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Saturday Morning Doldrums and Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Colorado News
Posted on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 08:18:00 AM EST
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I haven't posted much this week because I came down with a cold and awful sore throat with almost complete laryngitis. Between the sniffles and not being able to squeak out more than a few sounds at a time,I'm squarely in "the doldrums."

Anyone have any ideas for busting out? I made chicken soup with matzoh balls tonight, but by the time it was done, I was too tired to eat.

I'm looking forward to this weekend so I can stay inside my abode until Monday. Reading makes me dizzy, so I'm just going to watch old movies.

Whhat do you have planned, and if you were feeling under the weather, what would make you feel better?

this is an open thread, all topics welcome.

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    Saturday Morning Doldrums and Open Thread | 49 comments (49 topical)

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    Great news: (5.00 / 2) (#12)
    by andgarden on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 09:05:47 AM EST
    North Philly has a supermarket again. Bad news: newspaper commenters are still incredibly racist.

    I'm better with the preventative (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by brodie on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 09:42:30 AM EST
    game, but here are some homespun tips for relieving a cold:

    1.  Hot water or herbal tea to which is added fresh lemon and raw honey.

    2.  Echinacea tincture, 30 drps in small amt water every 30 min until symptoms subside.

    3.  Spices:  cayenne, ginger or garlic, capsule form or added to tea.

    4.  Zinc lozenges for sore throat (10 of 23 mg lozenges/day)

    5.  Hot baths adding Epsom salts or eucalyptus or pine needle oil (or latter two oils in steam inhaler or diffuser)

    6.  Pleasant/amusing classic movies, preferably of the Shop Around the Corner Lubitsch-touch variety.  Avoid partaking of the 30s gangster, 40s/50s women's prison, or 60s/70s gritty realism type movies.


    Great advise! (none / 0) (#23)
    by jen on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 10:01:24 AM EST
    I was just turned on to something new for me which really works in the prevention category -- black elderberry syrup.

    There's also an amazing immune system builder that I've taken for years at the first sign of something coming on -- coughing, tired, etc. called Astra 8. Like other herbal remedies you have to flush your system with it. Three tablets 3 times a day until you feel strong again.

    Once something hits, you have to ride it out, but the raw honey/fresh lemon in tea, and echinacea tincture really does help get over it faster. Best to you, Jeralyn.  

    Parent

    Chicken noodle soup, (none / 0) (#44)
    by ChiTownDenny on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 05:31:51 PM EST
    Chunky or Progresso (I always have a few cans in stock!), bed rest, old movies;  you have the right game plan but don't wear yourself out cooking.
    I hope you feel better soon, Jeralyn.  Your weather has been noted for its severity.  Take care....

    Parent
    Cognac (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by rdandrea on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 03:21:34 PM EST
    VSOP

    Tastes better than Nyquil.

    If you dont feel a little (none / 0) (#45)
    by jondee on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 05:53:16 PM EST
    better after ALL THAT, it must be, as Diogenes likes to say, that you're being punished for all those things you were never tried for (lol)

    Peace

    Parent

    Mmmmmmmm (none / 0) (#48)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Dec 13, 2009 at 03:54:00 AM EST
    I think I feel stuffy

    Parent
    Please let me toss my $.02 on cold remedes (5.00 / 1) (#46)
    by scribe on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 09:21:52 PM EST
    into the mix:

    take a bottle of cheap white wine, the drier the better, and pour a couple cups into a medium saucepan.

    To this, add some lemon juice, say 1/4 cup or even a half a cup.

    Then, add a good dollop of honey, any variety will do.  I'm partial to alfalfa honey, but that's b/c I like the dark color it has.  That, and I got it on sale.

    Finally, add 4 or 5 whole cloves, or even 7 or 8.

    Bring this mix to a boil, simmer for a minute or two, and then cut the heat until it comes down to "drinkable but still hot".  Works.

    FWIW, I'm getting acclimatized to winter in my new abode.  The temp, per the digital thermometer on the back porch, never broke 26 today and we had a good solid wind all day too.  I'm walking around, in and out running errands and such, in khakis, chamois shirt, sneakers (watch the ice!) barn coat, ball cap and scarf.  Of these, the scarf and hat are the most important items of all.

