August is Waning

A large heap of Silly Putty - no kidding! I didn’t sleep very soundly but didn’t really expect to given the bug. And even though I was under the weather, I found my way downstairs to begin my daily prep by 5:40am. Mindy told me just before I headed down that she wanted to be up at 6:00am. My head was in a fog and I still had my cough. My outlook on life was a little gloomy but it often is when I am ill, which doesn’t happen all that often. Any little problem or trouble seems almost insurmountable when I’m feeling less than whole. I proceeded with my usual routine after walking Ykraps. I went with my coffee onto the deck where I began meditating. Something clicked inside my head that I had better wake Mindy. And if I were going to wake Mindy, I should take her some coffee. I did. That took about three minutes. Soon I was back outdoors with a clear mind and ready to meditate. After coffee I went to the PC briefly to read the Daily OM. Coincidentally, today’s OM was about illness and how it is trying to tell us something about ourselves that’s generally amiss. After a short stint on the PC I went to the kitchen to begin preparing my lunch and breakfast. I made tuna fish since it was Wednesday – my usual fish day. It took all of my allotted time and a little more to fix my lunch, Mindy’s snack, and both of our breakfasts. I had to hurry just a little. I bidded Mindy and the kids a good day before heading off to the shower since they’d be gone by the time I’d be out. I dressed casually but nicely for a Wednesday. In fact, I looked pretty damn good for feeling like shit! J I medicated myself again this morning before leaving the house and I took my nasal spray and antihistamine along in my gym bag. My nose started to run just before leaving the house. I knew I had a fresh box of tissues in my office for just such events. I arrived to work a bit early. It took everything I had to stay focused. My head felt like it was pickled in snot. I felt warm and sleepy too. If I could’ve, I would’ve closed my door and napped. I was feeling horrible. Nonetheless, I kept after it all day. I did my best to keep my chin up and to be a productive role model. I left for my run around 1pm knowing that a run would clear my head and mask the symptoms associated with a cold. The temperature was ideal for a run – about 72 degrees under mostly cloudy skies. I loved it and completed it with out any trouble. But then again, I didn’t expect any. Like I said, a half mile into a run – once I begin sweating – you forget all about being under the weather. You just can’t tell. I was looking forward to eating my lunch. But I knew that I would crash soon after returning to my office and sitting in my chair. I’ve down this road many times. I worked through the afternoon at times feeling like I couldn’t possibly make it. Somehow I did. I drove home feeling miserable! I wanted nothing but to snuggle up in my bed and go to sleep. This was Wednesday so that meant an evening alone with Mindy. She was a saint too. She knew that I didn’t feel well and had already walked Ykraps by the time I got home. She insisted on taking care of my lunch containers and running clothes too. That allowed me to rest. She asked if I were hungry for some El Vaquero. Even though I was sick, I was up for some chips and salsa. She ordered by phone and left in the Trooper to fetch our food. She was gone about twenty minutes. During that time I updated my blog. When Mindy returned with the goods we gathered in the kitchen to consume the eats. She had an entire entree'. I had only chips and salsa but ate plenty of them despite feeling much less than stellar. By now I was in full head cold mode. My nose was running, my body ached, I had a slight fever, and still had mild cough. If nothing else over the last ten years I have had only a handful of colds (two in the last 8-10 months). Each one, however, has been short lived. I guess that tomorrow I will rise feeling better now that I am passing through all of the phases so quickly. After we ate and cleaned up the small mess, Jim Manken returned the children. They were happy to be home. What I noticed most were Jacob's jet black feet he said he got from playing barefoot on blacktop. I don't know that I've ever seen such dirty feet. It wasn't long before Mindy coaxed them upstairs for a bath. No one argued whether one was needed tonight. After their bath I read them a bedtime story, Do Pirates Take Baths? I wasn't going to be too far behind the kids. I was feeling really bad. I medicated myself with the same stuff from the night before and then headed off to bed before 8:30pm struck. Mindy came too.