Waiting For The Magic To Happen

 

I almost titled this blog "Ditto" because not much has changed from yesterday. The Magic Pills we finally got late last night from the pharmacy didn't exactly kick in and cure everything. Or much.

Yet.

We are terrible patients with no patience. 

So for caution's sake, I professionally distanced myself from work and stayed in the home office today. I socially distanced myself at choir practice, sitting 3 pew rows back during practice. (Jim tackled practice at his church tonight as well.) 

And maritally distanced myself as both Jim and I pretty much stayed to our own offices/separate rooms. Based on our back-and-forth hacking heard across the house, we're still on the Respiratory Struggle Bus. Where is that darn next bus stop so we can get off??

Thanks for the kind words and prayers. We're adults. We've got this. I just happen to have a blog that allows me to whine about it. SORRY!!

Be careful out there!

Get In Line

The beautiful sunrise commute inspired me this morning as I made my way back to office for the first time in a week. To be honest, my body was not ready to return but I wanted to deliver that darn birthday trifle. 

Another night of coughing (for both of us) so I was pretty exhausted. I think that's our unfortunate current state of existence.

I did give it the old college try though and made it until lunchtime before deciding to drive home and work remotely for the afternoon. Since hubby had went back to the walk-in clinic this morning and got some prescriptions, I figured I better head over there, too, as my first order of business.

Turns out we are not the only ones with respiratory predicaments. Get in line! Thank goodness they had the Hallmark channel on in the waiting room!

My appointment took forever and, turns out, I have some prescriptions of my own. But here we are 6 hours later and the pharmacy doesn't have them ready. According to my app, they are super busy and "Sorry, we're running behind schedule." So we'll see what time we get our goods. 

And how quickly they produce any results.

I'm not going to be a birthday hero or any type of martyr tomorrow, that's for sure. If my coughing is the same as today I'll just stay put. I feel super blessed that this is something I can do with my current job. 

Hope you all are escaping the fall crud!

Annual Checkup Challenges

So step one of the annual physical is getting some blood drawn to capture your current body situation as it relates to cholesterol and various unnamed things.

I fasted Tuesday night and went there Wednesday morning to "donate" blood. I have acknowledged many times over the years that I faint either at the sight of blood – or the lovely needle. So why stray from that pattern? 

So here I was and they poked my right arm... then my left arm... apparently I inherited tiny veins just like my previously mentioned tiny Hedberg eyes. Then I acknowledged I may faint soon and the ice pack for my neck became a reality. This is old habit for those of us who always faint.

Unfortunately, the phlebotomist then said the only option was the more painful blood draw from my hand. And it was. But I got a firm compression bandage and juice box out of it to keep me upright. Yay for physicals.

Of course, one of the outcomes of a physical at a certain age is the dreaded colonoscopy appointment. Sounds simple-ish but when you have to get in the drive-thru line at the pharmacy, you realize everyone on the planet needs their drugs, er meds.

I mean, I waited in line for close to 40 minutes for my "prep medications" and there were cars behind me. I feel bad for how much our society needs and relies on medications of some sort.

Unless we're all in line to clean out our plumbing in 2 weeks. 

Just Random Stay at Home Things

 

I honestly don't feel comforted that other people in the universe are feeling under the weather. Just feel validated that our symptoms in this house aren't exaggerated. Or made up.

After working from home the past 2 days, I felt pretty good. But you can't feel 100% well when your better half is still hacking up a lung. Every hour. At a minimum.

Tonight I felt pretty OK going to the girls basketball game to take pictures. But then when I got to school, the opposing team's girls had too much illness so they forfeited. I mean this team was Prentice from way up north. So not our fault for spreading it there.

So, I made my long trip home. Long as in a lengthly wait in the Walgreens drive-through for more meds for hubby, then far too much time in Wal-Mart finding random solutions like Lysol spray and comforting Chunky Soup. So many options.

The unexpected "free" night gave me time to find my 2017 and 2018 photos for my upcoming scrapbooking weekend. While listening to an upcoming Book Club audio book.

