February 2008 Archives
In the spirit of Loralee's Diet Coke abstinence, I have to remark that I have almost completely dropped my Coke (-a-Cola) habit of many years. I haven't had one since I first got sick a few weeks ago. At that time I couldn't keep anything down, much less soda, so I didn't have a choice there. After that, it just seemed like I was on a roll and should keep it up. I'd think about having one, about that swoosh fizz sound when you first open a can, the burning carbonation of that first sip... anyway, I just didn't want to start up again. Being forced to quit for a while got me started and since I have no willpower anyway, it seemed like a good idea to use that as my starting point.
Okay, I did break down earlier this week. I'd had a really really really stressful day and suddenly Coke popped into my mind and I could not get it out. So I made an emergency stop at the gas station and got one. Swoosh. Fizz. Gulp.
And nothing. First sip was kind of nice, with the carbonation and all, but every subsequent sip was just too icky sweet. I can't believe I'm writing this, but I ended up putting the thing in my fridge (just in case I would want it later) and haven't really bothered it. Today I threw it out. I can't believe it, but I think I may have just lost my taste for Coke. Okay, I'm not going that far, but at least it won't be my breakfast and lunch anymore. Also, and this is another reason I'm happy to be rid of it, I feel less bloated. My pants are fitting a little bit better. And my 4pm headaches are all but gone. (Though, oddly enough, I did get a horrible one right after drinking those sips the other day.)
So, Loralee, if you're reading this, I'll do my best to stay on the wagon if you will.
I hit myself in the head with a hammer.
Yes, you read that correctly. As if the past few weeks of illness weren't enough, last week I went and cut a small, but very deep, gash in the side of my nose. I'm incredibly lucky that I didn't get my eye.
How did I do it? Well, this takes extreme talent. I was removing a nail from the wall. A nail that was about 3 feet above my head. A nail stuck not only in drywall, but also a little in the brick behind it. A nail that required extreme strength and pressure on the hammer to remove. Well, of course the nail finally came out, and so did the hammer... with a lot of force. The hammer hit me, I fell backwards off the futon (which I was using as my ladder - brilliant idea) and things went black for about 3 seconds. Then I sat up, grabbed my nose (which hurt like hell) and checked to see that it wasn't broken. It wasn't, but I pulled my hands away and saw blood everywhere. This little gash in my nose took a lot of effort to stop bleeding. It's pretty deep, too, but eventually I got the bleeding to stop so I assume I didn't need stitches.
It's been almost two weeks now and I still have a cut there. I'm pretty sure there's going to be a scar. Luckily, and oddly, it didn't bruise at all. I fully expected to have a black eye or bruised nose a couple of days later. Instead, the bridge of my nose is just still really sore.
Yep, I'm a genius. Any wonderfully dumb injury stories you want to share?
Maddie was awake all last night coughing her poor little heart out. It's the same cough I had (and unfortunately still have -- I'm told having it last at least 3-4 weeks isn't uncommon,) where you cough so much you can barely catch your breath.
Josie woke up this morning complaining of a sore throat and then promptly threw up on me. She's lying here next to me surrounded by towels with a little bucket within reach.
It looks like both girls have what I have/did have. Unfortunately, in my case, it was both the sinus infection/bronchitis thing and the stomach flu at the same time. According to our pediatrician, both are going around right now. I'm really hoping the girls can keep up their routine of being complete opposites of one another, and that neither will get what the other one has. Keep your fingers crossed for me.
Between all the TV they watched while I was sick, plus all the TV they'll be watching the next couple of days, I'm sure their little brains will be fried.
And don't even bother telling me about alternatives to TV-watching while they're sick. When your baby throws up and immediately asks for "Do-wa the Explo-wa" before the vomit has even been wiped from her face... well, you just give her what she wants.
I hate politics. Vehemently. I avoid discussions and any info about it at all costs. I have friends who love it, who thrive on the debate and play between candidates at this time of year. I can't stand it.
I've been so disgusted with our government, not only for the past two terms, but long before then. I've dreamed of being an expatriate. America seems like a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't wanna live there.
Until this year. For the first time in my life I feel like our country truly has the opportunity to change for the better, to become the place it used to be. I don't feel overwhelmingly confident in any of the candidates so far, but I do see a glimmer of hope in Obama and it makes me feel like we could be going in a good direction.
I'm actually excited about the upcoming election. I'm looking forward to voting. It will be the first time I've done that. I'm not proud to say that I am 30 years old and have never used my voting rights as a citizen of the United States. This year, I plan to do so.
Some of you might consider the following video a little too sweet for your taste, and in some ways I agree. Yet I can't deny that I watched it for the first time last night and got tears in my eyes. I actually cried over politics -- and not in a bad way. Regardless of your political leanings, you have to admit that it's well produced and does make your heart beat a little faster in excitement.
