Dropout


 I dropped out of my Positive Psychology class. After a few weeks of not working on it and watching deadlines pass me by, I figured it was best to drop it for now and maybe pick up on it later. What's the point of paying for something that you're not working on? Heck, I can't even get a blog out on time!

Sister's week was a hoot, as usual. I tell people how many sisters I have, and they're always in awe. People who come from a family of six siblings think they have a big family. When they hear about all of my siblings, they practically choke. Counting all my half- and step-siblings, there's 14 of us. Here's a picture of those of us that get together for sister's week:



Every year I try to get a photo of us three youngest. I was pretty pleased with this year's snapshot:


When I came home that Friday, I was disgusted by the way the house smelled. I wondered to myself, "Does our house always smell this way? Have I gone nose-blind?" (Enter Febreeze commercial here.) So I started cleaning with a bottle of bleach spray and a mop. I cleaned for three hours, took a break, and then cleaned for another hour. Nick called me after work and asked me where we were going for dinner. I told him I didn't f'n care. He responded, "So somewhere with alcohol?" Yes, we did go somewhere with alcohol, I had two extremely strong drinks, which wouldn't have mattered anyway because my meds make one drink feel like three. I staggered down the road on my walk that night. But I felt much better after those drinks. Or maybe I just felt numb.

The problem about cleaning with a bottle of spray bleach? The particles of bleach get into the air, which get into your lungs. The next morning I woke up with one heck of a cough. My sinuses weren't the greatest either. I knew that my symptoms were from cleaning the way I did; I had a sister who had done that a few times. Man, coughing HURT. I figured it would go away within a few days. That was on Saturday.

Tuesday I went into work promising my boss and co-worker that I wasn't sick, explaining that I had just burned out my lungs and sinuses with bleach. By Thursday I went into MedExpress because I still wasn't any better. The doctor looked at me and told me sternly, "Don't do that again. You've seriously hurt yourself." Well, duh. I've learned my lesson. Apparently I could go on coughing for a long time. I'm taking Zyrtec and Flonase to clear up my sinuses, which is helping immensely. The doctor is hoping that with less drainage, my cough will ease up some. She said my allergies and the air quality doesn't help, either.

I was so miserable on Thursday that I had to call Bryan to come pick me up from the store and drive me home. While I waited for him, I slept in my car. After we got home, I curled up on the couch and slept for a couple more hours. I can't even imagine trying to get home that day. It would have been a disaster.

I've been trying to keep up with the housework since I got home, but it's hard when it feels like I have a family that doesn't care if we live in a disaster area. And with the air conditioning on all the time, it starts to really stink. Let me tell you, I miss our central air. These window units suck. I miss 60 degree weather where you can have the windows open all the time and air out a cat-and-dog household. Then there's Matthew's room. Whew, don't get me started on that garbage pit. I just keep closing the door on it. My mom used to come over and clean it once a month, but now her shoulder is so bad that she can't (not like I'd let her, it's gotten so out of control).

So how's it going with my mental health, you may ask? My mini-manic phase has come down. I'm much more calm than I was a few weeks ago. And THAT'S why we don't mess with meds in the summertime. I've been working on my sleep hygiene (yes, that's what it's called), meditating more, and trying to do more for others. I've also been trying to stand up for myself. I've been walking away from situations that I don't like, calling out bad behavior, and protecting my bubble. I've been saying "no" when I don't want to do something. And I'm still walking frequently, which makes me feel like I'm not a lazy blob. It's working out well for me. Is this the face of contentment?


Until next week's dirt...

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