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The Mic is On: We're Talking About Cures for Cabin Fever!

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It’s Like Open Mic Only Different

The Mic Is On

Here’s how it works.

It’s like any rambling conversation. Don’t try to read it all. Jump in whenever you get here. Just go to the end and start talking. EVERYONE is WELCOME.
The rules are simple — be nice.

There are always first timers and new things to talk about. It’s sort of half “Cheers” part “Friends” and part video game. You don’t know how much fun it is until you try it.

What do we do when we’re stuck inside too long?

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And, whatever else comes up, including THE EVER POPULAR, Basil the code-writing donkey . . . and flamenco dancing (because we always get off topic, anyway.)

Oh, and bring links about cabin fever to share!

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related article
What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?

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Comments

  2. Hey Liz,
    We gotta get outta this place
    If it’s the last thing we ever do
    We gotta get outta this place
    Girl there’s a better life for me and you

    Reply

  8. Liz, Joe – hating this winter. Too cold, too much snow, too much wind, not enough sun.

    Did a ride-along with a police officer the other night in sub-zero temps. The company was great even if the weather wasn’t.

    Reply

  20. Hey there everyone! Contrary to Eri”k”, I don’t so much enjoy my stat time! I prefer to crank the radio up and get into a hot, steamy shower and sing at the top of my lungs!

    Reply

  23. Well, Liz, we rode around a lot, had one run-away teen, one domestic, watched one bar close, and had one business alarm set off (nothing there though). Mostly gave us a chance to talk, which was good since I’m now in editing mode and need material.

    Reply

  25. In the olden days folks used to read books by the fireside, then we watched TV . . . now I just talk on my computer all night. Doesn’t seem quite the same.

    Tim, Details please, please, please.

    Reply

  29. Liz – I’ll tell you the really gory stuff off-line. Wouldn’t want to get me or the police department in trouble by divulging too much. I want to stay in good standing with the men who carry guns.

    Reply

  34. You could consider working a beat a sporting event.

    Yesterday and today are the most wintry we’ve had this season. Thank goodness we haven’t got the snow you got in the midwest, or the ice it sounds like Joe got today. I don’t even want to think about Canada.

    I dug out this post from last winter on dealing with winter depression.

    Reply

  37. Liz, having the Internet and digital relationships has helped to make winter manageable, BUT I’m missing interaction with ‘real’ people – no offense. I’ve been out twice this year! Going somewhat stir crazy. But today was half decent, even sunny. I’m cautiously declaring winter over in Surrey!

    Reply

  38. Hey Rick,
    I’m with you, except for the winter sports referee-ing. I could do with a little less “weather.” I remember that winter depression post.

    Winter depression maybe that’s why blog commenting seems to slow a bit in the winter. What do you think?

    Reply

  39. Hi everyone,
    finally I get here when the mike is on

    just to make you a little envious, went swimming and walking in the sun at the beach this morning.

    We havve had some cabing fever here with days of rain- like yesterday and skies about to open again

    Reply

  41. Hey Suzie!
    One of these days, I’m going to make it down there and throw water on you for saying that. [grin]

    Even you’re winters are nothing to worry about. Come to Chicago and see a real one.

    Reply

  44. Liz,
    I like your idea (writing a book). I’ve put that down as a longer term goal. I’d love to start writing but I’m lacking a couple things
    1) No idea what I’d write (this may be a major component)
    2) No idea how to begin, where to start, etc (I guess I could ask a couple the “old pros” like Mr. Timothy Johnson)!

    Reply

  45. Hi Liz, Timothy, Glenda, Joe, Rick and Eric,

    I guess I’d better keep quiet about the [whispers] 71-degree day we had here today. Yikes! I hardly knew what to do with myself. I’m indoors now though and writing a post about environmentally-friendly cleaning products. Doing my best to keep at it but needed a 10-minute break to keep sane. So I’ll pop in a few minutes, go finish the post, and be back again for a Klondike or two:)

    Reply

  55. Erica – you are SPOT ON with both points. I actually started in the middle with my current book, and the rest of the writing went so much more smoothly. It was like taking all of the pressure off. Chapter 1 wasn’t an issue because chapter 6 was already complete.

