2009 February

Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired

February 21, 2009 By Mo 5 Comments

I think it’s time to get serious about my health. This is the second time in two months that I’ve gotten sick. I’m not talking about a cold here and there; I’ve been down-and-out sick.

In December I got a cold that turned into bronchitis and a nasty viral infection. I was totally out of commission for two weeks. I missed Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

Two months later—almost to the day—I’m sick again. My cold has turned into a nasty, flu-like thing full of snot and aches. My throat fees like I swallowed a glass of razor blades, and I’m coughing up junk from my lungs again. In other words, I have bronchitis.

I don’t think I ever fully got rid of it the last time, and long work hours, not enough sleep and too many social obligations have sunk me. The good news is, after this weekend, my job will be slowing down and I can return to regular hours. Beyond that, though, I think I have to make some major lifestyle changes.

I don’t eat a lot of fast food, but I do eat out a lot. I try to make good choices—I do eat lots of chicken and some fish and none of it is slathered in heavy sauce—but sometimes I push the salad aside when the french fries beckon. I don’t eat enough fruit and veggies, I drink too much coffee and not enough water.

I’ve been too busy to hit the gym for the last four months and that has had a major impact on my health. I’m not as strong as I used to be, and I think it has affected my immunity. I’ve tried to run when I have the time, but getting sweaty at 10:00 p.m. when it’s 40 degrees outside isn’t the wisest thing I can do.

Priority Number 1 is getting over this thing. Then I’m going to start taking my vitamins, getting more sleep, eating better and working out.

My mom called while I was writing this, and she got all up in my business about being sick again. She even threatened to drive up here to take care of me. If that’s not reason enough to get healthy, then I don’t know what is.

Now I’m going to take some Mucinex, my cough syrup and a shot of tequila and I’m going back to bed.

Filed Under: Apropos of Absolutely Nothing, Family, Health, Working Out

Grace In Small Things #7

February 16, 2009 By Mo 4 Comments

1. A Monday off for President’s Day. Weekdays away from work feel so decadent.

2. A rainy morning.

3. Watching movies in bed on this rainy Monday morning.

4. A cup of hot tea.

5. Sitting around in my PJs because there’s nowhere I have to be. seal-23

Filed Under: Apropos of Absolutely Nothing, Full of Grace, Grace In Small Things

What's Love Got To Do With It?

February 12, 2009 By Mo 4 Comments

In honor of Valentine’s Day, this week’s topic for Sprite’s Keeper’s Spin Cycle is Love. At first, I thought, hot damn. I’ve been struggling for something to write; this will be an easy topic to bang out (pun sort of intended). But writing about love is much harder than I thought it would be.

I’m generally not a fan of Valentine’s Day. It’s a contrived Hallmark Holiday designed to make you feel bad if you don’t have someone in your life or aren’t subscribing to the stereotypical notion of romantic love. I don’t hate Valentine’s Day, but I don’t measure the strength my marriage by whether or not I was showered with over-priced, half-dead flowers and a box of chocolate. It’s not a barometer of my love for my husband or vice versa. It’s much deeper than a sentiment on a card. More importantly, I hate the idea that you single out one day of the year to tell your significant other that you love them.

This will be the 13th Valentine’s Day with my husband (ooh, lucky number 13), but we weren’t exactly dating that first one. We had sort of started to, but not really. I think we were both seeing other people, because for various reasons we had decided it couldn’t work between us. But we liked each other, we “got” each other and liked spending time together. I clearly remember him sending me a little white teddy bear with a mug full of carnations or something. The romantic kiss of death, right?

Not long after that, though, we got by whatever was holding us up, and started dating. I think I knew pretty early on that he was the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with—which is why I kept pushing him away. He was actually interested in me, in what I had to say, in what I wanted out of life. He cared about my feelings and actually wanted to know what made me tick. How scary is that?

When we first got married I didn’t expect it to be wine and roses every day, but I do think I underestimated how hard marriage can be. You can love someone will all of your heart, but it’s not always enough. It’s much more than that. You have to do some work. Every day you have to get up and choose this person all over again. Every day you have to choose to get along, to fight battles together, to agree to disagree and be supportive of each other.

Contrary to popular belief, love does not conquer all.

I know that sounds cynical (I’ve been called that once or twice!). But I don’t mean to be. In fact, I’m a total romantic. But I’m realistic. I believe it’s the other 364 days of the year that really matter. It’s those days, that no matter what’s going on, no matter how tired you are, cranky about work or whatever else is bugging you, that you have to step up and treat each other with respect, compassion and kindness. It’s the quiet acceptance of someone for who they are (even if who they are is a rampant snorer!). It’s the daily little things you do for someone to make their lives just a little easier (even if they don’t notice). It’s putting someone else and their needs before your own. And it’s the belief, it’s the trust that someone is going to do the same in return. More than anything, it’s trust. Trust in each other that you’ll treat your feelings with respect and care. That’s love. And it’s the stuff of passion.

It’s not always easy, and I’m the first to admit that I’m not always successful. But I try. And so does he. And some days that’s all that matters.

So what does love have to do with it? Everything.