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Home » Blogs » Dorothy Snarker's blog » Ms. Snarker's cures for the January blahs

Ms. Snarker's cures for the January blahs

by
Dorothy Snarker

Think back: Were you feeling particularly down two Mondays ago? It’s proven scientific fact, or at least a well-publicized theory, that the third Monday of January is the most depressing day of the year, aptly dubbed Blue Monday by Cardiff University researcher Dr. Cliff Arnall. But here in the States, Jan. 21 fell on a holiday, and you can’t really be sad when you’re being paid to not work. So for me, yesterday was Blue Monday. It could have been the nonstop drizzle, or perhaps it was the holiday credit card bills that arrived and made me rethink the role of my internal organs. I mean, I have two kidneys when one could suffice. Perhaps it’s time that freeloader starts earning its years of room and board.

But instead of wallowing in my self-pity or Googling black-market kidney buyers, I decided to cheer myself up the old-fashioned way. No, not with a whole cheesecake and bottle of pinot. Instead I went with my favorite music, movies and TV shows. These old standbys are guaranteed to put a smile on, at the very least, my face.

Album: Ani DiFranco, Dilate

Now, I realize this selection seems counter-intuitive. Right now you’re all, “Uh, Ms. Snarker, that’s, like, an angry breakup album filled with personal demons and unrelenting angst.” True, true. But it’s also got some of the best F-you songs on the planet, not to mention some of the best music to sing to at full volume in the car, windows up or down because you are a righteous babe and don’t care who knows it. And if all else fails, just fast-forward to "Joyful Girl."


 

Movie: Finding Nemo

Yes, I am a grown woman. No, I am not ashamed to watch an animated children’s film about talking fish. You got a problem with that? My sister and I have been known to jokingly scream, “Find a happy place, find a happy place, find a happy place!” at each other over the phone when we’re stressed. And you know what? It works. Also, you cannot deny the cuteness that is Ellen DeGeneres as Dory. It simply can’t be done. I mean, the woman speaks whale.



TV Show: Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Nothing slays your blues (oh, the puns; clearly I’m feeling better already) like some good old-fashioned demon-dusting. Something about Buffy, Willow, Xander and Giles staking vamps and cracking jokes just makes everything seem right with the world. Heck, let’s all snuggle up and watch a whole episode together in our jammies. I’ll bring the popcorn, you bring the holy water.



And, well, if all else fails, I just put this clip on loop, sit back and enjoy. It’s got pockets, are you into that?



So, what are your guaranteed blues busters? And who else wants Liz Lemon’s pajamas?

  • Dorothy Snarker's blog
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    • Submitted by
    Dorothy Snarker
    on January 29, 2008 - 10:30am.
    TAGS :: 
    Hannah's picture

    nemo

    Submitted by
    Hannah (299 posts)
    on January 29, 2008 - 12:21pm.
    my favorite ellen nemo moment is "just keep swimming, just keep swimming.."  And thanks.  it did brighten my blah day to think of that.
    samnbk's picture

    P. Sherman

    Submitted by
    samnbk (18 posts)
    on February 27, 2008 - 10:56pm.

    P. Sherman 42 Wallaby Way Sydney...

     

    He's son, Fabio...

     

    'Ello, my name's Bruce, and I haven't had fish in three weeks... Shark's honor, or may I be chopped up and made into soup...

    Hi, my name's Dory... [Hello, Dory] And... I don't think... I've ever eaten fish before... (awkward clap clap clap) Few, glad I got that off my chest...

     

    No eating here tonight, no eating here tonight... YOU ON A DIET!!!

     

    i LOVE nemo, but most of all i love dory... 

    gypsywee's picture

    I'm also a Nemo fan

    Submitted by
    gypsywee (1066 posts)
    on January 29, 2008 - 12:28pm.

    So many good lines. A few have already been mentioned. These are my favorites:

    Little octopus girl: "You made me ink!"

    Dory (semi-conscious in scuba goggles) "The sea monkeys have my money."

    I LOVE this move sooooo much! *sigh*

    bigfun's picture

    Nemo is the best

    Submitted by
    bigfun (43 posts)
    on January 29, 2008 - 12:32pm.

    The kids love to watch that movie over and over again and so do I!

    watching's picture

    Gill-ty as charged

    Submitted by
    watching (114 posts)
    on January 29, 2008 - 12:53pm.
    I too am a closet Nemo lover. Perhaps the affinity for talking fish is in the gay gene?
    junibird's picture

    NEMO!!!

    Submitted by
    junibird (17 posts)
    on January 29, 2008 - 1:22pm.

    the sun is shining, the tank is clean...THE TANK IS CLEAN!

    Ah, the love that I have for this movie!

    "don't ever say it's too late, you know you'll regret it. just when you're sure of your life, it can change right before your eyes"
    "turtle" by alana davis

    G's picture

    Ok I admit...

    Submitted by
    G (70 posts)
    on January 29, 2008 - 1:33pm.

    I did the AIDS Ride a few years back and there was this one HUGE hill. I was by myself and I started singing "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming" until I made it up that hill!

    LOVE LOVE LOVE that movie!!!

    katemc39's picture

    chasing the blues away

    Submitted by
    katemc39 (195 posts)
    on January 29, 2008 - 1:51pm.

    To contribute to this thread, I was trying to think of some music and film examples that I'm fond of that are super happy...like Junior Senior and Ellen's daily talk show.  But, when you're really stricken with the winter blahs giddy entertainment can backfire and become annoying.  What you really need is reliable quality material that's maybe a bit more subversive or sarcastic...just enough to lift you from the doldrums but not so cloying that you swat the remote away in anger.

