Friday, July 16, 2010

Still Putting Up A Fight



I'm still sick. Airplane virus day #11. Turns out my virus became bacterial pneumonia/bronchitis overnight. The next thing I knew I was really really sick. I've been taking all kinds of antibiotics, decongestants, inhalants and vitamins just to get through the day. The nights are the bad parts -- I can't breathe -- I can't breathe -- seems to be my mantra. They say summer illnesses are the worst. I think any illness is the worst. I must say that I'm tired of being sick and can't want to be able to sleep through the night horizontal on a bed like a normal person. Until then I'm grateful that TVLand runs old sitcoms all night long. I love M*A*S*H! Found this story a couple of days ago on CNN. It warmed the cockles of my heart. And I noticed this story in yesterday's New York Times. (I don't think I do one of the tips on this list.) Today it's the most emailed story on the website. Oh! La! La!

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

I've Lost My Dignity. If Found, Please Call

I believe it has best been said in lyrics by Mary Chapin Carpenter -- a woman who's a lot better writer (and singer) than I ever could hope to be.


"Sometimes you're the windshield. Sometimes, you're the bug."

The problem is that I feel that my time as the bug is too frequent. And my time as the windshield is so infrequent that I often don't even know that I'm in the circle of power until it's over.

I caught some sort of nasty little virus on the plane back to Michigan. I figured if I gave it a few days and took it easy it would go away. Instead, the nasty little bug has decided to set up camp in my sinus cavity and lungs. I sneeze and people say, "God bless you. I have allergies too." I just nod because I figure if I try to talk and they hear a croaking frog instead they'll run off screaming. And then I cough. But it doesn't really sound like a cough anymore. It's more like a giant sexually frustrated manatee in Florida barking for his long-lost mate. It's definitely not human. I feel like such a freak. One of the guys in my office walked past my cubicle today to get a look at what was making those noises.

It's not enough that I'm feeling poorly. This morning when I was driving to work, a giant piece of plastic that was floating over the freeway wrapped itself around the front of my car and wouldn't let go. So there I was. The giant barking sea manatee driving to work at 75 mph in a Civic wrapped in plastic. So much for the bugs.