Thank you Kelly and Merry!

To my surprise, I noticed that my parents started buying the rag magazines a few years ago when they'd go up to the cottage. NOT like them at all! (my parents are definitely snobs) They'd leave them behind at the cottage, and I'd be so excited to find them up there. I decided that if they could do it, so could I. The next time DH and I went up, we picked up groceries and I hurriedly grabbed about four of them at the cash and said to the cashier, "Quick, put these in a bag before someone sees them!"
I haven't had the guts to do it again, though. geez... I'm DEFINITELY a snob.

Ok, If I ever make it up your way Ellis, I will go to the store and buy you a ton of them. Or I could ship them to you by the box load. I don't buy them, but I don't care who sees me if I did. It's funny, I have absolutely no cares about what people who don't know me think of me. It is the people I do know, I get very self-conscious.

You sweet thing, Squeak. Could you also get me a lottery ticket and a pack of cigarettes, please?
Oh yeah... I'm also embarrassed to go into the beer store. The wine store is fine, but I have to be WITH someone to go into a beer store. Otherwise someone I don't even know might think I'm a drunk. I wonder if I should be discussing this stuff with my therapist...

Lottery Tickets, yes. Cigarettes, no. Those are awful and smelly.

I have no problems with the liquor stores either. I have even been drunk in public before. I know, I know, I am awful and embarrassing

Happy Belated Birthday Ellis !!!
Feel better soon!

love, Soozie

Thank you Soozie! You're still sick aren't you, you poor ol' thing you. YOU get better soon, too!!

Ellis
I am so sorry!! I can't believe I missed your Birthday. Happy Birthday sweetie! I want to buy you, the Enquirer, Star, and all those other rags, a pack of smokes, a case of beer(lite of course), and a winning lottery ticket. But since I don't really know where you live, and am also broke, I will just send my love instead. Hugs sweetie, and hope you are starting to feel better.
Virginia

Thank you, Virginia. I'd much rather have your love than all of those other things.

hey Ellis,
I'm starting to feel a bit better. Should be getting back to the gym but we've had wild weather here as I'm sure everyone has heard on the news. Not typical for us Southerners. Never considered myself a Southerner actually until I met you Canadian Chickies.

We have more snow than I've ever seen...I think...more than I ever remember seeing. It is beautiful but makes me feel like just snuggling up in the house and eating. Have been eating some nasty carbos....lots of them. Yuck. I don't even feel well when I do that.

I saw an ear, nose, and throat specialist. Told me to take Nexium...says I have silent reflux that is irritating my throat, sinuses, and ear canals...hence I'm staying sick longer than I should. told me to avoid dairy, milk, chocolate...the very staples of my diet! What is he nuts! Avoid eating 3 to 4 hours before bed...yeah, I know,I know...if I'm eating healthy this isn't much of an issue.
But, lately I've been comforting myself with food and guess what? Surprise, I end up feeling crappier.

ENT man also told me to take a steaming washcloth, fold two to three times, place over nose and mouth and breathe steam in through mouth and out through nose...what are you trying to suffocate me? Then gently blow nose while leaning head forward.

It does seem to help and is much less of an ordeal than the sinus irrigation technique. Gosh, I forgot how to spell technique...is that a side effect of nexium?
ellis, check out the wash cloth thing if your sinuses are still blocked or swollen.

Another thing I've had going on is some numbness around my face and neck...mostly on one side. The docs seem totally uninterested in this symptom. They totally pooh-pooh me on it. One said could be swollen lymph nodes or swelling from tmj irritated by all my cold symptoms and nose blowing and trying to chew constantly to open blocked ears...so, they say maybe swelling could be pressing on nerves....???

I wonder about neuropathy caused by a virus? Or of course a fatal tumor in the brain...can't forget about that while we're speculating. or a spinal problem...another one of my possibilities when I'm being totally paranoid at about 2am. Not that I really spend much time worrying about those things. Mostly I just don't think about it and hope that the docs are right. But, then I get that creepy feeling like in the horror movies where you say....NO, No, don't go back in there, there really is something there, no, no, don't go back, run, run...etc.
and I think maybe I should pursue this further...any advice girls?

can you tell I took my stimulent about 20 minutes ago? Just kicked in while I was typing this...sorry ladies. I've been away for awhile but made up for everything with this LONG post.

Back to the gym for me...no more carbo loading...until I'm prepping for a marathon...ie, never!
Love and kicks in the @$$ to all who are needing them,
Soozie

Sweetie, I'm sure you're fine. All I can think of is Bell's Palsy. I've known several people who've had it.
I wouldn't worry, but I would pursue it. The doctors should know that you're serious about finding out the cause of the numbness.

Also, you've been sick for so long... your defenses are down. It's easy for your mind to start wandering to the worst.
My sister emailed me from school this morning. She's always convinced that she's getting MS. She's got numbness in her hands at night. Like me and thousands of other people. Carpo tunnel syndrome!
Relax and talk to your doctor. You'll be fine, hon. Hugs...

Thanks Hon! and yeah, whose hands aren't numb?
Too much time on the computer no doubt!!!!
Love, Soozie

A little late, I know... but...

Happy Birthday, Ellis!!!

Thank you, Lunula!
It's never too late.