Thursday, August 21
I know, you are all shocked, two postings in one day! Well, I do have free high speed Interent access at my hotel... and I am sick and have nothing else to do.
We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude. ~Cynthia Ozick.
I felt this very strongly today as I tried to do everyday tasks with no voice! I literally cannot make a single sound right now. At about 4:00 when I started to get very hungry since I hadn't eaten anything today, I began to contemplate my options. The one that sounded the best was just sitting in my room and ordering room service, but wait, can't do that because they cannot hear me to take my order... they would probably think it was a prank call. I at last decided that I would just have to go to the store, but the only store I know about is about 10 minutes away across the river into Iowa. Now, I am sure there has got to be one closer, but how can I ask someone?? So, I drove out to the No Frills Supermarket in Council Bluffs to get some food. You just don't realize what you have until you lose it! People just expect you to talk! The produce guy who asks you if he can help with something, the lady who is in a cart standoff with you because you cannot say excuse me, the check out lady who just wants to know if your card is debit or credit and finally the guy in the elevator who comments on the "wet paint" sign and all you can do is grunt... he must have thought I was crazy. Then he gets off the elevator and says "have a nice day" and all I can do is mouth "you too". I feel like I was rude to about 5 people in the course of my half hour trip to the store and back.
Anyway, the moral of the story is... be grateful and thankful for the gifts that you are given and appreciate them everyday.
We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude. ~Cynthia Ozick.
I felt this very strongly today as I tried to do everyday tasks with no voice! I literally cannot make a single sound right now. At about 4:00 when I started to get very hungry since I hadn't eaten anything today, I began to contemplate my options. The one that sounded the best was just sitting in my room and ordering room service, but wait, can't do that because they cannot hear me to take my order... they would probably think it was a prank call. I at last decided that I would just have to go to the store, but the only store I know about is about 10 minutes away across the river into Iowa. Now, I am sure there has got to be one closer, but how can I ask someone?? So, I drove out to the No Frills Supermarket in Council Bluffs to get some food. You just don't realize what you have until you lose it! People just expect you to talk! The produce guy who asks you if he can help with something, the lady who is in a cart standoff with you because you cannot say excuse me, the check out lady who just wants to know if your card is debit or credit and finally the guy in the elevator who comments on the "wet paint" sign and all you can do is grunt... he must have thought I was crazy. Then he gets off the elevator and says "have a nice day" and all I can do is mouth "you too". I feel like I was rude to about 5 people in the course of my half hour trip to the store and back.
Anyway, the moral of the story is... be grateful and thankful for the gifts that you are given and appreciate them everyday.
Sorry everyone. I know you have been EXTREMELY dissappointed not to have heard from me in while. Anyway, yes, I am still alive and all that, just been busy. That is what happens when I get back in Seattle, which this time was only for 5 full days. My time at home was filled up quite a bit by my new nephew!! Jake Warren Bennett was born on August 11th and weighed in at 10 lbs 4 oz, ouch. I realize I may be a little biased, but in my humble opinion, he is adorable. Otherwise, spent time with family (as my mom was also in town) and of course Whitney (who in my humble opinion, is also adorable). :-)
As of late late Tuesday night, I am back in Iowa. My flight was about a half hour late getting into Omaha, so landed about midnight. Then the Hertz Gold counter closed right about then, so I had to wait for the lady to walk all the way back to the normal counter with the key (which took about 15 minutes) and then I had to walk all the way to the garage ... which for those who have been to the Omaha airport, know that is a little walk. Anyway, finally got to the garage where my GIGANTIC Ford Expedition was waiting. I cannot believe how big that car is, I feel like I am driving a bus! My golf clubs fit in the long way in the trunk... and that is in the travel bag!! Crazy. Anyway, I manuvered my giant gas guzzler the wrong direction from the airport and