girl, you need to get out of this town.

I am ill today.

I couldn’t sleep last night, as usual. I had a massive headache, and my stomach was hurting terribly. When I was finally able to drift off, I shot up and out of my bed and into the bathroom where I began violently throwing up. I thought it was over but it wasn’t. I spent the night in my tub because the coolness of the smooth surface helped the ache in my body and keep the fever at bay.

I have been unable to leave my room all day. I feel rather useless actually, and cannot even reach over to open my blinds to see out my window. I haven’t been able to get out of bed, because with each attempt I am automatically overcome by a bout of nausea. The only thing I have been able to keep down is about a tablespoon of aloe-vera juice.

I caught this from my little sister. I went over to my parents house over the weekend, and took care of her because she was running a very high fever and throwing up everything. It got pretty scary at one point where I had to put her weak little body into a tub of ice water. It burned her tender skin, and she wasn’t even able to muster up enough strength to cry. Her illness has lasted about five days now, and is still ongoing. I hope that it doesn’t last that long for me. I have so much that I need to do.

So, I was thinking about what I could do to make myself feel a little useful, and I decided to post natural recipes for curing the flu (and other illnesses), that I would make myself if I had the strength.

Tea:
-1 tsp. bayberry bark
-1 half-inch licorice root
-1 tsp. grated ginger root
- pinch of cayenne powder
-1tbs of chamomile flowers
-1 tsp of finely chopped peppermint root
1 ½ cups of boiling water.

Let it steep for 30 minutes, strain, and add a little honey to sweeten it if you so desire. It’s easier on your stomach if it is cold (not frigid) so refrigerate until it is a little cooler than room temperature, and sip slowly. This is also a good recipe for clearing your sinuses.

Also, get several bowls of boiling water, and put a blanket over you and all of the water. Put a few drops of tea tree oil, peppermint oil, lavender oil, and eucalyptus oil into the hot water. This creates a sauna type thing that opens your pores and releases the toxins. If this is too difficult, go into the bathroom and blast the hottest water you can, putting it on the shower setting. Squeeze a towel underneath the door to keep the steam from escaping, and drop the oil into the running water. Sit in the bathroom until the hot water runs out.

I think that is all that I have for today. Sorry I don’t have any pictures. My camera is in my closet and I obviously can’t get up.

Have a good day!!!

~C

strangers in the night.

So, I should be in class right now, but I’m not. I am sitting in on my couch, sipping too-hot-tea in a fuzzy yellow blanket reading about the human developmental life span in a textbook that cost me my first born son, and my left eye. Is that ironic? Studying hard for the class I am currently not attending? Yes. Yes it is.

It is the start of a new year. Well, a new year on my blog, seeing as we are already halfway through the month. I’ve never really been big on the whole “New Years’ Resolutions” custom. I am always in a state of attempting to better myself, and am consistently making new goals. My larger and broader ambitions always just have a tendency of falling on the beginning of the year. But this year, I was really able to get into the whole resolution spirit. There is something beautiful about the idea of starting fresh. You could say that you hadn’t yelled at your little brother all year, that you hadn’t broken your diet all year, that you hadn’t worn pants. There is just something almost magical. Like God had not only made the world a better place by uplifting our spirits in light of the holidays and in recognition of the birth of Christ, but then sealed the ending with a hope of self improvement, and a better tomorrow.

I wasn’t able to sleep much last night, and decided to go for a walk. My walks are so intimate for me. I sometimes have a hard time even talking about them because it is always just me and the Lord, surrounded by the creations of his hands. It hasn’t snowed yet, and there was nothing more than a slight bitter chill in the air. A friend once told me that while he was on his mission, he had a companion that used to keep hot potatoes in his pockets to keep him warm, and everyone would make fun of him. I would never admit it, but ever since then I have been putting potatoes in my coat pockets to keep my hands nice and toasty. Perhaps I should carry around a little salt or something in case I get hungry on my three in the morning madness.

I went to the lake the other day; one of my most favorite places in the world. It was frozen. It was so fascinating to me, because the waves had been frozen as they were; thin, slender sheets of ice, in layer after beautifully delicate layer. It was fascinating. My friend and picked up shards of sharp ice and threw them onto the frozen surface, and they shattered into millions of diamonds. The sun was just setting, and it hit the pieces just right. Making them sparkle enchantingly. The sight took my breath away, and filled my soul. Of course I wanted to go traipsing about all over the surface, so let’s just say that I didn’t drive away necessarily dry.

My little sister has moved in with me, and I have a new roommate. They’re a pretty great lot so far, you won’t get any complaints out of me. Yet. It’s kind of nice to have people around again. I had created a regular bachelor pad with how my stuff was always lying about, forts in the living room, dishes unwashed, shoes everywhere you looked, and clothes all over the apartment. I really enjoyed living by myself, but it’s nice to not be alone anymore too. It keeps me disciplined.
Bah! I have to go. I will try to update as soon as I can. I have a class in a few minutes that I cant miss.

P.S. It still hasn't snowed and... I think that this has been the best winter Utah has ever had.

~C