s.s.

still sick

coldy all the way

My sickitude is reaching new heights! I'm full on coughy phlegmy sneezy nose-blowy gross to be around.

But I've decided I've got to stop complaining about my throat infection and school. Well school, really--I hate it more than the throat infection.

Earlier this week I saw Bill Cosby talking about how hard Af-Americans fought for good education in the civil rights movement, and I tried to use that to make me stop complaining about school. But it didn't work.

However, I've had a new kick in the ass. Gilby and his wife have a "couple friend," and last night the wife died. She's my age, and from what they know it was totally sudden. One day she's updating facebook, the next day she's gone. She and her husband had just bought a home, adopted a baby, and were making plans with Gilby and L. to go on vacation together. She had a degenerative disease, but obviously wasn't ill enough that anyone thought she'd pass away.

That's crazy. So my new standard for A Good Day is gonna have to be: My husband didn't die in his sleep last night. I can't begin to imagine how devastated this poor guy is, and is going to be.

:-(

Freaky!

Doctor for hour and a half, then slept for 10 hours. Blehhh. Now I have some congestion and a cough.

Today reconfirmed why I don't go to the doctor when I'm sick. I went this time because Fernando's been so sick, I thought it was "responsible." I should know better.

I never go to docs because there's always a good chance that what you have is viral, in which case there's nothing they can do (unless it goes on for weeks, like Fernando). Why sit in a germ filled office when I could be in bed? And sure enough, my throat infection is probably viral.

They did a quick strep test, which only tests for the most common kinds, and it was negative. My test then gets sent to a lab, and if it comes back positive in two days (or after the weekend) then I fill my Penicillin prescription. But even if it still turns out I have strep throat, by the time I get the call, and get my Penvee filled, and it takes 72 hours before you feel any effect, I'll be over the hump. So what's the point?

And what did it take to get this non result? $30 and a woman scraping the back of my throat with a gag-inducing q-tip. OUCH! Twice. No, no, forget the doctor next time.

I don't regret going, though. I had my new ipod, and I read a good book in the office, and I needed a walk. I'm not usually up early enough to enjoy a beautiful sunny morning like today. It was -13, but no wind, and the sun glinting off all these awesome snowbanks. I walked through the park on a human-trod path, and at one point saw a piece of wood in the snow. I thought, what is this wood here?? Then realized it was the top of a park bench. I was walking about 3-4 feet off the ground. Freaky!

oh la looo looo

I'm gonna walk over to the walk-in clinic this morning, and line up with all the old ladies who get out of bed at 5 AM. Yesterday I couldn't fall asleep until 7 AM, and I don't feel anymore tired today, so might as well take advantage to jump the line.

Loo loo loo. Installing stata, and hoping it's gonna work. Restart computer loo loo loo. I'm not as used to installing stuff on PCs.

I wonder when the mall opens, where the walkin in located. How early could I go? I don't want to stand around outside. At least I have my new ipod, and I'll bring a good book (as opposed to the boring ones I try to read when in school.)

Loo loo loo. Laaaaaa la la la. There must be something I could watch on youtube right now.

iiice cream! we're gonna eat iiice cream!

3 Projects Today:

1. Try to swallow food and liquids, even though my throat feels like the Bill Cosby "Tonsils" skit, post-operation. [Go to 3:42 in the following video, which is only part 2 of the skit.]


2. Try to rip off an ipod.

3. Set up STATA on the PC Eyal lent me.


I'm attempting #1 right now--spaghetti with squash sauce. Going alright. I'm also not talking at all, to give my throat a rest.

I'm also in the middle of #2. My Sugar Brother offered to pay for the 2nd hand ipod I wanted to buy--so Friend Eyal (so useful that F.E.!) scanned eBay, bid on, and paid for my ipod. Brother Paul paid for it. Yesterday F.E. delivered. Here's me scrutinizing the tunes that were still uploaded onto it (about 400+ songs).
I plugged Heigh Ho Silver into my desktop, double clicked on the icon, and saw a problem I hadn't anticipated. I just couldn't see the actual music files (as I would on a regular player.) I could see the songs in iTunes, and I could see they weren't protected... I just needed to extract them! I found a fix at Macworld. I had to download a free program that allows me to see hidden folders. Seems to have worked, so I can get all that emo music off Silver.

3. TBA

sickitude update

Alright. I still have a killer sore throat, but the codeine and popcicle chewing seem to be keeping it in check.

The good news--when Fernando had his sore throat (first symptom of his sickness) it was a post-nasal drip type sore throat, and he had stuffed sinuses. I have totally clear sinuses, and I can tell this is a throat infection, not nasal drip pain. I've had this throat infection (tonsils?) several times in the past. And it's never turned into something nastier. And my body aches seem to be receding.

In other news...

Fernando was on super hard core antibiotics, but he still has this crazy cough and gross lungs (he sounds like an old man whose been smoking for 60 years.) So he went to the doctor today, and the doc said there's no way this is still a bacterial infection. He must now have a viral infection. So the new drug of choice? Prednisone! Weee! The all-purpose super drug! Let's hope this works. It's been a month now he's been sick!

The Stata is away! (Hooray!)

I've had my codeine refresh... playing around in my stats. Hmm it's too late to hit the pharm on the way home. Doh! Now it will be Fernando's turn to trek down the hill tomorrow.

My prof still hasn't replied, re. setting up a meeting to talk about the critique I got on my paper. What the hell does the "cluster" option in Stata do?? Help!

I enjoy playing in my stats, but it takes so long, I will JUST DIE of happiness if the Eyal-computer option works out. I can sit in bed and Stata away! Weeee!

Sigh. Alright. Better hit the road.

The dreaded "Stats Stare"

(Not dissimilar to the 1000 Yard Stare)