Cheer me up?

[sabotabby]

I'm not going to do the radio silence thing, although I'm a little tempted. Orders from above are to stop angsting and act like everything is normal.

Yeah. Right.

I know a few of you have been in similar circumstances. Did you find it hard to answer when the barrista at your local coffee shop said "Hey, how are you?"

So right now I want my mind off my problems. I'm refinishing my dresser, and yes, this is avoidance and denial. But I need more. Book recommendations, a chance to make fun of someone, funny links, links to zombie porn, dead baby jokes, good political rants, pictures of kittens. Whatever. Just...help me think about something else? Please?

Comments

[springheel-jack.livejournal.com]

I always find it hard to answer that question. I've lost the ability to lie easily about it, so it just throws me.

[sabotabby]

That's a relief. I mean, normally I'm quite good about covering up what's going on in my life. Years of experience, you know.

[ed-rex.livejournal.com]

Try this. Mind you, one thing he doesn't mention in the list of warnings, is that it includes sex with dead people (though not zombies), as well as other so-called "adult situations". It cracks me up, though.

[springheel-jack.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that one's funny. Extremely offensive but funny. I'm particularly amused by the sad life of the bukkake porn star.

[maechi.livejournal.com]

I was in a situation last year that was kind of similar to what you're going through right now, & let me tell you: DIY is not to be underestimated. It's a wonderful way of not coping. I swear I rearranged my room half a dozen times in the span of a week just to be doing something.

I can't offer much else, but what kind of books do you like? I could recommend some of my recent favourites.

[sabotabby]

See, this is part of the problem, because the sort of books (and movies, TV shows, music etc.) tend to be very depressing.

[funnel101.livejournal.com]

Whenever I needed a way to get away without actually leaving, I'd pick up my Robert Jordan "Wheel of Time" series. It's currently up to 10 books, each between 600-1200 pages, and it's a very complex story with wonderful characters. I don't know if you're a fantasy fan, though, but that's one of my favorite things to read.

And I watch movies that calm me, like Labyrinth, FernGully, Harry Potter, etc. Stuff that I can get into without having to use a lot of brain power.

I always hated that question when I was in high school (I had 4 really shitty years), so I'd usually either lie and say, "Fine" with tears hiding behind my eyes, or snark and say, "Do you really want to know?".

You could always answer really simply, though, and say something like, "Well, I'm currently in the process of digesting my lunch and will soon be heading to a bathroom..." or "I'm breathing."

*HUGS*

[sabotabby]

I think it's my curse for being such a cheery and friendly person most of the time. I mean, everyone expects me to answer the question with: "Oh, here's the latest cool thing I did", or "I'm coming off of a three-week bender, hahaha" so "I'm wondering how to get through my first day back at work without breaking into tears" is something I feel I should keep to myself.

Moviewise, The Mummy is on tonight, and mindless action sequences mixed with teh funny usually cheer me up a bit. I should have an 80s fantasy movie run, though. That'd be a good idea.

[lopukhov.livejournal.com]

My year's end post has pictures of kittens, funny pictures, and h0tt people pictures with their eyes blocked out...

[sabotabby]

I love that you mention Sheik Yassin and teh kittehs in the same post, even if it is a year-end wrap-up.

[thenetwork.livejournal.com]

You're not in denial, you're being brave. This is a very funny ad.

[sabotabby]

Stoicism does not become me. I'd rather scream like the kid in that ad. It seems to fizzle on me about halfway through, although from the comments, I gather it's an ad for birth control? I hope so, because hee.

[zazuomgwtf.livejournal.com]

[sabotabby]

::squee::

[sushicake.livejournal.com]

I would say, curl up with a good Ramona Quimby book or rent Drop Dead Gorgeous.

Feel better.

xo

[sabotabby]

I've never heard of Ramona Quimby. Should I have?

[fannishnonsense]

Well, its probably only funny to me, but Jack Chick has a new tract. This one is about Saudi kidnappers that steal children to take them to Mexico. No, I don't get it either:

http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/1020/1020_01.asp

[sabotabby]

Wow, that made no sense. (And I also find Jack Chick funny.) I think he has ADD.

[rote.livejournal.com]

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNews/bluecandidate_021003.html

[rote.livejournal.com]

correction

http://web.archive.org/web/20021005045542/http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNews/bluecandidate_021003.html

[genesayssitdown.livejournal.com]

http://www.smileygram.com/

[sabotabby]

Wow, some of those smileys look very constipated.

when the barrista at your local coffee shop said "Hey, how are you?"

[bike4fish.livejournal.com]

Well, I've considered saying "homicidal" occasionally.