    Tomorrow, I make a choucroute (mmm, sauerkraut) and do some holiday baking.  I can finally make my fruitcake, because I finished making the candied orange peel this evening.  

    my sympathy, sister-in-flu-like-virus (none / 0) (#1)
    by kempis on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 06:47:42 AM EST
    Last week, I came down with something that sounds like what you have--just in time to grade stacks of final essays for the semester. I'm coming out of it now, but last week is a blur.

    I swear by TCM and chicken soup. Old Rosalind Russell, Cary Grant, Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, etc movies are comfort food for the ailing soul. I hope you find something good to watch today, bundle up, and be kind to yourself. (I have to fight my stupid, puritanical work ethic that tries to guilt-trip me when I'm sick. If that's you, don't fall for it. When you're sick, you're sick.)

    Feel better soon.

    "No somos criminales" (none / 0) (#2)
    by diogenes on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 07:17:46 AM EST
    "LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Federal agents in California arrested 280 foreigners with criminal records, most for serious offenses, in their largest such crackdown to date, U.S. immigration officials said on Friday.
    More than 100 of those rounded up in a three-day sweep that ended late Thursday have since been expelled from the United States, and most of the rest face immediate deportation proceedings.
    The bulk of the individuals had prior convictions for crimes such as rape and other sex offenses, armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon"

    Is this OK or harassment?  Can we imprison these guys if they are deported and reenter the country?

    If they served their time... (none / 0) (#4)
    by kdog on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 08:29:31 AM EST
    for the prior convictions, and this is just about rounding up people without papers...no, its not ok.  If any of these cats are wanted for murder, rape, armed robbery...then yeah, its ok to arrest them.

    And no, we should not cage people for crossing the border alone...thats crazy.  This land was made for you, me, and them.  This land meaning this land...not our little man-made subdivisions called countries.

    Parent

    You are forgetting (none / 0) (#5)
    by jbindc on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 08:41:33 AM EST
    Entering this country without proper documentation and permission IS a crime.  If you are deported and then you try to come back in, it is another crime.  You may not like the law, but it IS the law, so yes, they can lock you up. they know that too, and if they choose to enter (or re-enter) illegally, then they should suffer the consequences of their actions, right?  Natural law and all that?

    Parent
    Presence in this country (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by Jeralyn on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 09:55:45 AM EST
    without proper documentation is a civil violation, not a crime, unless one reenters after deportation. Look it up.

    Parent
    Illegal entry into the U.S. (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by Peter G on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 10:01:30 AM EST
    is a "crime," true, but it is the kind of crime labeled a "petty offense."  The maximum punishment (for a first conviction) is six months in jail.  When prosecuted at all, it is for the purpose of securing the "consent" of the accused to accept a speedy "removal" (deportation).  Re-entering after a prior deportation is a minor felony (two year max), unless the prior deportation was on account of serious criminal convictions.

    Parent
    Cages... (none / 0) (#6)
    by kdog on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 08:49:48 AM EST
    are not natural consequences of taking a long walk though, are they?  It's a concept a bunch a dudes made up out of whole cloth way back when.

    Diogenes didn't ask if it was legal, of course untold numbers of tyrannies are perfectly legal...he asked if it was ok.  I think its pretty freakin' far from ok...as caging a fellow human being is the far greater crime (in the non-legalese sense of the word) than crossing a man made-up imaginary line.

    Parent

    clarity (none / 0) (#30)
    by diogenes on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 11:35:55 AM EST
    If we deport an undocumented person who is a convicted criminal and then that convicted criminal returns and is again captured here, should we simply deport the person (thus perpetuating this cycle) who has committed other crimes or should he be imprisoned?

    Parent
    Yes. (none / 0) (#34)
    by oculus on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 12:07:04 PM EST


    Parent
    We have enough of our own rapists (none / 0) (#41)
    by Cream City on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 01:18:30 PM EST
    and murderers, y'know -- and I know a victim of one of these previously deported immigrants who returned, and I know what it has done to her life.  And I've read of others here who were murdered or lost family members and friends to previously deported murderers who returned, too -- and others killed by previously deported immigrants who returned again and again to drive illegally and kill others on the road.  You don't want to share the road with them, do you?

    I am all for immigration law reform.  I have learned a lot about it in the last year, sponsoring an immigrant to come here and be part of my family.  I want all of the wonderful people like her to have a much easier and less expensive experience with our government, and I want our government to be less threatening and more welcoming in its communications, believe me.

    But when our government is doing its job -- if it is doing its job in fair treatment of suspects from afar as well as from here, but unfair exercise of the law does not seem part of this story? -- then I'm okay with laws barring fairly convicted criminals from adding to crime here.

