Getting By

I was so sick this week. It must have been the flu--aches, sore throat, runny nose, sinuses hurting, etc. It lasted from Monday through Friday. Today was the first half-way decent day--and I had a migraine! It was interesting to see how little energy I could get by with. How little care I could take of myself and Mary and still get by. Luckily, she was perfectly healthy the whole time. I guess I picked it up in Lexington last week.

I was rather scared a few times, wondering if I was going to be able to make it, taking care of her. I thought it was interesting that in taking it easy on myself, I reverted to the tactics I use when she's not doing well--I used the portable potty (putting it next to her bed), pushed her around the house instead of walking her (I didn't have the energy to keep her going), and ate most meals in the living room. After two nights of little sleep due to aching sinuses, I used Nyquil. I hate that stuff, makes me feel so much more ill, but when you give in to it and sleep, then you do sleep through your cold symptoms. Just thinking about how it makes me feel makes me ill! Ugh! Talk about a necessary evil. Anyway, along that vein, I purchased some Advil PM today. My legs and joints hurt so much at night that I often can't sleep. When I take one of Mary's Darvocets, I sleep really well for about four hours, but that's prescription medicine and not mine, so want to try this other stuff out. I also hope that when I can get some saucony tennis shoes, my legs won't hurt so much at night. I know, I should do yoga every night. Easier to pop a pill. I've tried doing a certain exercise for plantar fascitis, but it's so boring and seems to take so long, even though it's only about five minutes. Isn't that stupid? Of me, I mean. Yes, yes, all the things we should do for ourselves and yet we choose shortcuts.

I was lazy tonight and fixed Mary a grilled cheese for dinner. She just kept commenting on how good it was and asking me what it was and how it was made. She always loved grilled cheese sandwiches. I guess I should make them for her more often. They're not very healthy, though, and I usually burn them because I don't have the patience to stand there and watch them.

The guy next store has had a friend staying with them. At least I guess he's staying with them, I don't know what the deal is. Anyway, he's very friendly and always waving at me and talking to me. Alfreddo, the neighbor, isn't as friendly. Maybe his English isn't as good. Well, anyway, I went to cut the grass today and half of the front yard, the half next to Alfreddo and Joliami (sp?)'s house, was already cut! I couldn't believe it! Sure enough, Alfreddo's friend cut it. He acted like it was no big deal, but it was like a gift from an angel for me this week, since I'd been so sick and really didn't feel like cutting the grass. It was actually kind of funny because I'd already cut part of it before I saw what he'd done and I'd had this thought going through my head over and over. I kept thinking that life is constantly giving us opportunities to... do good, to help others, earn brownie points, however you want to look at it. And that it's just up to us to take advantage of these opportunities. That there are so many chances that we don't even see, even. And then I find that this guy has done this wonderful thing for me! I should make him some brownies or something. I automatically think, though, what if he doesn't like them. Argh!