A-Z through April — J
This ain’t no one-liner. I had a one-liner planned, but then, life happened.
I had too much fun over the weekend. Too much fresh air and sunshine, too many smiles, and now I have to pay for it. If you have a happy, healthy immune system you probably think that’s poppycock, but that truth will resound with many of my readers.
The Cold Sore Episodes, Take Seven. I don’t just get a fever blister, no, I run the full gamut. I gotta run fevers, get the aches and pains that go with those, have my lymph nodes swell to the size of golf balls, and of course, total lip explosion. I look deformed. That is not hyperbole. It’s super gross. Like, wake up with my lips crusted together. HashtagHellaSexy.
I feel like before I return to work, I need to text my boss a selfie, so he can mentally prepare for my hideous entrance. Again, I am not exaggerating.
Not every outbreak is this bad. At times I’ve been able to catch it and sometimes stop it beforehand, or at least lessen the intensity, but not this time. Didn’t feel it comin. *SPLODE*
Here are the benefits:
1. Lots of time in bed with my pets
I don’t know what Clara’s doin with her life…At least she visits me at nigh-nigh time.
2. Avoiding grooming
I put these pajamas on when I got home Monday. When I knew. When I knew I was in for it. Yes, I am nasty. I tell you what else, I have no plans to change them, either.
Oh, Murphy’s Law, my in-laws dropped by for the first time in months — and me in all my oozing gory glory.
Upon request, my loving husband brought ice cream home and tried to make me a milkshake. He’d never used a blender before. I did not know that.
Then he fried up bacon. I did not eat it, but he made beautiful bacon. Like, perfect bacon one could use to illustrate a cookbook.
I slurped down two milkshakes and a bowl of scrambled eggs.
Blenders aside, The Mister’s pretty good at pickin up my slack.
Having a herpetic wife does create a certain benefit for him. Wives who are freezing to death enjoy being held. This is a far cry from his ordinarily ‘cold’ wife who screams out, “Get off me!” and “I need some air!”
Of course, fevered wives, deep into delirium, who may also have anxiety disorder, may wake their husbands in the night and moan poetic nonsense about love and death, which likely erases any satisfaction derived from cuddles.
But so much of marriage is like that, if you didn’t know.
I slept seven hours during the day yesterday and only four today, plus, my neck stopped feeling like it was caught in a strangler’s grip, so I am getting better. I’ve got to stay awake one more hour to go pick Sassy up. That is absolutely all I’ve committed to. That, and well, I am leaning toward another milkshake.
joeyfullystated 
There are some advantages to being sick!!
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Much fur, many purrs and puppy kisses 🙂
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Yikes. Feel better soon. I am fighting aphids and spider mites here, ( on my plants not on me, Ha, ha.)
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Hah! Thanks.
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I HATE fever dreams. They don’t even supply good blogging material. Mine don’t anyway.
And the moon is full, too!
Get thee better, pronto, hear?
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Nooo, the fever dreams are awful!
I hope my lymph nodes wane fast as the moon!
Will do, Maggie, thanks 🙂
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Oh my, you poor thing. I’m glad you’re getting better, but that sounds awful. Thanks for the wonderful photos of your pets rather than a selfie in those stinky pajamas.
Have a milkshake and be well! (tm Walgreens)
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Thanks! I think I can manage a bath tonight, Mary. And I’ll put on all clean things and I’ll even apply deodorant. But my pets will still be waaay cuter ❤
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Oh, beautiful (even with explosive facial features) Joey, I greatly appreciate your being able to make me laugh during your times of struggle. I hope you Heal quickly and may your milkshake be minty delicious (unless, of course, you don’t like mint).
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Thank you, thank you, thank you! I prefer vanilla. 🙂
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Well, that makes sense as you are my polar opposite. May the Mister bring you a ‘nilla shake.
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I can make them. Seems I must. 😉
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Blenders are easy to use, difficult to clean.
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WORD.
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Ugh, I’m soooo sorry. And yes, I totally get it. I even get the waking of the husband in the middle of the night with speeches of dying and love everlasting and love everdying. Yes oh yes. Be well soon and until then, stay the path of milkshakes and pajamas and ever-loving husband who takes good care of you.
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I knew you’d know it well. ❤
Thank you. I am doing my best. I have big plans for a bath and a milkshake now. Soon to bed.
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Happy restorative sleep, Joey! Feel better.
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Thanks again!
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Have another milkshake and take an extra day. Life is short, and we all deserve that extra day. My fever dreams led to a good short story once.
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I don’t know, the guilt of not working is pretty heavy.
And as we discussed on one of your prior posts, the work does not go away… Mrs Doe waits. If I run another fever tonight, I don’t think I can hack it, but if not, I think I’ll be okay.
I’m jealous a fever dream inspired you! That has never happened to me. Do I know the story?
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It was called Fever and it was in my second Experimental Notebook. I get the idea of nothing going away while you’re out. Hope you feel better soon.
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Sleep I think is best but chocolate anything never hurts.
