Light and Color!

My general approach to trying to boost my mood in the winter involves turning on as many lights as possible, putting on summer clothes (with the heat at a comfortable level for it), and listening to spicy music.

This morning, my Spotify app created all kinds of drama. I finally got it working harmoniously on my phone, maybe because I did the iOS update first and rebooted the app (before, it would glitch after every song and just stop, having to be rebooted); however, I wanted MOAR VOLUME. Tried casting it to my TV, and the app for whatever reason insisted I needed to hear Ginuwine’s “Pony” at 40 volume. That’s a lot of “Pony!”

My poor PC doesn’t run many things well anymore (looking at you, Magic Arena…but I WILL learn to play if I can get a better computer again). Anyway, it refused to even open Spotify.

But okay, I can work around that. The phone, it is. Listening to music, I go to check the wattage on my living room floor lamp so I can maybe see about replacing the dead bulbs. It’s one of those styles with 5 heads that snake off the main post, that you can reposition and twist and bend.

The plastic shade around one of the bulbs cracked in my hands after I just barely touched it; this lamp is probably over 10 years old. It’s been with me since moving into my current apartment 8 years ago, and may have made a few moves with me prior to that.

I get that maybe it’s not wise to hinge your mental well-being on things, even in general, or on the idea of singular outcomes, but it’s a tough habit for me to break. I was so centered on the thought of brightening my living space that the crumbling lamp shade really broke me.

It’s old, as I said, and the shades are all well-faded, but I had hopes for rejuvenating it a bit for today.

I called my mom, since I hadn’t heard back from my daughter by text.

I’m also waiting on a paycheck to finish Christmas shopping, so a lamp and fresh lightbulbs wouldn’t have been in my budget until payday, anyway.

After some time had passed, my mom called me back to say my dad had returned from a grease/oil/filter change of their car. She picked me up, and we got a new lamp.

I usually get them at Target. I think the brand is Home Essentials or something, but Target was sold out in store. I had already run a search for 5-Head Floor Lamps and found a nice one at Home Depot. Each shade is a different color. It’s very pretty and tints the light coming from the bulbs just beautifully.

I wasn’t strong enough to thread the sections of the post together all the way down, and keep them aligned properly. SO, it’s assembled, but it needs some help. As do I. LOL.

Tonight, he’s finishing off their 100+ cards and Official Family Christmas Letter, but my dad offered to come over sometime soon, when I’m free, and fix it. He’s a good dad to have.

My mom also chimed in with a “Do you want to go to Starbucks?” after our trip through Home Depot, and we got lattes, and the most ADORABLE reindeer cake pops!!!

The main goal of the day was to psych myself up to clean, and then I got distracted by the Spotify/floor lamp shenanigans. Still, the night is young, and I’m not going anywhere else. I may aim for a small area so I feel like I mastered something. Possibly the bathroom. Or, I could tackle the clothes in my room.

Today, I am VERY thankful for all the help I get from my family, and also for my daughter’s kind words (she did eventually get back to me). My friend Barbara, too, said she really wished we lived closer so she could zip over and help me with the new lamp, once I said I was nearly in tears over it. Not very Zen of me. She suggested I take a break, so I had a few Lil Nas X M&M’s and some water, before at least plugging in the lamp to test it out. Then, I decided to post here.

Soon, I’ll have to have some more “real” food, though I did have a burger and some salad for breakfast. I tell you this so you don’t imagine me eating M&M’s and cake pops all day. LOL.

I am, however, in a MUCH better mood. Lights on all over. Soon, I’ll get some music going again. Just not at 40 Volume.

Winter storms approach us. We’re almost at the Solstice, so the days will start lengthening again soon. We’re also halfway to summer, roughly. Stay warm and safe, everyone, wherever you are. I wish you bright and merry days ahead.