Maybe I'm winning after all.  Cough, cough. Or not.

Be careful out there!

Nice List in Progress

Ever plug your name into one of those online name games on Facebook and get very accurate results? Yeah, me neither.

I did laugh out loud at this tonight! I mean I do take a break from talking once in awhile to laugh. But yeah... he's not wrong. Hopefully that doesn't nudge me off the Nice List. Think I'm safe earning points on that one just by default with hubby's knee surgeries.

Several others are also on that list! I can't believe we've had dinner delivered to our doorstep every night this weekend. We have the bestest friends in our life! We couldn't ask for anything more. 

Based on Santa's snarky opinion of me, that's probably a good thing! 

Anyway, we do appreciate the love. Knee pain sucks and Purple pain sucks, too! Yes, I'm acknowledging some bad television programming today. I guess there are more Lions on the Nice List right now so Santa had to do the right thing.

Just this once I hope. 

Enjoy every miracle this season brings. Even if they're meant to bring someone else joy! 🎅

Walker-ing in a Winter Wonderland

Today was just your typical Friday. You know, work and therapy. I prefer saying therapy over "rehab."

As expected, hubby had a rough first night with little sleep. Even with those magic pills! At least he's managing the pain a bit more proactively this time. But powering through his first physical therapy session this morning was as brutal as you'd think. 

My therapy session after work was trigger-point therapy. Also painful, but short-lived. And I feel loads better after.

Hubby's not quite there. I continue to feel helpless but am doing what I can. He's pretty immobile now and needs some assistance getting in and out of the recliner. I had planned to go shoot pictures of the Royals' double-header tonight, but really can't leave him alone for long. Pretty much how it was last time around.

He'll rely 100 percent on the walker for another two days, I'm guessing. Just grateful he hasn't had to maneuver that magical tennis-ball supported contraption through snow yet. I don't know how we escaped the forecast from last night, but we're OK with that! 

Thanks for the continued well wishes for him. And thanks to our friendly neighbors for delivering fish fries for supper. I certainly don't need spoiling just because he does... Not that I'll turn it down. 

I certainly won't take my healthy knees and mobility for granted ever again! Be careful out there.

Hap-Bee Hump Day

Someone in my family thought I might appreciate this sign! I won't name names but... she was born 9 minutes after me! I'm kidding. She saw it said she wouldn't dream of putting a bee in my bonnet, so to speak, by buying this for me.

And I'm not quite over it.

My right ankle is still a bit swollen but not as bad as Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. And thank the good lord – all of your suggestions – I can finally sleep at night! What did the trick?

Honestly, I'm not sure. I think a combination of my "Sting Operation" here!

On day 2, finding the lidocaine helped some and slathering the heck out of my lower leg with good old anti-itching cream. My cousin had a suggestion about marking my sting with an X and slapping it. I think that actually popped the stinger out. Is that not weird? Something came off anyway. Then I applied the other stuff. And kept applying it. And kept applying it.

For days on end, it seems.

Today we're down to morning and afternoon anti-itching cream. And we're good.

Pretty sure I'm done with outdoor chores for the summer. Mr. Deck Chair was chastising me, reminding me that I don't get stung (or see snakes) when I'm hanging out with him. Thank goodness, he talked some sense into me with half the summer still remaining!

Bee careful out there!

Uno Dose

It was a big day for hubby and me. Not only have we survived 385 days in wedded lockdown (sort of), it was also Day 1 of fighting. Not each other, but fighting back against this pandemic. We celebrated with a date at the drive-in.

More like a drive-thru.

Here we are waiting at the airport to drive in...

When it was our turn, we got to drive into the magical building of sharp needles on a mission!

Honestly, I didn't even feel the shot. We got the Moderna vaccine and will get the second shot in 4 weeks.

We're pretty excited to the first dose out of the way. That's one step closer to possible normalcy. And one step closer way sooner than we imagined.

