Oy, what a day!

[TayTay]

Anyone else just need a hug? That's all, just a hug. Death by a thousand paper cuts gets to ya sometimes. No one thing in particular, just those paper cuts that keep on coming.

Oy! Can spring come now please?

[globalvillage]

1. Hang in there, Tay.

It's almost spring. Are there robins in your yard yet? Mine is full of them and my daffodils are up a couple inches. It's going down into the 20s tonight, but then back up into the mid 50s.

We'll try to send some warm your way. Sounds like you need it.

:hug:

[karynnj]

2. I hope things get better before spring comes - and spring is coming real soon

:grouphug:

[MBS]

3. Let's all have a good spring, OK?

It's been a rough winter for many of us, and spring and rebirth and a just plain easier time of it still seem very far away, at least for me. But times have just got to get better for us folks in the trenches. The greedy guys and the far-right nutcases have had their fun. Now it's time for the good guys and the smart guys -- US!:hug:

[BlueIris]

4. I feel that. Bring on the Spring!

I have a lot of Spring Cleaning to do before I can enjoy it, but I welcome it never-the-less.

[beachmom]

5. Has there been no signs of spring yet in Mass?

Here it's been 60 or 70 all week (okay, don't kill me). The winter has indeed sucked, but I just feel like it's going to get better. Maybe it's just the weather, but I feel like the country is coming to terms with what has happened, and now we can start to work toward recovering. I hope I am not being too optimistic, thereby setting myself up for more disappointment.

:hug:

Hang in there, Tay. We will always be there for ya!

[TayTay]

6. No spring yet.

It's not just the lack of spring, it's the lack of any good news. None of us live in a bubble, we all have families and friends and neighbors and co-workers who are having problems in this very down economy.

My job is sometimes to listen as these assorted folks tell me about the troubles in their lives. We deal with this in various ways. (My family specializes in using humor, often very dark humor, to defuse the bad emotions and get to that very human, "we are all in this together" place.) Usually there is also leavening news that helps to balance things out.

This is just a bad time. It started with the ice storm back in December. That terrible storm was more than just bad weather that made the power go out for a while. It was a horrible and expensive event that killed Christmas for a few people I know. They had to spend money they didn't have on buying wood to heat their homes or gasoline to power backup generators. Some folks I know who were already unemployed in December just took a beating. And it hasn't let up. It has been one long depressing event after another without a break or without that needed "leavening."

And, being human, every so often it gets to me and I need a hug. My batteries get depleted, I'm not the best listener anymore and I get kind of discouraged and down in the dumps. (Cat herders, by definition, are listeners. It's not that you don't want to feel better, it's just that your "antenna" is always set to listen, that is who you are and what you do by nature's design. It doesn't shut off.) My own mood would improve immensely if the circumstances of a lot of other people would improve. That will happen in time.

In the meanwhile, yeah sometimes I need a hug. And I need to laugh a bit more.

And thanks! You guys are awesome!

[Mass]

7. Spring! Spring! Spring!

I hate the cold weather and wants to see flowers and be able to go to the shore again.

(and spring in the news as well).

Hang in there! There is a saying in French that says "Apres la pluie le beau temps". (roughly translated, after rain, sunshine). Better times will come.

[Luftmensch067]

8. I love that saying! Just reading it cheered me up!

And I, too, need some springtime. I'm recovering from a serious ankle injury and not being able to walk where and when I want to makes everything seem bleaker. Even though I know brighter days will come and sooner than I think, it's hard to wait for better weather and better mobility. That said, I did go for a short walk last Sunday, which was a sunny, beautiful day here, and I saw my first tiny little (yellow) crocus in someone's yard, so apres la pluie, les fleurs!

Hugs to Tay and to everyone else and wishes for better weather and news SOON.

[sandnsea]

9. I got a calla lily in the front yard

and some daffodils in the back. You want I should take a picture??

:hug:

[TayTay]

10. well, ya

please do. Put another way,

hey neighbor, can I borrow a cup of spring to tide me over for a bit?

