Sore Throat from Hell

I wish I wasn't up quite yet, after only 5 1/2 hours of sleep. But the swollen glands in my throat won't let me sleep. It's been 6 days of this, and it's only been more painful the past three. Fifteen more minutes 'til ibuprofen time. Last night I couldn't sleep because it hurt so bad.

Yesterday it ruined my river tubing trip. I spent the day on the couch instead.

I'm thankful for my bossy little roommates who have prepared glasses of salt water for gargling and urged me to get plenty of rest. When I suggested watching a movie yesterday, I was met with "I think it's naptime, L."

The doctor says it's only a viral upper respiratory infection, so just keep downing the pain killers and this too shall pass.

What are the chances it passes before my friend's birthday party tonight? . . .

Fortunately I've picked up a couple good books to read while resting. One is an 800+ page history book called "What Hath God Wrought", covering the period of 1815-1848.

In the first 62 pages, I have already learned a lot. Here are a few notable tidbits:

In the beginning of the 19th century, people bathed, at most, once a week. At the time, one doctor from New England actually stated that 4 out of 5 of his patients didn't bathe from one year to the next! CAN YOU EVEN IMAGINE!?

They were smart about one thing, though. They wore lots of clothing, despite hot temperatures and humidity, because they believed the sun was bad for your skin. I say, who cares if you have wrinkles when you smell bad?!

By 1815, more people had been brought to America from Africa (through the slave trade) than from Europe! UNBELIEVABLE and SAD.

Sojourner Truth began her fight for freedom when, after being emancipated, she sued to get her 5 year old son back. He had been illegally sold out of state just before she became free. {She had been sold away from her parents at the age of 9.} Her son was returned to her.

Here is an excerpt I love:

"The man who got ahead in often primitive conditions did so by means of innate ability, hard work, luck, and sheer willpower. An important component of his drive to succeed was a willingness to innovate and take risks."

America!

I will stop now for those of you that don't enjoy history so much.

The other book I purchased is "Same Kind of Different as Me", a true story about "a modern-day slave, an international art dealer, and the unlikely woman who bound them together". I've heard it's incredibly good.

If I can't sleep, I might as well read.

I'd like to also share a clip from last week's "So You Think You Can Dance". Although I don't watch the show, I stumbled up on it, and I'm obsessed. Click here, because embedding didn't work.

Happy July!

Helloooo!

Much has happened since I last posted, most importantly a week-long trip home to Nebraska. When will I learn that one week is not enough? Ten or eleven days is perfect. Maybe when I receive more paid time off . . although I'm not certain that will ever happen, as I have a pretty sweet deal as it is.

But I digress.

It was hard coming back to D.C./Virginia, and I actually shed a few tears. It may not help that I am bored out of my mind at work these days, and I'm dying for something new. How did work go from intense, long days to filing my nails and juggling gchat convos?

But I digress again!

The weekend is here, and despite the disastrous condition my room is in, I'm not turning down the chance to be social. Hopefully tonight will involve a new spot downtown, and tomorrow I'm seeing Tim McGraw, Lady Antebellum and Love & Theft in concert! Yeeehaw!

p.s. I am missing my 10 year high school reunion this weekend. I loved high school, but Facebook has provided me with enough life updates to keep me satisfied. Plus, Tim and Lady A totally beat out people I never hung out with in high school anyway. Word?

I will leave you with a little fireworks video I made to one of my current favorite songs. If you appreciate a little hip-hop in your life or the lovely vocals of Alicia Keys, you'll want to click play. :)

"Fireworks" by Drake from LP on Vimeo.