Weekend Woes

Okay, I'm overdue for some good news! Yesterday was a truly forgettable day as I was having tummy troubles, head troubles and other troubles you don't need to know about - bleccch! Today I feel much better, not ALL better but definitely improving. Too short-lived to be the flu but whatever it was I'm glad it's on its way elsewhere! I spent the day staggering back and forth between the laundry room and the couch. Couldn't watch anything due to pounding headache so listened to an audio book on my iPad. I had a couple bowls of soup and some sorbet.

Yes, I ate sugar and not the good natural kind.  I was craving something cold and sorbet (lime) was all there was.  I had sugar, glucose and confectioners sugar along with other unnatural ingredients too numerous to mention.  And now I'm feeling quite a bit better....ironic...no?

Other than the sorbet I've managed to eat 95% natural sugars only for about a month now. I say 95% as I assume there is sugar in the one beer I drink a week along with the odd glass of wine. I'm sure there is also sugar in a few items that I buy like pasta sauce(6grams per serving) and soy milk (only 1gram per serving). My main condiment is Franks Hot Sauce and it contains no sugar. When I feel a craving (about once a week) I will eat a dried apricot or two - all dried fruit is pretty high in sugar (natural sugars - fructose and glucose) so I have stopped putting dried raisins, cranberries and currants in my morning oatmeal. For now. A small amount is ok but very easy to overeat.

My daughter just came in sick as a dog. Now she is under the blanket on the couch. I'm trying to care for her without coming into contact with her germs - not easy. Lots of hand washing and hand sanitizer. We'll see how she's feeling later in the day and go to the night clinic at our doctor's office if there is no improvement. One of those situations when it's hard to tell if it's a virus or bacterial infection. Better safe than sorry, I guess.

So toodles for now - stay healthy, eat your veggies and stock up on kleenex!

Muddling along...

Well, at least I'm not dead. 

I'm just in one of those low points right now. It's my own fault. I've been bragging about not remembering the last time I had a cold. Well, now I will be able to remember! We've had a lot of sick kids at school this past week - they should have stayed home, but anyways...now I'm sick and other staff are sick too. I stayed home from school on Friday and took Oil of Oregano and Vitamin C every hour or so. It didn't stop the cold dead in its tracks but as colds go I've had way worse. I must count my blessings I suppose...

 Speaking of blessings...
On the home front the new carpet has been installed and I'm very happy with it. It's nice and bland, a few shades of beige mixed together. I remember one of my sisters getting their house painted in preparation for selling. The shade of paint was called "Forever Beige"!! That's the look we're going for too - Forever Beige - as far as the eye can see! Blechh! But we are told neutral is best when trying to sell.

The next stage of the process is to move all furniture from the main floor upstairs or outside so that the ceramic tile and bamboo hardwood can be installed. That will be taking place next week. I hope. Michael says it'll be done on Monday but it seems to me like too big of a job for one day. But I suppose with enough help from our friends it can be done. I was thinking about taking another sick day on Monday but I have a feeling I'd be better off at school!

 There isn't much furniture upstairs at the moment. Just a chair, dresser, shelf and ironing board in one room and my daughter's bed, dresser, storage bins and yoga mat in her room. She's enjoying all the space, however, it's soon to get filled up.

I'm sitting in my little study right now - along with me and my chair this room contains a huge tire from the back of my truck, a drop-leaf table, a large book shelf, a small china cabinet, my doll stroller from a million years ago, a printer on its own shelf, an old secretary desk, a humidor which I use as a little side table for my chair, a straight back chair, a footstool and a 4 drawer wicker filing cabinet. Oh, and a few boxes of stuff. There's just enough room to walk through the muddle to get to my chair. 

Hoo boy! It's like an episode of Hoarders!!

It's also become the repository for all of our winter hats, scarves and gloves as well as a big box of boots. Oh well, it will all come together eventually! 

Right?? 

Here.i.am

DISCLAIMER! THIS IS ONE OF THOSE POSTS THAT DOESN'T REALLY HAVE A TOPIC!

So I'm going to try to distract you with ...what else...the sweet innocence of little girls waiting to go in and celebrate their first communion.

My sister called and left a message while I was out buying laundry detergent because we had run out and neither of the two previous laundry-doers bothered to let me know!! So I go downstairs to do my laundry this morning to be greeted by the empty container. Thanks, thanks a lot.  Anyhoo, my sister was worried because I hadn't blogged since Tuesday's post so she wondered if I was so sick that I couldn't open my laptop and get down to it.

