Streptococcal pharyngitis

blllahhhh.....

Tuesday morning I wake up and I feel like someone has removed my tonsils with a spork. (you know what a spork is right? The utensil that is a spoon and fork combined.)

I had no warning... no precursors. 

This wasn't your normal "oh my throat feels scratchy.. cough cough." No this was true pain that made my eyes water. 

I knew... I knew that it was strep throat. And the dread swept over me.... 

But then I started to consider the pros of the situation:

1. I was contagious so work was out of the picture. SCORE

2. I knew that medication would knock it out in a few short days.. so I wouldn't have to go through the cough/cold symptoms of a normal sore throat.

3. I would receive pity from friends and family... poor poor me. 

So even though my throat was on fire for about two days, it hasn't been that bad. 

I've been compliant in taking my Zpak and it has successfully knocked out the bacteria. 

Also another pro: I was able to sleep for 12 hours last night.. it was fabulous. 

bye bye, strep throat. 

Better strep throat than swine flu. 

Evil Little Sister

Ruth recounts a story from my past that I have tried so desperately to bury in the depths of my mind. This was a very hard day for me... 

and it was all Ruth's fault. 

Read about it here.

Bought Air

I'm so cheap. 

For those of you around the B'ham area, I'm sure you've noticed in the increase in temperature the past week or so. You know, the average being around 82-84. 

It's hard to know what to do when the temp is hovering around in that area. Do you turn on the AC or just keep the windows/doors open all day?? 

For most, there's an obvious answer: just open the windows and let the breeze come in for awhile.. no problem... you never even have to touch the AC. 

Well, in my cozy little apartment here in Southside I don't have that option. I don't think the windows have been opened since 1964. There's probably 26 coats of paint over the window. No way on earth am I getting those bad boys open. 

So what am I supposed to do? My inner being aches to have the windows open... but NO. The only option that is left for me: turn on the AC. 

If I don't then I will be laying in bed, no covers, sweating. 

And the whole time I'll be thinking... I'm spending money on stupid cool air when there's plenty of nice chill air right outside my window. But oh wait!! I can't open my windows. 

Yes, I have been stewing about this for awhile today. 

I REFUSE to turn on the AC. I'm not gonna do it. 

..........................

*sigh ... i'm starting to sweat. 

Read. It. Now.

Just so you know...

this is the funniest blog on the face of the planet so I strongly recommend  that you read it... everyday. 

If you don't - then you're a loser. 

www.hermajestyblue.blogspot.com

Grrrr... LOST

All day I have been looking forward to watching LOST tonight. Every since dinner I have been sitting here waiting in expectation for the show to start. 

And what do I get? 

A freaking LOST recap thingy or whatever. 

My heart broke into a thousand pieces...

Even Clem is sad. 

*sigh

At least I'm wearing my Five Fingers right now.. that makes the pain a little better. 

I guess I'll just go to bed.... 

Five Fingers

What? 

What is that? 

I don't understand....

How do they work?

What are they for? 

It's so weird!!!!

All of these are common responses when one first lays eyes on the Vibram Five Fingers shoes. Don't feel bad if you had that response. It happens to everyone. 

So what exactly are Five Fingers? That's a great question.

A few weeks ago, Ruth and I were in the car and she brought up the shoes... saying that Malinda had told her about them and they look really weird, but kinda cool.. blah blah blah.

So I decided to have a gander at them... see what all the commotion was about. And BAM, my world was changed when I saw the website. 

It's like being barefoot but with your foot protected. Ah! I love it. Life doesn't get any better than that. I have always LOVED being barefoot. During the winter months, I try to wear the least amount of footwear that I can get away with. 

It was a little weird when I first put them on my feet. It took me awhile to get each toe placed correctly. Once fitted properly... it's like your feet can breathe. The feel FREE. 

So now I wear them every chance I get. Come home from work: 5 Fingers on. And they stay on till it's time for bed. You can run, hike, climb, flip, jump, EVERYTHING in them. I wish I could take them to work, but that might be a little weird. 

Go check out the website.  www.vibramfivefingers.com 

Order a pair. 

Guys can wear them too. 

You'll be the coolest person on your block - I promise. 

Shout out to Ruth, Mom, and Amy. Our 5 Fingers are awesome.