    Parent

    Ready to brave the heathen hordes... (none / 0) (#3)
    by kdog on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 08:24:17 AM EST
    at the stores, get the Christmas shopping over finished done...not wait till Christmas eve like most years.  Then a holiday party tonight full of good tidings...start getting the liver in game shape for the rigorous holiday season.

    Feel better J...all I can suggest is large doses of sleep...get in hibernation mode till your immune system emerges victorious from its latest battle.

    We are home now (none / 0) (#8)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 09:00:21 AM EST
    Along the I-10 corridor there are lots of shivering people.  Views from the road yesterday...some guy beating up the woman in the truck up ahead while he drove serving wildly all over the place.  Almost gave me a heart attack.  That was followed by an economical SUV with two bumper stickers.  One said "Legalize the Constitution" and the other said "You Lie" with the "O" stolen out of Obama's campaign.  Sometimes I feel like I live life in the slow lane whether I like it or not.

    I think I'd like... (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by kdog on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 09:03:31 AM EST
    a "legalize the preamble to the Decalaration of Independence" bumper sticker...that would be pretty cool.

    Parent
    How's the little man... (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by kdog on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 09:13:55 AM EST
    doing by the way?  Sore as a mofo I bet...the long ride has gotta be uncomfortable for him...hopefully the thought of Santa being only 2 weeks away is making it easier.

    Parent
    Yes, he is sore (none / 0) (#15)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 09:20:30 AM EST
    They rotate Ibuprofen and Tylenol with Codeine at this point.  I can usually only get one days worth of the Codeine stuff into him though.  He hates anything that makes him feel fuzzy.  He talked me into getting him Fallout 3 before Christmas, and he snuck off to room solitude with not enough sleep to try it out.  I.V. Ibuprofen called Toroidal is amazing stuff for these kids and that first day after surgery.  I don't even like thinking about life before it.  Lot's of morophine, and then they would all itch so it was followed by lots of Benedryl....everybody was wiped out and passed out and still madly itching.

    Parent
    When my niece... (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by kdog on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 09:29:08 AM EST
    gets her "back fix" as she calls it, she won't get out of bed for two days...she doesn't even want anybody near her except moms.  Not sure what pain meds she takes.

    By around the third day she is up and about climbing the walls and jumping on the furniture...its amazing how quick they bounce back...I'd be laid up for weeks with all the dope I could get my hands on I'm sure.

    Hope he's digging the game and is on the drums again in no time!

    Parent

    My heart goes out to the girls (none / 0) (#19)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 09:37:19 AM EST
    Is it because I'm female or is it because this is actually emotionally harder on them?  I don't know.  The little boys tend to try to jump off of things the moment their vision clears, and the new devices make jumping off of things that much more doable.  I remember Josh being four and jumping from the bed to his dad's arms about 24 hours after surgery in front of the doctor and the doctor just smiled.  Didn't even say anything about being careful to not drop him because what father isn't?  The back fixes for most of them are now mostly skin incisions.  Making someone instantly an inch or two taller has got to make you insanely sore though.

    Parent
    Just get some rest (none / 0) (#9)
    by andgarden on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 09:00:42 AM EST
    If you're feeling really stuffy, see if you can get yourself some behind-the-counter Sudafed (not PE). Though you should probably check with your Dr. first on that.

    Rosemary tea (none / 0) (#11)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 09:04:46 AM EST
    is also one of the most amazing decongestants I have ever drank, a chef taught me this once when there was more Rosemary than cold tablets around and no time to fetch any.  Make it very strong.  It does not taste that great but it still in my opinion works better than any OTC decongestant I've ever tried but does not last as long....only a couple of hours.  It works fast though to dry you up so if you want to drink tea all day no problem.

    sounds absolutely (none / 0) (#16)
    by jeffinalabama on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 09:22:33 AM EST
    disgusting. But I'll remember it because it sounds effective, also.

    Admittedly I am not the biggest rosemary fan in the world-- although I do like the Clooney variety;-)

    Hows the little one? Give him my regards.