Thanks Lanniekins, but I'm fine. I'd say by about Thursday I was feeling much better - the runny nose has run dry, the scratchy dry throat doesn't keep me up at nights and although my energy is still low the worst is most definitely over. But it's nice to know you care:)

More distraction, like it?

So where the heck was I? I think that Wed. I just decided to take the day off from writing a post. On Thursday I played mother and wife by preparing a delicious dinner for my beloved family. (bought a roasted chicken at the Superstore - nothing but the best for my loved ones!) Oh, and wine of course! Pour a couple of glasses of wine first and no one cares what you've made (or didn't) for supper! And then yesterday my friend Troy and Michael and I went to see Wanderlust with Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd - very funny, I recommend this movie if you want a few cheap laughs. Then we went out to eat at the Fox and the Fiddle which also had karaoke and I'm telling you, between the very ordinary food and the off-key singing we'll be exploring other restaurant options next time!

Jennifer's new boyfriend, Justin Theroux on the right

Once home I tucked myself into bed while Michael went out to a club called The Cobra to meet up with his son and his son's new girlfriend. They both live in Trenton which is about a 5+ hour drive so Michael doesn't get to see his son very often. I'm reading a good book on my Kindle so was happy to have some quiet time to read but within minutes of sliding between the sheets my head jerked up and I noticed my Kindle had taken up a new position on the floor so I turned off the light and had a great sleep.

I'm sorry that nothing exciting happened that I could tell you about. I'll try harder tomorrow.

Sick Daze

I hate to admit defeat, BUT I stayed home from work yesterday and today. I got up yesterday to get ready but I was in rough shape and let Michael (thanks dearest) talk me into getting a supply teacher to take over for a day or two.  It was a good decision.  I always feel such guilt at staying home because (humble though I am) I feel that I'm not replaceable - you know, that no one knows my kids like I do. HOWEVER, I have six EAs who know the kids really well, they can handle it.

I don't know if any of you read Seth Godin's daily tip from his blog - I have it emailed to me. Often what he has to say doesn't apply to my life but today - well he hit the nail (me) right on my head!  

Self sufficiency appears to be a worthy goal, but it's now impossible if you want to actually get anything done.

All our productivity, leverage and insight comes from being part of a community, not apart from it.
The goal, I think, is to figure out how to become more dependent, not less.
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/

Gulp - more dependent? Oh my, that goes against everything I've believed in during my adult life. All of my role models encouraged me to be independent. My life's journey has had its ups and downs - I found that standing on my own two feet was preferable to depending on anyone else. Even in my work environment I felt that if I wanted something done right it was better to do it myself.

I raised my daughter alone. I bought my first home on my own. I put myself through university while working a part-time job. No one really helped me to do anything.

Sooooooooo - it's not been easy letting Michael do things for me. I'm definitely not used to being pampered. I've always done everything for myself. It all culminated today when he brought me a cup of tea and proceeded to PULL THE ENTIRE BED over so I wouldn't have to stretch my arm to reach the tea. "Whoa" I said "what the heck are you doing?" He was making it easier for me. That's a new concept for me - it takes some getting used to when you're a fiercely independent woman like me. It just doesn't feel right.

That's why Seth's pearls of wisdom for today struck such a chord with me. Can I possibly become more dependent?  This one is going to take some thinking about.

How independent are you?  Is it just the era I grew up in - I was a child of the 60's - we rebelled, we marched, we protested, we struck out on our own...

How to Cure a Sore Throat

Sheesh, some people will do anything to save a buck! Going for my 4th No Spend day in a row and I was looking for a fresh approach so thought if I got sick and stayed inside for a couple of days I wouldn't be tempted to SPEND!

Top that one!

I have a lot of lemons, honey and a bottle of nice dark Appleton rum so hot toddy and a warm bed - here I come!

Please note below where it says to "avoid strenuous physical activity" - I'm going to pass on biking tonight;p  Also note that I can eat icecream:) Now if only I had some in the house! Rats.


"People with sore throats will first look to heal the pain, but it is very important to cure the cause of the sore throat altogether. In order to do this, one must drink lots of fluids, rest well, avoid smoke, pollutants in the air and allergens as much as possible, eat foods that are soothing to the throat such as ice cream and hot soup, consume plenty of Vitamin C and Selenium, and avoid strenuous physical activity."
http://www.steadyhealth.com/about/how_to_treat_a_sore_throat.html

Know any other home remedies that make use of things I may already have in the house??  Got any extra icecream??