The sickest winter and other things in life

Honestly, I cannot remember a time in my life where I was ever as sick as I have been this Fall/Winter. It is really starting to bum me out. I have another sinus infection. I had to go to the urgent care/Minute Clinic on Sunday because I could not stand the pain any longer.

The last doctor that I went to with a sinus infection seemed to go way overboard on prescriptions. She didn't seem to see or feel anything on me when examining me but gave me an antibiotic and Vicadin. It was a little extreme, I thought. This time, different doctor, different practice, and she was WAY more cautious. She gave me a prescription nasal spray because I was telling her how much pressure I felt and how much pain I was in and then recommended just some OTC stuff - Sudafed and Advil for the rest. It's a much slower progress than the antibiotic/Vicadin coctail. Although, truth be known, I HATE Vicadin. I mean, it does okay with the pain but it makes me itch from head to toe. Not a good feeling. I still have some in the house for emergencies and I did take one the first night this infection hit because the headache would NOT go away but I ended up regretting it all night as I could not get in to a deep sleep with all of the itching!

Nick's driving a lot more now and his confidence is through the roof. It's nice to see this side of him. He's just so happy. He's getting a little bit more hours at work and he's finally getting serious about what he wants to do after graduation so I am happy. Michael is getting ready to track out of school for three weeks (thank you, year-round calendar) and so I am sort of looking forward to not having to get up at 6:15 every day for a couple of weeks. I love that feeling of an extra hour or two of sleep.

We're really starting to get in to graduation party planning. I am thrilled with how things are shaping up. There are some new family issues (aren't there always) but I am hoping that people will put Nick first. Really, everyone is welcome in my home except for one person - Nancy. Until I get an apology from her, I would not even consider opening the door for any of that craziness again. No thank you.

Other than that, I can honestly say that life is good. Work is still topsy-turvy for Frank; I can't wait for the nice weather so that he can have some stability again. I'm getting over this sinus thing, the kids are good, and we have a house full of laughter.

Good indeed!

We're almost back to normal here...

But what is normal, anyway? Life picks up a crazy pace starting with Thanksgiving and goes through until mid-January. We've got my birthday in December, then Christmas and then all three males in my life have January birthdays. We've just gotten through Nick's and next we have Frank's and Michael's - on the SAME day this weekend. I will be greatly relieved when there is no more cake in my house.

It's been freakishly cold here in NC too and I'm just about done with that. In the morning when we take Michael to school it's been around 19 degrees. So not fun for doing the carpool thing. We're supposed to get in to the low 50's for daytime high's later in the week. It will feel downright balmy.

You know, I love the holidays, everything's festive looking and you make an effort to get together with friends and whatnot, but I'm kind of looking forward to a little alone time. This week is going to be crazy for me. I have something to do and someplace to be every day. I know that this is the norm when you are employed and all but for me, with the way life has been these last six months, it feels wild and intimidating and exhausting. Man, when did I turn in to such a wuss?

Nick is working, Frank is working, I'm still hitting the big penny-a-page thing at Examiner. I really need to find more writing jobs that actually PAY more than that. I submitted one of my manuscripts to an agent last week and now I sit and play the waiting game. Some day, some day I will get an acceptance letter from a REPUTABLE agency that seriously wants to do something with my book. I've gotten accepted twice but both turned out to be less than reputable. Live and learn.

For now I'll have to settle for living the dream of piles of laundry waiting to be washed, dried and folded and washing dishes by hand...somehow it just doesn't seem to cut it.

*Today's Examiner.com article is on the Chapel Hill Homeschoolers resource fair. You can read about it HERE. Thanks!*

What Do You Want To Do With Your Life?

Okay, so now I am a tier 1 in my unemployment journey. Fun times. This is so NOT what I wanted to be but at the same time, this time of life has afforded me the opportunity to really look at what I want to do with my life.

Back in July, that drunken witch that my dad is married to said to me in one of her ridiculous rambling e-mails that basically I am a loser who is wasting my life. I took GREAT offense to that because really, I was okay with my life. I have a great marriage, two wonderful kids who are healthy, I have friends...I mean, we are by no means living the perfect life but we're happy. But that stupid comment in her e-mail just stuck in my craw, you know?

As I look forward to a new year (as most of us are at this time), I think that I am still doing what I want to do with my life. I'm working hard at a career as a writer and my marriage is still strong, my kids are still great, I mean...God has blessed me abundantly. I know I use this phrase a lot but I'll use it again - God did not choose to bless me with great wealth, but he blessed me with a great marriage and THAT is worth far more.

So as you are looking forward to the new year, what are your goals? Are you doing what you want to with your life? Is anyone out there living the dream? I'm just curious.

*Today's Examiner.com article is on the Life and Science Museum. You can read about it HERE. Thanks!*