    And Eric, you should already know about the first point, as much as I harped on the importance of passion to you last semester.

    Reply

  59. Hiiiiii, everyone! ::::sprinkling sand:::: Margarita? Pina Colada, anyone?

    I’m staring at a picture of a sunset off the Caribbean. If this snow doesn’t disappear soon, I will go stark, raving mad.

    Reply

  60. Erica,
    Thank you for the advice!

    Tim,
    Yes, I know….It was your “passion” talks that inspired me to blog.

    Maybe it’s the winter that has stalled my passionate side!

    Reply

  69. Joe,
    Ghost writing….I like it 🙂

    Rick,
    I’ve been thinking about that quite a bit lately.

    Erik,
    You just set off my passion for bowling 😉 Now, everyone may have to sit through a 2 hour lecture on bowling ball coverstocks, weight blocks, synthetic lanes vs wood lanes, chamelion vs scorpion oil patterns….Whew…I better stop!

    Reply

  71. I’m off to go finish that blog post. You all don’t realize it but you are my accountability team tonight — thank you!! Now that I’ve put it on the line, I’ll be back to let you know I did it. See ya later:)

    Reply

  72. Suzie – my “side job” is teaching at Drake University (home of Master’s champion Zach Johnson and the best men’s basketball team in the Missouri Valley conference). In my leadership class I get on my soap box about having passion.

    Erica – I keep becoming less linear every day… go figure. It was so liberating to start in the middle, even when writing a business fable with a plot and story line. The only rework that occurred is that I originally wrote it as chapter 5 and had to push it back a chapter when I had more material up front.

    Reply

  78. Timothy–well, they’ve just informed me that they’ve hired a lawyer. Nothing else. Looks like we will have to file a lawsuit if we can’t get them to move nicely on this. 🙁 I’m just asking them to purchase a $700 Order Assist system for each restaurant.

    Reply

  79. Liz,
    Weird,on XP which is where I am now, seems to be working normally. On Vista (on the laptop) it seems to be all kookey…
    ???
    Told you it wa weird. ;-]

    Reply

  84. Karen, keep us posted if Steak and Shake acts too horribly. It would be a shame to have to kick some blogospheric butt on such a popular restaurant, but if they can’t play by Liz’s rules and be nice… well… then…

    Reply

  85. My computer is real slow now – takes quite a few minutes to refresh this page. I’m doing some backups in the background to start getting ready for my new laptop. (I decided on a thinkpad)

    Reply

  90. I was actually thinking that if I have to, I’d beg y’all to blog the heck out of it if they don’t come up with a reasonable solution. So it just might come to that. I just came across and article that a blind woman is suing McDonalds, Taco Bell, Burger King and Wendys using the ADA. It may go to a jury trial.

    Reply

  94. Erik – after the speaker I brought into your creativity class last week, you might want to watch your back 🙂

    I’m planning on reading blogs tomorrow night while my undergrads are taking their exam. Can’t wait to hear the commentary.

    Reply

  95. The kids are trying to convince me that they will have a “snow” day tomorrow and asking to stay up longer than usual. I’m guessing it is going to warm up over night and they might get a one hour delay – max.

    Reply

  98. I am behind you, Karen. This is so ridiculous, as you said before, if the guy had served you even after being a jerk, the thing would over. By them hiring a lawyer, that escalates things. When will people get it? At least boiling blood keeps us warm!

    Reply

  100. Liz– I’m not sure at this point. I do have a lawyer from Equip for Equality who is handling this. He just asked them to respond so that we can discuss this further. If there’s no action, then I will have no choice but to file.

    Reply

  115. Ok, hang tight, let me see what their next move is and if it isn’t a good one, then I’ll be asking you all to blitz the net. I am so determined to make some changes that are positive ones.

