So, I had an up and down day which has left me quite drained.

Rose was writing a Social Story for a client about how his teacher sometimes will get sick and have to have time off work to get better, meaning that sometimes he will have a different teacher….

I need one for parents that says that sometimes the speech therapist will get sick and have to stay home, and there IS no subtitute speechie, so she’ll just have to try to catch up on everything when she gets back to work, which means she can’t have everything done yesterday…

*breathes*

Amongst all the controvesy recently surrounding “Alcopop” drinks (I had never used that word for a breezer or cruiser until recently - t was always girie drinks or “bitch piss” in my circles, though I suppose we can see why the politicians can’t use it) - it’s nice to see the companies are still bringing out new versions of their popular beverages.

The most recent one I’ve tried: Vodka Cruiser “Free”. Mixed berry flavour. Claiming to have way less calories, I’m sure this would be a sure-fire way to get drunk quicker (if that’s possible on such a drink!) I bought it from Superbarn, as the 4-pack was on special.

So, I have it in front of me now… and it tastes fine. Kinda like low-joule jellies you buy and mix at home. Yeah, like the weight watchers jelly. *shrugs* Obviously there’s less calories in a shot of vodka, but this at least is more drinkable and less likely to burn my nostrils :p And if they start serving it in bars, it means you don’t have to opt for soda water or diet coke if you’re after a sugar-free mixer.

1.1 standard drinks at 76 calories with a sweet berry taste… if you hate that imitation sugar aftertaste, don’t buy it, but if you’re seasoned at poisoning your body with Sweetener 950 - aka “Acesulfame Potassium” and “Sweetener (955)” - sucralose, then why not? :p

Of related interest, an article about sweeteners in diet coke that Rish sent me today. “Sodium benzoate has been linked to damage to DNA and hyperactivity in children, and is used as a preservative in Diet Coke in Australia.” … I decided today that I need to get back to drinking Diet Coke at work again, because people are going to suspect that I’m pregnant… because we decided that it may be the only thing to get me off the stuff.

edit: I have now found out there is an official Cruiser Free website for Australia… and that there are three flavours. The thought of orange and mango though makes me think of warm homebrand poppers in my lunch box at primary school… the site won’t tell you much except seemingly promote that you sould drink cruiser while wearing cut-off denimn shorts and flannos. If that’s you’re thing…

Went back to work today… there’s still plenty of other people off work with various illnesses, poor things! Had a quiet morning - returning emails and phone calls from people who desparately want to see me. Nice to be popular?

Went for a review appointment at the doctor’s after lunch - I still have fat tonsils and swollen glands in my neck… but I’m getting there. Have to keep on taking my antibiotics of course, and once i’m done with those, next week I’m off to get a range of generic blood tests to see how healthy I really am. Iron, B12, blood counts etc. You know, make sure I’m not going to drop off. Or something like that. Mostly because I have been carrying around some level of sickness for most of the year (!) and just want to check that overall, I’m in reasonable health…

And yes, I bought a new webcam today…

Ooh Shiney! I love my scarf, it’s my happy-scarf. (still playing with the light levels and functions. yes, it has a mike, but hmmmm)

Anyway… I needed one before the end of July when Rish will still be away and I won’t, but I thought I’d pop in and get something today *smiles* so now I can be dorky on msn and skype :p

It seems I have restored my sensitivity to caffeine while being off these past couple of weeks. On normal work days, I’ve built up to having a cup of tea with breakfast, a coffee when I get to work at 8:30 while reading emails, another one about 10:30 when I hit mid-morning, and then have a diet coke at lunch time. Occaisionally there is another caffinated drink in there, and often a tea or coffee late afternoon, depending on what my tastebuds are up for. (or if there’s cake. ugh. I’ve been on cake detox too).

But, over the past couple of weeks I’ve only had the occaisional coffee (such as at McDonalds Goulburn on the way home from Sydney last weekend, and the instant coffee I had in the hotel room because I knew I needed to wake up for a long night ahead)… and only 1 diet coke - the half a can I managed at lunch on Monday before realising that I really shouldn’t be at work, and went to the gym instead??? I got told off by my doctor for that, don’t worry. The can’s probably still sitting next to my keyboard, with the rest of my mess…

So, I think I’ve been on some sort of involuntary detox from my caffeine/diet coke addiction. And because I’ve been semi-conscious and my liver has been dealing with codeine and the antibiotics, it hasn’t missed haing other things in my system to deal with.

So where to from here? Do I attempt to stick to this and maybe stick with the tea over the coffee (possibly half to caffeine, according to Wikipaedia) and cut that diet coke out of my lunch… leaving it for the days then when I actually want the caffeine in my system?

nataliedee.com

We’ll see, it’s back to work tomorrow, and while I’m kinda looking forward to being a normal working human-being again, I don’t want to think about the mountain of emails that will be there for me to answer, and two weeks behind in things to get done for the term.

