Allergic Reaction

 Okay.  2022 is off to a not so good start.  As I blogged earlier, I was sick to start the New Year after being exposed to Covid on December 31, 2021.  I tested negative and was prescribed Bactrim and a course of oral Steroids which I started taking on January 4th.  I missed a couple of days work and muddled through with sinus congestion from the infection.  I kept experiencing a metallic taste after taking the two medications together and I thought it was the after taste of the steroid pill since I had taken Bactrim before.  Again I muddled through and finished the course of steroids on Sunday morning.  I still had several days of the Bactrim left.

I wake for work on Monday morning, take the Bactrim and sit down to put my work boots on when I notice itching on inside of my biceps near both elbows.  I take an allergy pill and don’t give it another thought.  I take the second Bactrim that evening with dinner then off to bed.

I awake to my hands itching between my fingers and get up to use the restroom when I notice allergic whelps all over my body especially on my legs and torso.  My hands are bright red.  I take another allergy pill and fall back to sleep until I can get in to see the doctor.  I go get a steroid shot and was told to discontinue taking the Bactrim. 

So I am allergic to penicillin and now sulfur based antibiotics?  I am just now feeling well.  I am glad it isn’t the Shingles.  

Red vs. Blue

 I recently started reading books about Stoicism and following Ryan Holiday via his daily emails.  I have enjoyed reading his views on Stoicism.  However I haven’t enjoyed his injections of his political leanings or views a couple of times.  

As you probably know, the news media has made a big deal about the January 6th anniversary.  They carry the water for their political heroes.  To compare that cluster____ to September 11, 2001 or to Pearl Harbor is insulting.  To claim that was an armed insurrection is too.  

We live in a country that is being divided into Red states vs. Blue states.  Personal freedom vs. nanny state.  I trust in my ability to discern what is in my best interest as opposed to some unelected bureaucracy telling me how I should live. 

The political theater has encroached on every area of our lives.  I no longer trust Washington, their mouth pieces in the legacy media and professional sports. 

Okay enough for today.  

Covid or Not

 I was with a friend playing golf before New Years.  It was quite windy and warm for late December.  A small group of friends, brothers really, but anyway a very enjoyable day outside. 

After finishing our round of golf we went to nearby restaurant for a Margarita or two before returning to our homes.  Some had plans for New Years Eve and some of us did not.

New Years Day started with my usual coffee and conversation with Gail.  After a while I checked my phone for any emails or texts when I saw one from my golf partner for the day stating that he began running a fever overnight and went to get tested and you guessed it- Covid positive.

I was feeling okay.  I decided that if I had any symptoms that I would get tested as well.  I had a little sinus congestion and a headache later that evening.  Uh-oh.  

Sunday morning I feel about the same maybe a little scratchy throat due to the sinus drainage but a persistent headache.  I stayed in bed and checked for a fever throughout the day.  No fever.  I had very cold hands and chills from time to time even when covered in bed.  I am starting to think the Rona.  I kid myself and say I am going to feel okay and get up for work the next morning.  

I didn’t.  I felt pretty ragged. Okay so it’s been a couple of days since “my exposure”. So I call my doctor and set it up for later in the day.  I get swabbed for Covid, strep and the flu.  During my vitals check in the parking lot I am asked if I had symptoms.  I had four of the six.  Uh-oh

I get the call about 20 minutes later.  Covid negative.  Huh?  I should have been relieved.  I was sort of.  Another sinus infection.  The third one since Covid began.  The first was the day before the initial outbreak.  The second was when Delta arrived and now this time with Omnicron.  All around me people have been sick some positive some negative.  I think we are all sick and tired at this point.  I think I may have had it.  I find it interesting that I haven’t had a cold since the arrival of Covid.  Makes you think.  Stay well.

New Year New You

 Whew!  2021 is done and now we go into the new year expecting good things to develop and our future to be bright.  The truth in my opinion is that we want things to be different but we seldom make lasting changes to our daily lives.  In reality the only change we can make is how we spend each moment.  This moment.  How do we think about ourselves?  Are we beating ourselves for our “failures”.  We remember every stumble, every failure.

I think I will think about myself and what happens in a new way in each present moment.  I will wipe the imaginary scoreboard clean each time and go forth to be better.

Be better.

Crawfish, Covid and Wine Margaritas

 I haven’t written any thing in a few weeks so I decided to touch base and roll it out so to speak.  My sister and brother-in-law came for a visit last weekend.  Their granddaughter and son also came.  It was very nice to have family stay with us.  It is boiled crawfish season so we went and ate boiled crawfish together with our stepdad and their daughter drove in from the Houston area to join us.  It was the first time for all of us together since Covid.  We laughed and shared the food.  It was like nothing had changed but every person coming in and out of our experience was wearing a mask.  It was a constant reminder of how life had changed.  After finishing our meal we went back to my stepdad’s house and visited more.  The conversations were interesting to say the least.  Let’s just say I can’t repeat what was said without permission from a couple of relatives.  Anyway, that is how it rolls out.  Wine based Margaritas will get you.  

More Than Words

 What can I say when I feel I so deeply that the words don’t express what I am feeling?  

I want to try but I also don’t want to say something that I can’t take back.

We have known each other for so long that we don’t have to say anything to know what the other is thinking.

Pain Sucks

 My left hand, more specifically, my left index and ring fingers  hurt when I wake up every morning.  Sometimes I think it is arthritis but I fear it is carpel tunnel syndrome.  

I should have it checked out.  I think it may be aging at this point or something to just live with but eventually I will have to address the weakness I feel.  

Some days it is more pronounced.  I wonder if it is diet related as well.  Inflammation?  All I know is pain sucks.