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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by fiona on August 25, 2002, at 10:57:55
It is a beautiful day and the sun is shining. I live in the most gorgeous place on earth on a little farm in scotland, nothing but fields and trees for miles around and the sound of cows mowing the grass. I am looking out my window at the new foals playing in the field in front of my house, yet I am unmoved. Why can't I appreciate this today?
Depression. Hmph.
Posted by tina on August 25, 2002, at 11:08:51
In reply to aaaaaaargh, posted by fiona on August 25, 2002, at 10:57:55
I am bigtime jealous Fiona. Sounds like the perfect place to live. In my opinion, Scotland is the most beautiful place on the planet.
The depression messes with your sense of beauty and joy. Maybe you'll feel something tomorrow. Don't beat yourself up about it.
Warm thoughts
tina
Posted by Medusa on August 25, 2002, at 12:10:02
In reply to aaaaaaargh, posted by fiona on August 25, 2002, at 10:57:55
> I live in the most gorgeous place on earth
Hi Fiona,
living in the most beautiful place won't make you feel okay, and it's lousy when you know it's great but you can't appreciate it ... but ... at least you're not living in a concrete jungle.
That's probably not what you need to hear.
Try not to be too hard on yourself for "not appreciating" your surroundings.
I've lived in Paris ... and been profoundly depressed there, which probably sounds scandalous to francophiles out there. I went to uni on a beautiful campus (okay not Scotland but) and was depressed there. Come to think of it, a cousin of mine went to St Andrews and was depressed there. And she's a golfer too.
Sorry no magic solutions for you ... thanks for posting this though, it's helpful for me to see that others go through the same why-am-I-not-in-ecstasy stuff. The town where I live now is surrounded by vineyards on rolling hills. Outside the city, it's like driving through a storybook. And I've profoundly depressed here too.
Posted by homewood on August 25, 2002, at 14:06:27
In reply to aaaaaaargh, posted by fiona on August 25, 2002, at 10:57:55
Fiona -
Sometimes I find that I can 'connect' with nature and begin to enjoy it by getting OUT in it...immersing myself in the sights, sounds and fragrances. Often when I start the process i don't 'feel' like doing it or feel connected with the surroundings, but usually by the time i return i can feel better about it
Posted by Ted on August 25, 2002, at 15:51:07
In reply to aaaaaaargh, posted by fiona on August 25, 2002, at 10:57:55
> It is a beautiful day and the sun is shining.
Likewise here
>I live in the most gorgeous place on earth on a little farm in scotland
Where?
A bheil Gaidhlig agad? Tha Gaidhligh bho'n eilean Sgitheanach agam'sa.
(Translation for others: "Do you speak Scots Gaelic? I speak Scots Gaelic dialect from the Isle of Skye.")
>nothing but fields and trees for miles around and the sound of cows mowing the grass.
nothing but acres of concrete and asphalt and the sounds of cars, car alarms, and sirens in the distance.
>I am looking out my window at the new foals playing in the field in front of my house, yet I am unmoved. Why can't I appreciate this today?
I went out to do some yard work and I watched the kids playing in the street. I am dizzy, unfocused, uninterested, and just plain BORED. I washed up and layed down.
> Depression. Hmph.
Likewise.
I'd give my depression for your depression anytime during the summer or early autumn, though. I think the snow on the braes and the wind on the lochs might account for some of it in the winter and early spring. That's when you shoud come here for a visit. Really.
This is Silicon Valley (60mi/100Km south of San Francisco).
Ted
Posted by fiona on August 25, 2002, at 16:35:11
In reply to Re: aaaaaaargh, posted by homewood on August 25, 2002, at 14:06:27
Feel a bit better now. I decided to stop whingeing and go out to try to shake off the gloom. I went for a drive to Callander via Aberfoyle, Loch Achry and Loch Venachre. I stopped at the banks of Loch Venachre and sat on a rock to watch the sunset behind the hills. It cheered me up slightly. You're right, getting OUT amongst nature is better than watching from a window. Mind you, I think what really shook me up a little was the ENORMOUS cloud of blood sucking midges that attacked me and made me run a mile!
Posted by fiona on August 25, 2002, at 16:52:54
In reply to Re: aaaaaaargh » fiona, posted by Ted on August 25, 2002, at 15:51:07
Hi Ted.
I live in a village called Bothkennar in central scotland, well it's not so much a village as a collection of farms.
Sorry I don't speak Gaelic, although I wish I did. Most of my family speak it, though, they all used to live in Skye. Portree, Uig and Glenhinnesdale (I don't think I spelled that correctly). So what's a guy living in Silicon Valley doing speaking Gaelic? Do you have family here? This may sound like a stupid question, but why is it called Silicon Valley? (Just wondering)
I think I may take you up on visiting in the winter. Winter here, although just as beautiful but in a different way, is dark and severe and the rain soaks through to your bones. I hate waking up in the morning when its still dark and then coming home from work to realise you've missed the whole of the daylight. Autumn is my favourite time of the year, the colour everywhere is amazing, and the low pale sun warms your face... well I'm rambling now, so I will stop.
Thanks :)
Fiona
Posted by Dinah on August 25, 2002, at 19:05:59
In reply to Re: aaaaaaargh » Ted, posted by fiona on August 25, 2002, at 16:52:54
You have a wonderful way with words, Fiona. You made it all so real.
