BEATING THE DOLDRUMS!

It's been a few days since I posted - time to catch up a bit on here.

I believe this is referred to the Doldrums of winter - think I heard that somewhere along the way, probably by my mother who seemed to be full of these goofy sayings about life...  I'll go with this one, because it certainly feels like the doldrums  - whatever that means.

Well don't you know - I looked it up...  here is what Wickipedia has to say about this word.  From reading this, I would assume the doldrums I am referring to would be the Colloquial usage.

Interesting word, is it not?

Doldrums

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other uses, see Doldrums (disambiguation).

The doldrums is a colloquial expression derived from historical maritime usage, which refers to those parts of the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean affected by the Intertropical Convergence Zone, a low-pressure area around the equator where the prevailing winds are calm. The doldrums are also noted for calm periods when the winds disappear altogether, trapping sail-powered boats for periods of days or weeks. The term appears to have arisen in the 18th century, when cross-equator sailing voyages became more common.^{[citation needed]}

Contents

  [hide] 

• 1Maritime usage
• 2Colloquial usage
• 3In literature
• 4References

Maritime usage[edit]

In maritime usage, the low pressure characteristics of the doldrums is caused by the expanding atmosphere due to heating at the equator, which makes the air rise and travel north and south high in the atmosphere, until it subsides again in the horse latitudes. Some of that air returns to the doldrums through the trade winds. This process can lead to light or variable winds and more severe weather, in the form of squalls, thunderstorms, and hurricanes. The doldrums are also noted for calm periods when the winds disappear altogether, trapping sail-powered boats for periods of days or weeks.^{[citation needed]}

Colloquial usage[edit]

Colloquially, the "doldrums" are a state of inactivity, mild depression, listlessness, or stagnation.^[1] The word is derived from dold, an archaic term meaning "stupid", and -rum(s), a noun suffix found in such words as "tantrum".^[2]

In literature[edit]

The doldrums are notably described in Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (1798), in Patrick O'Brian's novel Desolation Island (1978), and in Laura Hillenbrand's non-fiction book Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption (2010). Additionally, the Doldrums are a fictional place in Norton Juster's novel The Phantom Tollbooth (1961).

Well anyway, that is how it has felt this past week.  Cold and shut indoors for extended periods of time, even though there is so much to be done inside... leaves me listless for sure.  I had become very used to being out much more during the day with the milder temperatures, so guess that explains that.

Nice weather is coming back at the end of the week however, so I will look forward to that.

In the meantime, I finished the Norman Rockwell puzzle I bought for .10.  All the pieces were there, and it is great.  I have coated it with a mixture of white glue and water, 3 coats on the front and 3 on the back, so it is ready to be framed and hung in the music room downstairs.

We are heading out to do some "picking" at the "General Store" of forgotten treasures today, and this time we are allowing ourselves much more time to poke around in there - so take a hike doldrums!

The rest of the week will be spent painting the living room and sun room, so If you don't see me on here much this week - that will be why.

KEEP BUSY - IT BEATS THAT NASTY WORD!