The Cold, the Sick and the Ugly

This past week or so I've been sick, which is pretty much the "norm" when you have a child. You give them life and they give you every virus and flu bug that hits the general population. Tis the circle of life, right? (Sense the bitterness? :) So needless to say, I haven't been sweating much lately - at least, not the way I would like to be. Another wards, any raise of temperature has been treated with an Advil. Despite this bug, I try to get outside. Luckily, with an abundance of trails around I don't have to go very far to get close to nature. My daughter and I decided to go for a nature walk (after I bribed her with ice cream), yesterday. Unfortunately, when her ice cream was done and she didn't want to walk anymore she started to complain and cry. "Mommy, I want to go home now. This isn't the right way! Let's go this way! Can we take a bus?!" Complain. Whine. Complain. Finally I said, "Did you know bears live here? If you keep crying, they're going to hear and come eat you." ...Didn't hear a peep out of her for the rest of the walk. ...Just call me Mother of the year. :)


Normally, a cold bug doesn't stop me when running or doing any other physical exercise. However, if I'm running a temperature or if it's in my chest, I figure it's a good time to stay home, relax and catch up on sleep... and the laundry. It drives me crazy (no pun intended) when I see grossly sick people at the gym; coughing, blowing their nose and generally looking like death warmed over. If I'm sneezing everywhere, I'm thinking people would prefer me not panting in their general direction. So I try and avoid high populated areas. If I'm really stubborn, I'll go for a walk or run outside where's there's less of a chance of spreading. While doing so, I still retain proper "runner's etiquette" and give plenty of room for others to pass me and I restrain any impulse to blow out snot rockets. Carrying a tissue is much more lady-like, anyways. ;) As for today, the only thing I have on my list is to stay home and finally kick this cold (oh and the laundry, of course)! Cheers.