Monthly Homework Assignment: Comfort and Joy

Comfort and joy during the holiday season can be very difficult to come by, especially in this age of materialism and uncertainty. Add personal and family drama, school deadlines, and an increase in stress and exhaustion and VOILA! you have a recipe for emotional and mental meltdowns. While the intention of the holiday season is for universal brotherhood and family closeness a là Norman Rockwell the reality for many of us is quite the opposite. "Is this enough? Is it perfect? Why do I have to see so-and-so? Will he or she belittle me yet again? Why does she have to always say something negative? Why does it have to be a gimmefest?" are all questions that many of us are faced with every holiday season. Students you have the extra bonus of impending deadlines, papers and final exams! This is enough to make anyone crazy!!!

Your homework assignment this month is to show us what gives you comfort and joy. Do you have a woobie that you snuggle with in order to block out the world? Do you have a favorite routine you follow? A favorite piece of clothing? What do you do to escape the insanity of the holiday season? My friends, I give you three of my most favorite things that keep me calm and focused throughout December.

1. Last week I made a huge pot of chicken soup using my Mom's recipe as I always do. Growing up my Mom always had chicken soup bubbling away on the stove during the cold winter months. Not only did it provide nourishment, but it was also a huge hug in a bowl. Nothing calmed me down or made me feel better than a bowl of chicken soup with egg noodles. Whenever I was stressed out with school, or getting sick, or completely miserable about something, homemade chicken soup made it all better ... at least for that moment. I made a huge pot of soup last week for my Mom and me. Both of us have colds. Both of us are starting to notice the affect the lack of sunlight is having on our moods. Both of us desperately needed a hug in a bowl.

2. A huge pile of yummy books. As you can see in the above photo, the books I tend to gravitate towards lately are related to my dissertation. This stack will take me through the end of January. Notice the wonderful books on the history of reading in America, children's education, and illustration for children. Yeah, it's that good!!! Any time I feel completely freaked out about grading papers or making the perfect sugar cookie I pick up my dissertation work. It needs to be done and it's something in my life right now that is a secure constant. Besides it's fun, interesting and I love the work. Focusing on reading or writing a few paragraphs settles a nervous stomach and makes me live in the present.

3. The most perfect relaxation method for me is, of course, a soak in a nice, warm bubble bath. Sigh ... I actually grade papers and exams in the tub! hehehe .... *shhhh* don't tell my students. ;) Ideally there would be a glass of wine or a cup of tea sitting on the edge of the bathtub. And don't forget the scented candle! I'm really big into aromatherapy and find that I react to certain smells in positive and relaxing ways. Cedar or ylang-ylang calm me down and focus my mind on the task at hand, which is usually grading at this point in time.

Devil Duckie says hi!!!

BIG THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING FOLKS FOR PARTICIPATING:

Gothy Twoshoes

TropigothMama

Tante Fledermaus
Lynoire
Sal at Still Dark at Heart
Sophistique Noir
Miss Eva Morgan Reeve
Lady Lovescraft
Snowhyte
Bane: GIY
Sabayon
CorpGoth
Miss Rivett
Electrobat
SpookyVegan
Ms. Lou
Mistress Aphrodite

SiouxsieL

Goth Mary Poppins

Gothic Fairie Queen

It's your turn! My assignment for you this month is to feature the ways that you, my darlings, take a well-needed TIME OUT. How do you unwind? What gets you through the holidays and exams? A bubble bath? Running five miles? A steaming bowl of chicken soup? Also, what kind of comfort clothes/accessories do you go to during this time of high stress? Do you have a favorite Woobie (sweater, scarf, blanket, etc.)? Please feature whatever it is that helps you feel well-needed COMFORT AND JOY during the season of "gimme gimme" and cranky shoppers at the mall. How do you infuse your life with the true meaning of the season -- peace, rest and reflection.

Please, no adult content.

So you want to participate? AWESOME! Here are the rules:

1. on December 13 check back here for my Monthly Assignment contribution;

2. on your post please include this bit of code to link back to this blog and my post. You can easily do this by cutting and pasting the code under the "Edit HTML" tab:

<a href="http://gothicprofessor.blogspot.com/search/label/homework%20assignment"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AOWrXLqL3DU/Tp7QtRvOg1I/AAAAAAAAA38/HmuZW95e0nM/s1600/monthly+homework.jpg" border="0"></a> 

If for some reason you can't do so, please make sure you link back to this blog within your text and post the Monthly Homework Assignment picture;

3. don't forget to leave a comment on my December 13th post with a link to your own post. I will list everyone's entries in a separate post the following day! Yuppers, one whole post dedicated to you and your gorgeous, naked faces! WAHOOO!!!!

4. the assignment will be available from 12:00 am on December 13 EST to 11:59 December 15 EST ... and yes, I take late homework;

5. HAVE FUN and GET CREATIVE!!!