    Reply

  117. Hi All, this is my first time commenting here. 🙂 I live in the northern US, so it’s very cold and snowy right. We did have a heat wave today…it got up to 14 degrees. Big excitement. You said to bring links, so I’ll share a post I wrote a couple of weeks ago on beating the winter blahs. Interestingly, a lot of it involved food. Lol. I let the kids invent lunch one day, and I believe we had peanut butter and marshmallow sandwiches. Anyhow, here’s the link: http://www.gnmparents.com/beating-the-blahs/

    Reply

  118. Karen-It does look pretty bad doesn’t it? You know, I had never tried them, and had always wanted to, but now I am ABSOLUTELY NOT going to give them my business.

    I can be stubborn if I need to be, and I am behind your cause 100%. Keep on them and Good Luck!

    (is ABSOLUTELY NOT giving them my business too harsh?)

    Reply

  122. Eric, well, you can always stop by and give the manager there a letter as to WHY you won’t be giving them your business and ask them to make changes in their drive thru access.

    Reply

  126. It’s cold here near St. Louis, and blustery too boot. Not sleeting at least today. Makes one want to stay inside and curl up with a good book and hot cocoa. Or in my case, a nice warm computer and iTunes.

    As for bad service, we’ve had to blackist Denny’s. Yes, I know, they are like America’s diner, but when they have bad service and cold or worse food more than three times in a row, they’re outta the game.

    Lately though, Steak & Shake has been making poor service marks on my visits. No longer is it the home of them waiting on you like you’re important. Now it’s more like you wait patiently to be payed attention to and don’t complain about the dirtiness of the store, or they’ll ignore you and not bring your food. 🙂

    Reply

  127. Great suggestion Karen! I will do that. I’ll keep a letter in my car si if I do drive by one, I’ll stop

    Proactivity beats complete stubborn abstinence any day, doesn’t it?

    Reply

  129. Talk about being prepared. My wife often puts stamps and envelope in the glove box, just on the off chance of needing them. You’ll find pens and a few dollars as well in our cars. One never knows when the need will arise.

    Reply

  130. When the winter blahs hit, I start planning my escape. It’s part book-reading, part film-watcing (indulged in Dirty Dancing of all things last night–haven’t seen it in decades) and part vacation planning. Seriously looking forward to England and Wales this September.

    Oh, and when all else fails, I give into the kids, take them outside, make a sled run and build some rather unique snowpeople. Abbey made “snow dogs” today with her dad and if she left me any decent snow with which to work in the yard, and I can find a plunger, I wanna make a “Snow Dalek” tomorrow that can exterminate the rest of winter for me.

    Reply

  132. @Tim: flash bang devices! That WOULD be fun. I have 4 boys…no quiet days around here. Well, probably not that loud, lol. I could see trying to explain that one to the neighborhood association. I do plan to use the Menthos and Diet Coke trick this summer and make a few pop fountains. That doesn’t make much noise though.

    Reply

  137. ooVoo is much fun. The mac client needs some work, but I’m expecting they’ll get that wrapped up soon enough.

    Coke and Menthos – I’m sure they’ll understand, especially with the boys. Tell them it’s good clean biodegradeable fun.

    Reply

  142. I threw 5 mentos into a 2 liter of Diet coke in our company parking lot last summer. It was a pretty big office hit (except for the few employees who had to wash their cars 😉

    BTW – Diet Coke works a LOT BETTER than regular Coke

    Reply

  145. I have yet to even get oovoo to sign up properly on my mac. Last time I tried it kept getting stuck mid registration process. Really bummed because I wanted to go to Laura Fitton’s seminar this afternoon. Did anyone else make it there?

    Reply

  146. Finally got the kids to bed. The roads are not fabulous – hearing reports of people stuck on I-95 for 5 hours! My husband waited it out at the office and just left. He’s taking the long way around hoping that the roads are better that way.

    Reply

  148. LOL, and I hope your co-workers forgave you. Yes, I heard about Diet working better than regular. There’s a guy who invented a sleeve that you can attach to the top of the bottle and release the candy in just by yanking a little peg out of the way. The boys don’t seem to know I’ve gotten it yet. I’m looking forward to the surprise.

