The Flu.

Sucks. Period.

Wednesday/Thursday of last week I started feeling super sick. I stayed out of work (nannying) on Friday and had to pay $65 on Saturday to get a doctor's excuse so I didn't lose my restaurant job. Let me tell you - they weren't super excited about all of this. In fact, they told me if I didn't show up then I would be "red lined", which I assume was the interim manager's way of saying "fired". I got the doc's excuse - and hopefully, we'll find out Thursday, if that's 'good enough' for them.

Anywho - I'm feeling a bit better now. This week holds a whole bucket full of emotions for me. I 'graduate' (ie - have my very last class) on Wednesday, Michael moves to DC on Tuesday, and I'm left somewhere in between to pick up the pieces.

This is supposed to be a happy time in my life - graduation - but it's overshadowed by less-happier feelings stemming from a huge decision I've made. If I don't make this decision for myself now, I never will.

I figure if I just ignore the feelings and emotions that come with all this bullshit, it'll make it so much easier. I have a lot of money to make up for being out of work this week and having to find a roommate for August 1 - just a few days away. That should keep me occupied. Oh yah, that, and the job search. It's the real deal now.

Sick physically with the flu - emotionally tired from this relationship - and overjoyed with the end of a 7 year journey to a degree.... get me the FUCK outta here.

That's exactly how I feel right now. :)

Little Blessings

I've been feeling crummy these past few days. Sinuses going crazy, not really getting a lot of sleep. So, I've been doped up on nyquil and dayquil and it hasn't really helped. I realized that since there is so many other things in those meds, that I probably should get something JUST for congestion.

So, I thought of the new Vicks44 line of meds that give you ONLY what you need. (ie. one for congestion). I looked through ALL of my coupons (yes, I'm an avid coupon-clipper) and couldn't find any for it. Cold and Flu medicine isn't cheap... about $5-8 per bottle! I even tried searching on the net for something.

To no avail, I didn't find any discounts. My discomfort, unfortunately, outweighs the cost... so I decided to hop in the car and grab some at the drugstore.

I walk in to CVS and find the whole line of Vicks44 specialized care products. They're all about $7.50 each (YIKES!)... except the one I wanted for congestion. It's marked at over 75% off... only $1.89.

Crazy, right?! It was such a little blessing from God... a nice little discount on what I needed to feel better. :)

*sigh* God is great... and he shows it to me every single day!

10 Things... just an update

I'm going to need to learn how to update this thing from my Blackberry... then, maybe I'd update it a whole lot more! I always think of interesting stories to tell - hilarious ones at that - and other things to share, yet never have time for it. So, in lieu of posting for the past month... I'll give you 10 things. :) Enjoy!

1. I leave for Italy on Friday... I am STOKED. Not really for the Italy part - mostly the Paris, France part at the end of the trip. Holler!
2. I made STRAIGHT A's this semester. Mmmmmhmmm. I never thought that possible... ESPECIALLY not at the school I go to - shitty University, at best. Although, Straight A's does not translate to a 4.0... because if you get a 90, you've got an A-. :) Either way, I made the dean's list and I'm incredibly excited that I made all A's. Go me!
3. Michael was supposed to move to DC while I was gone in Italy, now that may not happen. I think he's going to be here for the summer.... and leave in August. That's more along my time frame lines. Interesting ;)
4. I have so much to prepare before I leave on Friday. PLUS I have class for the trip all week. Lovely, right?
5. I think I'm getting sick. Last night I had the worst stomach ache ever... and this morning, one of my lymph nodes were swollen. I feel like sha-poopie.
6. Rae and her boyfriend are "engaged" now... so happy for them!
7. I have ONE class left and I'll be a college graduate. Hooray!!

Ok, so maybe only 7 for right now. I have a feeling there's SO much more to share but I just can't think of it all right now :) Have a good day!

A P-word that rhymes with Fluke

Last sunday, my BLS (big little sister - she'll be 9 next month) was sick. She had some tummy thing - throwing up everywhere - gross, right? Well, that was on SUNDAY. My mom thought it was all over and done with by THURSDAY, especially since it was a 24 hour thing and that's it. Thanksgiving festivities ensued and aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc gathered at their house and had a lovely meal.

Later that night, my LLS (little little sister), mom, and step-dad ALL were sick with whatever it was that my BLS got... throwing up and all that jazz. My mom called to warn me on Friday that there was pretty much a 4 day period and I'd probably get sick. I was NOT looking forward to that - especially since this week is full of presentations and finals for the last week of the semester for me.

Friday, I stayed in and worked on school projects pretty much all night. It's been nice just to chill out and not have to do anything work-related. Anyway, Saturday I met up with one of my group members and we worked on our project and she left about 3:30. After that, it was pure hell. I was incredibly nautious and thought I was going to throw up at any moment.

Not only did I have "that" feeling, but I also started getting a fever and sweats, etc. Today, I'm MUCH better - but yesterday was still incredibly painful. It's really odd, because my uncle had the same thing I had, but just not what the rest of my BLS, LLS, mom and step-dad had.

Either way, I'm feeling much better today. My two chicas brought me some ginger ale to make me feel better before they went out... it was very sweet of them :)

I picked Michael up from the airport today. He was visiting his family for Thanksgiving and it was so good to see him!

Ugh - I've got SO much schoolwork to do and so little time. Hooray for only one more week of this BS!!

Bad things happen to good people sometimes...

This morning I woke up and looked at my Blackberry. Since I receive so many random emails throughout the night (you know, coupons from Express or NY and Company, spam emails, etc), the notification ding doesn't phase me anymore. I saw an email in there from my old boss...

