Last week was not a good week. Not only was I suffering from something flu-like and virulent, but work was chaos. And not in any semblance of a good way. I went into work Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday with the intention of leaving as soon as I could get a few things done. I did manage to leave at 4:25 on Tuesday. This is not a work blog, but if you are at all worldly you probably have a few guesses why things were so darn chaotic. Take the last full week of work before a major holiday consular mode and add in a little regional instability.
Anyway, I am actually lucky I was able to leave when I did and thank my amazing boss and colleagues for picking up the slack (we have a small office, so one person's absence is really felt) for being able to fly on time. Granted I spent the hours before my flight at the airport working, but still.
The flights were not too bad. I used miles to upgrade to business on the way to Amsterdam and had economy comfort on the way to Boston, but when you're not feeling well nothing makes a 34 hour journey feel much better. I lie a little - business class really does take some of the sting out of it.
I opted for a pricey chair massage in Amsterdam at 7 in the morning, which was totally worth it. I managed to keep my coughing a bit in check and therefore not entirely terrify my fellow passengers. I felt bad about being that passenger, but there wasn't much I could do about it aside from continue to pop cold pills.
By the time I landed in Boston on Saturday afternoon I was about at the end of my rope. I didn't want to travel anymore. I just wanted to sleep. Horizontally. My bus was, of course, full so I couldn't stretch out. I think I slept/dozed for about 3-4 hours on each flight, but I was still pretty exhausted.
It was a lovely reunion at the bus stop with Mom and Grandma, even if they didn't see me for the first few minutes and I finally had to wave my arms and shout to get their attention. It had been almost fourteen months, in their defense.
I made it through almost two full hours at home before finally collapsing into the blissful sleep that inevitably follows a long journey. Thirteen hours later I woke up, snacked on Christmas cookies, and headed into town. I was able to readjust to driving both a standard and on the wrong (right) side of the road with a minimum of issues (I mean, really, why aren't turn signals and windshield wiper controls on the same side all the time) and caught up with a few friends as I browsed a few stores.
Did you know that tape now comes in dozens of colors and patterns? I did not. And I spent about 20 minutes staring at this display in Staples just marveling. Wow. I was both horrified and exceedingly excited. I only bought a couple options but may go back for more. I never knew I was missing this...
We put up the tree and filled its skirt to the brim with presents and listened to Christmas music. I love these traditions. Mom, Grandma, and I went out to see all the local light displays last night, a fun tradition that never gets old, even though the nieces/nephews couldn't make it. I stayed up till nine pm and then promptly fell asleep for another 12 hours. And woke up sicker than ever.
I don't have the same body aches and sore throat that accompanied the first week or so of this illness, but my symptoms are now hovering between pertussis and pneumonia but not falling solidly into either camp. It's not bad enough to go to the doctor on Christmas Eve Eve, but I'm definitely moving slowly today.
In the meantime I'm watching lots of Netflix on my iPad (amazing what fast internet can do!!), eating bratwurst, and enjoying unlimited carbonation in my new SodaStream for home. Tomorrow the family celebrations will start in earnest, and I can't wait. I hope everyone else is having a wonderful holiday so far, wherever in the world you might be.
Anyway, I am actually lucky I was able to leave when I did and thank my amazing boss and colleagues for picking up the slack (we have a small office, so one person's absence is really felt) for being able to fly on time. Granted I spent the hours before my flight at the airport working, but still.
The flights were not too bad. I used miles to upgrade to business on the way to Amsterdam and had economy comfort on the way to Boston, but when you're not feeling well nothing makes a 34 hour journey feel much better. I lie a little - business class really does take some of the sting out of it.
I opted for a pricey chair massage in Amsterdam at 7 in the morning, which was totally worth it. I managed to keep my coughing a bit in check and therefore not entirely terrify my fellow passengers. I felt bad about being that passenger, but there wasn't much I could do about it aside from continue to pop cold pills.
By the time I landed in Boston on Saturday afternoon I was about at the end of my rope. I didn't want to travel anymore. I just wanted to sleep. Horizontally. My bus was, of course, full so I couldn't stretch out. I think I slept/dozed for about 3-4 hours on each flight, but I was still pretty exhausted.
It was a lovely reunion at the bus stop with Mom and Grandma, even if they didn't see me for the first few minutes and I finally had to wave my arms and shout to get their attention. It had been almost fourteen months, in their defense.
I made it through almost two full hours at home before finally collapsing into the blissful sleep that inevitably follows a long journey. Thirteen hours later I woke up, snacked on Christmas cookies, and headed into town. I was able to readjust to driving both a standard and on the wrong (right) side of the road with a minimum of issues (I mean, really, why aren't turn signals and windshield wiper controls on the same side all the time) and caught up with a few friends as I browsed a few stores.
Did you know that tape now comes in dozens of colors and patterns? I did not. And I spent about 20 minutes staring at this display in Staples just marveling. Wow. I was both horrified and exceedingly excited. I only bought a couple options but may go back for more. I never knew I was missing this...
We put up the tree and filled its skirt to the brim with presents and listened to Christmas music. I love these traditions. Mom, Grandma, and I went out to see all the local light displays last night, a fun tradition that never gets old, even though the nieces/nephews couldn't make it. I stayed up till nine pm and then promptly fell asleep for another 12 hours. And woke up sicker than ever.
I don't have the same body aches and sore throat that accompanied the first week or so of this illness, but my symptoms are now hovering between pertussis and pneumonia but not falling solidly into either camp. It's not bad enough to go to the doctor on Christmas Eve Eve, but I'm definitely moving slowly today.
In the meantime I'm watching lots of Netflix on my iPad (amazing what fast internet can do!!), eating bratwurst, and enjoying unlimited carbonation in my new SodaStream for home. Tomorrow the family celebrations will start in earnest, and I can't wait. I hope everyone else is having a wonderful holiday so far, wherever in the world you might be.
1 comment:
Merry Christmas! I hope you are feeling 100% very soon - it is hard to be sick, worse when you have traveled and trying to catch up with family and friends on a break. So get you with the crazy, not fun work week. Hubs was in the office a very big chunk of Christmas, and during every holiday get together the past two weekends. :(
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