Saturday, January 14, 2017

sinus troubles and other things

We had a Christmas snow at Epiphany - at last.


It disappeared when the temperatures got up to sixty on Thursday; I actually brought trash out to the curb, after dark, in my sweater! But it's snowing again, so we'll see how much it brings.

I have a sinus infection which is taking its (slow) course, but had me in no frame of mind or heart to blog for a while. I've done lots of reading. I got one of those Pride and Prejudice spin-offs for Christmas - five hundred pages! - which entertained me when things were at their worst. It was perfect for illness, as I wasn't able to read anything more involved, and it wasn't something I would have gravitated to in healthier times. It wasn't bad, but I do wonder why anyone would want to rewrite a famous story; the author was definitely doing her utmost to avoid all the unpleasantnesses from the original - they are all gone from her book.

crows 

Sometimes you know that you've invited illness to come along. Several people near me have been sick in recent weeks and I didn't catch any of it, but I've been eating too much sugar, and way too much dairy - with my chronic allergies I know I should limit myself - and it finally got me. Well, I am eating clean now. I bought organic fruit and nuts, organic canned soup (haven't felt much like cooking). Larabars. Herb tea - Stash's Christmas in Paris. That is delicious! Minty, with an aroma of cocoa and some vanilla. Also lavender, but I can't detect it, and thankfully it doesn't make me sleepy, as lavender is a sedative. I just happened upon it while on Amazon - it's very smooth and soothing. I am having a Belgian chocolate now and then, but I have no desire for cake, and I haven't had dairy in a week. May it last.

lovely paper plates from Cyndi


The other day Dolly and I listened to a podcast on Teddy Roosevelt. It was from the Circe Institute, which I think is geared toward homeschoolers. Anyway, I was often laughing, not because it was funny, but the man could do so many things that when his abilities are listed, you just have to laugh because it seems so incredible. But they did tell a story. And I have to tell it here.

Apparently, Teddy was expert in ornithology, and when he was President there was a certain bird which could be found in the Adirondacks - this is in New York State - and he wanted to get a photograph of it. He took two Secret Service men with him, and they hiked into the area. I don't know how long this all took them, but they got to a spot where he could see the nest. Unfortunately they were at the edge of a steep cliff. 

He convinced the two to tie a rope around his ankle - yes, that's what I said - and lower him down headfirst - headfirst, yes. He got the photo. Well, they couldn't pull him up. Not all the way. So he decided to cut the rope, which sent him down thirty feet (!), where he bounced off something and landed in a stream. 

They thought they'd killed him. They got down there and found him face down in the water, inert. Then really thought they'd killed him. One tapped him gingerly, whereupon he leaped up and cried, "That was BULLY!" 

Can you imagine such a thing? He reminds me of Winston Churchill in a way, in attitude at least.  



13 comments:

  1. I'm so sorry you've got a sinus infection! I've been eating too much sugar, too--lots of birthdays at my house in January. That tea sounds delicious! And, I really like the story about Teddy Roosevelt. I've heard he was really something--quite the adventurer.

    Feel better soon! ♥

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    1. Thanks, Susan. I can tell it's improving, but slowly.

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  2. The snow photo looks beautiful!

    Glad you are on the mend. Your forced recuperation has made you rather talkative :))) xx

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    1. Ha! Yes, trying to make up for lost time. :D

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  3. I hope you feel better very soon Lisa! My elder daughter Alice had a sinus infection years ago when she was about 14. She was in terrible pain but the doctor was a bit sceptical (Alice was a bit shy and unhappy and hadn't described her symptoms well). The doctor hit her smartly on the top of her head with one of those hammers they use to test reflexes and then asked her if it hurt! Of course it did! She was in tears because of pain and anger, poor girl.
    I enjoyed your Teddy Roosevelt story!

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    1. Thanks, Clare. What a tale! Not much of a "bedside" manner there. :D

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  4. oh my!!! what a story!! those 2 men must of been so scared!! My goodness!! funny! I am so sorry for your sickness. I am trying to be good with sugar as we are recovering from the flu; I was being SUPER careful while we were in MI with sugar, but alas we still got sick. Please pray for my Husband, he has it the worst and is not sleeping well right now. On a happier note, Cleo accepts your Christmas greetings! She is happy to have us home 24x7 right now! :)

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  5. I have always enjoyed reading about Teddy Roosevelt - what a character! - but I'd never heard that particular story. Thanks for passing it on.

    I'm glad you are feeling better - it seems to me that *everyone* has been sick this year, even me ;-) and people who aren't asking for it. It always feels so splendid, when one is well again!

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    1. Yes, and while ill I usually seem to learn something deep and important (while God has me in captivity, so to speak). It's funny.

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  6. Oh, sinus infections can be really painful and pain can be so debilitating - get better soon! Loved the Teddy Roosevelt story - I always thought he was a bit of a nutter - as was Churchill in his way - now I know it! Wonderful!

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  7. I literally laughed out loud at that Teddy story (good use of the secret service too - hee hee)!

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    1. I wish I knew the details: how long they hiked, how did he convince them to lower him down headfirst?

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