I almost titled this “sick day” but since I’m still working the Evil Day Job, I thought that’d be misleading. If you’ve been reading my (mostly sparse) Twitters (because I forget to post), you know I’ve had a relapse of the cough. It went very barky Monday, and by Tuesday I’d lost my voice. I mean, it’s SHOT. It’s still gone today. My cough is almost squeaky because my throat is so sore, and I’m coughing so hard my back is sore too. That Man keeps after me to go to the doctor and I’m like why? It’s a cough and a sore throat. I have no fever. I know it’s not pneumonia. It might be bronchitis, but I don’t have the diminished lung capacity like the last time I had it. My chest doesn’t hurt or feel heavy or bubbly. It’s a cough. Even if I do start to run a fever, it’s most likely viral and they won’t be able to give me anything anyway.
So it’s lots of hot tea and orange juice and a steady stream of decongestant, Musinex, Vicks 44, and Sucrets.
I don’t feel that bad, except I don’t have much of an appetite. Even coffee hasn’t been that appealing (which is fine, because I’ve got less than half a bag of Caribou yet and I don’t know when my order will get here. Caribou has been very slow to ship lately.) I haven’t been sleeping good either, but last night wasn’t the cough. I was rather loopy — possibly thanks to the medicine — and dreamed endlessly about the short story I’m writing.
Oh, did I forget to mention that? A friend sent me a call for an anthology, and darned if I didn’t immediately get an idea for it. It’s not my usual fare, but closer to Letters than my other work. It’s dangerous and definitely out of my comfort zone, so I’m going for it. I only need 2-4K, which is harder than a whole novel, I think.
Anyway (yes, I’m still taking the medicine, can’t you tell?), I dreamed the ending for the short story. Over and over. It was like a “choose your next scene” book and after the first iteration, it didn’t even make sense anymore. I kept waking up and thinking Ooooh! Oh, never mind, that was stupid. Then I’d go back to sleep and dream another ending. Crazy.
So no dark & early this morning. No Revision Xibalba. I did get up a little bit before work and managed to start the final scene of the short thanks to those stupid dreams, and it’s close to being wrapped up. The title I’m thinking about is so bad I don’t feel comfortable sharing it here. Ha. Like I said, totally not my normal fare. I keep alternating between “Cool!” to “This is dumb” to “I can’t believe I wrote that!” *blush*
Needless to say, I have absolutely no expectation that this story will be accepted, and NO, I won’t be giving it away for free (here) if I don’t sell it. Although if you really want to embarrass me, you could drop me a line and see if you can convince me to see it.
Hey, Sorry you’re not feeling well. Hope you get better soon. I haven’t done much writing (or blogging) lately. Partly my internet access is acting so wonky, and partly I’ve been working so much at work I come home tired and brain dead (I’ve finished weeding the adult nonfiction and the reference collection and have started reweeding the adult fiction and large print- we need to clear two bookcases-so we’re being pretty brutal about it).
P.S. Ya know I want to read this as soon as you think it’s ready… right?
I do think you need to go to the doctor. Have you considered that you might have ashtma? That’s the form it takes with me and my son. We can’t stop coughing and it is triggered by illness. Also, a doctor could give you a prescription for cough medicine, far more effective than Vicks.
Work can definitely leave me brain dead, Ann. That’s why I try to write early in the morning before the EDJ! Hang in there. And we’ll see about the story. It’s pretty raw. 😳
Rene, I’ve never had asthma or anything like it, and I don’t have any problems at all breathing. It’s just this blasted cough won’t go away! True about the cough medicine, though — but I don’t want to take anything with codeine in it. I’m already loopy enough! (I can’t take Nyquil because it really does a number on me.)
I second the motion that you see a doc.
Really, it might be something else, ya never know: see, i took Ms. Baby to her pediatrician this morning thinking she must have bronchitis, because she’s been coughing for weeks. Turns out, she has infections in both ears! 🙁 I’m such a bad mommy; I should have take her in weeks ago…
Anyway, I’ll show you mine, if you show me yours on the story. 😀 I’m determined to submit something for the March issue of Membra Disjecta because it’s going to be all about Pirates!! OK, pirates AND ninjas, but I’m going to write a pirate story. Even if it kills me… 🙄
You coy minx! Will you at least tell us what the theme of the anthology is??
Bethany, you just gave me the MOST HORRIBLE idea for one story including both pirates and ninjas. Dear God. I have no idea what I’ll have to do to get it out of my head. *wibbles*
And Sis, sometimes a quickie (heh, no pun intended) short story is just what the doctor ordered. In fact, I’m tempted to throw something together myself. Would you mind? I don’t want to be competition if there’s limited space, but…dude…those are some seriously brain-tingling submission guidelines!
I’m sorry to hear about your throat, I hope you feel better soon. 🙄 I don’t even have sickness as a reason, the personal life has just been kicking my arse lately. Ugh.
And now I shall go off and ponder some ways in which I can persuade you to share your short story. 😎
>>the MOST HORRIBLE idea for one story including both pirates and ninjas. Dear God. I have no idea >>what I’ll have to do to get it out of my head.
hee, hee – Gutterball, dear, you must write it, of course! 😈