Hmm, you like zombies, not vampires, right? dreams_of_wings gave me a vampire book for Christmas ("Sunshine", by Robin McKinley), which I enjoyed.

Re: when the barrista at your local coffee shop said "Hey, how are you?"

[sabotabby]

I'm not homicidal. Although I do want to hit things.

Eh, vampires are cool too, unless they are Anne Rice vampires.

[rohmie.livejournal.com]

Check out the comix linx I posted in my journal. There are even more in the comment thread. I think you will find "Disney Musicals" and "Libraries Threaten Publishing Industry" particularly amusing.

[sabotabby]

On that note, were/are you into Red Meat? My old neighbours (as in, when I lived in a house with 12 people) used to do these Karen/Milkman Dan parodies all over their kitchen.

Flash Movies that always make me smile.

[erinlin.livejournal.com]

http://www.flashplayer.com/music/theresheis.html

 

http://www.flashplayer.com/music/angrywhiteboypolka.html

 

http://www.flashplayer.com/music/taimaishu.html

 

http://www.flashplayer.com/animation/kerrisbiginvention.html

 

http://www.flashplayer.com/animation/potterpuppetpals.html

 

http://www.flashplayer.com/animation/ring2.html

Re: Flash Movies that always make me smile.

[sabotabby]

That last one's the best.

[princessrugger.livejournal.com]

yes, i second the ramona quimby books. they were a stable of my nerdly youth. also, i always read to kill a mockingbird when life craps on me. and, because i love you:

q: what's purple and bloated and knocks on the window?
a: a baby in the microwave.

[princessrugger.livejournal.com]

that would be "staple." must sleep, now.

[thenetwork.livejournal.com]

Zombie 1: Braaaaaaaiiiiiiinssssss!

*much screaming and carnage*

Zombie 1: Yum!

Zombie 2: You moron. You blew right past the debate team and attacked the cheerleaders.

Zombie 1: What can I say? I have a sweet tooth.

Leaders of Jews and Muslims aim to halt extremism

[himy.livejournal.com]

Cheer up Rachel,
Bizarre things when HiMY googles for things to cheer you up.
:-)

Leaders of Jews and Muslims aim to halt extremism
By Colin Randall in Paris
(Filed: 03/01/2005)

Imams and rabbis from across the world will gather in Brussels today in an unprecedented effort to quell the rising tensions between Muslims and Jews in Europe.

The "imams and rabbis for peace" conference will bring together 150 leaders of the two faiths, allowing them a unique opportunity to meet face-to-face.

It promises to be much more than a mere talking shop. Speaking before tonight's opening ceremony, a British Muslim delegate called for the "naming and shaming" of extremists.

Dr Abduljalil Sajid, a senior figure in the Muslim Council of Britain, said he hoped the conference would demonstrate that "99.9 per cent of Muslims, along with 99.9 per cent of Jews" favoured peaceful co-existence.

The organisers are seeking to "create dialogue and an enduring partnership between Islam and Judaism", promoting personal friendships and joint initiatives.

Alain Michel is the founder and president of the Paris-based peace foundation, Hommes de Parole (Men of Their Word), which is staging the conference.

He said: "A lot of imams and rabbis never get the chance to meet and work with each other, though there are many initiatives between Islam and Christianity, and Judaism and Christianity."

The aim was to provide a unique forum for inter-religious discussion, in which an influential gathering could demonstrate its mutual opposition to violence, Islamophobia and anti-semitism.

The chief rabbis of Austria, Brussels, Bulgaria and Denmark are among Jewish religious leaders taking part, while a strong contingent from Israel includes the chief rabbi of Haifa and prominent members of the High Rabbinical court of Jerusalem.

Rabbi Joseph Sitruk, the chief rabbi of France, said: "The assembly is an important moment because it carries hope and freedom for a disillusioned world."

During the conference, Dr Sajid, who is also the imam of Brighton, will chair a session in which imams and rabbis will study values common to both religions.

He said: "We should stand shoulder to shoulder to name and shame the tiny minority of agitators and extremists within our own communities and stress our respect for the sanctity of life."

Dr Sajid said he had encountered the militant north London cleric Abu Hamza in the late 1980s, before Hamza went to fight with the mujahideen in Afghanistan, and became concerned about his views.

"Hamza was staying at our mosque while studying in Brighton," he said. "When you see someone day in, day out, you quickly see what they are like. I alerted the authorities but no one would listen because he had not actually done anything."

Dr Sajid said the views of mainstream religious leaders were not heard. "That leaves a tiny minority of troublemakers to dominate headlines and cause scare-mongering coverage that frightens people."

He said he was prepared to meet "obnoxious people" and confront their views. "We have to start somewhere."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/01/03/wpeace03.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/01/03/ixworld.html