Out with the Cold, In with the Flu - Sunday, January 7, 2018

2018 has not been kind to Bob. First, we had four days when the temperature did not go above freezing. I had a very mild cold with only a runny nose and cough, but no sore throat. It was gone within a couple of days leaving only a cough behind for the past week. 

Bob, on the other hand, came down with a fever, achy muscles, and a severe headache on Dec. 30. A number of people at his work had the flu, and he contracted it as well. He was very miserable. 

We had both planned to do two Volksmarches in Fredericksburg, Texas, but he was in no shape to go walk in sub-freezing conditions. He stayed home to take care of himself and to avoid infecting other people.

Last Wednesday, Bob had an appointment for outpatient surgery and had a good-sized chunk of skin cancer taken out of his back. On Thursday, he saw his dermatologist and had maintenance freezing of skin cancer done to a number of spots. And Friday, he had a routine colonoscopy. All this while he was definitely still under the weather. (All of these appointments had been made months ago.) Poor guy.

For the past eight days, he has done minimal work at the office. He did go in to pick up his work computer so he could work from home. The flu has really kicked his butt. Today is the best he's felt since Dec. 30. It's not like him to be sick.

Because of the New Year holiday and an extra paid day off by Sun Communities, I worked two days last week and got paid for four. Very nice! Thank you,  Sun Communities!

On January 2, my friend Susan and I went to see "The Greatest Showman." Both of us loved it. The movie tells the story of P.T. Barnum's early career and how he came to organize his circus. This movie is definitely a musical. Almost the whole movie is singing. A lot of the music was composed by the musicians who created music for "La La Land." I particularly enjoyed the parts of the movie that dealt with his love for his wife and girls. He took a few missteps along the way but generally did right by the people who were in his show.

After the movie, we went to Susan's house to work on a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle of vintage posters. That was a fun puzzle! She got that one, and some others, from Half-price Books.

Vintage Posters - a 1,000 piece
Eurographics© jigsaw puzzle

After working two days, I drove Bob to his colonoscopy appointment on Friday, January 5, and waited for him in the waiting room. All went well. They found two small polyps that the doctor sent off for biopsy. The doc thought they looked benign. 

On Saturday morning, January 6, I was up bright and early to volunteer from 8-10 a.m. at the first checkpoint on the Alamo Quarry walk (6k and 10k walks available). Two walks were scheduled and my checkpoint was not the well-attended one. I had about 16 people come by my checkpoint before 10 a.m., with a total of only 35 on that walk for the day. 

A second walk started from the same place (Corner Bakery at Quarry Marketplace) which over 100 people did--it was the walk that went to Barney Smith's Toilet Seat Museum and Olmos Basin Park. My friend Susan volunteered at that checkpoint and they were busy all morning.

When our volunteer shifts were over, Susan and I met at Corner Bakery to do the 10k Museum Walk. Unlike last year at this walk, when the temperatures were in the 20s with a wind chill making it even colder, today's temperature started out in the high 40s and moderated to mid-50s by early afternoon. It was cloudy and downright balmy after our sub-freezing temps around New Year's Day. (We did not have any rain. Always a plus.)

Walkers registering

Special thanks to our volunteers!

The walk started with a loop around some beautiful homes in Alamo Heights (Paddington Way/Haverhill Way), and then we headed through more beautiful neighborhoods on our way to Olmos Park. 

We then did a loop around the soccer/football/softball fields at Olmos Park Basin, then headed east toward Barney Smith's Toilet Seat Museum. The museum is unique and kitschy, but you've gotta love Barney Smith and all the work he has put into his collection (which he made). Volksmarchers have been walking to his museum for years, and every year we have signed our names to toilet seats. Barney is now 96 years old and in great spirits. He greets us each year. His wife passed away about four years ago.

Mardi Gras and Fiesta toilet seat art

Each year Volksmarchers sign the toilet seats.

Randolph Roadrunners 2013 toilet seat

Randolph Roadrunners 2018 toilet seat

Barney Smith and me in his museum

Barney was a plumber for many years. Below are the pieces of silverware he removed from sink traps.

