random thoughts – Day 2,200 (Thursday) – oj and couch time

Just like so many times in junior high and high school, I woke up with a sore throat. Several times overnight I woke up and couldn’t swallow. When I finally got up, hours later, it wasn’t worse, but it also wasn’t better. I did the thing with a hand mirror bouncing the light into my mouth and saw it was bright red and swollen. A long adolescent acquaintance with sore throat ailments led me to check for white spots (none) and to check my neck for swollen glands (not found). I didn't feel sick enough to stay in bed in pajamas all day so I dressed in jeans and a hoody.

Kiki at the window.

For some reason, when my throat is aggravated, I want orange juice. Luckily, there was orange juice in the fridge and I went for it. Logic seems to indicate that OJ would be too acidic, but it feels nice and cool on my throat. 

After drinking juice and later coffee, there was a lot of laying around on the couch. The day's lofty plan to start the big dance skirt was postponed and the home sweatshop remained closed for the day. Kiki stationed herself nearby on the windowsill and gazed upon the outside world until I stood up for a second and she ran to the bedroom.  

As a student, while home sick from school with what was usually diagnosed as strep throat or tonsilitis (often with a bonus ear ache), I would hunker down in my bed for the day with a book. My favorite book for being at home was Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Today, I considered reading the book about the dancer/choreographer Martha Graham that I started last week and carried it over to the couch. 

On the couch.

Instead of reading, I picked up my phone and played Words with Friends, read news and emails, participated in several text conversations, and played at least a dozen games of chess in Duolingo (and won more games than I lost). The phone usage was so heavy my cell had to be charged twice.

The daylong absence of exertion seems to have worked, because by evening, the throat looked less fiery and was less swollen. I never once thought to check my temperature and by the time I thought of it, it seemed pointless. In any event, my throat is already improved and with luck, by tomorrow, it will be just a memory. Fingers crossed.