Gag! Cough! Cough! Sigh.

I'm miserable. True. Started a sore throat on Wednesday, last. ('Scuse me while I sneeze, cough and blow my nose.) Okay. Where was I? Well, Friday night I had the stuffy nose--you know the kind. Where for no apparent reason it just swells shut and you instantly become a mouth breather. Yeah. You look and sound especially intelligent at that point, of course. Anyway, Saturday night my husband had to make a speech/roast/presentation for one of the employees he's supervised for about 22 years. This guy has worked for the same company for 42+ years. I'm not kidding. (Actually, the "company" has changed hands about 5 times in that 42 years, but Mr. Earl has stuck with them--except for a short stint on active duty in the National Guard.)

That was okay. I made it through the meal, roast/honoring, etc. of Mr. Earl. Then, driving home my nose went completely shut. No air passage. Nada. Zip. Headache ensued and coughing. By Sunday, well I won't gross you out with all the yucky details, but let it be noted that green and slime would only begin to approach describing some of my distress on Sunday morning. I did persevere and made it to Church and through Church, and am glad I did.

Then we had a storm. Living in Louisiana means you can have tremendous downpours, often with accompanying side effects: lightening, thunder (that shakes the foundation of your home, bones, psyche), hail, damaging winds (including tornadoes). So, all day Sunday it was dark and threatening. I got home from Church around quarter to one. We'd already had a few downpours equalling about 1/2 inch of accumulated rain at that point. I sat down to eat a bite of lunch around 1:30. Then, as one says, "the bottom fell out." Over the next hour to hour and a half, the rain gauge--starting with 1/2" at 1:30 filled to the 4" mark. About an hour later were we under a tornado warning. When that expired, we were given another.

I'm happy to report that we were spared that monster. Though others not so many miles away weren't so fortunate. I spoke with one friend who mentioned that she and her family had to pull off the road for about 15 minutes because she couldn't see to drive while rain, hail and wind ripped around them. Then, after resuming their way home they had to circumvent downed pine trees that crossed the roads, one even leaning against power lines, burning and sparking.

Before the night was through, we'd had another 1.5 inches of rain.

Sunday night, I couldn't sleep. Couldn't breathe. Could cough. Repeatedly. Till my back hurt. (That's a new one for me! Usually it's my chest, abdomen that hurts after lots of coughing!) I was M-I-S-E-R-A-B-L-E most of yesterday. BUT . . . I slept better last night--though I slept sitting up. Today I still have a sore throat, stuffed nose/sinuses, headache and some coughing. I even considered going to the doctor. BUT, since I feel so crummy and live at least 30 to 90 miles away from the doctors I would/could possibly be "worked in" to see, I'll probably just wait it out. The 30 mile trip is 45 minutes--one way. The 90 mile trip is closer to 1.5 hours. It's something I know some of you can relate to!

Yes, I'm drinking copious amounts of water, some orange juice--which I'm about out of, unfortunately--eating some, though I have little to no appetite. Blowing my nose like crazy--when it will open enough to do that. Coughing. Yes. Still coughing--but maybe not so much. And--if I don't talk too much--perhaps I won't cough so much. I think I'll go take some acetaminophen for my pain and suffering. I'll spare the cough meds for bedtime as they're more essential at that point.

NOW, I hope YOU feel better and have a much better day than I seem to be. I'm sure things will look up soon.

Oh. We've already had some rain today and are scheduled to have more. And tomorrow. We did have a nice river rushing across our driveway, Sunday. And the neighbors had a nice lake in their back yard. We'll see what today brings!

Have a good 'un!