 

Oh my darlin', Clementine

I have a new addition to my little family here in Birmingham. 

Her name is Clementine.

And she is the best dog on the face of the planet. 

I adopted Clemmie this past Friday from a local foster home here in town. She has been in foster care for about four years now. Let me tell you her story: 

Clementine was found in downtown Birmingham underneath a BFI container with her puppies. She was only about 6 months old at the time and had sustained injuries to her right eye. The foster care owner found Clemmie in this junk yard right after a man had stabbed her in the eye while she was trying to protect her puppies. The owner took Clemmie to the vet immediately but they were unable to completely save her eye so she is now partially blind. 

She has been in foster care since that time. 

I had gone to the home in hopes of adopting another dog that I saw online, but it wasn't such a good match. Then out came Clementine and she just hopped in my car and that was it. 

I swear, she is the best behaved dog I have ever seen. She obeys everything and is so calm. Actually, she is pretty lazy but loves to be outside and explore.

All in all, she is fabulous and we are so glad that she is here.  

She is still a little bit shy so she won't come into my room completely. She likes to sit and watch at a distance. In this pic, you can tell that her right eye doesn't work at 100%

The chair is one of her favorite spots to sleep. 

Once again, her being lazy.

The foster care owner had named her Millie but I wasn't particularly fond of that name so I renamed her Clementine. I like the old school, redneck names for dogs. I know everyone is familiar with the song about Clementine... at least the chorus part. I googled the song the other day and actually it's a sad song, but kinda funny. Here are the lyrics:

In a cavern, in a canyon excavating for a mine,

Dwelt a miner, forty niner and his daughter Clementine.

Oh my darling, oh my darling, oh my darling Clementine.

Thou are lost and gone forever, dreadful sorry, Clementine

Light she was and like a fairy, and her shoes were number nine,

Herring boxes without topses sandals were for Clementine

Drove she ducklings to the water every morning just at nine,

Hit her foot against a splinter, fell into the foaming brine.

Ruby lips above the water, But alas I was no swimmer, so I lost my Clementine

In my dreams she still doth haunt me, robbed in garments soaked in brine.

Though in life I used to hug her, Now's she dead I draw the line.

Blue Angels = OMG

Yesterday, I went to Tuscaloosa with a group friends to see the Blue Angels. 

OMG OMG

I've watching a few air shows on the TV, but have never seen one in person. It was incredible. There wasn't much fun in getting up early on a Saturday, but it was totally worth it. 

The show started around 1030 with some paratroopers and ended at 4pm with the Blue Angels. My nose is definitely feeling the affects from the sun (Yes, Mom, I put on sunscreen. Twice. 30 SPF) So those of you who have to look at me with a peeling nose, I apologize. 

We had an awesome set up all day. A friend of a friends who works in T-town was able to reserve a parking lot of us that was right near the airport.... I could see the air strip from where I was sitting. So we brought a grill that had never ending food... we had chairs to lounge up in. It was wonderful. 

A perfect Saturday, if you will. (That sounded cheesy)

It was so bright outside I couldn't see anything. That's Clementine in the background.

Part of the pre-show

BLUE ANGELS. If you look closely, you 'll notice that two planes are flying upside down. 

Yes, they are flying inches apart.

Right Brain?

Every day I check my blog to see if anyone's commented on a post or if some of my favs have been updated. You know, the normal web surfing around junk. 

And almost every day I get kinda bummed cause I realize that my blog is totally not creative. I definitely do not have the gift of writing. I have a lot of things that sound really funny and entertaining in my head, but then not so much when I write it out. 

I understand that I am mostly left brained.... I get that about me and I completely accept that. It's okay to be like me. But I've got to do something to spice up my blog. 

Ha. 

I go throughout my day seeing different things, experiencing certain moments and wonder "hmm... could I blog about that? or what about this? would this be cool to write?" 

Usually those thoughts fizzle out into nothing before I can get to my blogspot to record the magnificent event. 

ohhhh well. I'll leave all the cool blogging up to ya'll right-brained folks. 

I'll just be sitting here on my couch with Clementine (I'll introduce her soon enough) watching some flicks. 

Good ole Friday night with my left-brain.

Peace out.