Waiting to inhale

It's been a bit of a washout of a day, not so much because of the weather -- what is now tropical storm Hanna blowing through the area tonight -- but because I've been under the weather. I thought the humidity and rain would give me a break from hay fever, generally ragweed allergies now, but they still got set off this morning and though I finally took loratadine and it helped, it made me tired and gave me a splitting headache. This with half the normal dose, mind you.

I ran some errands and then took a walk at lunchtime. No rain yet, but the humidity was more than 90% and it got tiring pretty quickly. When I got home, I wanted nothing more than to lie down on the kitchen floor with my face against the cool linoleum. But I did have the wherewithal to turn on my bedroom air conditioner and, after being revived a bit lying on the bed, it occurred to me that I needn't be conscripted to the bedroom nor air condition the entire apartment. Every room in this place has a door. So for the rest of the day I kept both and only the bedroom and kitchen air conditioned, which I haven't needed to do all summer. Forays into the other parts of the house to retrieve things have felt like entering a tropical jungle, so I've quickly retreated.

I'm lucky to be alone today, too tired and irritable and sorry for myself to come up with the energy anyone else would need from me. But at least I did get out last night. In the late afternoon I had an appointment with Maddy, whose salon is right by the Minuteman Bikeway, and it so happened that some of my walking/biking friends were meeting up there after work. I caught the tail end of the ride and then we met up with some other friends for dinner, a spontaneous treat. Plus, my friend Martha, who lives not far from there, also called me, so after dinner I stopped off to visit with her for awhile as well. Tomorrow afternoon I have plans to see a couple of friends in Cambridge. Indulging myself in slothful hermitage today doesn't seem quite so bad when sandwiched between those social events.

Still, I hate to waste my precious time off neither being productive nor having fun. I haven't posted much here lately for similar reasons. Any creative thought that might surface is quickly dulled. Maintaining my energy is a full-time effort.

One thing I've had some success with is the allergy-related digestive issues I've had. My holistic practitioner gave me digestive enzymes to take between meals. This means no eating between meals, since they must be taken on an empty stomach. I'm used to my mid-morning snack, my mid-afternoon snack, and my sometimes late night snack, which are all off-limits. It's been an adjustment, but I've been disciplined about it. I can't tell you how much I've enjoyed my meals since doing this! Sheer heaven! I am so ready to eat when mealtime comes around. And they really go down so much better when my GI tract isn't already stuffed. :-)

I also managed to spend a bit of time today thinking about food for the birthday party (I'm throwing myself!) next Saturday. Will (hopefully) post more about that. I have no big thoughts about turning 50 other than taking care of my health. That's what Virgo is all about, after all.

Comments

[marja-leena]

It's no fun not feeling energetic, but do give yourself the right and pleasure to do nothing for a change and not feel guilty about it! sounds to me like you are too busy most of the time. Hope your allergies subside and you feel fabulous as you approach your birthday.

[Bob Eggleton]

Hey Leslee! It's my B'day on Saturday, in fact as well. I know yours is two days before in fact, but still, kind of funny.
Sept 13th shared by actress Barbara Bain and in 1999 it would be the day the moon is blown out of earth's orbit in SPACE:1999. I was born to science fiction, you see.

Yeah on the allergies. I have sinus stuff and lots of sneezing going on!

As always your writing is much fun to read. I can "see" you in your day, it's so good.

[Leslee]

Thanks, Marja-Leena. I really don't do that much - almost never go out during the week, and rarely book up my weekends. It probably sounds like I do more since I post about that, not all the time I'm doing nothing!

Bob: That's right, your birthday is very close to mine isn't it. But you are a couple of years behind me - enjoy your two more years in your 40s! Funny about Barbara Bain! Glad you enjoy my ramblings. :-)

[Katherine Anderson]

I typically feel guilty when I do nothing but lounge (or lounge and read). I often feel like I need to always be doing something in order to feel accomplished. However, over the past couple of years I'm learning to keep my life in better balance, balancing work and social life with moments of being alone and enjoying my quiet time. I hope you are feeling better. I, too, have digestive related issues ... and allergies, and have found that dealing with them is trial and error. I'm glad what you're doing is working. Hmmm ... interesting in that you and I are only 12 days a part in both birthday and age. ;-) I'll look forward to your happy birthday post and will definitely be thinking of you this weekend.

[Leslee]

Kat: Yes, trial and error. The digestive stuff is getting under control. The respiratory - not so much, except with meds, which make me tired, alas. So was your birthday the end of August, or is it coming up??

[kat]

The medicines are exhausting. My allergies seem to get worse every year, unfortunately. My birthday is coming up on the 25th. For some reason, I just can't seem to embrace it. I admire the way you have.

[leslee]

Ha ha ha ha ha! You think I'm embracing it?!!