Tomorrow I leave for Florida for a fun girls weekend with my best friend that I have not seen since her wedding almost 4 years ago. I will admit that I feel a little pang leaving hubby here for the weekend. The town where we are going is St. Augustine, which boasts tons of history. Hubby loves history and I know he would really enjoy this place. The plan is to fly into Tampa tomorrow to meet my friend. Then she and I will drive to St. Augustine to stay at my Aunt’s condo on the beach.
My Mom sent an email with what she heard the weather should be like there. She said it would be in the 80s which would feel like winter to me. I wrote back and told her I planned on packing my winter sweaters. Of course I am kidding, but when temps are 100 f or above most of the year, 80 degrees starts to feel cool. 60 degrees is downright frigid! Brrrr.
This past Saturday I finally caved and took my buttinski down to the urgent care center to see why it is I’m still coughing and dragging after a month. It was determined that I have some kind of infection. Sinus? Bronchial? I really don’t know. I just want it to go away. The doctor started me on a Z pack which I also started on Saturday and finished today. I have to admit that I’m really not feeling all that much better. Even as I type I am resisting the urge to put my head down. Maybe this will be one of those delayed reaction medications. We’ll see. Tonight I have a hair appointment after work which I have been looking forward to but it is feeling more like a chore I don’t want to do rather than being something relaxing.
While going on antibiotics is usually last resort, I like to give homeopathic remedies a try. My favorite so far is apple cider vinegar. Ear infection coming on? Place a few drops in the afflicted ear, wait about 10 minutes or so and then let drain. I started making a tea adding 2 tablespoons of the vinegar to an 8 oz cup of boiling water. This really helps to clear up any congestion. The problem I had was that I couldn’t really take it consistently while at work because the stuff smells so bad and I didn’t want to be meeting clients smelling like Easter eggs. At night though I will fix a cup and it is really great stuff. It doesn’t taste the greatest but it does offer up some relief for upper and lower respiratory stuff. My Grandfather swore by it.
Race season is also upon us and due to the aforementioned cold/infection/bubonic plague, I have not been actively keeping up with the regular exercise routine. It was a relief at the doctors when I was weighed and hadn’t gained anything despite the diet debauchery that took place over Labor Day weekend while camping. Hopefully after a few days of fun in the sun I will be feeling up to par again.
We had our niece and her family over for dinner this past weekend. It’s so nice to see her so happy. She and her husband have two kiddos; a little girl who is almost 6, and a little boy, 15 months. The little guy tore through our house like a mini tornado. I have not seen that much energy exhibited in such a small package in quite some time. He was absolutely adorable though. My niece mentioned how my MIL thought the little guy resembled hubby as a baby. From the pictures I have seen I can definitely agree with that. Also, this little munchkin managed to somehow push the screen off the sliding doors which missed my head by inches. Even Abby, who loves children, was walking with a limp at the end of the night. I was instantly reminded of how when hubby and I were first dating, the wine glass population diminished to a mere glass after about six months or so. I can only deduce that it must run in the family.
Temps here are slowly starting to cool down. Cool being a relative term. Nights are comfortable and days so far are either in the high 90s or low 100s, and it is dry, dry, dry! Finally! We will be camping up north in a few weeks and already we are looking forward to beef stew and warm clothing by a blazing fire. Fall is just the best!
Life In The Sonoran Desert 
Hope the trip has made you feel rested and rejuvenated! My boss’ partner’s mom is visiting from Hawaii and thought our muggy high 70’s here today were cold. Meanwhile, we MD lifers are soooo ready for this weekend’s crisp cool non-rainy forecast – 60’s by day, 50’s by night! And I LOVE apple cider vinegar for infections! I’ve even used it to treat cuts in a pinch when I didn’t have any Neosporin around – it stings but it works wonders!
Hi Pam, I am really late in responding. I came home and had hit the ground running. I’m just now getting caught up with posts and comments. Florida was wonderful. That is really funny about your boss’ partner’s mom. I suppose its all in what you get used to. Last night got down into the 60s and I woke up really cold.
Thanks for the tip on using ACV for cuts. I would have never thought of that one but it makes a lot of sense.
I so wish I was also going to the lovely desert when we go away soon. It is not in the cards this time…but will be in the future.
I hope you get better soon! That is worrisome. Maybe you are simply, worn out, and need like a month off work of rest. I need that…not going to get it though. I remember when I was not working and thought I was bored! I travelled a lot…cooked lovely dinners…tended to my eyebrows…sigh.
I hope you have a very good time. St Augustine is indeed beautiful with its architecture. Kim is right about the yoghurt and the Zithromax. I had pneumonia from exhaustion in 2007 and took two z packs consecutively and got thrush in my mouth! It was awful and took ages and ages to get rid of. I had to cut out all sugar and any acidic food burned. I lived off potatoes..I finally took to eating lots of plain yoghurt and that get rid of it.
Me too! It would have been so nice to finally meet you but hopefully we will have an opportunity some time in the future.
I am better now. I think a few days in Florida were quite helpful. Its good to have a break once in a while. Florida was beautiful and we had an absolutely wonderful time. The same girlfriend I met is coming out here in a few weeks so I’m looking forward to yet another girls weekend. So important! 🙂
Ouch! That thrush sounds painful. Was that from the antibiotics?
OMG, I am so excited for you! I really hope you enjoy your trip! Florida is such a beautiful and unique place to visit. It is considered to be the sunny and relatively warmer state than the rest of the country. And you’re right; St. Augustine is the only oldest European oriented cities that are present in the United States.
My Grandmother always used to recommend apple cider vinegar as a “cure-all”. Now, my Mom also used ACV. Warm as a gargle for congestion, sore throats or mouth ulcers. I used to do this and it seemed to help, then I read that it does help!
Thanks Zoom. It was a wonderful trip. The city was even more beautiful than I had remembered it.
I think there has got to be something to ACV. A client of ours was in yesterday and was suffering with allergies. I mentioned this remedy to him and he is going to give it a try. Amazing stuff. I even read online that it is used in weightloss. Not sure about that but it really does help with congestion.
I hope that you are feeling better
Thanks FD. I am happy to report that I made a full recoverly, had a great trip, and am back in the swing of things.
I hope you improve. I hope you also enjoy Florida. I need to check my schedule and maybe we can meet for lunch or coffee!!! how fun! it will be my first Blog encounter. (Well I met Anne…I guess it will be my second.) I’m sort of a mess right now, but…each day brings new ups and downs.
I sooo know what you mean about relative temperature. When it drops to the 70s here I start wanting sweatshirts and such….Which is a bit ridiculous!
Hi MG, sorry for such a late response! Its too bad we never were able to catch up this time around but I’m sure I’ll be back there at some point.
It has dropped down into the 60s at night here now and I have actually woken up cold. I’ve become such a wimp, lol. It’s amazing what we can get used to.
My mom swears by apple cider vinegar also. Gulp a tablespoon of it in the morning with some hot water. The Z-pack should have done the trick. Zithromax, right? That stuff is killer. Eat yogurt, as it’ll also kill anything in your stomach.
I hope you enjoy your Florida trip!
I will try taking it in the morning and see if that helps. The z pack is usually pretty powerful stuff so I’m surprised that this is still lingering.
Thanks! I’m looking forward to being away for a couple of days!