Day 82

I was hoping for a better Tuesday, but the cough suppressant made me quite unwell and took all day to wear off. I was loopy, tired, and not really able to do anything. I think I would prefer the coughing!

I rose about 7ish, logged onto the shoe company, and extended my PTO by one day. I then took two of the cough suppressants. I was soon dragging and knew it best not to drive or make any decisions. F**k!

I wrote the blog until the afternoon. In the meantime, I had a bagel with cream cheese and liberal coffee. It settled poorly, and I was worried I would get to re-experience the bagel and coffee, but that slowly faded. Yikes! Yes, coughing would be better! I easily overdose on painkillers, and I will be careful with the cough suppressants.

I decided that my ability to handle food would be impaired, and the nausea now returning was bizarrely mixed with hunger. Instead of making lunch, I ordered some pasta and salad to be delivered at noon. I read more of the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801 and Lord Nelson until this came. I am still not to the declaration of war yet in the book. It was a world of letters in the early 1800s, and these travel slowly, so it is a strange story to read now in the world of FOX and CNN screaming events at us. 

I ate and felt much worse. I went to bed and managed to sleep until about 4 p.m., with many waking moments. I had it with feeling poorly, and the effects, while depressing me, were fading—I am tired of being sick! I washed up, shaved, and dressed. That made me feel better. I then ate the leftover Chinese-style food from the previous delivery. There was no rice, and that was OK with me.

I talked to some folks, then went to the office, where I started filing papers and finding my desk. I paid some bills and started bringing order into chaos. It was the usual good feeling of taking control back, and I felt better.

Today, I received yet another SMS Defflinger 1916 model. This is the Flyhawk version, a premium waterline WW1 model. This version has sets of etched brass to create an impressive model. It will be at the limits of my skills, but I am sure it will be a lovely addition to my 1/700 scale ships. The laser-cut wood decking will look impressive, but I have not done this on a small scale. I have a WW2 Yamato kit and a Cold War destroyer kit to build after Dad’s destroyer. I don’t know when I will find the time.

I am headed to NYC next Wednesday and will return on Sunday. On Saturday, we will catch Puccini’s Turandot at the Met Opera. I find this a relatively short and approachable Italian opera, and I have never seen it live. The fact that it is set in China and sung in Italian with various Western versions of Eastern music does not reduce the music that Puccini created. 

Look for me in NYC on Thursday (I fly all night) and return on Sunday.

I turn 60 next month (corrected), and with the surgery only less than a month away, I will put off celebrating until the summer.

I then wrote this blog, wanting to finish early.