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Wednesday Blogging: Why I’m not more stressed out that I already am

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It probably sounds dumb to say that my job is stressful. I mean, most days I don’t have to put pants on. But it’s stressful in different ways. Having to work from home requires the most astounding amount of self-control. Most days, it’s all I can do to keep from laying on the couch, binge-watching Netflix until the kids get home, instead of working. When you see me talk about projects here on the blog? I’m behind on them. It doesn’t matter how positive and confident I sound, or what day it is. I assure you, I am behind.

So, I do get stressed, and it helps to have a way to unwind. I’m lucky to have several. For example:

1. Bein’ Groovy. I like to kick back and relax into a mindless, repetitive task the whisks me away from all my cares and allows me to concentrate on the riddles of the cosmos.

P1000863

I’ve been needle felting that guy for, oh… probably a couple years now. I just randomly pick him up and work on him when I feel like it. Needle felting is just organized stabbing. You have your wool, a set of very sharp, barbed needles, and you just stab. I always have a bunch of projects going at once. The only time I ever actually finish any of them is if someone is paying me for them. And by someone, I mean Bronwyn Green, because she’s the only person who’s ever commissioned me. I made her a little druid Waldorf lady. So yeah. Needle felting. That is the thing in the picture that reduces my stress.

2. Doodles. I love doodling. This is what I’m working on right now:

P1000865

 

3. Adventure Time! Nothing lowers my stress level like Adventure Time. I don’t know what it is about that show, but I could be in the middle of fighting off a shark with my bare hands and just hearing Lemongrab shout, “UNACCEPTABLE!” would chill me immediately out.  My favorite character is Lumpy Space Princess. Because we understand each other:

Other stuff! I also like to knit (yes, I’m on Ravelry, though I’m not super active) and run and have sex. Individually, I mean. Not all at the same time. That would be strange.

Wonder how the other Wednesday Blogging friends beat their stress? Find out:

Bronwyn Green • Jessica Jarman  Kris Norris • Kellie St. James
Tessa Grant Leigh Jones

 

 

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20 Comments

    • JennyTrout
      JennyTrout

      Oh my gosh, that would be the last thing I would want to do hungover, LOL!

      May 28, 2014
      |Reply
  1. Lieke
    Lieke

    Your doodle looks awesome. I used to be really into doodling when I was still studying. I think a lot of my teachers thought that I was not paying attention in class, but it helped me concentrate. My doodles never looked half as good as yours, though.
    Is there such a thing as a professional doodle? Because I think that one would definitely qualify.

    May 28, 2014
    |Reply
    • JennyTrout
      JennyTrout

      My biodad is really artistic, so I think I probably get some kind of hereditary skill or something from him. The doodling to concentrate thing, I totally get, because I had ADD when I was younger. Well, I assume I still have it now. Just not as bad.

      May 28, 2014
      |Reply
  2. I think needle felting may be a craft I could actually do. LOL Maybe. I’d find a way to mess it up and be stressed about it. 😉

    Yeah, I’ve had people in my life ask how I could possibly be stressed out because I don’t work outside of the home and have it so easy. They’re usually the conversations during which I’m no longer paying attention but intensely planning body disposal in my head.

    May 28, 2014
    |Reply
    • Akri
      Akri

      The one thing with needle felting is that it tends to involve blood sacrifices. I have my suspicions that the craft may have been invented by Khorne.

      Blood for the Blood God!
      Skulls for the Skull Throne!
      Crafts for the Craft Lair!

      May 28, 2014
      |Reply
    • JennyTrout
      JennyTrout

      I finally told Mr. Jen, “How about tomorrow I drop the kids off at work with you, and you can get them lunch and keep them entertained and break up their fights and answer all their questions while YOU work.” I’ve never heard the “your job is easier” complaint again, LOL.

      May 28, 2014
      |Reply
  3. Working at home requires so much freaking self control. Some days it’s more than I have…

    That doodle is fantastic!

    May 28, 2014
    |Reply
    • JennyTrout
      JennyTrout

      I know, today all I want to do is nap, but it’s like, nope! Too much to do!

      May 28, 2014
      |Reply
  4. Suzy
    Suzy

    The perfect destresser? Bollywood musicals! Cause who can be stressed while laughing that much. Convoluted plots, pointless dance numbers and horses. There are always horses for some reason. Shoot for ones with Salman Khan. By all accounts, quite a bit of a dick, but he has the most beautiful brown eyes I have ever seen. Plus he takes his shirt of… A LOT! Google him ladies. You’ll thank me later.

    May 28, 2014
    |Reply
    • JennyTrout
      JennyTrout

      My mother-in-law loves Bollywood musicals. In addition to horses, there also seem to be a lot of rooftop scenes.

      May 28, 2014
      |Reply
      • Suzy
        Suzy

        I love the randomness of them. I wish I had discovered them in college. I was a opera major, but realized that while I had talent, you have to have crazy talent to make in opera. I LOVE the overblown theatricality of Bollywood. It’s like Wagner on speed…and you know, happy. I would have fit right in…not sure what part I’d have played. Not a lot of white Americans in Bollywood mid 90’s.

        May 28, 2014
        |Reply
        • Kelsey
          Kelsey

          Happy Wagner on speed. I have never heard such a wonderful description.

          May 28, 2014
          |Reply
  5. OMG… I damn near died at the Lumpy Space Princess. That first one…now I have to die because I have a broken heart. I cried, Jen. CRIED!

    And sure… flaunt the ‘oh, I get to have sex when I’m stressed’. Hello! Not all of us have a fantastic man willing to have sex with us random like that. And by random I mean EVER. Okay…see some of my stresses are coming out.

    Can’t wait to see you and laugh until I pee.

    May 28, 2014
    |Reply
    • JennyTrout
      JennyTrout

      You missed an opportunity to say, “STOP. BRAGGING!” Which I can’t wait to say in like, 20 more days. I NEED TO BE REUNITED WITH MY PEOPLE.

      May 28, 2014
      |Reply
  6. That doodle is really good! I need to get back into drawing.

    “Having to work from home requires the most astounding amount of self-control”

    Ain’t that the truth. I’ve found that the only way to get any writing done is to treat it like a job (sadly). Funny how writing was once my stress relief *from* my job and now I have to treat it like it *is* my job (still not getting paid for it, but someday).

    I love lumpy space princess.

    May 28, 2014
    |Reply
  7. Nonnie
    Nonnie

    It’s embarrassing how much I relate to LSP. I totally feel you on that though – Adventure Time both calms and excites me. I really don’t know what I was doing before it, actually.

    Also, needle felting is apparently a sweet business if you can get it going. Have you seen how much an inch tall needle felt owl costs on Etsy?

    May 28, 2014
    |Reply
  8. My kids love felting too! But I kind of agree with Akri. I would stab myself and bleed all over it. You should have seen my mosaic project; I was the only person in class who needed a clean-up cloth and a box of band-aids on hand at all times.

    May 29, 2014
    |Reply
  9. kristie
    kristie

    Jen I wanted to tell you no just finished your 50 Shades recap and it took me a long time because like you i got very discouraged towards the end of these books. It hurts to know that woman will have more money than she will ever know what to do with from writing CRAP just doesn’t seem fair.

    On a positive note I have learned soo much about writing from your blog and hope to learn more. Keep making us all smile and we will help you smile as well 😉

    May 29, 2014
    |Reply
  10. Carol
    Carol

    Have you watched “Imagine Me & You”? Anthony Head is in it and, unsurprisingly, glorious.

    May 29, 2014
    |Reply

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