Flu and rabies and school, oh my!

[averygoodun42]

So, I kinda poo-poo the flu news every year, because, well, partially because I don't want to hear it because I can't/won't get flu shots (they mess with my immune system something fierce, with the end result of me getting everything that's going around, including the flu) and partially because the media always, always overplays it.

However. The fact that 18 have died in Mass. already gives a little more credence to the media hype, though probably only because it's so close to home. And, well, my lymph nodes are aching. And I've been in airports recently...

I'm still not getting a flu shot, but I am taking better care of myself. For instance, I decided to lie down after my shower this morning while waiting for my skin to absorb the oil I put on... and woke up a little less than an hour ago. I think I needed that sleep. The only reason I'm not back in bed already is because I need to catch up on my water consumption. Well, that and I need to give my back a little exercise or it's going to hate me more than it already does.

Of course, the flu isn't the only thing going around. A man in Brookline, Mass. (a town about 30 miles from here) recently was attacked by a rabid bobcat. Which means the squirrel population is probably suffering an outbreak. So I (wisely or not) warned Page to tell an adult should he see any wild animals acting strangely. I hope he doesn't go into full panic mode over this. He's already said he's not watching anymore Lego videos, because they are all zombie vids (after Geoff pondered whether rabies was what started the zombie myths; I told him rabies has been theorized to be the start of vampire myths, as the symptoms are more in line with that than zombies). I wouldn't be too sad if that holds...

What's bumming me out the most right now is the realization that I will not be graduating in May 2014. At the very earliest, I'll graduate with my associate's in December 2014, though more likely it'll be May 2015. Which means moving is further away than I hoped.

I have been telling everyone two years, but, well, in my mind, two years was counting from May 2012, rather than now. And while it would be possible to complete all the credits I need in the next school year (31 credits needed, 6 could be CLEPed with serious studying, leaving 25 to complete over three semesters, including this coming summer), I think my health would crash doing so. And seeing as I really, really need to be as healthy as possible before I move back to Colorado due to my allergies to the state, it makes it kind of pointless to consider.

Of course, the bright side of that is that I have two full years to get the house into selling shape. And two full years for the market to improve. And two full years to enjoy the community we have here. That's not pittance.

And it makes me more sure of the wisdom of buying a new (to us) car this spring, should the Camry fail inspection next month. If only because the driver's seat is definitely a factor in why my back hates me.

So, overall, things are okay. I think they'll be better tomorrow, however.

Comments

[dickgloucester.livejournal.com]

Yikes, do take care of yourself. And barricade yourselves in the house! I'm very, very scared of rabies.

I think it's a good thing to be realistic about how fast you can do the qualification you're aiming for, and as you say, a more relaxed timetable has its up-sides, quite apart from protecting your health.

[averygoodun.livejournal.com]

I will, though I don't tend to be the barricading type. Cautious, yes, but barricades make prisons out of havens. ;-)

I was hoping to avoid another year of Geoff suffering through the biannual conference his work attends, but, well, it's not the end of the world if he does. He's used to it now, I suppose. And, yes, there are perks to staying!