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Sleep definitely. And vanilla milkshakes 🙂
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If we didn’t laugh about this nonsense our bodies put us through, we’d cry a lot.
Sending you virtual spoons to carry on. When I said ‘For better or for worse’ (can’t remember if I actually did, but probably), I thought I would have to put up with his problems, not the other way around, and I was prepared to be healthy and heroic. It never occurred to me that it would be the other way around: even with a quadruple bypass and three stents, he’s far healthier than I am, and doesn’t get any side effects from the drawerful of meds he swallows daily.
I thank God every day for him – and when I praise him, he seems confused and says he’s not doing anything special.
We know better.
Hope things improve soon.
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I definitely did say in sickness and health and for better or for worse. I’ve been the sicker, but we knew that then. Still, he’s my hero. ❤
I am glad we have such wonderful partners.
Thank you for the spoons. I will use them to bathe 😉
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My tired brain coughed up an image of you pouring water over yourself, a spoonful at a time!
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HAHAHA! Whatever works. It was more a soak, which I think bought me the spoons to stand up and shampoo 😉
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I now use a stool in the shower – saves a lot of spoons for me not to have to stand (but I have significant problems standing). It’s a bit of a pain, but I’m feeling the cleanup is worth the savings. And it is good to sit there, and let the hot water soothe me, without having to measure how long I can stand.
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Right on.
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So good on you for highlighting the perks of that down-time, Joey. Feel better soon.
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Gotta find that gratitude! Thanks 🙂
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I hope you’re feeling better or start feeling better soon.
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It never lasts forever, Dan, thanks 🙂
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Oh, my word! I didn’t know cold sores could be so awful. Knock wood, I’ve never had one. Keep taking care of yourself, more milkshakes, and pet cuddling. You’ll be back to feeling better real soon. xo
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Oh you’re lucky to have never had one! They hurt tremendously, even when it’s just a small one. Ugh.
Thank you, cuddles and milkshakes are lined up 🙂
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I’ve never had cold sores. Hope you feel better, Joey.
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Lucky Lady!
Thanks 🙂
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I haven’t had an outbreak like that in many years. I’m knocking on wood now! I had fever blisters in my mouth with last cold though. Ugh!
Staying in your jimmies and cuddling with the furry critters is a good plan.
Enjoy your bath, vanilla milkshake, and get better soon!💞
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Knock that wood! Oh, wouldn’t it be nice if this were MY last one?!?
Thanks, Deborah. 🙂
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It would be great! I was in late my 30’s when I started getting less frequently, and before I knew it I would hardly get one.
I found this cold sore treatment at the drug store called Zilactin-L that I started using and before I knew it I was getting them less and less.
I don’t know if it’s the medicine or my body finally figuring out how to kill the virus but I love that stuff!
I can’t find it now which just kills me!
Every time I find something I like or works it’s gets discontinued! I have one bottle and not much of it remaining I’m still using it for the occasional cold sore. I don’t know what I’ll use when it’s finally gone. 😦
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Lysine? Lysine is VERY helpful. If I can catch it in time, taking Lysine really helps me.
I’ve read a lot of people have this and that helping them, and I’ve tried a lot of this and that, Lysine best.
I love having the Rx anti-virals around, but they’re not easy to get at 10pm on Sunday…
Thanks for commiserating 🙂
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I really feel for you. Those outbreaks can be horrible, and they tend not to be short-lived (as you know). No 24-hour thing there. Glad it’s starting to get better. But I had to smile at the idea of your husband never using a blender before. 🙂
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I know! It never occurred to me that he had no previous blender experience. Proof that you can always learn something new about one another.
Thanks. It is the suck, but at least with all this experience, I know what to expect.
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Ugh. Poor you. Hope you are bouncing back up again soon … sans the facial explosions 🙂
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Thanks. It’ll take about a month for my face to look normal, but I’ll rejoice with every improvement 🙂
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oh dear! A month?!!
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Yes. It will be about a month until I just have a tiny red spot on my lip. 😦 I will look grotesque for at least a week.
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😦
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Sorry to hear your are down. Thank goodness for pets and a good hubby to take care of you – you are a lucky lady, but you already knew that 😉
Hope you’re feeling better soon!
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Thanks, Norm! Indeed, I am lucky 🙂
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Sorry to read this and hoping you’re much, much better on the morrow. But milkshakes, perfect bacon, and scrambled eggs? Not bad at all. 🙂 I’m also one of those probably annoying people never “blessed” with cold sores, so I can only sympathize, not empathize.
((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Joey)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Good night, sleep tight, don’t let the bedbugs bite!
janet
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No, not annoying, just lucky 🙂 I read that 90-some percent of Americans have it without symptoms and I’m sooo jealous! 😛
I feel much better today, thanks!
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Ew. I’m sorry you’re sick. And also sorry you have to be so icky. I know I hate feeling icky like there where you just accept it and wallow in your ickiness. At least I do. Milkshakes and eggs sounds good!
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I am soooo icky. I warned my boss before I went in and then before I left, I thanked him for his lack of reaction to the horror that is my countenance. LOL
It was the level of ickiness that required surrender, Luanne. Thank you for understanding. 🙂
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I loved Moo’s cow and the lengths dad went through to get it for her. Are you feeling better?????