... now, this is a guy who was incredibly instrumental in my career. I loved working for him and think he's such a cool person. He has given me a ton of career opportunities, always believed in me and the work that I did, as well as taking a genuine interest in what I'm doing. He's always doing a bike ride for this cause, organizing something for his kid's school or the city he lives in, donating to charity, or some random thing for everyone around him. He's a kind-hearted, selfless person.

His email informed me that he was recently diagnosed with throat cancer.

I was literally at a loss for words. His email came in at about 9 this morning and it's about 3 now... and I was just now able to respond. Of course I wrote a heart-felt message to him offering anything he needed while he goes through some ridiculous treatments. I mean, when they do chemo on your throat - you literally have to live on feeding tubes, etc. for a month or so because your throat won't function the same. That's awfully scary to think about.

Please keep him in your prayers as he starts chemo (during the holidays, nonetheless) and his life takes a drastic turn. I have no doubt that he'll get through this and be strong throughout - but he'll definitely need your prayers.

I have tons of questions surrounding all of this - and maybe that's another post for another day - but I've only known one or two people in my life to have cancer.

*sigh* sometimes bad things happen to good people...

Today... (pronounced Tuh-day)

Oh yes, yes, yes... where do I begin? Let's see... I've been "getting sick" since mid week last week... and it's turned into a full-blown cold, just as I feared. I can't breathe, my eyes are puffy, my nose runny... and I'm miserable. Hah. Lovely.

Anywho... Let me talk to you about my day today and then I can take you back through the weekend last weekend. You shall thoroughly enjoy it, I'm sure.

This morning, I was supposed to get up early so I could finish my project before meeting my group at around 10:30 at school. I woke up to my alarm every five minutes but continuously shut it off. Eh, C'est la vie. That just meant I wasn't going to be able to put as much effort into it as I would have otherwise.

I got up, got dressed, and headed out the door in time to catch the 9:45 train (perfect timing, might I add). As I hopped out of my car... I noticed... that I didn't have my purse with me. Never fear, I had a $20 in the console for some odd reason - and it literally saved my day.

I cringed as I put the 20 in the machine... for my $4 round-trip ticket... only to find that it spat out $16 in CHANGE. Yes, that's right... $1 coins and other CHANGE to make up SIXTEEN dollars. Yeesh.

While on the train, I get a phone call from my mother. She tells me that my grandmother (who is only in her late 60's, MAYBE 70) had a mini-stroke last Monday... and they didn't TELL anyone!! They think they're saving us all from worrying, but they're really worrying us more. The only reason we found out is because my step-dad went up there on Saturday and they were talking about it! (she's alright, by the way)THEN, she tells me that their dog died (HUGE thing for them... cause their dogs are their 'children' really) on Thursday. They didn't call anyone and tell them that either. What am I gonna do with them!?

I get to school and trot to the library... to where I am denied access because I don't have my School ID or regular ID on me. Well, whoop-dee-doo... I went to the other entrance and finagled my way in through that security guard (MUCH nicer than the previous, I might add). I was finally able to do my project, but without my school ID, couldn't print it! Haha! The irony!

I took a test, dealt with my annoying group member... and here I am. I wanna go home and go to sleep :) That's all. Cuddle up with Michael, a good movie, and some soup... and just go to sleep.

Brave Woman!

Today was quite a blah day outside. The sun is in hiding and it's cold and miserable out there. Lovely, since I just had my car washed on Monday and it poured last night. Either way, today was most definitely a 'soup day' in every sense of the word and since I've been sick recently, it was a wise decision.

I've been avoiding Panera like the plague due to a certain incident that took place there a few months ago. But today, I didn't want to deal with the mall parking and walking just to avoid that particular Panera to get some soup in the cold, rainy weather.

So I braved it.

I went where no woman would have ever dared go!

And I came out quite alright. Yes, the lady who made the comment about my weight was there today - but she most certainly didn't recognize my incognito disguise. Sunglasses, a hat, and a scarf wrapped around my head.

That'll show 'em!

Meanwhile... update on the 140 lb'er... I have lost another lb or so. (let's call it a 152/153 fluctuation!)

And, let's not forget our French phrase of the day, shall we?

Il fait froid!
It's cold!

The Flu is not so nice

So I've been sick since my return from New Orleans for Mardi Gras. I don't think I've felt this bad since the end of 2003 when I was in the hospital from Pneumonia. I'm just now able to sit up and eat something (soup is just about it) and actually watch the TV without getting dizzy.

My roommate is moving out in a month (which is nice... but not really because now I have to find a replacement). He told me when he first moved in that he'd only be able to stay until February so I guess the extra month was helpful. He just left a note on the counter with his "i'm moving out in a month" notification - all while I'm sick with the flu. Something I really didn't want to deal with.

People move so slowly when you're sick, too. I had to drag my sick ass to the doctor's office Wednesday morning (nice fever and all) to find out what was wrong with me. Usually, you go in, they call your name once to get your copay and insurance and then call you back and escort you directly to a room. Not this time, my friend. I don't think I've ever looked more sickly walking into that place... and they called me up to the counter at least 4 times (2 of which they mistakenly called my name)... called me back to another holding room... made me go to the "vital signs" section (you know, where they take your weight, blood pressure, etc)... and then back to the holding room... and finally into the room to wait for the doctor.

I am EXTREMELY proud of myself for not cursing at anyone during the entire process.

Speaking of the whole vital signs room.... I'm now down to 154. ;) That's a total of 5 lbs gone... and 14 more to go to get to my 140 lb goal.

J'apprends à parler français.
I am learning to speak French!

[oh... and to update... My little sister won the pageant last weekend :) I'm a VERY proud big sister!!!]