Gray around the photo is ash from
Mt. St. Helens

State quarter collection

Below, Susan Medlin, our Regional Director, is talking to Barney Smith's neighbors about Volksmarching.

Volunteer Audrey - thank you!

From the Toilet Seat Museum, we walked back to Olmos Basin Park and finished our walk back to Corner Bakery. 

Bike path from Olmos Basin to Quarry Marketplace

Quarry Marketplace used to be an actual quarry

And here we are, back at our start point. After a 10k (6.2 mile) walk, we are ready to eat. The Corner Bakery has wonderful food. We enjoyed our lunch very much. 

After lunch, we went to Susan's house to start a new jigsaw puzzle. It was a wonderful day, but we missed Bob!

Today, January 7, Susan and I did a 10k walk at Leon Creek from Bandera Rd. to Culebra Road. After our walk, we headed to Simi Indian Restaurant for their Sunday buffet. They opened at 11:0 a.m. It was so good. 

We had to hurry and eat because we were heading to Wonderland Mall's Santikos Bijou Theater to see "The Shape of Water." I have to admit this movie was not my cup of tea. It's a sci-fi love story that takes place in 1962. A merman is in custody at a top-secret government facility. Two housekeepers at the facility find him and want to get him away. To me, this movie had way too much gruesome violence. It had a nice love story, but that's not enough to save the movie. 

The rest of the day, I took it easy. Bob is feeling better today. I hope he continues to improve because this flu has not been easy on him. 

That's all for this week. Enjoy 2018!

Unwell, unfortunately - Monday, Jan. 19

Saturday at work I knew for sure I had the flu. All the people I work with had it and I'm pretty sure the guy next to me in the courtroom at jury selection had it as well on Wednesday. This flu is very contagious.

All day Saturday I had chills and then developed body aches in the afternoon. By the end of the workday, I wanted to go home and climb in bed with the heater on. People at work had recommended Alka Seltzer Plus Night Severe Cold & Flu packets. Bob went out and bought some for me. I was already under the covers in bed in my sweatshirt, jeans and wool socks when he returned.

To be effective the Alka Seltzer packets needed to be dissolved in hot water. Bob fixed it up for me and I had him drop an orange-flavored Airborne in the mug as well. The directions said to inhale the steam from the hot mixture. I did and it helped clear my sinuses. After I drank the mixture, I fell asleep quickly around 6:30 pm. I remember waking up once around 9 or 10 pm and feeling very sweaty, like my fever had broken. At midnight I woke up and fixed another mug of the steamy Alka Seltzer and got online while I inhaled and sipped the concoction. Then I went back to bed around 1:30 am and slept until almost 11 am Sunday.

Our original plans were to go to Susan and Darren's house to watch the AFC/NFC championship games Sunday afternoon. Bob had texted Susan Saturday night to let her know we wouldn't be able to make it.

We took it easy on Sunday. Bob walked over to the Rec Hall at the RV park where all the Packer fans had decorated and brought snacks to share. He just took a bag of Chex Mix and said he felt like a single guy coming to a potluck with just a bag of chips. Plus he was rooting for the Seahawks in a sea of Packer fans. He came back to the 5th wheel to watch the rest of the game here. Wow, what a surprise ending to that game!

All day I ate only chicken noodle soup, tea, and a salad. When Bob asked if I'd like for him to bring home some food, I said, "Yes, I'd really enjoy a Wendy's baked potato and chili." He went out and brought dinner home. He takes such good care of me. Thank you, love.

Before bed, I did the whole Alka Seltzer Plus Night packet again. And once again I slept very well, waking up about 10 am this morning.

Today, I felt a lot better. In fact, I got the freezer defrosted! But this evening the coughing started again. Time for the night time Alka Seltzer Severe Cold & Flu routine. As soon as I finish that I'll be headed to bed.

Hopefully, I'll be much better tomorrow.

Here are some pics of the fur-kids, Sunnie and Bowie.

Sunnie and Bowie

"Bowie, I need more room. Move it!"

Sunnie and Bowie, so content!

Travel Bug out.