April Showers Bring People Indoors

Are you tired of this rainy weather?  If you're like me, the gloomy skies and rain beating against the windows are probably wearing you down by now.  I know that April showers are supposed to bring May flowers, but for now they're bringing people inside.

What can we do indoors (other than reading books and watching movies) to keep us from going stir crazy?  Here are some ideas:

• Light some candles.  Create a cozy mood in your home with the soft glow of a flickering candle.  Burn a scented candle or incense for some soothing aromatherapy.
• Make a nice warm drink.  If it's cold and wet outside, warm yourself from within. Make coffee, tea, hot chocolate...whatever puts a smile on your face.
• Play your favorite music.  Don't they say music calms the savage beast?  Listen to some of your favorite tunes!
• Cook something in the slow cooker.  Not in the mood for cooking?  Try a "dump" recipe, like a soup or stew, for your slow cooker.  Dump everything in the slow cooker and have a homey meal later.
• Take a long bath or shower.  There's just something about hot water, whether you're soaking in it or having it run down your skin.  It relaxes your body and clears your mind.
• Make time for a nap.  Experts say that a 10-30 minute power nap can improve our mood and make us feel refreshed. Give it a try.
• Do a hobby.  Into knitting, drawing, woodworking, or some other hobby?  Rainy days are great for doing them.
• Exercise.  A few jumping jacks, sit-ups, push-ups, or walking in place is all it takes to get the endorphins ( a.k.a. the happy hormones) going.  Get off the couch and start moving around!
• Cleaning.  They call it spring cleaning for a reason.  Say goodbye to winter and say hello to a fresh new spring!

I'm sure there are other things to do when the weather is rainy.  If you don't feel like staying home, there are always museums to explore and (surprise!) the library to visit.  Do you have a rainy day activity you enjoy doing?  Share with us!

Wishing you warm, sunny days ahead from the perch.

Unplug and Connect

Other sci-fi nerds like myself may be familiar with Seth McFarlane's The Orville.  For those of you unfamiliar with the Star Trek-inspired comedy, it deals with a spaceship crew traveling across the universe to seek and make peaceful contact with other civilizations.  Despite the future setting and entertaining storylines, it's often a thinly veiled commentary on present-day society.

Take for instance a recent episode in which a time capsule from the year 2015 is opened.  Among the objects found within is a cell phone, and through it, one of the characters gets to know its long-deceased owner.  Not only does he learn everything about the woman to whom the phone belonged, he also falls in love and has more of a relationship with her than with a living person.

I think it's sad that our electronic devices and social media outlets connect us with so many people while simultaneously distancing us like never before.  Our face-to-face encounters are becoming fewer and more difficult to actualize.  Although keeping in touch electronically is de rigueur, we must not forget the importance of in-person contact.

I know I'm biased as a perch librarian, but libraries play a big part in creating and encouraging people to physically come together and interact with each other sans electronics.  Programs--for instance, storytimes for kids, escape rooms for teens, and crafting groups for adults--promote socializing in person.  If you're tired of dealing with others remotely through screens, come to the library where there's always people right in front of you.  Come unplug for a spell.

Ever yours live from the perch.

The Luck (and Movies) of the Irish

St. Patrick's Day, that lucky day of the Irish, is upon us.  Perhaps you're going to wear something green, attend a parade, or grab a pint at the pub. Not into all the noise and revelry?  Is a quiet celebration at home more your style?  Then maybe an Irish movie is the ticket for you.  If that's the case, allow me to share some of my favorites to help you get in the spirit of the holiday:

• Angela's Ashes  Based on the memoir by Frank McCourt, it tells of the author's impoverished Catholic childhood in Limerick.  Great for a good cry. 
• Brooklyn  A young woman moves from Ireland to Brooklyn, New York for a better life in the 1950s.  A nice coming-to-America story.
• Circle of Friends  There's laughter, tears, and everything else when a group of friends come of age in 1950s Ireland. 
• Leap Year  An American woman follows an Irish tradition of proposing to her boyfriend on leap day, but it doesn't go according to plan.
  
• Michael Collins  Starring Liam Neeson and Julia Roberts, this historical movie focuses on the revolutionary leader who helped bring about Ireland's independence from Britain.
• The Quiet Man  It may not be the most politically correct movie by today's standards, but it's still a charming one with John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara.

I realize my list only scratches the tip of the iceberg and that there are many other movies with Irish themes and characters worth watching.  Do you have a favorite Irish movie?  Share it with us!

Wishing you many Irish blessings from the perch.

Adieu, February

February, An Acrostic Poem

Full of snow, snow, and snow.
Everybody hates the mess and cold.
Blue skies with sun are only a dream.
Really feeling sluggish and
Under the weather.
Are we ever going to see spring?
Ready to say goodbye and good riddance to
Your 28 long days of gloom.