    Parent

    He's doing well (none / 0) (#18)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 09:30:54 AM EST
    They did seven expansions that day.  It just amazes me the sheer number and volume of children's lives saved and also greatly enhanced long term.  We met two girls this go around Josh's age and one little four year old who was just starting and had the most difficult procedure....when they have to put everything in.  I remember when Joshua was first done, I met a few parents but not many yet who had been doing this for years.  They had a calm concern about them, verses my terror of the surgery up against the reality that my child was currently in grave danger of death prior to the surgery.  I remember thinking I would die if my child died but all the surgeries would kill me too certainly.  But these other parents somehow managed to live so perhaps there is hope.  Now there are so many more parents for the newbies coming through the door having been pulled through a knot hole backwards.  I still want to reach out and hug them but at that point we are all usually way to tender yet to the touch.  The best you can do is talk to us.

    Parent
    I couldn't help noticing the photos (none / 0) (#14)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 09:14:47 AM EST
    of the Pinkett Smith children from the Nobel ceremony that are up this morning.  How could you lose the genetic lottery of looks coming out of that pool?  But it doesn't make their daughter's smile any less breathtaking, she got her mom's amazing smile along with every other beauty attribute her parents had to share.

    Add (none / 0) (#22)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 09:58:53 AM EST
    a little of red pepper flakes to your Matzoh ball soup.  It'll clear the sinuses right up.

    Our household endorses the suggestions (none / 0) (#25)
    by Peter G on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 10:03:39 AM EST
    for hot and sour soup, as well as for the salt-water gargle.  Hope you're feeling better soon.  Being sick is the pits.

    Nettie Pot (none / 0) (#27)
    by Inspector Gadget on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 10:07:36 AM EST
    for sinus clearing.

    Parent
    Just one t - (none / 0) (#28)
    by Inspector Gadget on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 10:10:09 AM EST
    Neti pot. I've not tried one, but I know numerous people who have and swear by them...

    Parent
    I thought these things were disgusting (none / 0) (#29)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 11:28:09 AM EST
    and then I moved to the petri dish of lower Alabama and I have one and it gets used.  It can really help put you over the top in the middle of a cold situation.  Clears everything out and seems to give your body a break from fighting EVERYTHING on the ground floor.

    Parent
    That's what I've heard (none / 0) (#38)
    by Inspector Gadget on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 12:55:18 PM EST
    I'm one of the few in my family who don't suffer from sinus problems, or even a common cold more than once every decade or more, but I'm seriously considering getting my dad one. Poor guy can't dry up his head no matter what he does, and the medications for that problem cause him to become confused and create hallucinations.


    Parent
    Ginger tea, chicken soup (none / 0) (#26)
    by gyrfalcon on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 10:06:36 AM EST
    But don't wear yourself out making either one.  Swanson's has a decent chicken broth called something like "Certified Organic" if you can find it, and it has more and better flavor than regular canned broth.  Or get a Lipton mix.  Or there's a pretty frozen good chicken soup with matzoh you can get some places, I think it's Mrs. Grass or something.

    You can find superb ginger tea in tea bags in the supermarket.

    Or my favorite, hot ginger ale!

    When you get sick of hot stuff, mix half-and-half ginger ale and organge juice for a cold drink.

    Keep eating!  I always lose my appetite when I'm sick, but you really have to force food.  The immune system has to have fuel.  Don't even worry about what you eat.  Eating something is more important than eating the "right" thing.  Eat whatever you can stand to eat.

    And keep shoving as much liquid as you possibly can into your body.

    Viruses dry up the mucous membranes, and then they can stick there in your nasal passages and back of your throat and just keep reproducing instead of being washed out through the digestive system.

    If you can stand old-fashioned decongestant, the kind you have to get now from the pharmacist, do take that.  The sore throat comes at least partly from inflamed and blocked up eustachian tubes, and the decongestant relieves that pressure and therefore a lot of the sore throat.

    Also, viruses get on your toothbrush from your mouth and multiply in between brushings, so you reinfect yourself with a good dose every time.  Get some extra toothbrushes and alternate, sticking one briefly in very hot or boiling water before you use it again to kill off the viruses still on it.

    Lastly, if you don't have a vaporizer, go turn the hot shower on in your bathroom, close the door and go sit in the room a couple times a day for 15 minutes or so and just breathe.  The steam will help.

    Mostly, just rest, snooze, lie around and take it easy as much as possible.

    Bleh (none / 0) (#47)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Dec 13, 2009 at 03:53:03 AM EST
    Viruses in my toothbrush. That really grosses me out.