    So, whilst I think the aforementioned picks are totally solid, I would also suggest:

    Strangers with Candy

    Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion

    Mark Ronson's 'Version' album.

    Bye Bye introspective angst.

    SexySadie's picture

    Blues ...

    Submitted by
    SexySadie (16 posts)
    on January 29, 2008 - 2:16pm.

    I recommend:

    At Folsom Prison - Johnny Cash (now matter how bad it is, at least you're not in prison....unless you are)

    Rio Grande

    And at times, the shooting range.

    HotHandle's picture

    Blues cure

    Submitted by
    HotHandle (284 posts)
    on January 29, 2008 - 7:34pm.

    I like to watch either an old movie from the 80s, when I grew up, like "Just One of the Guys" or "War Games" or one of my favorite action movies, like "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" or "Aliens".

    How can you be depressed if you have a big bowl of Pop Secret Homestyle popcorn with garlic salt, a cold beer, and Linda Hamilton or Sigourney Weaver kicking alien butt?  Cheers me up every time.

     

    Na's picture

    My own little pick me ups

    Submitted by
    Na (140 posts)
    on January 29, 2008 - 7:47pm.

    When talking to loved ones is not more an option than a nice Gin and Lemon (with a twist of Blue Curacao...), I've been using these:

    Movies: The Blues Brothers, Alien, Les Tontons Flingueurs, Jason and The Argonauts, The Addams Family

    Music: Aretha, The Specials, Classic Funk Mastercuts Vol. I, II and III, Soundgarden and Keiko Abe

    TV: the end of the last episode of Bad Girls Season 3 (you know the one), Les Snuls (I suppose you've got to know Belgium for that one), Mrs Peel in "Small Game For Big Hunters", Farscape's "Revenging Angel"

    and some more but I feel I'm rambling and all this talk of gin and lemon has made me thirsty.

    boundtostone's picture

    i prefer revelling/reckoning...

    Submitted by
    boundtostone (170 posts)
    on January 29, 2008 - 11:16pm.

    if i need an ani pick me up. buffy and 30 rock are good for the soul, but i've taken to watching the easily queerable one tree hill and star trek movies/tv dvds. seriously, deep space nine makes me so happy.

    books might rock my socks. anything fantasy, sci-fi or historical fiction..

    also, my ps3 and xbox 360 are happy making.

     

    p.s. that ani vid is a lil creepy. i think if creepy vids must be had one might want to stick with garbage and maybe tori amos. heh.

    MyLoverCindy's picture

    Tina Fey/30 Rock clip

    Submitted by
    MyLoverCindy (24 posts)
    on January 30, 2008 - 12:24am.
    That is one of the BEST parts of any TV show EVER! Love her, and my GF and I always quote it to one another when one of us turns on the humidifier!! Thank you for posting!!!
    jennifer from pittsburgh's picture

    Between winter blues/cabin

    Submitted by
    jennifer from p... (1476 posts)
    on January 30, 2008 - 12:40am.
    Between winter blues/cabin fever I've taken to reading books. Through this I've learned two things about myself: I'm jealous of people who write well, and I mercilessly mock those who don't. What's that all about? Why don't I just get inspired by the good book and throw the bad book in the fireplace? Because the fireplace is one of those gas fireplaces and I fear it. It pretends to be something that it isn't and even now I'm looking at it with a suspicious eye of contempt.
    Oh, anyway, back to the topic at hand, I'm reading books.
    Anonymous's picture

    pick me ups

    Submitted by
    Anonymous
    on January 30, 2008 - 12:55am.
    After getting back from my girlfriends parents house and settling back into our apartment I watched some Flight of the Concords because they're funny in a goofy, awkward sort of way and 30 rock. The problem with 30 rock is that I'll put in a disk and then 6 hours later I'll finally stop watching it. There's too many things about Tina Fey that makes me love her and I even tried to change my answering machine message to say blurg because...I am that lame. Reading os good times as well. My girlfriend bought me some good Buffy books that had Tara in one and that was great but whats better is Willow and Tina Fey combined in the last comic. Also watching videos of Tegan and Sara's banter during their performances are enjoyable as is their dvd Its not fun-don't do it. 
    Slym's picture

    Nemo

    Submitted by
    Slym (2604 posts)
    on January 30, 2008 - 3:04pm.
    Is classic stuff. To this day I'm still reciting "Just keep swimming... just keep swimming...." and "I speak whale". There are so many classic lines and moments in that movie. "Boat... i saw a boat... it went this way.... follow me......... why are you following me?" There's so much more, but I have no time.
    Linda77's picture

    More Nemo

    Submitted by
    Linda77 (53 posts)
    on January 30, 2008 - 9:16pm.

    Dory is the best. 'I'm a natural blue.' ..

     

    'He touched the butt!' And before that: 'That's a big butt!'

     

    Darla!! Fishy Fishy!

     

    Okay, I have to go now, suddenly I've become 3 years old.. 

    Natazzz's picture

    Dilate

    Submitted by
    Natazzz (1113 posts)
    on January 31, 2008 - 9:45am.

    I heart Ani Difranco.

    She has released way too many freaking albums to choose a favourite. Dilate is definitely in my top 3 though, even if it was just for Untouchable Face.

    Depressing? I don't know...I personally have never been a fan of happy songs...


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