FroCo, Yo

When I'm feeling poorly, there are certain foods/beverages that have a healing property, either actual or imagined.

There's science behind chicken soup for the unwell person - protein, sodium, fluids... it's sound.

But today, and one day last week, I indulged in one of the unscientific cure-alls.  The frozen Coke.  Call it an Icee, a Slushie, what have you.  They offer relief to sinus pain and pressure, act in rehydrating the ailing imbiber, and offer a little bounce of caffeine to keep you from falling asleep at your desk.

There used to be a little cocaine in Coca-Cola, up until 1903, when they realized it might be addictive.  So, before people waxed melodic over the fact that Mexican Coke tastes better because they use cane sugar, there was a subset of people pining for the days when Coke had real coke in it.  

Kind of like how McDonald's apple pies were better when they were fried, or when their fries were cooking in beef fat.  Also, they used to have little animal cracker type cookies in their Happy Meals that were the bomb.

Proust and his madeleines can suck it.

We've always been capable of making foods unhealthy or healthy.  What I'm saying is, there is nothing new under the sun, honestly.  We're always tweaking things one way or another.   It's just that now with science, we do it so much faster.

So my cold/sinus/lung thing is slowly exiting the building, and I'm hoping it finishes before the weekend.  Because starting Monday, this old dog is going to attempt one of her former old tricks, which is facilitating a training session.  There's been some shifting in our org chart, and combined with that, and some scheduling changes, I am the trainer of record for the moment.  Am I worried?  Yes - mostly because I could really use some back-up, and typically, I am the back-up.

Also, it has been a few sessions since I've trained, and I'm not as quick on some of the software as my peers.  Luckily, I have a small class, and I can take my time working through it. 

Mostly, though, I'm going to have to be "on" for eight hours a day, and that's exhausting for anyone.  Especially someone who hasn't done it recently, and whose breathing, vocalization, and diction are compromised.

Oh, and it feels like your entire face has been packed with Elmer's Glue, so you have a headache in advance of your other headache, originating from having to concentrate really hard.

Look, I know I'm complaining - the curative powers of a Frozen Coke only go so far.  I did mix it up for lunch - I hard boiled three eggs and turned them into egg salad with curry to try and open up my nasal passages.

Much like the Oregon Trail, one should travel their nasal passages at their own peril.

In other news, I am slowly acclimating to the FT work from home thing.  The advantages and disadvantages are opposite sides of the same coin.

For example, it is very easy during my breaks and lunches to:

• Empty and load the dishwasher
• Empty and load the washer/dryer
• Put away laundry
• Take out the trash/recyclables
• Run short errands (pharmacy, dry cleaner, grocery store, post office)
• Fetch delivered items from the porch
• Return delivered items that need to go back
• Make phone calls

It is also very easy to fall into a pattern wherein you're solely responsible for those things.  And I don't mind most of the time, but sometimes, I am going to need the other wrestler in this household to tap in:

Though currently, he has more work than he can do.  Between being an FTE, he has two clients he does freelance editing for, plus MLS Soccer matches, plus the occasional church service.  I'd say we're even, but at the moment, he's kicking my butt.

Not that it's a competition.  

Unless I'm winning, and then it's definitely a competition.

Now, if they offered me an option to go into an office from time to time, I'd take it - but that's seeming less and less likely by the day.  The Mothership is all in on remote first, and the possibility of having even a small dedicated space outside of Chattanooga and Memphis seems... remote.

See what I did there?

Do you remember a show from the late 80s on MTV called Remote Control?  I probably only watched it a handful of times, but I remember this one time clear as day.    When I was in 8th grade, I was a member of the Academic Bowl team - there were two females - myself and Leslie (I can't remember her last name) and a bunch of guys - Cameron, Creighton, Ray, Jeff, Jim, and Alejandro.  Anyway, we were on a overnight to the semi-finals in maybe Macon, or Warner Robbins - whatever.  We were at a motel, and it was before dinner on a Friday.  So we piled into one of the rooms, boys and girls, and watched remote control.  And we were lounged wherever we could fit - including chairs...and beds.  There was nothing unseemly about it, really.  I was "dating" Alejandro - but I don't think we were on the same side of the room because we didn't want to get busted for anything.  Although, at that point, I think the furthest we had gotten was some hardcore hand-holding.

Anyway, I remember feeling very adult just hanging out with my friends and watching MTV.  

For what it's worth, our team was the State Champion that year, thanks in very, very small part to me - and in larger part to the math geeks - because there were so many freaking math questions.

But it was awesome and we were kind of a big deal.  Me and my frizzy hair and braces and baby face.  

Although, there is a photo of me in 8th grade from a play, where I am wearing a very form-fitting dress, and a lot of makeup, and smiling with my mouth closed, and I think I look a lot older in that.  I mean, as soon as I opened my mouth, totally different story.  But those were fun times.

Anyway, whatever makes you feel better - do that.  I'll catch you later, gators.

ae