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🙂
I am on the mend, yes. Not up to par, but much, much better, thanks.
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Woot!
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🙂
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One of the most up-ist I know is dowwwn. This is very sad, so get better soon.
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I am on the mend 🙂 Thanks!
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Good to hear. I hope you are in a good mood tomorrow—you’ll see why.
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Oh yeah? Goody! 🙂
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I marvel at how you can take a miserable situation and make it funny. It’s a gift. I used to get a lot of cold sores and discovered that being out in the sun a long time without protection was one factor. When pregnant with my youngest, eons ago, I repeatedly came down with completely crusted lips. t was bizarre. Later reading made me wonder if it was due to the high doses of vitamin C I was taking it upon myself to consume. I read that can cause skin irritations. Just wondering. I now take lysine every day for prevention, or the placebo effect. I don’t care which.
I love the pictures of your cuddly companions. Hope you’re feeling better soon!
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Lysine is truly wonderful, as are the anti-virals, but I didn’t catch it in the tingle phase, just woke up with it.
Sun is absolutely a trigger. Me being me, fair and all that, I wear protection, which I’m sure helps.
I’m sorry you suffered, and am glad you no longer do. I appreciate those who can commiserate.
Thank you very much for the compliment in recognizing the theme of this blog, the way I write bad things to make them funny — this is the PURPOSE of my blog. Laughing, gratitude — VERY HEALING. I really appreciate that. I’m not sure a lot of people GET it.
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You betcha! ❤ Here's to smooth lips!
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I am truly sorry to hear that. I guess you can have too much of a good thing. Hope the milk shakes and furbys help and you get well soon.
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I will survive! *twirls* I feel much better today. Definitely on the mend, thanks!
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Milkshakes are good for what ails you. Feel better soon.
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Thanks, John, I’m definitely on the mend 🙂
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Hope you’re feeling much better today.
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Thanks, Lorrie. I am. Little pain this morning, nothin Tylenol couldn’t handle 🙂 Went to work. Will take it easy 🙂
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Usually I can tell when it’s gonna hit me, but every now and then I’ll be 100% when I go to bed and then wake up the next day with Death standing over me, laughing. It’s totally unfair that it can happen that quickly.
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IT IS. That’s exactly how this one went down. I never got a warning tingle. 😦
Sorry you suffer same.
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Back at ya. This is what we have to go through in order to live where we want to. It’s worth it, me thinks.
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I hope you’re feeling better and that no milkshakes are required now! I snickered about the cuddles. I do the same thing with my husband when I’m sick. Half makes me wonder if he’s responsible for keeping us all sick, so he could take advantage of the cuddles.
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Haha! Those dastardly cuddly men… 😉
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Oh Joey, I hope you are feeling better now. I suffer with cold sores too… I have even had them up my nose and just under my eyes, not pretty, bloody painful and make you feel like shit!
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They do. I’m really gross today, but I know I’m getting better. Thanks, Judy x
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Glad you are on the mend x
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Sounds like life kicked back at you. Hope you are well on the way to recovery. Milk shakes always make one feel better. 🙂
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Milkshakes are the way!
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Unfortunately, I had a very weird nausea and other end result last night, after an eleven hour day, Joey. Who do I call in the middle of the night? I hate to get my hardworking grown kids up. This may amuse you, I took part of a roll of paper towels and wrapped around a wash cloth and went to the ER. It was just the worst bout of both ailments possible. . . resistance gets down while using full body strength lifting, etc at the warehouse. I had meds not working and at 4 am decided I need a written excuse to miss work and better meds! They were so comforting. . . Thanks for listening bit this is to emphasize how lucky you are!! Hope to hear you are back on the mend and upswing but read your comment it lasts a month!? Poor dear Joey! Love the husband and your adorable pets all cozy with you! xo
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Oh I know. It’s terrible to be sick with no one to help with ANYTHING! Or, to be sick with babies. Are you better? Was it food poisoning? How awful.
I feel better. The lip/gums/jaw still hurt, and I’m a bit achy, but no longer in intense pain and delirious with fever, so that was faster than other times. Yes, I’ll look totally gross for about a week, and then pretty gross for another, but about a month until I have a lil red dot on my lip. I get it bad. 😦
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I hate to click “Like” on this, ’cause it’s so very very sad! If you were my little girl, I would make you take a shower and give you clean jammies to wear while I washed your favorite ones. And I would make you milkshakes and applesauce and many soft foods, if you couldn’t eat hard ones. And I would read to you while you snuggled in bed. And I would go, “Poor li’l Joey! I feel so bad for you.”
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Ah, thank you. So kind. I feel a lot better today, best I’ve felt since Sunday 🙂 I had plenty o milkshakes and applesauce, and Sass helped me with the bath, but no one else even thought to do the laundry!
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Oh no! Maybe I should have started at the most recent post and worked backwards on my catching up! I’m sure hoping that you feel better by now!
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