’tis the season (Misc. ramblings)

I’m Sickly Toldjah, and I’m reporting for duty.

Blogging will continue to be light over the next couple of days, as I continue to fight this blasted cold. Stopped by the drugstore tonight on my way home from the 8-5 (today wasn’t a good day to call in sick) and bought something I never have before, in order to hopefully bodyslam this cold: Tylenol Cold head congestion “cool burst” caplets. I didn’t want anything that would make me drowsy or loopy (anymore than I already am) and Tylenol always kicks bootie on my headaches so I thought I’d try another Tylenol product to see how it worked on colds. Wish me luck …

My sickliness has put me in a bit of a funk because it’s sort of placed my life on hold for a few days at a time when I need to be doing things like finishing Christmas shopping, wrapping and packaging gifts, getting together with friends and exchanging gifts – and my home office is a complete disaster area right now. I went to the company Christmas party last night, which I couldn’t miss, of course, and held up until about the last 20 minutes or so, but today I felt worse as the day progressed, so I went ahead and cancelled a full day of plans tomorrow in order to say home and try to get better

I swear I did not think I would make it home today, though – there was an accident on one of the main highways here that backed up traffic for miles. Fortunately, I was going the other way, but everyone in front of me drove a little too slowly for my comfort – I guess they were gazing in amazement at how long a line of backed up cars there were on the other side of the highway. Next, an accident on a two lane road I travel on my route home. Didn’t look like anyone was hurt in it, thank goodness, but it backed up traffic in both directions. Fire and medic had to navigate through the two lanes of traffic to get to the accident, which meant I had to pull over into a grassy near-ditch area on the side of the road in order for it to pass. Once it did, I got back on the road, and proceeded to the CVS to get “the goods” and spent a few extra minutes in there trying to make myself feel better by buying a new shampoo and conditioner in addition to the cold meds. Trust me, when you’re a woman and you’re sick and you look like hell, you’re desperate to make yourself feel and look human again.

Soo I leave the CVS, and dang if there’s not a police car and a police van with sirens blazing pulling into the gas station across the street. Dunno what was going on, there but at that point I was extremely eager to get home and get off the road before something else happened!

I had two days worth of mail to collect when I got home, as last night I drove straight to mom’s after the Christmas party so I could get some chicken soup as only moms can make it. Pulled up in my parking space, grabbed a few bags I had and got out of the car. One of my neighbors who I would classify as “cute” happens to be outside and comes up to me to chit chat. Keep in mind I’m feeling icky, and look it too, and all I can think about is “why does he have to see me now?!” (deja vu, anyone?).

He offers to carry my bags into the house for me. “No, thanks,” I answered, hoping the Blanche Dubois-style lighting in effect by the Christmas lights shining in the dark from my other neighbors’ yards are hiding my pale death-look, and desperate for escape. I’m polite, though, and continue on talking for a bit, and take some ribbing for my own lights not being on in my yard last night. “I wasn’t home,” I commented. “I’m not feeling well and stayed at mom and dads. Went to pick up some cold medicine tonight.” We talk some more. He’ll be out of town the week of Christmas, and said that he wasn’t sure if he’d get a chance to wish me a Merry Christmas before he left, so he did so, I did with him, and then he said “Aw, gimme a hug.”

A hug?!?!

“Oh, well I don’t want to get you sick, too,” I quickly responded, not being in the mood for affection of any sort and frankly not wanting to hug someone who I think has the hots for an unmarried Desperate Housewives-ish neighbor a few doors down.

“Aw, that’s ok,” he grinned, and then stepped up on to the sidewalk to give me a hug that lasted a couple seconds longer than it should have.

Sigh. Wrong time, wrong (but nice) man, wrong everything.

I smile meekly, wish him a safe trip, and dash inside the house, thanking God for the first few minutes of peace I’ve had in 48 hours.

I put all my things away, nibbled on some crackers, watched a few minutes of news (oh, and turned on the Christmas lights), and went upstairs to log on to the computer and check email and the blog. In the middle of all this, a neighbor across the parking lot had someone visiting who was blasting Bon Jovi’s 7800 Fahrenheit CD. So much for the quiet. While checking email, I come across some spam mail from Victoria’s Secret, the title of which read: This Weekend Only! Signature Cotton Sleepshirt: $10 with [$22.50] Purchase. At the same time, the blaring music stopped. I sighed contentedly and clicked on the link.

This is wrong. Wrong wrong wrong. I’m in a weakened state (and we already know what happens in those instances) and feeling very unwomanly, making it easier to succumb to the lure of a good sale from a place I like to shop at. Turns out their “signature cotton sleepshirts” are not the ones I’m used to getting. Bummer. So I end up getting a comfy one that’s not on sale. Fortunately, you get one of their holiday fragrance giftsets free with any sleepwear purchase, so it ended up being all good. I consider the purchase a bit of a Christmas present to myself.

Shortly after I finished my purchase, someone’s car alarm started going off not far away. Went on for about five minutes. Annoying – and loud.

All is now calm at the moment, thankfully.

Ok, so now that I’m done babbling about my day, it’s your turn! Got all your Christmas shopping done?

Oh, here’s Christmas and Bon Jovi, done the right way Things in this vid for both gals and guys alike to enjoy.

BTW, you can utilize this as the weekend open thread. Keep posting those links as it helps keep me updated a bit on what’s going on, as right now I’m pretty much out of it.