I haven't felt this sick since I had whooping cough in junior high.
I saw the doctor this morning, but he was unable to diagnose the cause of my symptoms or why I suddenly had the goiter of John Goodman. My strep test came back negative.
My greatest concern now is my breathing, which is restricted from the swelling in my neck. I can't swallow any solids so I've been on a Slurpee and smoothie diet all day.
If I'm not better late tonight I might check myself into the hospital because I don't want to deal with any emergencies overnight.
Mad props to the Wives for helping me out. I've lost my ability to talk (I can make sounds, but can't articulate because of the swelling), but they've been patient with my make-shift sign language and help me get around the apartment.
I'll update folks here if something major changes.
Update: I stayed home last night after all and feel much better this morning. The swelling is going down and I have more real estate in my throat to work with. Hopefully I'll be back to work tomorrow.
I'm sick.
I've developed some unpleasant symptoms that are a cross between an ear infection and strep throat. Boo.
Separately and more importantly, please keep Scott, Courtney and family in your thoughts and prayers. Scott's mom, Cassandra, is in the hospital right now for some arteries gone bad, and Courtney lost her Aunt Faith to a long battle with pancreatic cancer over the weekend, too.
Thanks.
Last night I hosted Amanda and Nina for dinner. I cooked a traditional, Neapolitan Puttanesca sauce with spinach linguine, complimented by fresh mozzarella and tomatoes and a green salad.
After dinner, we were discussing tattoos and piercings and Amanda expressed that she's long wanted to get her nose pierced, and Nina immediately applied the peer pressure with, "Let's go -- right now!"
Amanda replied, "Oh my gosh. OK. Let's do it!"
We hopped in the car and Slave to the Needle, where I got my microphone tattoo. Nina was all business and even signed herself up for a consultation to cover up a tattoo on her foot.
Amanda was a little nervous, but winced through the pain...
And got her nose pierced.
The end.
Late yesterday I read a questionable Seattle P-I article titled, "Rossi on right? It's not that easy."
The article basically exposes that Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi has (gasp!) conservative social values. (No shit, Sherlock.) The article goes on to set the stage that, because of these values, Rossi has an uphill road ahead.
Apparently, his 2004 loss to Democratic governor Christine Gregoire by 133 votes (after two recounts) isn't evident enough that Rossi's social values may actually appeal to a good half of Washingtonians.
Now, even if you oppose Rossi's social views, you should not immediately oust him as an unworthy candidate. Why? Many of his views are non-issues in state government.
Many Democrats believe that Republican social ideals will immediately take hold as soon as the candidate gets into office, but this just isn't true. It has not been true during our past two decades of Democratic administrations. Is gay marriage legal yet? Is fetal stem cell research legal yet? The answers to these questions are no, and evidence that Rossi's social views shouldn't be a primary concern for voters compared to the more immediate issues at hand that a governor can impact -- transportation, education and the deficit.
Gregoire's had her term in office, and we've seen no tangible changes despite a surplus in spending. Democratic leadership in Washington is stale, and I attribute that to no political opposition from colleagues and constituents. We need checks and balances, people, and we can no afford (literally) to watch Democrats in office sit on their butts and do nothing.
Washington Democrats needs to swallow a bit of their own Obama medicine and vote for change. Go Dinocrats!