More From Losers Club Gets the Flu

I've always avoided flu shots. The idea of injecting myself with something to ward off the chance that I might develop an illness down the line has always bothered me. No more.

I came down with the real symptoms Tuesday night. Wednesday I lost to sleep. Thursday I made it into work, only to leave early, go home and crash completely. Friday I was on the mend. HA!

Saturday, I went to the ER after waking up with the tell-tale eye goop of conjunctivitus. (Yes, thank you, I realize it's a disease usually reserved for kindgartners.) After consulting with a lovely woman at my insurance's 24/7 Nurse Help Line, who informed me I really shouldn't wait to get the eye checked out and, oh by the way, get that chest looked at too, you sound awful, I headed for the ER to pick up some antibiotic drops.

Revolving door care at it's best, I was in, triaged, looked at, given an Rx, and closed out all within 20 minutes. Except I couldn't leave. The hospital was on lockdown. Yes, that's right. Lockdown. I have no idea why - maybe there was a murderer on the loose. Maybe an abusive husband with a restraining order against him. Maybe aliens with the ability to impregnate unsuspecting humans. No reason was given. I just couldn't leave.

I was FINALLY released and went home to fill the prescription, which I promptly went home and used. WHICH MADE MY EYE WORSE. Great.

Monday, I went to the real doctor to get a friggin diagnosis since I still felt like death, was wrapped in a cocoon of misery, and hadn't been able to sleep due to the hacking cough that wracked my body every ten minutes. She declared: bronchitus. And gave me a prescription for an antibiotic and a cough syrup. Which turned out to be a suppressant and an expectorant.

If you don't understand that, think about it this way. It's like a cough speedball. Part of it makes you up, part of it makes you down. So my body wanted to cough, but my body didn't want to let itself cough. So, I wound up spending the night drowning on my own breath. FUN!

Last night, I went BACK to CVS (where, btw, they are completely unable to fill my prescription without playing phonetag for 20 minutes with my insurance). I was told the new cough syrup would cost me $55. Yep, $55. I was also told that, basically, this new cough syrup was liquid vicodin.

Really? Tell me more.

I took my dosage at 8:45. By 9:15 I was having really enjoyable pre-dream visions. By 9:30, I was completely unconscious.

I slept until 7 a.m. I got up, took a shower, and fell asleep for 20 more minutes.

So, this a.m. I feel LOTS better. I'm not sure if it's because I'm still in a vicodin-induced haze or if its because I actually slept the whole night through. Or maybe it's because the throbbing from my ears, cheeks, forehead and nose is finally gone. Whatever the reason, I hope it lasts.

And next year? Getting a flu shot!

Losers Club Goes to the PBR Update

Update. I spoke too soon. I brung it upon myself.

I cackled to Best Friend today about how the PBR went relatively incident-free. I mean, the few things that did happen were so minor, they weren't even worth mentioning, much less worthy of a Losers' Club Story.

Then, last night, Dad got sick.

Then this morning, Kalesy got sick.

This evening, Mom got sick.

I've consumed more Odwalla Super C Monster than can possibly be healthy. I've had lots of homeopathic stuff. I've sucked down lots of echinacea. I still hurt, ache, hotcold, and throb.

So much for that date.

It's a Beautiful Life

Back Up In the Saddle

Well, fresh off the success of a non-loser's club PBR event, I have momentous news. Kalesy is back on the horse. In a manner of speaking.

I have a blind date tomorrow night.

At first I was really not into this, even though I kind of initiated it. You see, I joined Match for a full on three-day free trial. I was bound and determined not to waste my three days, so I emailed the only moderately interesting candidate. He emailed back. Thusly it works. But for whatever reason, I had figured that, no, I wasn't really that interested and, ugh, I have a cold and I'm too busy and ....

But, screw it. I took another look at his profile and he seems pretty funny. And smart. And kinda cute (from what I could see. Did you look at my picture on that dern site? I rest my case.) And then I Googled him. Guess what? He's a CG Animator. Like, for real. Like for money. Yikes. His portfolio is indeed quite cool.

He's suggested we meet up in Gloucester, so as to save me a drive. Which is sweet. (Although he doesn't know my yoga class earlier in the day is actually closer to him. We'll keep that our secret.) He's also suggested a pretty swank Martini bar. Which means he either has taste and class or wants to appear that way. Either way, I'll get a pomegranate martini out of the deal.

So, maybe it will go well and maybe it will go crap. But, the sun is shining, the snow is dripping off the trees, I saw the sun rise over the harbor, and I have a date.

Yee Haw.

Life in a Northern Town

This is why I love life in a small town:

I have been lurking on a message board on Cape Ann Online. It's an intersting mix of personalities, but they've been helpful and friendly so no diss'es here.

One of the regulars is someone who's been part of the annual Gloucester Lobster Trap Tree. I don't know him/her personally. But the other day s/he posted that the tree is coming down Saturday. I responded with a note that I hoped it stayed lit through Friday night, as my family was coming up for the first time. How I wanted them to see that beautiful sight.

Well, today, I got an official shout out on Cape Ann TV. They're keeping the tree lit Friday night. Maybe it's not just for me. But it's partially for me. And they don't even know who I am.

Faith in humanity? Yes please.