Quarantine Candy

 I had to be careful here because I was going to write (She/Him) in brackets, but I didn't want to offend anyone. The reality is that one of my "Wise Men" is "Anodea" and I honestly have no idea if that is a male or female name.    (Not that in 2020 it matters anyways because we can all associate with whatever suits us best.) I even struggled with Three Wise Men.    Should it be Three Wise People or Two Wise Women + A Wise Man or maybe the man isn't wise at all and it's Two Wise Women + A Man? I compromised.   Three Wise Men (She + Him) I think I safely covered everyone. *** I think I have solved my mental health. (insert footnote) I realize that is a hell of a bold statement to make and I'm a teeny bit afraid to say it publicly in case I have an absolute meltdown tomorrow and I'm dead wrong. I say "solved"  though because I don't think mental health is something to be cured, I think it's a problem to be solved. Sometimes it is ...

I can hear the sirens now getting louder and louder as December unfolds. The Goal Setting Police are coming. We are 19 days away from counting down with that New Year's Rockin Eve to the last drink, last bite of chocolate, last cigarette or last carb, and this is where we all start to create those grandiose ideas of what we are giving up January 1st. Last year, my decision to "give up wine during the week" lasted one full day. (And only because the liquor store was closed). Until November, when I gave it up for the month, and then again in December when I decided to "change the way I drink" which is completely different to "giving it up" altogether.    So, I have had 4 drinks since December 1st - and not that I require a medal for this move, but I'm rather pleased about it (and so is my liver, I believe.)  (I lied.   It was 5.   It was a bottle of wine but if you pour the glasses big enough, you can say it was only 4). (There is also no guarantee ...

  Sunday, November 22 - Dry cough started at 1pm  Monday, November 23 - Strange, must be a fluke.   Cough gone. Tuesday, November 24 - Sore throat Wednesday, November 25 - Sore throat is the same Thursday, November 26 - Sore throat doesn't seem to want to go away Friday, November 27 - Worrying.   Sore throat hasn't changed and chest is really tight.  Feels like there is a clamp on my chest and I'm having to use too much energy to teach.  My breathing is shallow and it's scary. Saturday, November 28 - Couldn't teach.   Asked my partner to teach because I didn't have enough air.   Made appointment for COVID test.   Really scared about my breathing. Sunday, November 29 - I seem to feel okay first thing in the morning but get worse at the day goes on.  Breathing continues to be a challenge.   Tightness in my chest.  Sore throat seems better today though.    COVID test scheduled for 4:25pm at ...