The Phases of Being Sick

For the past two weeks, I've been sick.  During what turned into Phase I of my illness, I was struck down by fever, chills and aches, which turned into three days of incapacitation.  I beat a path between the bed and the couch, dragging my snuggie behind me every step of the way.  Oddly enough, I did not have any of the symptoms associated with a usual Phase I, including but not limited to: coughing, sneezing, running nose, etc.

I thought I was in the clear, stayed late at work and played tennis outside during the weekend, but a week later, Phase II appeared with typical Phase I progression - creeping congestion, fatigue and then a runny nose.  Two days later, I was hit with another low grade fever.  My regular body temperature registers around 97.5 and when I hit around 98.5, I pulled out my snuggie again and started popping DayQuil.

Today I'm ending my first full week of Phase II and completely convinced that if it lurches into Phase III, I'm quitting my job and sleeping for a year straight.

Daily reluctance #1

Flossing

I know I'm lucky to be able to say this but it is the single most painful thing I (should) do everyday.  I am complaining.  But my gums bleed everytime I floss.  There is a solution though.  Floss everyday.

Why does this seem like a circular reference???

Also, it forces me to tell an obligatory two lies a year - to my hygienist - when I report to her, telling her that I floss regularly.  She knows I'm lying because if I flossed, my gums wouldn't be gushing blood everytime I went to the dentist.  I know I'm lying, well, because I am.

I should toughen up and just floss.

Pie (or not)

It seems most appropriate that my first post should be about food:

We made (I made) shepherds pie this weekend.  Any pie that has beef, potatoes and cheese on it is okay by me.  I'd like to take the first shepherd, or his wife/girlfriend/mom/sister, who created this non-pie pie and shake his / her hand.

I put too much potato on top.  And not enough cheese.  I was trying to be "healthy" and not add much butter or any cream to the potatoes.  Let it be a lesson to all of us that butter and cream are not optional.

I should have known better.  All of the best pies have multiple sticks of butter in the crust.  And the potatoes in a shepherds pie is like the crust.