Super Bowl Sunday for Non-Fans

I'm about to write something blasphemous to many Americans--I do not enjoy or watch football.  Even though I went to a Big Ten school (Penn State) and my friends painstakingly tried to explain the game to me, it was all to no avail.  Football, in my opinion, makes no sense at all.  The way I see it, players run, clobber, stop, repeat, trying to get a ball over a touchdown line.  It lacks the speed of soccer and the sense of baseball.  I have difficulty not only in understanding the game, but in understanding why so many people are goo-goo ga-ga for it.

Perhaps there are others out there like me?  People who aren't planning on watching the Super Bowl this Sunday, who don't know which teams are playing, and who don't care which team will win?  I know we're probably in the minority, but we're out there--we do exist!

So, what is the minority, the non-fans, doing while the rest of the country is glued to the television and devouring all those hot wings, pizza, chips, beer, and other fat-loaded, gut-busting, gastronomic concoctions?  Speaking for yours truly here, I view Super Bowl Sunday as the best day to go shopping.  I hate traffic and crowds, so the streets will be nearly empty and the mall will be quiet.  Eateries will be peaceful, unless you go to any with big screen televisions.  The cinema will have all those prime seats available; you won't have to worry about the guy chomping popcorn loudly in front of you or that annoying couple behind you commenting on all the action.  Of course, Starbucks or any other bakery cafe will be a great place to do my all-time favorite activity of reading.

Super Bowl Sunday is therefore a win-win situation for everybody.  The fans can relish a day of sport and bacchanalian delights at home, while the non-fans can relish peace and quiet around their town.  Whether you're a fan or a non-fan, enjoy your Sunday and be safe.

Wishing you a happy weekend from the perch.

Lazy Days--More Productive Than You Think!

How are you doing with those New Year's resolutions?  Are you being good and keeping up with them?  Or have you put them aside and are experiencing the post-holiday, pre-Groundhog Day, mid-winter seasonal slump?

Up to this point, I've been good with keeping one of my resolutions (a monthly massage to work out all the kinks in my head, neck, and shoulders from computer work), but I'm starting to fall into that hibernation stage that happens sometime during the winter.  I find myself wanting to stay inside my warm house cuddled up on the sofa with a big bowl of popcorn and a movie. And if I'm not doing that, I'm in bed propped up on a bunch of pillows and catching up with the stack of books on my nightstand that I haven't touched since before Thanksgiving.

If you're like me, you might be feeling guilty about not getting out more and being productive, but you really shouldn't feel this way because doing nothing is really something.  What's that, you say?  You heard right--just as it's important for us to exercise and be active, it's equally important for us to take a break and relax.  Getting extra sleep and rest rebuilds both our bodies and our minds.  Physically, we strengthen our immune system, relax our muscles, relieve any tension, reduce stress, and lower our risk of heart disease.  Mentally, we sharpen our minds, improve our concentration, and increase our alertness, not to mention that doing low-key and fun things help rebuild our spirit.

So, take a break and do some self-care!  Have a lazy day watching TV, calling a friend, taking a nap, or doing whatever else strikes your fancy guilt-free.  That seemingly unproductive time will make you more productive when you need to be.

Wishing you a great lazy day from the perch.

Evolution of the Resolution

Greetings!  We got through the holidays and are now officially in the second week of the New Year!  Along with making holiday bills, you've probably made a few resolutions.  Of course, there are the standard ones: lose weight, exercise, stop smoking, save more, spend less, get a new hobby, etc.  Then there are the not-so-standard ones: skydive, swim with sharks, volcano surf, or eat fugu (personally, I think I'd take my chance with the sharks than with the fugu).

How did we ever get started with the business of resolutions and why is it so hard to keep the resolutions we make?

We can blame the ancient Babylonians for getting everyone on the resolution bandwagon.  They made promises when crops were planted (around mid-March) to remain loyal to the king, pay debts, and return anything they borrowed.  Later on, Christians thought about their past mistakes and made resolutions to be better in the coming year.  Nowadays, we make resolutions to improve ourselves, but it's so darn hard to keep them.

If we make resolutions that are difficult to accomplish or achieve by ourselves, we probably won't keep them.  When you make a resolution, make one that's reasonable.  If you want to knit a sweater but have never knitted before, start off with something simpler, like a scarf.  Having moral support from others also helps.  For instance, if you plan to diet or exercise, do it with another person or a group of people.

Happy New Year and good luck with those resolutions!  And should you have trouble keeping them, don't beat yourself over the head--tomorrow's a new day and technically the start of another new year.

Wishing you good resolution vibes from the perch.