And we're not special. We're just two people in the 18-64 age group who got called up, so to speak. Now granted, we were on this specific list because they were allowing us through the school since we've got a coach and full-time volunteer in the house.

But we had signed up online through one of local pharmacies (Hometown Pharmacy) and our county health department. Last week, we got calls from both that our names were next on the list. So we would've had them by today anyway.

So my PSA (pandemic service announcement) for the day is GET YOURSELF SIGNED UP SOMEWHERE! Seriously, when they have extra doses, they don't want them to go to waste. They'll call whoever's next and you just need to be ready to go!

The sooner we all do this, the better, in my opinion. Plus you can sign up both you and your soul mate and make a date out of it. So far – knock on wood – a painless one with no regrets!

It May be Monday...

I love this saying. It's right on the money. Any time you can end a week – or day even – with pie and shopping, you're winning.

Work-wise, I'm thankful for a short week. As in tomorrow is my Friday. Health-wise, though, it's already been a long week.

I have nagging, dry cough that's been keeping me up at night. And hubby, too, by default. Last night, I got out of bed at 11 p.m. so I could give him some peace. Figured I try to sleep in the recliner. Maybe sitting up a little would ease the cough. It kind of did, but I couldn't fall asleep. Who knew the teeny tiny ticking of the kitchen clock could echo through the living room like the Vikings' gjallarhorn! Finally, at 1:22 a.m. (because I was counting sheep and minutes), I went back to bed. Slept with a cough drop in my mouth and that helped. I know. Not smart.

Tonight I am armed with some nighttime anti sniffling, sneezy, coughing, so you can rest medicine. That'll kick in shortly so I can get some sleep (hubby too).

And try to fit four days of work into one tomorrow. Who's with me?! We got this!

Think pie and shopping. Pie and shopping.

Pollen Princess

I'm typically not a perennial pollen sufferer. I mean I suffer through the extra housework involved with removing the yellow-greenish layer of dust on everything. But the sinuses are often spared.

When we first moved out to the country – I kind of use that term loosely – we had a warm early spring, followed by cold, then back to spring again. By mid-May I thought I was getting strep throat. Turned out I had allergies. Who knew?

Fast forward several years later and we had a similar spring weather pattern and again, I was thinking my super scratchy throat was strep. I forgot the symptoms. And yes, I had to get Claritin, still a prescription back then.

Just a few summers ago, I had the throat crap and runny nose and cough and I treated my pollen allergy. I was a smart Pollen Princess by then and had it all figured out. A long month later, I found out I actually had bronchitis. Go figure.

After another on-again, off-again spring – with plenty of pine pollen in the air (and on furniture) – I started the throat business yesterday and runny nose today. So I am self-diagnosing it and bought a few different over-the-counter allergy meds.

I hope to nip it in the bud (pun intended, ha) this time.

Now if only I could do something about those mosquitoes buzzing all over my kingdom...

Who Nose

Kinda sad that my constant companions for the week are a tissue box and a bottle of "put me out of my misery" cold medicine. On a positive note, they may be working.

After my nose was running constantly at work yesterday, a friend gave me a box of Puffs with Aloe and Lotion. "Take it. It's yours. I don't want it back." I never realized how painful cheap tissues are on the nose after repeated, repeated, repeated use. Not that I am going to become a tissue diva, but I think I will keep a box of those Princess Puffs on hand for special occasions.

For now, I just carry the gift box with me. Everywhere.

The second part of this equation is my night-time relief. They now make NyQuil "severe". Frankly, if I ever need it, it IS because the conditions are severe. Last night I took a dose and managed to sleep with minimal coughing and nose blowing. Doesn't stop me from drooling, but that's not cold-related. I was just glad it worked.

Today was a hell day at work and I had to stay late to make progress on a big project. I said that no matter what I had to be home at 7 p.m. so I could take my NyQuil and be ready for bed and sleep at 9 p.m. It's all in the timing, isn't it?

Sure hope it's just as effective tonight.

Maybe by tomorrow night at this time, I won't need it. Who nose, er knows?