took a bit of a detour to the hotel. What should have been a 5 minute drive took about 20. Anyway, finally got to the hotel, checked in, parked the beast, and got to bed about 1:30AM. Earlier in the day, I told Steve that I would get up and golf with him at 6:30 in the am! Needless to say, I didn't get much sleep. But, golf was fun and that early it was a very pleasant temperature, later in the day it got up to 102... before the humidity. Then I got back from golf and had to get ready for class. However, in all the late night travel (aka breathing in the constantly recirclated air on the planes and in the airports) and lack of sleep, and air conditioned everything cause it is so hot, I got myself sick. I awoke yesterday with a little frog in my throat. Then after talking in class yesterday and through the evening at dinner and such, I awoke this morning (at 4:30am) unable to breathe or speak anything above a whisper. Luckily, we are in Omaha and have good cell coverage, and I was able to send Steve a text message (since I cannot talk) and tell him that I could not make it to class. So, Steve and Edward graciously taught class alone today while I attempted to breathe (drugs help), and sleep, and rest my throat. It is now a little after 1PM and I am just getting out of bed. I still cannot talk, but thanks to drugs, I can breathe. I hate being sick!! In 4.5 years of doing this job, this is only my second time that I have missed a day of class due to illness. Since a lot of the times I am teaching alone, calling in sick is just not an option, however, I am lucky enough to be working with 2 other trainers on this trip, so I guess if it is going to happen, this is a good trip to have lost my voice. Luckily we now have a 3 day weekend, so I plan to lay low here in Omaha for a couple days before driving across the state of Iowa in my giant car to teach class in Keokuk on Monday. It is about a 5 hour drive, so I should only have to stop for gas 4 times.
As of late late Tuesday night, I am back in Iowa. My flight was about a half hour late getting into Omaha, so landed about midnight. Then the Hertz Gold counter closed right about then, so I had to wait for the lady to walk all the way back to the normal counter with the key (which took about 15 minutes) and then I had to walk all the way to the garage ... which for those who have been to the Omaha airport, know that is a little walk. Anyway, finally got to the garage where my GIGANTIC Ford Expedition was waiting. I cannot believe how big that car is, I feel like I am driving a bus! My golf clubs fit in the long way in the trunk... and that is in the travel bag!! Crazy. Anyway, I manuvered my giant gas guzzler the wrong direction from the airport and took a bit of a detour to the hotel. What should have been a 5 minute drive took about 20. Anyway, finally got to the hotel, checked in, parked the beast, and got to bed about 1:30AM. Earlier in the day, I told Steve that I would get up and golf with him at 6:30 in the am! Needless to say, I didn't get much sleep. But, golf was fun and that early it was a very pleasant temperature, later in the day it got up to 102... before the humidity. Then I got back from golf and had to get ready for class. However, in all the late night travel (aka breathing in the constantly recirclated air on the planes and in the airports) and lack of sleep, and air conditioned everything cause it is so hot, I got myself sick. I awoke yesterday with a little frog in my throat. Then after talking in class yesterday and through the evening at dinner and such, I awoke this morning (at 4:30am) unable to breathe or speak anything above a whisper. Luckily, we are in Omaha and have good cell coverage, and I was able to send Steve a text message (since I cannot talk) and tell him that I could not make it to class. So, Steve and Edward graciously taught class alone today while I attempted to breathe (drugs help), and sleep, and rest my throat. It is now a little after 1PM and I am just getting out of bed. I still cannot talk, but thanks to drugs, I can breathe. I hate being sick!! In 4.5 years of doing this job, this is only my second time that I have missed a day of class due to illness. Since a lot of the times I am teaching alone, calling in sick is just not an option, however, I am lucky enough to be working with 2 other trainers on this trip, so I guess if it is going to happen, this is a good trip to have lost my voice. Luckily we now have a 3 day weekend, so I plan to lay low here in Omaha for a couple days before driving across the state of Iowa in my giant car to teach class in Keokuk on Monday. It is about a 5 hour drive, so I should only have to stop for gas 4 times.
