i do know that it's not esophogeal cancer

I have meningitis.

This self-diagnosis is based on two primary symptoms:

1. My neck hurts.
2. I watch House.

I get sick this way atLEAST twice a year, in the spring and in the fall, and for additional fun, at times in the winter. My family will catch something and pass it along to each other, and I'm able to avoid it until the change of season hits, and then I have no choice: I can no longer avoid the plugged ears, the itchy throat (itchy throat!), the runny nose (which can be stuffy at the same time! What the...?), the watery eyes, the sore throat, the cough, the et cetera et cetera, my violin, please.

Why don't I take something for it? Because I'm a martyr. Because I'm a-nursin' me babe. If I take something to dry up the mucous (what horrible imagery with that phrase), the milk dries up, too. Martyr.

Instead, I take Ibuprofen for the headache (which I know is okay since they give that to me after childbirth, alternating with narcotics), and spray Chloraseptic for the sore throat. And, I use about a million tissues.

I get a little snobby (snotty?) about tissue-usage. It needs to be soft, but not with lotion because when you blow your nose as often as I do, the skin breaks and when the lotion gets on broken skin -- owee. I prefer the Kleenex brand, in packages from Costco, the small upright boxes, not the rectangular boxes. There is a box in every room of my house (except for the kids' rooms and the play room), and when we are out, it is a priority of mine to buy more Kleenex rather than use toilet paper. I don't know why, because I'm also a toilet paper snob, so that stuff is soft, too.

When I can rest while sick, I'll lay down, or atleast sit down. I have my box of tissues, and I blow my nose and...I put the used tissue on the floor. Five-to-seven minutes later, I repeat. I end up having a small mountain of snotty tissues at my feet or side. My roommates hated this, but, hey, what am I going to do, get up every single time I blow my nose, walk to the trash can and then wash my hands? No, silly. I'm sick, remember? After the pile has grown sufficiently, or after I wake up, or when it's time to cuddle someone or feed someone else, I get up, take the pile to the trash, wash my hands, and then proceed. It's all about efficiency.

Perhaps I should have a small trash basket in each room as well.















**seriously, regarding the previous post: the show is on Monday night, the 22nd. Who wants to go with me?? We can call it our own li'l family home evening...