I will probably want to put myself out of misery of a different winter wonderland kind. Latest forecast is 14.1 inches. Gotta get that 0.1 in there to cover the spread.

Obviously, when I say I'd rather have the cold than the snow, you can see why. Even with this cold!

Just Another Moon-ic Monday

Full moons and Mondays don't mix. And I'm sure I'm not the only one thinking that today.

We have just had a deluge of projects come in at work and we are all up to eyeballs in deadlines. I like keeping busy but I feel like my head is going to explode trying to keep it all straight! Going to be a crazy week or two, that's for sure!

Of course, my head also felt like it was going to explode because I was actually in physical pain, too.

Several days ago I felt like I had an earache coming. I usually just felt it when I was sleeping and it hurt laying on my right ear. Wasn't too major but I was treating it as an earache and using my handy dandy essential oils for it. Much to my chagrin, it didn't go away.

Today was different. It wasn't just painful when I was sleeping on it. It escalated to constant, piercing pain and I wanted to cry. I took a bunch of ibuprofen and put on my "pain relief" oils. Nothing worked.

I figured that since it was Monday, it would be busy at the walk-in clinic so I waited until after work. Apparently, due to the full moon or something, they had a record number of patients go through there today. I asked the doctor if I got a special prize for being number 100 but they were above and beyond that. Besides, he said, "I'm not sure what kind of prize you'd get."

I guess my prize was that I do not have an ear infection of any kind. My sinuses are clear, too. So what's the deal?

I guess there's a muscle along the neck that stretches from the shoulder area up to behind the ear. I guess I did something to that muscle. When he specifically pressed along it and especially close to my ear, I believe I yelped! All I can do is take ibuprofen for the pain, he said. I told him I think I need a massage! He agreed, so I said, "Oh so I can say it's doctor's orders?"

Ha. He said I could. Not that that will get me anywhere.

So tonight I am home and doing a dozen things and trying to keep my mind off the pain. So far, no pain relievers or muscle relaxers or essential oils are doing the trick. Hopefully tomorrow, when the moon is out of sight, I will be able to connect with one of the women who have done that trigger point therapy on me.

I have just the point they need to trigger. Uff da. Mondays and full moons AND muscles don't mix!

Size May Matter

I think I need one of those adjustable beds. Like the hospital kind but for people who hopefully aren't so sick they need a hospital. Then I could sit up and possibly get some sleep at night instead of all the sinus drainage leading to cough, cough, coughing. Needless to say, I did not get up early. I did not go to kickboxing class.

While I was at work, two co-workers stopped in after visits to the doctor. One had strep throat. The other had some congestion and cough crud like I had. Since I was told by numerous blog readers that I shouldn't mess around with a sinus infection and I should get antibiotics sooner rather than later, I figured I might as well make it 3 for 3 in our department and head over to the clinic on my lunch hour.

I did not know half the population of Wisconsin Rapids would be there! Well, not half. But about a dozen in the waiting room – all but 2 wearing those lovely "germ masks" to keep our coughs to ourselves. Obviously something going around!

At one point during my hour wait to get in, a woman comes out with her granddaughter and remarks, "Wow, everybody's got a mask on today!"

The girl responds, "That's because they're all dying!"

Nice. That's encouraging, isn't it?

Finally got in and found out the backup was due to only one doctor on duty since the other called in sick. Wow, even doctors get sick! Based on the waiting room full of masked crusaders, I can see why.

So the good doctor examined me and confirmed a sinus infection and prescribed some antibiotics for me.

When the pill is bigger than your head, it's gotta work, right? The really are pretty big so hopefully size does matter and they help!

I have to take them for 10 days. Pretty sure they would be easier to swallow if I had, say, an Eggnog Shake to go with them... Let me know when you spot those in town. I'm I can count on my readers to keep me in the know!

Thanks!

Under Pressure

No matter how hard I try, I just can't even give this cold away. I tried giving it to hubby and now we're just sharing it, a sort of joint custody, taking turns with the coughing fits at night.

