Ugh ! ! !

Diane is not a happy camper. I woke up on Monday morning with a full-blown sinus infection, pun applicable but not intended. I also suspect a lively colony of strep has made its home in my goozel, just to make things even more interesting in a painful sort of way.

My throat feels like I've been gargling broken glass. My whole body aches, and I have a LOT of body to ache. My tonsils look like they have deposits of cottage cheese on them. I have 101 degrees of fever right now, even after taking Tylen*l. I'm drinking all I can stand and keeping the toilet seat warm as evidence of my diligence in attempting to stay hydrated.

I just happened to have a prescription of antibiotics left from a bout with sinusitis that I had last year, God be praised. Seriously. I really can't afford to go to the doctor and I don't have any insurance.

I'm taking 1000 milligrams of Cephalex*n several times a day. In addition to my other wonderful symptoms, I now have a raging case of digestive upset, if you get my drift. Mega doses of antibiotics tend to affect me that way. Oh, joy! Oh, toilet! My close and familiar friend!

I am not good at being sick. Ask Lamar, Jessica or any of my sisters. Cecil, Sue, Jessica and Lamar got a refresher course in my not-so-good-at-being-sick today, bless their thumpin' gizzards. (Did you read that, Jeana?)

You might, perhaps, say that I'm a little cranky when I'm sick. Possibly. Maybe. I freely admit that it's better for me and anybody within a 30 foot perimeter that they step back to at least 100 feet from me. I tend to take off your head and hand it to you without even realizing what I've done. Until I notice everyone looking kind of shellshocked, that is. Honestly, please just go away and leave me alone and my illness will be a more pleasant experience for us all. I try to be civil, but it's like an alter-evil personality takes over when I'm sick.

I apologize ahead of time if I happen to come across in an email or in your comments as hateful or contrary. I really don't mean to be, but those other personalities may take over when I'm under the weather. Mea really culpa, 'kay?

Cecil and Sue brought hamburgers, hotdogs and polska kielbasa for lunch and I fired up the gas grill for the first time this Spring. It was good, but I wasn't terribly hungry due to the aforementioned afflictions I'm suffering with. I had just gotten the last of the hotdogs and sausage off the grill when my grill ran out of propane. I had planned to use my gas grill to smoke a Boston butt for supper, but that put a halt to that. So I ended up using my charcoal kettle grill as a hillbilly-engineered smoker.

I flat smoked that pork, too. About 8 hours worth, and it was worth every trip out back to add charcoal, renew the water in my little pan to keep it moist, and keep the smoky hunk of pork turned so it would cook evenly. Yummy! But I didn't eat much of the smoked pig meat either, due to my unfortunate illness. Lamar put a dent in it, though. I still have 2 quart ziptop bags in the fridge for later. Hopefully it won't be too long before smoked Boston butt sounds great again.

Of course when I took that hunk of pork out of the freezer Saturday night to thaw with the intention of smoking it on Monday, I had no idea that I would have the Mother of All Sinus Infections when I woke up Monday morning. I persevered and got the job done, but I sure didn't feel up to snuff at all. I'm hoping the antibiotics take hold and I'll feel much better on Tuesday. Please, God, let me feel much better! For my health and my loved ones' safety and sanity!

On a somewhat related note, I was so excited to see a letter from Social Security Disability in my mail on Saturday. The excitement didn't last long. Can we say, "Shot down in flames", class?

The letter was to inform me that I DID NOT have an interview scheduled, but WHEN THEY DO get around to scheduling an interview with me, I WILL be informed at least 20 days in advance of the interview. *Argh...*

This June will mark 2 years since I filed for disability because of my crippling arthritis and an inherited foot and leg disease. (Gee, thanks, Dad!) I have exhausted all of my appeals except for the interview with a judge. I've been waiting for that interview for over a year now. The government doesn't get in any hurry, folks, unless you owe THEM money. In the meantime, I have no insurance at all. I know a lot of my blogging friends are in the same situation, without health care. You all have my deepest sympathy, assuredly.

If you're a praying person, I do request, most humbly, that you would pray for this situation regarding my disability. The little extra income from the disability check would be most welcome, but my main concern is the health insurance. I would be ecstatic if they would just reinstate my insurance, nevermind the check.

And here's a little snapshot of the twisted ways our government works: When I first interviewed and filed for my disability, the Social Security worker told me that I would be more likely to be approved and get more money and benefits if Lamar and I divorced and just lived together. Have you ever heard such foolishness in all your born days? I personally know of several couples who did end up divorcing and living together so that one of the partners could qualify and collect their well-deserved disability. What is this world coming to, I'd just like to know...?

I can't decide if I'm burning up or freezing, so I'm going to go sit under the fan with a blanket over me.

Here's hoping you're having a great week.

Love and (possibly contagious) hugs,