I had to call in yesterday. I’m not happy about that.

Kicked in on Saturday, though I was able to enjoy two birthday parties – and . Had a good time at both, though they were like night and day. Heh.

That night coughing and acid reflux kept me up until 9 am, until I finally said “screw it” and had some NyQuil. As a result, we were late to the Bean Xmas gathering. It was strange being late to that, and it was strange without Grandma Bean there, as well as . Grandma Bean was getting used to some new meds, and Grandma Crampton had to be taken to the hospital, so Dad was on that.

Just a strange day, in my head. We got to visit my cousin’s house, which is tiny but very nice. He’s already done some improvements, as he builds stuff for a living. So, if anybody wants some help with home repair, or construction and such, and is looking to hire someone, I know a guy.

Come to think of it, I think I know a couple of guys in that field. Ah, well.

I got home and crashed. Slept 14 hours. Woke up on Monday, and my voice was gone. Coughing and hacking up a lung. So, I called in sick. Like I said above, I’m not happy to be doing it.

I woke up this morning without having to be woken up, and I felt tons better. I can breathe, but I’m still coughing a bit. I’m all dressed and getting properly caffeinated at Gone Wired, and trying to recover my life from being out of commission for so long.

That last bit didn’t sound like mono to me, either. Apparently, there’s an upper respiratory infection going around work. If I don’t continue to feel 100% better tomorrow, I’m going to call the Doc and see if she wants me to go back on the antibiotics that I’ve already got. They’re strong enough that I’d need to eat organic yoghurt regularly to prevent thrush. Woo-to-the-hoo.

My bottom lip is supa-chapped from being a mouth breather. I might have to use some chap stick. Meh.

My Combo Drive has been won on eBay the payment is in the mail. Shortly after the holidays, I’m going to have to buy some organic tea or some other sans-soy drink or treat to help me tear apart my iBook to upgrade the bejeezus out of it. eBay Upgrade Powers – ACTIVATE!

I find myself feeling like my iBook is my connection to reality, and that’s dangerous. I’m using iCal in my continuing quest to try and actually do what I say I’m going to do. I’m using it as a supplement to my memory.

I’m using it to stay in touch with people, because I’m a hermit, and have no time, when I do really have time, I just choose to use it to try and write, and end up reading Wired or The Cryptonomicon or obsessively refreshing my friends’ page, which I use to stay in touch with people, because I’m a hermit, and have no time…. *sigh*

eBay must be an addiction, even if I’m a low volume seller and buyer. I’m doing good things, right? I mean, by selling the things that collect dust, and the things that we don’t need, and buy things that are useful to us, like full spectrum desk lamps for work and upgrades to the iBook so it runs faster and does things better and can help me manage my life more efficiently.

Right? Good things?

It helps with holiday shopping and it helps with getting me good music and it helps with letting me vent and get my emotions out in a forum in which my friends and family can keep up with me because I’m a hermit, and have no time, and…

Since I’ve been feeling better, I’ve made some decisions. Once again, I’m trying to influence the things that I can, and let the things that I can’t do what they’re going to do. I’m reviewing the person that I want to be, and the person that I am, and what changes must be made to bring that about. I have a deadline for The Glass Crown, and a projected release date, and I’m pretty scared about it. Not about not hitting it, not about hitting it, just freaked out about it in a general sense.

The last two nights at Meijer’s, I’ve been having Adam moments. I guess only a few of you know what that means, because it’s still mostly stuck in my head and not on paper.

It’s bar rush here at Theio’s. People are loud. I’ve got my iBook’s volume on max to my headphones. iTunes is also maxed. People are loud and drunk.

I’m trying out this whole tucking my shirt in business. says that if I’m going to rock the belt buckle that gave me, I should definitely tuck in my shirt. No stealth belt buckle. But, really, it’s because says she likes the way I look when my shirt is tucked in.

I’m having a hard time pushing the laptop away. I’m having a hard time pulling out the purple notebook and writing straight-up fantasy. Maybe I need to let all of these Adam thoughts out of my head, because there really are quite a lot of them.

Sometimes, when I’m reading LJ, or brushing my teeth, or shaving my face, or doing whatever, I find that the hand I’m not using clenches hard enough to make the muscles tense when I relax the hand.

I feel compelled to at least listen to the music that Xjournal says I’m listening to while I’m writing the post, no matter how quiet it has to be. I just pulled out my headphones for that very reason.

Theio’s is packed, as Gone Wired closed at midnight. Finals week is upon us. School is plaguing my mind for various reasons.

I need to learn how to approach my life as if I’m going to be here forever (more comfortable, and allows me to modify my environment in meaningful ways) instead of using the knowledge that we will move. Otherwise, I ask myself, what is the point?

I missed riding the bus. Got my fix today.

Still f’ing sick.

I have too much fun when I eBay. I’m tellin’ ya.

I should stop telling people in LJ land that I’m probably going to post more later that day, because I never do.

I’m still sleeping strange hours, and about twelve hours a night. I’m ready to be done. The mono virus disagrees vehemently.

Another step in pimping out the iBook is in the works. 1 GB of RAM and Combo Drive, I can nearly taste you. And you taste like plastic and metal. Just so you know.

Blech.

Our Christmas/Yule tree is the best ever, and it wobbles alarmingly whenever Buddy goes into his cage, because it sits on top. No joke. taught me how to bend the ornament hooks around the branch so that they won’t fall off. I am thrilled.

Also, if you check out the pics from this weekend’s signing, you can see that I was full of the holiday spirit, as well as various and sundry virii. :)

Way Station Signing

I’m entirely amused that this is still being circulated around.

In other amusing news, that swollen lymph node is still there. Yes, I’ve been sick for about two months straight. Mid-October to early December. Anyway, I was back at the doc, because the antibiotics didn’t work, and I had had blood drawn, and she was all like, “Good news! You have mono!” I’m pretty sure she meant that it was good news that she knew what it was, and it wasn’t some other crazy white cell issue like HIV.

The punchline… a week off of work. As everyone keeps reminding me, and as I’d be telling them were our positions swapped, health first.

So, I’m sleeping a lot. I didn’t really notice the exhaustion, what with the severe sleep apnea already. I did notice the dizziness, but I was feeling better. Really. Or, uh, not.

I feel a bit guilty about missing work, but not missing signings this week. Sold three books yesterday, and will be out at Way Station Books tomorrow from 1 to 6. I wasn’t ordered not to sit around, relax, and talk books with awesome people. So, a little bit guilty.

Finished reading Myst: Book of D’ni yesterday. The ending was way rushed, and left way too many questions for my taste… questions that the author had raised in the voice of the main character. Ah, well. The meat of the book was excellent, and I feel ready to play Myst III: Exile when I get my grubby little paws on it.

I feel pretty rambly today, so you might get more soon. :)