big of a deal and vow to do it regularly - but months go by before I floss again. Depression is stupid that way.

Something I do that I should is keeping up with dishes and laundry. I always make sure there are clean clothes and clean sheets and towels. I do manage do wash the dishes throughout the day.

Does your depression cause you to fantasize about a geographical cure - just walking away from loved ones and other responsibilities?

I tried a geographical cure in 1999 by moving to Vancouver from Ontario. My bipolar moods swing with the seasons and i thought the narrower range of seasonal change out there might help. But i didn't like it out there and didn't stay long enough to find out. I was just there for Spring which was glorious and Summer which was about like here only shorter. There are too many problems in Vancouver tho with the poverty and drugs and anxiety and people ready to go off the rails and hair-trigger tempers and lack of manners and refinement. What can you say about a city that was hacked out of the wilderness a mere 100 years ago? There was no customer service, every transaction and errand took three tries. It was Hell. Pretty, tho.

What is your decor like?

I have a nautical theme based around a painting my mother made for me. What is your favorite activity to do to cheer yourself up.

@Bipolarchic14 and all:

Unfortunately, my favorite thing to do to cheer up is eat which is why i am 5'3" and weigh 250 pounds with a BMI of 43.4. Ack! Am trying hard to diet, am in my third week and already my clothes fit looser! Am working out my demons re food on the forum mentioned in my signature.

If you do arts or crafts, what sort of things do you like to do and why?

Ta!

Jane.

Used to do a lot. But now not so much. Mainly I paint. I look online to find easy to copy paintings cause my mind is blank. I made a purple and yellow moon scape for my granddaughter. I’m working on an ugly old tree now to go with one of mum’s favorite poems.

What makes you lose track of time?

Life does in general. I get caught up in doing things so I lose track of time I set timers on my phone so I leave when I have to leave otherwise I would be late or a no show. I get worse when I'm manic as I get involved in talking to people in my flat (delusions/hallucinations) and get embroiled in talk

Question: Is there anything your looking forward to this week coming? If so what is it?

Today my husband and I are FINALLY getting our hair cut after ages. I will also get my grays covered. Also, later in the week I have a big big birthday.

At what time of the day do you usually feel hungriest?

Thanks to clozapine at night. I am extremely thirsty at night and tend to be hungry to go with it.

Have you ever been tent camping?

I have been. As a youngster at Girl Scouts and in the back yard. As a family we had a camper and cabins. I’d never do it now as it would kill my back.

If you had the money would you be a snowbird? ( living in the north of USA during the summer and living in the south during winter?

It would depend. In grad school I lived in a mobile home park that had a lot of snowbirds in RVs in the summer. I would not want to live in an RV but maybe if I could live in 2 homes (like that would ever happen). And then there's the issue I have with change.....so probably not. I did like the snowbirds though.

Would you ever live on a boat for a season or permanently?

Ooo is there somebody else who can handle the toilet situation? As long as I don’t have to do the clean up on that I’d love to live on a boat for a season in Lake Superior it would be so pretty. Don’t know what my cat would make of it tho.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would you live?

First, I'd live wherever my partner was, but if I had my druthers I'd move back to Germany. In general, German society is much more socially and politically enlightened than the USA is these days. Healthcare, daycares, homes for the aging, etc. are all subsidized, & they truly learned the lessons of World War II. There's also more of a sense of community there.

The movie "Nomadland" won the Best Picture Oscar this year. It depicts people who travel the country in tricked-out vehicles, trailers, or campers, living the lives of modern nomads. Would you live living mobile?

No, i like the romance of the idea but i am firmly am a fan of the familiar.

When you have insomnia, do you find sensory deprivation helpful? That is, resting in a your quiet private home with an eye-shade on to block out the light, no TV or radio, limit computer and phone time, listening to soft familiar music from your library and napping when you can?

I only do that at night, when I can’t sleep. I “rest” by staying in bed and blocking light, a mask if I need to. And just try to zen my mind.

Would you rather vacation in Hawaii or Alaska? Why?

Both are on my bucket list. If I had to choose one over the other though I think I would choose Hawaii. In fact I spoke to the travel agent shortly before the pandemic about going to work I declared January 1, 2020 that I was going to Hawaii in October about January and watching the coronavirus freaking out in Wuhan. I was like well I guess I’m not doing that this year. And why would be I love sunny weather the Hawaiian culture fascinates me. That’s one of the few things I’m hanging onto. What are you looking forward to this weekend? Don’t say nothing. Even a cup of coffee can be enjoyable.

I'm going to pet/chicken sit at my sister's this weekend. It's like a mini-vacation to do that as they live on a beautiful little farm with a creek running through it, paths my BIL mows through the meadows to walk in and just all the nature imaginable. I hate leaving my own cat (my mom will take care of her) but I love this little break (and the money I earn lets me get take-out from some really delicious restaurants.

What kind of food have/did you crave during the pandemic? (could be gourmet, ethnic, fast food, something local, whatever)

Pancakes and peaches (not together). I felt like I could not get enough of those two foods.

What would you say your biggest physical challenge is?

Walking and standing. My spine is a mess.

I just bought a pair of crocs, so comfy. How many pairs of shoes do you own? Which is your favorite?

My husband and I recently bought new crocs, too. We use them for outside on our property. I'm not sure how many shoes I own. I'd have to count them. Some in my wardrobe, some in vestibule, and maybe a couple in my attic. My rough guess, if you also count geloshes, winter boots, dancing shoes (ballroom, ballet), water shoes, and flip flops, is a little over 22. If not, around 15. I actually used to have more, but got rid of some old ones before our move. Some were in bad shape dating back to my career days. I actually need to buy a new pair of hiking shoes, so add that. Some shoes are in good shape, but date back many years. Others are newer. No, I'm neither Imelda Marcos nor Sarah Jessica Parker. Also, I tend to wear only a few, regularly. Which depends on the season. House shoes most often.

What is something that maybe you should discard or donate?

I have many Columbia-style fleece jackets, some of which I've worn for more than a decade, so the fabric is kind of "pilled." Also, I quit smoking in 2013, & several of them have cigarette burns in them! My fleece are kind of like winter security blankets, though...so warm and comfortable. My partner says they're no longer in style & she hasn't seen them selling new in any stores. What will I do!?

When you feel comfortable with the new CDC ruling that it's OK for folks who have been vaccinated to venture out more freely (or if a similar ruling is reached in your country), what is the first big outing you'd like to enjoy? Why?

My brother and I live eight hours away from each other. We like to meet up in the middle. Last year we found a town near by with a lake and a tour boat. It was closed due to the pandemic. I would like to go on that. I think you can still get fleece jackets by Columbia online. @buddha1too.

Did you pick up any bad habits or routines during the pandemic that are going to be hard to shake?

To be honest the habits I've picked up over the pandemic have been good ones. I'm more worried about slipping into bad habits once I'm fully vaccinated.

Is there a good habit or practice you've adopted over the pandemic that you'd like to continue?