Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Back From the Dead

For everyone who has called, texted, e-mailed or otherwise tried to reach me this week, I have good news... I am back from the dead or as more commonly called, the FLU.

Yep, it got me.  Everyone around me had something i.e. strep throat, bronchitis, head cold, sinus issues, coughing, snotty nose, etc. I sailed past it all. I took my Vitamin C regularly. I drank my fresh fruit smoothies with a smile. I washed my hands religiously. I was the lone survivor of the holiday season with minimal downtime.  Then, on Christmas Eve, right on the cusp of victory, it found me.

I was flat of my back through Christmas Day until today. I moved from the bed to the couch, to the bed, to the couch and ... well, you get the idea.  It was AWFUL.  I suffered through three days of Pergatory waiting for Monday to come so that I could see my Doctor who could make it all better. Nope, he's on vacation.  His associates are taking care of things while he is away.  Yeah, next appointment is after the first of the year. Seriously?  Okay, Urgent Care here I come. Why would the word 'Urgent' be in the name of a place that held me and my insurance card hostage for FOUR hours?  Then, after robbing me of $50, the 'doctor' had the nerve to tell me that I was past the 3 day window for the Tamiflu to be effective in relieving my symptoms. Seriously? Hey, thanks for the cough drops.

The good news is that I am on the backside of five days of flu.  Supposedly, I am no longer infectious so I can go back to work.  Well, at least it's a new place besides my bed or the couch. Wait, a second... my phone's ringing. Sorry about that - it was my husband.  Guess who doesn't feel well? Sorry, honey.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Is It Over Yet?

IF you LOVE,LOVE,LOVE Christmas, don't ever work retail at this time of the year. I am sad to say I have seen the underbelly of the season - angry, petty, inconsiderate and rude consumers.

What happened to "Merry Christmas"?

I want to start a revolution. Let's go back to giving presents we can afford and not feeling resentful because of 'obligations'.  Let's have a moratorium on number of presents and amount of money spent.  Let's give merchants a break and spend a second of our precious 'shopping time' to say something nice.  Let's stop to pet a dog, smile at a child and allow someone to steal our prime parking space that we have driven around and around and around to find.Let's light the birthday candles on 12/25 and sing a grateful 'Happy Birthday to Him'.

I wish us all a 'Whoville' Christmas. (If you didn't catch that, watch the original animated 'The Grinch who stole Christmas' and get back to me)

Friday, December 17, 2010

One Of Those Days

I'm having 'one of those days'... you know, when things just don't go right, things don't feel right, just yucky?

I have a song on my awesome entertainment system known as my Vibrant phone that I listen to when it's 'one of those days'. Yes, I know it's 'old' (i.e. not in the last day or so) If you have never listened to it... you gotta.  Go on, hit the button and watch... I'll wait.

Isn't it awesome? Just in case you didn't catch the words, here they are:
Daniel Powter BAD DAY

Where is the moment we needed the most
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost
They tell me your blue skies fade to grey
They tell me your passion's gone away
And I don't need no carryin' on

You stand in the line just to hit a new low
You're faking a smile with the coffee to go
You tell me your life's been way off line
You're falling to pieces everytime
And I don't need no carryin' on

Cause you had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don't lie
You're coming back down and you really don't mind
You had a bad day
You had a bad day

Well you need a blue sky holiday
The point is they laugh at what you say
And I don't need no carryin' on

You had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don't lie
You're coming back down and you really don't mind
You had a bad day

(Oh.. Holiday..)

Sometimes the system goes on the blink
And the whole thing turns out wrong
You might not make it back and you know
That you could be well oh that strong
And I'm not wrong

So where is the passion when you need it the most
Oh you and I
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost

Cause you had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
You've seen what you like
And how does it feel for one more time
You had a bad day
You had a bad day

I have no idea why this song cheers me up.  I guess it puts life into perspective for me.  So I had a bad day, seriously, who doesn't?  Pick it back up and keep going.

You can go back and listen to the video again - I'm going back to editing my novel.  Catch ya on the other side of my blue sky holiday.

Monday, December 13, 2010

The List is Finished

I have finalized my Christmas Wish List.  Seriously?  Yeah, I know... it's less than two weeks till Christmas. But hey, I've been busy (50,000 words of NaNoWriMo) AND I work retail (not just ANY retail - KID store retail)

Here it is, family and friends - Get busy shopping:

1. Inspiration - I have a 50K word first draft of a terrific novel. What does that mean?  Absolutely nothing if I don't get my butt in gear and get revising. 

2. An extra two hours per day - 26 instead of 24 should work nicely

3. A clone - another me to:  pick up more toilet paper since we have empty rolls AGAIN, de-fuzz the ceiling fans, fix the dropped stitches in my knitting project, take our dog to the Dog Park so I don't feel guilty about short walks, figure out what that horrible smell in my freezer is and get rid of it, shout at the idiot parents across the street who let their children practice skateboarding at midnight, and LOTS of other stuff.

4. Ad free version of Angry Birds for my Android

5. A spigot on the refrigerator that dispenses fountain Coca-Cola 24/7

6. The ability to say 'Merry Christmas' and not get sued

7. Snow - Actually, a blizzard would be great. I guess I should mention that I live in South Florida

That ought to do it... for now.  Of course, my birthday is in three weeks.