Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Grand Funk Railroad **

I believe I am in the throes of what one might call the Great Autumn Funk of ’08. Usually this hits me around February, but why put off 'til tomorrow the funk you can have today?

I've felt it coming on for a few days, that kind of low, disconnected, muddled feeling, and things around The HomeFront have suffered for it. Laundry is piling up, little projects are left undone, and the dinner attempts have been half-hearted at best. The little treats that I reserve for myself, like blogging, have lost their lustre. I haven't been commenting very often on other blogs, resorting to lurking because who the heck cares what a curmudgeon has to say anyway, right? I'm sure you all do not want me bringing this particular brand of sunshine to your com-boxes.

I am working to dispel a general feeling of dissatisfaction with . . . life. Everything I do seems to feed this malaise, and even my prayers leave something to be desired. Most of them are along the lines of, "Lord, help all the people who need help, especially the ones for whom I promised to pray. And could You send me some help while You're at it? Thanks." Fantastically lame and lukewarm, no?

Plus, the house smells like dirty hair to me, so there's always that to deal with.

I know this will pass - it always does - and I know there are many things that are conspiring to keep a girl down. Fiver's degenerating school situation and The Hell in a Handbasket Plan that both political parties seem to have espoused these days are just two of the things that are conspiring to give me an ulcer before the year is out.

I know what I need to do. I need to pull myself out of The Funk by my bootstraps. I need to focus on my children and my home and my exhausted husband. I need to find a little happy for this here blog because I can't stand it any other way.

Stay tuned.

**Bonus points to the person who can name a hit song by Grand Funk Railroad. Without Googling it like I did.

16 comments:

  1. I can't name a song by Grand Funk Railroad.
    But I definitely speak the language of FUNK very well.
    This FUNK too shall pass.
    For now...it's okay to be in it.
    yes?

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  2. I must live in a drum because not only can I not name a song by Grand Funk Railroad, until you issued this challenge, I didn't even know there was a group called Grand Funk Railroad!

    I can understand your mood and empathize. I have been doing a little better this week but I have been there for about 3 months now!

    I am sure it will pass...at least I hope it will but until then, feel free to leave whatever depressing comments you feel led to over at my place. frankly, I am just thrilled to have comments (oh, I kid!) Hope things look up soon, until then, I feel certain a little chocolate would help! :)

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  3. Anonymous6:36 AM

    Aimee- you need sleep and rest and a break, too. Can you call a babysitter, hole up in your room for a nap and a bath, and maybe a solitary trip to Target with a coffee in hand? Sleep makes everything better.

    Saying a prayer for you. I know it'll pass, too, but hopefully it'll go quickly.

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  4. I was way off on my "Grand Funk Railroad" guess. Good thing I googled it to verify.
    And I have no excuse since GFR is from "my" era (not yours!!)

    I'm with you on the funk right about now. Hope it passes soon! With prayers!

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  5. I have to admit, Aimee, that this entire election and now the Wall Street debacle had me feeling pretty funky. I finally realized I had to turn off the news -- no radio news either. Nothing they say is going to change my mind about my vote, so why listen? It's depressing. Turn on some nice George Winston (pandora.com) and get out your fall decorations. Jack-o-lanterns will cheer you up (or at least the kids).

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  6. "we're an american band"...
    "closer to home"...
    there's many. but-- of course, you knew that I would know! : P

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  7. Anonymous9:54 AM

    Even before reading Kimmy's comment I got "We're an American Band" stuck on constant repeat in my mind. Of course I only know the refrain so it is going to be a long morning until I can pull out my iPod and get something else stuck in there.

    I'm sure my blog hasn't been helping your funk. I promise it will be safe to read again because I realized I have to just let go now that I've gotten some of that stuff off my chest.

    Things could be very bleak up ahead but we don't know what will happen for sure. We can only guess. So I'll enjoy the life I have today while do what I can to protect my family for the future.

    Want to know how I broke out of the Funk last night? We cranked up some tunes and did some crazy dancing and singing together as a family. Now, song selection is key. You just can't help but smile when your preschooler is belting out "It was an itsy bitsy, teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini..."

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  8. I'm feeling a little funky myself, and as such my house is getting a little funky, the children are getting a little funky....and my house seems to constantly smell of baby poo, as though Bubba made a deposit somewhere that I haven't been able to find. It's amazing how funk can escalate. And I'm right there with you on the generic prayers - while I was reading your post I made a mental note to rip off your prayer, because mine (lately) has been, "I pray for everybody, Amen".

    Turning off/tuning out the news has helped me, as does a previous commenter's suggestion to take a break. I grabbed a big, ice cold diet pepsi and went to the dollar store by myself the other night, and goofy as it sounds it was quite refreshing. Sleep helps, too. I missed 'The Office' last night because I fell asleep just after Bella went to bed at 8PM, but I'd rather have the sleep. I guess.

    Do what you have to do to get by and get through it. And there's nothing wrong with being a little curmudgeonly - sometimes a little dark, sarcastic humor can be funny, refreshingly honest,and therapeutic.

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  9. Anonymous11:23 AM

    "we're comin to yo town...we gonna party down"... at least I think that's how it goes.

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  10. I hear ya on the funk. It's so easy to fall into these days with all the horrible doom & gloom. I just keep reminding myself that the country has to have it's ups & downs as well. This country has made it through some horrible times and I'm hoping that we can pull out of them soon. Basically, I'm not taking off my rose colored glasses anytime soon or I may not get out of bed every day. I have to bury my head in the proverbeal (sp??) sand and into my babie's sweet smelling little necks.
    I hope you are out of your funk soon! It happens to everyone and I hope yours is short-lived!

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  11. Anonymous1:02 PM

    I call it my "eeyore" mood...gloomy at best. It's NO fun! I hope it passes soon. Usually the thing that helps me the most is to just get busy...sometimes even ignoring the home stuff that needs to happen and get busy with something fun like going out with friends or taking the fam out to dinner. Whatever works:)I totally agree with the TURN OFF the NEWS. Helps me alot.

    Didn't Grand Funk Railroad do "The Locomotion"? I can totally hear it in my head from one of my dad's old records, but I'm not positive it's them.

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  12. Anonymous1:22 PM

    Hey, hope the funk ends soon. As for Fiver's school- I am going to send you an email, maybe I can lend a hand or an ear and a fresh perspective as I have some educational experience with a similar situation.
    Good Luck and think positive.
    Mirabella MOM

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  13. How about a cappuccino . . . that always works wonders for me.

    And sorry, I have never even heard of Grand Funk Railroad, but I will ask my husband who is a whiz at music trivia.

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  14. I'll say a prayer for you. BEEN THERE! Recently, in fact. It's a hard place to be but here's hoping that it's short-lived for you this time!

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  15. I think the funk is prevalent all over the blogs lately. I'm glad you are pulling out of yours. I love going to the grocery store alone--so much faster and I always treat myself to a soda or milkshake too.

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  16. I'm Your Captain
    Footstompin' Music
    Bad Time
    Heartbreaker
    Locomotion
    Rock and Roll Soul
    Nothing is the Same
    Little Johnny Hooker
    Winter and My Soul
    Flight of the Phoenix
    Into the Sun
    Loneliness
    The Railroad

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