Thanks for the fish

here, Clem. I feel like lately all I do is work. And J works twice as much as we do. He works at least 65-70 hours per week. We don’t make huge salaries that justify this, and it’s starting to seem less like an anomaly and more like the norm. I don’t mind working hard, and I don’t mind being busy when I am at work. But what is starting to bother me is the expectation that this is just the way it is. And now I have a cold, and am still having other health problems, and I really feel like all of this is brought on by work stress.

Isn’t there a better way? In France, aren’t they working 35 hour work weeks, eating good food and drinking nice wine, having great social lives and just being oodles happier? Don’t get me wrong… I love America. I think we have access to a great way of life. But corporate america owns us. And we accept that as the status quo. I’m just getting tired of it.

So my doctor called today and thinks she finally figured out what is wrong with me. Meanwhile, I’ve been treating myself with natural remedies for the wrong thing. Now she wants to give me more antibiotics to kill more things in my body, so more things can grow out of balance. I tend to believe that antibiotics were how I got into this mess in the first place. It’s beyond frustrating and I’m close to being at the end of my rope. I also hate being sick and this little cold could very well kick my ass. However, if I were to look for the silver lining, at least I have a good reason to take Nyquil tonight. I love Nyquil. It’s the only time I actually sleep, but I am very careful to only take it when I get sick. Though I do usually give myself one grace night after I’m pretty much better. : )

I made some applesauce last night with the apples we picked a few weeks ago. It was really good. It takes like apple pie without the crust. I made a triple recipe, which made 3 jars. I didn’t bother pressure canning them, because I knew I would eat them soon enough. This week I plan on donig more and actually getting them canned properly. I may add a little less sugar to the next batch though.

What else? I want to say something positive before I sign off… Well, our ballroom dancing lessons are going well. We absolutely suck at the merengue, but it’s super fun. We giggle the whole time and I’m sure get on everyone else’s nerves. But my feeling is that it’s better to get on people’s nerves for being too happy rather than too angry.

It’s starting to get cold so I have the propane fireplace on, which doesn’t do me much good when I’m not in the living room. So, I’m going to read “French Women Don’t Get Fat” (since obviously American women do, especially as winter starts setting in) and trying to figure out how to write something for work that doesn’t totally SUCK. Then, I’m going to take my Nyquil and go to bed earlier than is seemly.