    Reply

  153. Annie,

    Got the Mac client working with no real issues. Sorry to hear about your experience.

    The I-95 drive is so bad we heard about it here in St. Louis. It made the news. 🙂

    Reply

  157. AmyL, flash-bang devices are fun until one is detonated 6 feet away from you. You can actually feel the concussion. But that’s all part of the joy of being a SWAT photographer. And I wouldn’t trade the adrenaline rush for anything. (And the SWAT team provides me with eye and ear protection.)

    Reply

  158. @Todd Jordan: it could have just been a temporary bug or something wonky on my end.I’ll definitely give it a go again tomorrow or just grab it for my pc. The value of the content is too high to write it off without another valiant attempt on my part.

    Reply

  166. Eric, I think you will really enjoy that one, I lost the link or I would give it to you.
    But beware, you will be rolling on the floor and it will be difficult to type from that position. 🙂

    Reply

  169. @Annie good to hear. You have Leopard? Several folks were complaining of issues with Leopard. Don’t feel bad; beta can suck.

    Wow, Twitter love tonight. just picked up two new contacts.

    Reply

  170. Thanks Liz…I will probably wait and view it when I get home (after class)!! I probably shouldn’t have the volume on in class!!

    I suppose I better get going as well. Got to head home! It was a pleasure as always. I love spending Tuesday nights with all of you!

    Thank you for the Great Conversation, and Liz, thank you for being a great host!

    Reply

  172. Good to hear Glenda. I’m finally shaking this dang cough/cold i’ve had for over a week now. Yuck.

    Fingers a flying tonight too. Got Twitter, and this going, as well as been commenting on other blogs in between. Fun night, and I’m not even totally caffeinated. 🙂

    Reply

  178. Unfortunately, I have a migraine starting to encircle my noggin like a hell-bent wagon train, so I think I need to call it a night. Nice meeting lots of new folks tonight. Be well, stay warm, and don’t spend all night on youtube!

    Reply

  182. I’ll email you Liz.

    ALso, I forgot that your spam protector doesn’t like my twitter username and personal email account name, so I’m guessing my last comment is sitting in moderation. I was just trying to let everyone know my twitter account name.

    Reply

  184. Liz, I do have an unflattering pic of Al Leon but I have to dig it out. We can do Dr Who, StarGate, Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica, Ghost Hunters, I think the list is too long to put in one comment…
    You know I’m in. 🙂

    Reply

  187. I haven’t tried Skype so I’m not sure…

    Heading to bed–goodnight everyone! Sweet dreams of sunny, warm days ahead! (Except for you folks in the southern states, I’m sending some snow your way! 😉 )

    Reply

  193. Glenda,
    They’ve been in the sidebar and I offered our warm weather guests an opportunity to pass them out to us light-deprived folks. Here take home some of your favorites. 🙂

    Reply

  196. I don’t know what to say bout
    Cabin fever and the winter blues

    But it’s cold and dank and slippery here
    With ice an inch thick, but that’s not news

    Liz in Chicago as more snow than can
    Be shoveled without boots over your shoes

    But our friends down south seem to be warm
    And have the sunshine for which we do wish

    So expect us yanks from the north
    To visit your house, so make a great dish

    We’ll have to have Klondikes of flavor
    Some strawberry and chocolate and pina colada

    For in the springtime when up here is green
    You can visit us, til then asta monyona.

    Berma Shave

    Nite Liz
    Nite All

    Reply

  204. 🙂 Sure, it was great. It’s a little nerve-wracking to speak up on a blog that’s so much bigger than mine, and to jump in with people who seem to know one another well to boot. Everyone is very friendly. You’ve fostered a great community here. I’ll be back for next week….love love love sci-fi!

    Reply

  206. Just heard the garage door open – means husband made it home in one piece – in just under two hours. Going to go warm up his dinner.

    Talk to everyone next week! Hope the weather is nicer then.

    Reply

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