A couple of minor updates

When I saw the doctor a while back, I really expected him to tell me I had SARS or something just as bad. No such luck. He told me that I just had a bad virus. "The Flu?", I inquired, for clarification. He explained that influenza is an entirely different thing than most people think it is, and those that say they have the flu generally don't have it. "You have a bad cold", he clarified. Damn, I really thought I had some kind of cool terminal illness, or at LEAST the flu. Sigh.

Anyway, aside from an annoying persistent cough, my health has improved and I'm near 100% again. I was actually in pretty good shape last Friday and Saturday in Montreal, but the drinking and dancing pushed me two steps back (pun intended). When I awoke Sunday, I was very hoarse, and even though I didn't speak much during the drive back from Canada, by early evening my friend in the car asked me a question, and my answer went something like: "squeak". It was every one of my ex-girlfriend's dreams-come-true: I had completely lost my voice. It began to come back by late morning Monday, and I was squawking chatter again by that evening. Now I just need to get rid of the damn cough.

The microwave is fixed. GE actually called me three times to confirm the appointment. Well, actually one time was asking me if I'd take part in a post service satisfaction survey, to which I answered "Gladly." The technician arrived first thing Saturday morning, had the work complete in about 45 minutes, and now I'm eating hot food again. I'm quite happy about that. Apparently it was just a poor wire connection. I will add a side note about it, though: The tech let me know that the model was small enough that I could have actually simply taken it in for service, and that the service rep on the phone should have directed me to do that. This seemed very fitting, given the fiasco I went through the other week.

Zero

Yep, that's how many miles I put in last week, mostly due to being sick, but also due to just plain forgetting to pack running gear for my trip to the Great White North. Shame on me.

But I have returned, and last night I did 6 miles of what should be a week that puts me in the near-30-mile range. We shall see.

Some things to tell - about my trip, my illness, my microwave (yes, really), and other goodies. Stay tuned.

The Virus

It's been about three or four years since I've been really, really sick. Until this week, that is.

Somewhere along the way, sickness crosses a fine line between tolerable-but-annoying-discomfort, and OH-THE-HORROR!!! It's that point where one suddenly finds one's self being pummelled in tag-team by the sweats, chills, fever, and an overwhelming sensitivity to the finest pinpoint of light or sound. It's like a hangover on steroids. Monday evening I really thought I was going to die. Lucky I'm a fighter.

I haven't been to work since I left early Monday afternoon, and today I'm nearly recovered. The timing was actually lucky - if it was a day or two later, I wouldn't have been making this trip to Montreal, and would've missed my friend's wedding. It looks like I'll be good to go up tomorrow. Coming back on Monday. Should be fun (if they let me back in the country, that is)!

This is no cold.

Last week my symptoms were stuffy sinuses, sneezing and coughing: all the earmarks of a run-of-the-mill cold. Inconvenient, but no big deal, and it was basically gone by Friday (it got better despite doing all my training runs). But over the weekend I had chest congestion and very low energy levels. I was out drinking on both Friday night (a lot!) and Saturday night (not so much) so those may contributed to this body's breakdown. Whatever cold I had has morphed into something entirely different. Now I feel terrible. No wonder my running this weekend was so crappy. By the time the evening rolled around yesterday, my entire body ached, and I was starting to get chills. I stayed up, though, because a friend said she was going to call me late and I hadn't talked to her in awhile.

Despite the pain, I'm at work. I may leave early if my head, back, legs, and sides (oh, wait, that's pretty much all of me) are killing me like they are this morning. Plus, if it's some kind of flu, it's really not nice of me to be spreading it around. But then, I'm just a generous type of guy. I'm thinking it's some kind of thoat infection or something. I brought a big carton of OJ to work to load myself with vitamin C.

I was trying to decide on going to pilates vs. a group loop tonight, but it'll probably be bed for me.

I feel like death. I hate this crap.