The side effect for me is that for the past week or so I have had a headache. Not the pounding kind, but more like a pressure. Like when you're in an airplane and changing altitude. I was worried I was part vampire and reacting to a full moon or some atmospheric change. But after talking to a few girlfriends, I got it figured out.

No, not the Bird Flu. Though that would have been ironically fitting.

It's a sinus headache or sinus infection or sinus something!

I guess I haven't had this before but the symptoms, according to Web MD, all match up. I know... not everything on the Internet it true but I was trying to avoid another trip to the doctor. And it's a very smart website. I was surprised that the recent onset of sensitivity in my upper teeth is tied to this sinus thing, too. Who knew?

Apparently lots of people. Maybe the vampires even knew. I just had to ask.

So at lunch I went to the store and got some over-the-counter meds targeted to sinus PRESSURE and more. Plus I got a fun little nasal spray that is a joy to shove up my nose and shake things up a bit.

We'll see what works. I can handle the coughing at night, but I would like to have relief from the pressure.

The pressure to be a domestic goddess is enough on its own, don't ya think?

Tricks and Treats

When your day starts out the walk-in clinic, you know it likely is going to be more tricks than treats this Halloween. Good thing they balance out.

Saw the doc by 8 a.m. and came home with a bag of goodies by 10 a.m. I went trick-or-treating at the pharmacy because I could not stop coffin. (Ha, a little Halloween humor for ya.) Not funny that it's just a crappy cold that will linger. But hopefully the three different meds will work!

Wasn't thrilled that it was raining all day and it was State Cross Country Meet day. But I wouldn't have missed it for anything. These guys worked hard and they wanted to prove it! And it turned out to be a treat.

A few photos...

State meet is at The Ridges. Very close by but had to take a shuttle from the Lions Club park to get there.

Rain dripped steadily off our tent and our runners all afternoon. Oh, and the fans, too.

Father Menzel, our biggest fan, gives a blessing under the tent before the Division 3 boys race at 2 p.m.

We don't have fair-weather fans...

We have all-weather fans!

Our girls cross country team, always supportive. So great getting to know this wonderful group of young ladies this year.

Our boys line up in the first lane. It was a tough, muddy run for everyone. Last year, I believe we finished 11th or 12th out of the 16 teams at state. This year, one of our runners finished 8th overall (amazing!) and our team finished 6th, just 5 points shy of the 5th-place finishers. Wow. So proud of this team!

Carter and his friend Nick did not run today, but were still happy with their last 4 years together on the team.

Carter and his coaches for the last four years: Gary Pritchard, left, and Coach Blue Beard (aka Erik Duhn). Mr. Duhn colored the beard for State and will probably shave it all off now and start over since the blue dye might not come out that easily. How's that for spirit?

Carter and his buddy Theo goofing around after the race.

Carter had a few extra layers on today to add weight. Ha.

Power-lifting success!

Speaking of success, here is our amazing group. They worked so hard, I am glad they not only made it to state but proved they belonged there! What a great group and what a great season!

After the meet, Carter and the team stayed together, went to dinner, etc. Jim and I came home and ended up going to a neighborhood Halloween campfire (rain stopped by 5 p.m.). I only went for a little while so I wouldn't make my cold any worse with the chilly air and the smoke.

I think the neighborhood axe murderer may have scared the germs right out of me! Maybe I won't need the bag of medicated treats after all!

I'll still give them a try. That and an extra hour of sleep tonight when we change the clocks will hopefully do the trick!

Happy Halloween!

Spread Blame, Not Germs

I'm still not sure who to blame.... the Amish, my sisters, a redneck or Fonzie for standing me up in the cold wind at Inspiration Point. Regardless, someone out there gave me a gift to last all week.

Achoo!

By intermission of the Willie and Merle concert, I needed to get a bottle of water because my throat was scratchy. By noon Monday, I felt like I'd been hit by a bus, or perhaps an Amish buggy. Went home and was in bed shortly after 8 p.m.