[Island Blue]

11. Hugs Tay.

:hug:

I've had a rough winter myself, between several illnesses, a couple of bad allergic reactions, cold weather, etc.

On top of it all the mentoring program that I work for is at risk of losing a substantial amount of our state funding due to budget cuts. (I saw the press release from JK's office regarding a mentoring bill he's co-sponsoring and that was a bright spot in my week.)

Still, I realize that I have it better than so many people right now. Luckily this little guy helps to make things better:








I can't wait for spring either. Hope things are better for you soon. :hug:

[TayTay]

12. Those beautiful pictures and that wonderful child

would brighten any day. It certainly brightened mine.

I hope that things work out on the funding end for you. Those programs are important. I will keep my fingers crossed for you.

And, btw, nice to hear from you again!

[Island Blue]

16. Thanks Tay.

Our new Gov. is a big advocate for kids, so hopefully that will help our cause. She's Constitutionally bound however to balance the budget, so who knows what will happen.

[globalvillage]

13. Wow, he's getting big.

What a cutie.

:hi:

[Island Blue]

17. He is getting big! Almost 3.

He's quite the world traveler, and as you can tell by the bottom photo, will soon be ready to ride with JK in the Pan-Mass Challenge!

[globalvillage]

18. I hope the Senator can keep up.

That kid looks pretty fierce. What's his personal best for 100 miles? ;-)

[karynnj]

24. He is adorable!

He looks like he loves exploring the world on that trike!

[YvonneCa]

14. Okay, you guys, now I'm feeling guilty. As much...

...of a mess as California's economy is, we DO have a little spring around here. (I've been working out in the yard planting flowers all week.) *cringe smiley*

Hugs to you, Tay:hug: ...and to the rest of the group here. I'm sending spring vibes out all the way across the nation to Mass...with a few sprinkles to a few other DUJK states along the way...

I hope things get better soon for friends having a tough time.


:grouphug:

[globalvillage]

19. I'll wait a couple weeks for the flowers.

Your state's economy is scary. I have two family members, both in education, who are really worried about what's going to happen to your schools. Not good.

[YvonneCa]

20. I'm worried about that, too. Being a teacher...

...myself for 24 years, I've never seen education...or the economy...so bad at the same time. Short term, I can guess what will happen to the schools...programs cut, huge class sizes, and teachers remaining having to do more than ever to keep the wheels turning (been there, done that myself). It's a HUGE step backward, at a time when we need more than ever to go forward.

And then there are the sad situations of teachers who find themselves without a job. I know a lot of teachers who will face that...some leaving the state for greener pastures. It's a shame. Hopefully when the budget is actually finalized, the numbers will look better. There's always hope. :)

[Inuca]

15. Hi & hugs everybody!

Extra hug :hug: for Tay! And Island Blue, no way that face will not bring up a smile :-).

The week-end, so I can indulge in a bit more time spent here, even a post or two. I visit during the week, but hardly ever post any longer. Sadly, I find the rest of DU increasingly boring and irrelevant, I hope it is just my perception, but I doubt it... still a useful source of information at times.

Spring news: it's coming! A couple of almost summer-like days last week, then cold again, but a few daffodil buds, and sound of birds in the morning. It will be the first spring I will be able to enjoy (hoping that my enjoyment anntenas have not been irremediably damaged) after a couple of horribly job related stressed ones.

And yes, it's tough all over, impefect and often dirty, but don't still feel like smiling at times when you hear "president Obama" or see him in those blue striped chairs in the Oval Office (I am surprised B did not leave a pin or something in them, as a good bye gift)?

[ladym55]

21. Hugs and an apology

:hug:

The apology comes because every time we have a cold and crappy day here in Ohio, NE has one the next day ... :blush: It seems like we just say, "Here, you be depressed like we are!"

I think we all have friends and family who are hurting big time in the current economic mess. I think spring flowers will help us all!

This group is the nicest bunch of people on DU!

[globalvillage]

22. Hey, my daffodils are ready to bloom.

Check it out.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/globalvillage1/3357918320/

Yours can't be far behind.

[Inuca]

23. They look exactly like mine :-) n/t