Northern Wales and Scotland are my two favorite places in the entire world. There is something about the landscape that just tugs at me. I hope to be able to go back some day. Wistful sigh.
Posted by Ted on August 25, 2002, at 19:13:05
In reply to Re: aaaaaaargh » Ted, posted by fiona on August 25, 2002, at 16:52:54
Hi Fiona,
> I live in a village called Bothkennar in central scotland, well it's not so much a village as a collection of farms.
That explains the poetry of your post. :-)
> Sorry I don't speak Gaelic, although I wish I did. Most of my family speak it, though, they all used to live in Skye. Portree, Uig and Glenhinnesdale (I don't think I spelled that correctly).
That's OK. It's a dying language.
>So what's a guy living in Silicon Valley doing speaking Gaelic? Do you have family here?
Well.... Way back when I was in college, I wanted to learn a language but, being a nonconformist, I found myself a tutor from Glendale, Skye, and gathered a group of 8 or 10 students, and she taught us conversational Gaelic. Also, at the time, I was a member of both a Scottish Country Dance group and a Highland Dance Group.
>This may sound like a stupid question, but why is it called Silicon Valley? (Just wondering)
Are you familiar with the area between Edinburgh and Glasgow being called "Silicon Glen"? It got its name from here. This is the high-tech center of the world, with more electronics and software engineers and firms per capita than practically anywhere else in the world. Since most of the technology is based on integrated circuits ("microchips" or "chips") which are mostly made from silicon, and the geography is a basin surrounded by mountains, it led to the name.
> I think I may take you up on visiting in the winter.
Great! Winters here are relatively mild (rarely as cold as 0C/ 32F) and we get only about 35 cm/14 inches of rain a year.
>Winter here, although just as beautiful but in a different way, is dark and severe and the rain soaks through to your bones. I hate waking up in the morning when its still dark and then coming home from work to realise you've missed the whole of the daylight.
Sounds a beautiful as the north pole. :-) Sorry; I grew up in the Arizona desert.
>Autumn is my favourite time of the year, the colour everywhere is amazing, and the low pale sun warms your face... well I'm rambling now, so I will stop.
But rambling is fun! Anywhere the bugs live, autumn is the only season worth going outdoors.
take care,
Ted
Posted by ~~tabitha~~ on August 25, 2002, at 20:54:21
In reply to Re: aaaaaaargh » homewood, posted by fiona on August 25, 2002, at 16:35:11
Fiona,
That sounds soooo beautiful, except for the blood-sucking midges part. Someday I would love to visit that part of the world. I have the pale skin and reddish hair for it-- I definitely don't belong here in southern California where the sun is too strong.
Tabitha
Posted by Medusa on August 26, 2002, at 3:59:35
In reply to Re: aaaaaaargh » Ted, posted by fiona on August 25, 2002, at 16:52:54
Fiona, maybe we should both do a visit to Silicon Valley, and set up a counseling practice without a license ... it sounds like the place for it.
Posted by Ted on August 26, 2002, at 10:53:09
In reply to visiting Silicon Valley, posted by Medusa on August 26, 2002, at 3:59:35
Fiona & Medusa,
> Fiona, maybe we should both do a visit to Silicon Valley, and set up a counseling practice without a license ... it sounds like the place for it.
Do it! You'll get lots of patients. If you do some "alternative medicine" mumbo-jumbo, you'll increase your clientele four-fold. No shortage of patients or money here!
This is California -- The Land of Fruits and Nuts.
Ted
Posted by fiona on August 26, 2002, at 14:14:07
In reply to Re: visiting Silicon Valley » Medusa, posted by Ted on August 26, 2002, at 10:53:09
Sounds like fun! Is California really that mad? My friend is studying psychology at university, and when she graduates she wants to open a "Happiness Clinic" involving all sorts of alternative therapies. Maybe we should invite her along too and we'd make squillions!
:)
Posted by fiona on August 26, 2002, at 14:24:51
In reply to Re: aaaaaaargh » fiona, posted by Ted on August 25, 2002, at 19:13:05
That's amazing that you managed to find someone to teach you Gaelic all the way across in America. It is becoming increasingly impossible to find any teachers over here. As you say, it is a dying language (sadly) and the only places that still teach it in schools are mainly in the north. A while back the local councils tried to re establish it, by introducing it in some nursery schools, but I don't know if it was followed up at all.
Oh dear, need to go. I think I've burned my soup!
Posted by Ted on August 26, 2002, at 16:14:44
In reply to Re: visiting Silicon Valley, posted by fiona on August 26, 2002, at 14:14:07
> Is California really that mad?
Beyond your wildest imagination. Guaranteed.
>..alternative therapies... and we'd make squillions!
The more outrageous the claims, the more money you will make. In California, common sense is uncommon and everyone is a victim. No one will take responsibility for themselves. That said, you should use your new-found fortunes to build an estate in the south Pacific so when the Calif District Attorney decides to investigate (probably never, but might happen), you can pack your bags and enjoy your "vacation" in paradise. Besides, there are enough unscrupulous lawyers ("solicitors" for those in the UK) that you can hire legal protection on the cheap.
Even with all that, I wouldn't choose any place else to live.
Ted
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