Personally, I’m amazed my mediocre immune system hung in there as long as it did recently. The blistering heat of Central Texas ended earlier than normal which leads to cold-and-flu season here, usually mixed up some people’s nastier allergies from all the cedar pollen.
I was doing pretty well, especially when it came to fighting if off since exhaustion was setting in through my backfill. Then whatever was making its way through work (believe me, a cubicle-base environment is a fave for contagions) punched me in the nose by Sunday. I could feel building while listening to the Stars win their season opener over the Rampage. Monday morning guaranteed a I needed to stay home, sleep for long stretches and ride it out over two days.
Which is worse though? Being stuck at home, sick and miserable, waiting for the ailments to subside or being functional enough to return to work while still shaking off the remaining 10-20 percent of the illness: sneezing, red eyes, coughing, gunk and fluid issues (aka having to go number one every 20-30 minutes). One doctor said the last side effect is a great thing; not if you were sitting through Lord of the Rings at a movie theater.
The part I hate more is the catching-up element: chores at home I had to let slide, coming up to speed with work, the current-events vacuum and general feeling of how unproductive I was for that time. Unproductive? While being sick? Somewhat. It’s hard to read while ill. I fall asleep more frequently trying and the mix of over-the-counter medication compounds the pending insomnia I’ll have later. My current doctor explained how cold medicine leads to sleep-deprivation which I thought was weird and self-defeating. Seems he is correct. I hit a point of diminishing returns quickly with them so I have to tough it during in the “feeling 80 percent or better” days going cold turkey.
Regardless, it’s great to back in the Land of the Living! Many great things have happened: Stars winning 3-0; Helen’s birthday (she at least verbally said she liked my gift, maybe Helen will post what it was and the story behind it); tickets to see shows next Spring; my iPad arriving Monday!; Rock Band 3 is on the horizon; and an upcoming trip to Dallas to see Nancy and Jose!
So prepare to have your RSS-based solutions to be reacting on a steady basis again. I’m closing in on 2000 posts and moving over the final months of 2008 from the old server.