If Coughing were Sexy

I'd be a Pussycat Doll. Meow!

Sucks to be in Chicago and be sick. I was sure I had the flu as I went to bed Sunday night -- achy muscles, chills, headache. Luckily, I woke up feeling better, but still sick. I'm pretty sure I kept my neighbors up last night as I hacked up a lung.

The Neurosurgeon conference is going OK. Not enough candidate flow, but I'm trying to talk to whomever comes within my reaches. Mostly I just cough on them as I can barely talk.

The booth across the isle keeps replaying a video of a brain surgery. I'm pretty sure I could remove a tumor now. Scrape here, cut there, out comes the tumor!

As we are pretty bored in our little booth, I had the great idea to bring my laptop in today. It's been nice to catch up on e-mails, surf the web, and just have something to do. I leave for home tomorrow and am anxious to sleep in my own bed again.

More travel

Ak! Busy life over these next few months with three, week-long trips! Off to Chicago on Saturday for a neurosurgery conference, Orlando a few weeks later for a urology conference, and then trip for myself down to Mexico for my birthday in June. Neurosurgeons, as a group, are a rather stuffy bunch, so I don't expect them to be much fun. But Urologists are pretty funny! I'm looking forward to seeing what sort of educational toys they have at the conference this time! Weather forecast for Chicago: rain and snow mix. Haven't I had enough of that lately?!!

I just stumbled upon a blog (www.joyunexpected.com) and the author of it found out three months ago that she has a thyroid problem. As I read it, her words remind me so much of all the same issues I was having -- hair falling out, heart palpatations, gross weight gain, skin problems, and just that overall tired feeling. It's almost like I wrote her blog. I so want to reach out to her and tell her it really does get better! It brought back a lot of feelings I'd been struggling with only a few short years ago . . . and still do. I don't think I'll ever have the same level of energy I used to, I think I've tried every hair volumizing product available, I still feel my heart skip a beat every once in a while, and I swear I can't regulate my body temperature half the time! And don't even talk to me about the struggle just to maintain my weight! OK, maybe I shouldn't tell her _everything_ will be better . . . but it will become more manageable.

Alcohol

We can now add alcohol to the list of foods I have given up. Yes, you heard me correctly.

I've been having an allergic reaction to it for the last couple of years and am tired of it. Trust me, I've tried all different kinds and it appears that no matter the variety, I still react. I came to the conclusion that my body must be trying to tell me something . . . although I was probably too drunk at the time to listen . . . Ha!

Now that I've been alcohol-free for about a month, it makes me realize just how many times a week I was downing a drink . . . or two. I have a pretty social life and alcohol seems to be a part of every activity. I got a pedicure yesterday with my future sister-in-law, which would seem at face value to be an alcohol free event. It wasn't. They serve alcohol while you get your toes worked on. I was visiting my parents last weekend and mom kept offering me wine (she knows I'm more apt to share personal information if I have a drink or two in me). I think she was bummed when I turned her down as it drastically cut down on the opportunities for her to criticize my dating life! A Ladies Wine Night here, a Happy Hour there . . . it all really adds up.

I don't particularly miss the stuff, although do get a craving every once in a while. I'm not sure I'm going to permanently give it up, but for now, I'm on the wagon.

Plus, this affords me more chocolate calories to make up for the now absent alcohol calories!