    Parent
    True, though (5.00 / 1) (#49)
    by gyrfalcon on Sun Dec 13, 2009 at 09:55:04 AM EST
    I first heard this from my doc many years ago when he and I were both trying to get rid of a nasty cold virus I had that was hanging on for months, and to which I had developed an allergic asthma (first and only time in my life).  Bless his heart, he became personally enraged at the persistence of my cold and thus the asthma, and spent hours researching everything he could find out about how garden-variety cold viruses behave.  I've since read this a number of times in various publications on the subject.

    The same thing is no doubt true for drinking glasses, silverware, etc.

    Parent

    Saw toothbrush sanitizer objects (none / 0) (#50)
    by Inspector Gadget on Sun Dec 13, 2009 at 11:08:37 AM EST
    for children's toothbrushes at the drugstore yesterday. Didn't look closely enough at what they were, so they could just be a protective storage container.


    Parent
    I have a cold right now that hasn't (none / 0) (#51)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Dec 13, 2009 at 01:51:40 PM EST
    gone away for two weeks and is playing heck with my asthma right now.  They stopped my sublingual allergy treatments.  I'm on steroids right now, something I'm told they don't really like to do anymore but I'm out of options.

    Parent
    And the puppies are gorgeous (none / 0) (#31)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 11:37:02 AM EST
    Eyes open, but not walking yet....so snuggly and fat wiggly chunky things.  I have to get the rest of the dogs from doggy daycare later today but we are laying around the living room draped in puppies who can't walk yet and watching six days of all of our DVR'd shows.  I still have five days of the Daily Show yet to go and I've already weeded through Ancient Almanac.  I just delete everything Biblical.....I'm sick to death of "Biblical History" and the little of it there is evidence of that can be trumped up into HUGE THINGS.

    Hot toddy for Jeralyn (none / 0) (#33)
    by ruffian on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 12:03:51 PM EST
    Saute lemon peel and lemon juice, in a little butter. Strain and add to a shot of rum or whisky. Add sugar or honey to taste.

    Movie: The Bishop's Wife, (the old one with Cary Grant)

    I promise you will feel better!!!!  Looks like lots of other good ideas here also.  Hope one of them helps you - just staying in and relaxing for a day will probably do wonders.

    Great, helpful,suggestions (none / 0) (#39)
    by jondee on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 12:58:47 PM EST
    Think good thoughts. Even if you dont feel like it. Picture to yourself the most beautiful healing place that you know of and recall to yourself what it feels like to be there. Plan a little more for that next adventurous project you've had simmering on the back burner for a while.

    And dont forget to go outside, if only for a short time, and get a little fresh air and sunshine. It gives the immune system a little shot in the arm.

    Shalom.  

    Parent

    Ha. Today is the first Met broadcast: (none / 0) (#35)
    by oculus on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 12:11:53 PM EST
    Puccini's "Il Trittico," with Patricia Racette singing the soprano lead in each of these mini-operas. Wonderful so far.

    I have selflessly scheduled picking up my tutoree and his "little" nephew before the opera finishes.  We are going to see a 3D movie about mummies at the Natural History Museum.  Review to follow.

    Goody goody cool (none / 0) (#36)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 12:16:55 PM EST
    I need more museums.  Joshua loves anything Egyptian.  And that was even before he learned that King Tut had scoliosis.

    Parent
    "Little" nephew opted out initially. (5.00 / 1) (#37)
    by oculus on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 12:18:54 PM EST
    But tutoree must have exerted pressure because now little nephew is joining us.  

    Parent
    Re H1N1 vaccine: not possible. Until (none / 0) (#40)
    by oculus on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 01:09:45 PM EST
    my internist asked me Thurs. at routine appointment if I would like it.  I sd. sure, but not available, and I am purportedly immune.  He sd., we have it and will give you the shot today.  Amazing.

    Hmm, Jeralyn, you were on an airplane (none / 0) (#42)
    by Cream City on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 01:26:30 PM EST
    a few days ago, and now this.  I swear from experience that the warnings about the poorly ventilated and close conditions are true.  I took a lot of precautions on my last long trip -- some of the paraphernalia in Magellan's and Travelsmith catalogs -- and, for one, I did not come down with a cold or worse.  Just a thought for your future trips . . . as for now, there are lots of good suggestions above.  I have a tea recipe I swear by, too -- a mix of Nestea and Tang (vitamin C!) and cloves and cinnamon to clear the sinuses.  And sleep, lots of sleep.

    Saturday Morning Doldrums and Open Thread | 49 comments (49 topical)

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