After of fun night of sleeping with tissues stuffed up my nose, I took some meds for cold and for allergies. The problem is that you take these "only 1 dose per 24 hours" things and then you are helpless the rest of the day!

Gotten a little better each day but am not totally in the clear. Have not heard word one from any sister claiming to be sick this week. Either they don't want to take the blame or I am just lucky.

So I am pampering myself with yummy shots of Emergen-C, cherry Sucrets, hot tea and, well Pumpkin Spice Eggnog. Hey, I saw it by the milk and just HAD to try it. If I feel better tomorrow, we'll know I'm onto something deliciously magical.


If not, I'll continue to be good about covering my coughs, washing my hands often and not kissing any guys in black leather jackets.

It's Essent-Oil

Despite some pretty bad decision-making along the line, I have tried in recent years to rectify some of the damage by focusing on my health. I could always brag that I was "on" nothing! No drugs of any kind, just your run of the mill daily vitamins, occasionally jumping on the calcium and fish oil bandwagons.

It was actually a bit devastating 2 years ago when my anxiety issues came to light and my panic disorder reared its ugly head. I tried deep breathing, praying, distraction and the "witch doctor," who helped me in numerous ways therapeutically, but did not cure the anxiety. As a last resort, I became just another one of "those people" who couldn't function without medication.

Dang, there went a good streak.

On the plus side, I have my anxiety under control and keep my panic attacks to a minimum. Of course, with all drugs (if you've seen ANY commercial), there are side effects. For me, this one causes insomnia.

Every. Single. Night.

So for 2-plus years, the only way I can get to sleep at night – no matter how tired – was to take "something" ... sleeping pill, Tylenol P.M., NyQuil, Benadryl, whatever helped. I tried to mix it up, alternating it so my body wouldn't get too used to one thing and not work for me. It was my new merry-go-round. Had to time it so I would take it early enough so that it wouldn't be so hard to wake up in the morning. And even then, I was groggy.

As a very last resort, I decided to give one more thing a try: Essential Oils.

Essential oils are natural aromatic compounds found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and other parts of plants. They can be both beautifully and powerfully fragrant. In addition to their intrinsic benefits to plants and being beautifully fragrant to people, essential oils have been used throughout history in many cultures for their medicinal and therapeutic benefits. Modern scientific study and trends towards more holistic approaches to wellness are driving a revival and new discovery of essential oil health applications.

As it happens, my next-door neighbor has learned about all of this over the past several months and has started using some for various needs. When she told me a few weeks ago she was "cooking up" some "Sleep Sticks," I was intrigued and stopped over.

Here she was, literally cooking up some beeswax and various essential oils, making a concoction that was poured into little Chapstick containers. It had the same consistency as lip balm but I was not to put it on my lips. Instead, my instructions were to rub it on the bottom of my big toes and the whole bottom of the foot if needed. Our largest pores in our body are on the bottom of our feet, with the largest of those on our big toes. You want your body to absorb something, that's where you go.

That very night I tried it. Still took quite awhile to fall asleep. I was hoping it was because I had too much on my mind. I just wanted so badly for this simple solution to work. The next night, I followed the same routine. Don't even recall "trying" to fall asleep. I just did.

Now we are officially two weeks free of any night-time sleeping aid – other than my magic stick! Hallelujah!

My neighbor Cindy also whipped up a special pain relief stick (I'm sure there's a more professional name than Pain Stick) that I have been using on my hips so I can run again. That is working well and I am feeling less and less pain as I use my legs and hips more and more. What a relief!! Hallelujah to that, too!

Probably obvious my next sentence is that "I drank the Kool-Aid."

Oh yes, I signed up to be an official witch doctor (I prefer Wellness Advocate) – buying, mixing and selling the multitude of magic potions that are do-TERRA Essential Oils. I am excited. It has worked well for me and I want to save the world! We know that not everyone reacts the same to each oil or oil blend. My Sleep Stick may not work for someone else but there are a multiple "recipes" to try.