But there’s only 6 weeks of term left - a public holiday on June 9, and various other things such as PD (stuttering, manual handling, and evidence based practise) to tick away the days until July 4 - last day of term and time to leave Canberra for a month! (yes, I’m crossing off the days) :p

About to go to bed after a very hot shower :) May have used all the hot water, but it’s near zero degrees here, so it was worth it :)

Have left Rish at a pub crawl… I’m completely not up to that sort of punishement just yet :) maybe next weekend. I wish I was there, but it’s not a good idea. Going to leave my phone on beside the bed for the “phonnnaaaaaaa! I lvoe you so much come and get me I love you! I’m so drunk I love you!” call or text that will hit some point through the evening :)

I don’t know where I’m heading with this.

To bed I think. zzzzzz my throat still hurts

I love Muppet Treasure Island. I think I had it on video though, so it’s probably dead, and I haven’t seen it for years….

But, yes, going a little stir-crazy at home. Past the point of appreciating that I can relax and sleep in and take care of myself and starting to miss people-contact too much. That’s why I went to Japanese last night, loved being there, even though it was assaulting my vocal tract at every syllable.

I get to meet a friend for lunch though today - she’s down for an audiology conference (defected from speech path after finishing the degree!) So at least that means venturing out of the house for a little bit… even to scurry back after :) I reckon they probably get some good freebies at their conferences, there so much more money in hearing than speech!

…that song is hilarious :) *dissolves into giggles*

<3 Tim Curry!

(10:35:26 AM) Fiona: I’m happy phil
(10:35:31 AM) Fiona: I’m jsut not healthy
(10:35:36 AM) Fiona: hehe happy healthy harod
(10:35:39 AM) Fiona: hmm
(10:35:41 AM) Fiona: harold
(10:35:49 AM) Fiona: harod was a different thing
(10:36:18 AM) Oh what a beautiful day: hahahaha wasn’t he some king? or was that herod?
(10:36:26 AM) Fiona: all yes
(10:36:29 AM) Oh what a beautiful day: hehe so that means you’ll be extra happy when you’re healthy!!
(10:36:31 AM) Fiona: I’m great on my bible
(10:36:35 AM) Fiona: I SHOULD KNOW THAT
(10:36:52 AM) Fiona: it was in Jesus Christ Superstar. Or Joseph. Either way.
(10:37:01 AM) Fiona: The best bible ed for me was from musicals
(10:37:15 AM) Fiona: and from Saved and Dogma. I loved Dogma
(10:38:18 AM) Oh what a beautiful day: hahahaha good girl - dogma was fantastic :)

It’s easier to swallow today. Still feeling quite tired, but I think I must be getting healthier, since I can eat without crying - banana and brown sugar snadwhiches! mmms

At the news that the Australian Dollar was trading around 95-96 US cents, I of course have seen this as an opportunity to revisit some of those online stores that I love to see if there’s anything they may be worth buying at such a competitive price. (also, I’m home alone, and will be for a while longer, and when I’m not feeling crap, I feel fine and get bored)

So, I started with Threadless - and haven’t really found anything to justify spending money on - but I have had fun in rating Submissions (and rating some low… oops).

I’ve also paid a visit to Mushycat… where I got the t-shirt I’m wearing today :) There’s a pic of me on that site with a shirt saying “Cuddles Keep Me Sane“. It must be a couple of years old now, and has been worn to the gym a million times… and the printing and logo still hold true :p

Again, while browsing there, I’ve found yet another web-comic to read - Cectic.com… :)

Ahh the happy little sceptics :)

Back from the doctor’s - they almost didn’t let me drive myself home, but I eventually got my own way - had a nice little fever burning along at 38.3 degrees.

I got a needle but not the planned one - I had booked in to get the last gardasil, but they didn’t have it (actually got called by the nurse on my mobile while I was in the waiting room to tell me not to come in later this afternoon as planned for it). Instead I got a nice large needle of anitibiotics in my butt, told not to go to work until at least Monday, had the arguement over whether I could drive myself home, and told that I shouldn’t be alone at night until I’m better in case I get a really bad fever, need to be taken to the hospital and have stuff drained out of my tonsils.

But on the “plus” side, it’s probably not glandular fever?

Because I know some of you want to see how I turned out as a pirate:

Words may follow later, but for now, I had a great weekend, and need to go to bed :)

A quick note about the paddle (weapon of choice) - the theme was Naughty and Nautical :) If you want one of your own, you can get pink paddles from the little costumes area (you know, with the naughty nurse outfits and barely-there teddies) from Bras n Things. You don’t even have to venture beyond you local Westfield!

Other photos on Facebook.