Cool as a cucumber...

So I've found the secret to life... it's called "chillin the F out".

Revolutionary huh? Well I've figured it out in spades over the last few days.

For whatever reason, I've been feeling in the dumps for a while. It all culminated yesterday when at times I sort of felt so down that I just wanted to go curl up somewhere and cry myself to sleep. Alright so maybe that's a little melodramatic. But I will say that on Monday I was so down and out that I literally rolled out of bed, went to my computer and looked up Daylight Savings time. I was doing this with the shred of hope that maybe time had changed and I just hadn't heard. It hadn't... and so began a day filled with bleh.

So last night it was getting toward bed time and my wife was watching TV in another room as I looked blankly at my facebook page wishing I wasn't feeling so much like Eeyore. And then I found myself staring at the box of crayons that I had been using to grade papers when it hit me... I want to color. It didn't take much digging before I found 3 different coloring books. I got them out, and started coloring. I colored about 2 or 3 pages before I even took a minute to think about why I was coloring for the first time in at least 10 years. And truthfully, all I could come up with was... it's relaxing. I'm not sure why but I guess because it isn't facebook and it isn't mindless shopping for things I'll never buy. It isn't reading or watching television. It's something you must actively participate in to do. It requires thought, action, and concentration. All of a sudden you don't have to block out thoughts of the economy, thoughts of your job, thoughts of school, thoughts of chores... you're just there, with a crayon and Mickey Mouse playing a fireman. And instead of worrying about all the crap that comes with life... you can just, be. Just like when you were a kid. When you picked up a crayon, all that mattered was what color things were going to be. And even that wasn't especially important. You could care less about staying in the lines or making things look like real life. You just relaxed and did it.

So how did this work? Famously.

I colored almost until it was time to climb into bed. And I woke up today feeling much better than I had. And, as the day went on I reflected more on my experience and thought to myself... Self, with so much going right, why're you bein such a debbie downer? And I had no answer. My baby is currently doing gymnastics in my wife's belly, I love my kids, I love my friends, I love my truck and I love my job (most days). Why not feel good?

Folks the moral of the story is that you gotta relax. Personally I recommend whipping out the Crayolas. And if you say "Spur, there's no time for coloring in my life" Perhaps you've just laid out the reason why you're so stressed. Cut your activities down, make time for the coloring books of life and I guarantee you'll feel better about facing the poo when it hits the fan.

Thanks for letting me share.

In times of economic crises, we could all use a laugh. Here's multiple doses. Keep in mind I only put up serious dialogue. These aren't just kids being silly... I swear. I wish they were. Enjoy!

Overheard @ WoRMS:
Me: So you see since a buccaneer is like a pirate, and the West Indies are the Caribbean... Then these guys lost their ship to Pirates of the Caribbean.
Student: Wait, so Pirates of the Caribbean is real.
Me: Yep there really were pirates in the Caribbean.
Student: So Captain Jack Sparrow was real?
Me: No
Student: The black pearl?
Me: No
Student: The guy with like the white hair and...
Me (cutting her off): Listen, the movie... not real at all.
Student: But you just said it was.
Me: Woog...

Student: Is this supposed to be like a metal horse skull or something?
Me: Huh?
Other student: No idiot! read the caption...
Caption: "Spanish Horse Armor"
Student: ooooooh
Me: oof...

Me: So his name was Friar Marcos
Student: OK but what kind of friar was he?
Me: A Catholic one? I guess....
Student:But what KIND of friar?
Me: Errr... why don't you give me some options and I'll tell you which one it is.
Student: Well there's like a friar that fries chicken and like french fries and stuff...
Me: No No... That's a FRYER. We're talking about a FRIAR. It's a position someone can have in the Catholic church. Sort of like a priest, nun or monk.
Student: Oooh.
Me: Have you ever seen Robin Hood? There's a guy named Friar Tuck in that movie. Even though he's not real because that story is fiction, the character is a friar.
Student: What's fiction
Me: A made-up story
Student: Robin Hood isn't made up
Me: Ummmm yeah it's fake
Student: Well I know the cartoon one with the tail and the furry ears isn't real but...
Me: Nope. The cartoon isn't real and neither is the Kevin Costner version. Robin Hood was not a real person.
Student: Yuh huh
Me: Sorry, he um... just wasn't.
Student: Since when?!
Me:..........................*hangs head*