Just think of something that is troubling you and there is an oil for that. I'm serious. Pain relief, digestion, energy, even a recipe to address Restless Legs Syndrome, which I plan to mix up for my mom who has been taking pills for decades. It's worth a shot. You never know.

If you are interested at all or want to learn more about it, check out my site: http://www.mydoterra.com/robynaustin/  We can talk about what's bothering you and what I (and the other witches in my coven) can do to help.

It could be essent-oil to you!

Four Seasons Hotel

I can't remember if I've shared this before or not. Seems quite appropriate with the rain pouring outside my window, waiting to turn to sleet and snow before bedtime.

This also could be why my body can't decide if it has a winter cold, spring allergies or summer hay fever. It's just going to keep coughing 'til it figures something out, I guess.

I felt like I was bringing a portable pharmacy to work today with my cough drops, other lozenges to be taken once every 4 hours, my mucous-loosening pills and throat spray. You know what actually helped? The Soothing Throat Tamer tea. Seriously, that is what it is called. I think it's normally for bedtime, but I managed to alternate it with coffee to stay alert at work.

Will have to have another cup shortly. I was planning to get together was some friends tonight but have quarantined myself for the evening. I just can't get this cough under control. And, frankly, my body hurts. Ever get back aches or stomach muscle aches from coughing too much? Not fun.

What is fun is watching the Badgers doing well in the NCAA tourney. They're ahead at halftime. I think I'll sip my medicinal tea and catch the second half. 

Would much rather see that than sit around watching that darn snow fall, wouldn't you?

Still wondering if I can keep my date with Mr. Deck Chair this weekend...

Unlisted

I decided to bypass my "40 Bags in 40 Days" Lent list tonight for another list: This year's Oscar-nominated movies I want to see.

Went over to my BFF's house and it was basically a flip of the coin tonight which sad and/or sadistic film we wanted to view: Dallas Buyers Club or 12 Years A Slave.

Tonight we chose Dallas Buyers Club starring now-Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey. Wasn't too familiar with the plot or the fact that it is based on a true story. A quick synopsis: In 1985 Dallas, electrician and hustler Ron Woodroof (aka McConaughey) works around the system to help AIDS patients get the medication they need after he is himself diagnosed with the disease.

For those of us who recall 1985, it was the year most of us were surprised by the cause of Rock Hudson's death. What is AIDS? And who gets it? Can I get it if the afflicted person touches me or even lives in my neighborhood or goes to my school?

So much misunderstood. And so much helplessness about curing the disease.

That was reflected in this film, along with the main character's drive to help people in the same boat. Given 30 days to live, he was on a mission. His mantra: Dare to Live.

What would I do with only 30 days? Help others or help myself?

I doubt the answer is that simple. And that's what makes a good movie. Forcing us to think beyond the 1 hour and 57 minutes.

Christine and I give it two thumbs up.

Liquid Diet

Where do you put someone who is dying of bronchitis?

In a cough-in!

Real funny when you are not experiencing it.

After a rough night, I wisely worked from home today so I wouldn't be spreading my germs. I even kept my distance from hubby in the office next door.

Until lunch. He went out and got me (us) some homemade Potato Dumpling Soup from the little cafe down the road. Good stuff. In fact, I was on a liquid diet most of the day, just to keep my throat hydrated.

One thing I have discovered: I hate the taste of salt water! But I am following doctor's orders and gargling often. Ick!

The combination of all that plus the anti-coughing pills seemed to help. I made it through the work day but wisely stayed home this evening instead of going with Jim to the boys basketball game. Carter had to work and I just stayed on the couch and got my DVR'd Christmas movie list down to six!

The hacking returned in full force when the sun went down. Maybe I am part vampire and should sleep in a cough-in! Either way, I am not going to whine since I know a ton of people are suffering through colds and flu and the general seasonal crud.

Hope you all feel better!

I can tell you that Christmas movies do make me feel better, but not as good as some extra-strength cough syrup!