I thought I was prepared for the rain today. I wrapped my pack in a plastic bag, put on my rain pants and shell, and was ready to brave the elements. Let us put an emphasis on brave. I learned something about my bicycle at the most inopportune moment.

As I approached the intersection of Delaware and Utica the light turned red. I applied the breaks only to learn they do not work in the rain, at all. I slid through the red light and almost got rolled over by an SUV. My stomach tried to barf my heart out.


UPDATE: Delayed reaction. I started crying out of the blue, then realized why. Life is so precious. I'm not ready to extinguish my flame just yet.

Feeling much better!

I got a new side mirror for my bicycle and that makes me very happy. My old one is really crap and keeps moving out of position. I can't tell you how useful they are if you have to ride in the streets of Buffalo!

I caught up on all my sport pscyh assignments AND completed my final research paper, 3 weeks ahead of schedule. Sweeeeeeeet!

Just 25 more days til graduation. Then I can tell all these bitches, "Peace out Mother Fuckers!". Joy, joy, joy.



P.S. Since I don't have a computer at home at can't say it tomorrow:

HAPPY EARTHDAY

I find it entertaining when someone that used to be your friend only contacts you when they need something from you. Do they really think they are fooling you with their rhetorical 'how are you"? Please.


Random item found in office fridge today: pina colada goat ice cream

the rest of the trip...



did a double take on this sign on our way to cocoa beach


it was a spectacular warm and sunny day, and i love watching the little sandpipers run in and out with the waves


it wasn't crowded either


but the sand was a little coarse


carey played in the water, but it was too cold for me


the next morning i woke up with a huge swollen bottom lip


RIP the back to the future ride, gone forever as of 3.31.07


the baby buggies were insane there


we decided to get tattoos, do you know this kid makes almost 2 grand a week???


we both got them on our toe, carey got a butterfly, i got an egyptian ankh


we had to check out of the hostel (world map graffiti wall)


but not without leaving our mark


we putzed around in some ghetto dollar store and found this silly toilet seat cover....read closely


killed time at the airport by pushing little kids out of the way so we could have a photo with snow white


i never fail to appreciate the view from the sky


we were humored by the gourmet pretzels


eating instructions

I finally have an answer to my illness. My long and drawn out symptoms have been diagnosed. I freaking have whooping cough! Yah, it's a bitch. I've been sick since January. It was REALLY bad in the beginning, where I actually missed several days of work.

Let me share with you the 4 stages to this lovely virus.

1. Incubation, 2 to 3 weeks. No symptoms.

2. Prodrome. Runny nose, sneezing, mild fever, and a mild cough that progresses in intensity. You think you just have a cold until you realize 2 weeks have passed.

3. Paroxysms. The worst part of it all, lasting up to 6 weeks solid. I was not spared one of those 6. Characterized by spasms and coughing fits so severe you can't stop and you can't breathe, and sometimes to the point of making yourself puke. Mucus so thick and sticky you constantly gag on it. Yep, I had that, only we thought I had a stomach virus on top of a sinusitis.

4. Convalescence. Coughing that lasts another 4 weeks, though generally the severity lessens. Just when you thought it was all over, that you're finally well because you have 1 or 2 weeks with few symptoms...WHAM!

Episodes and spasms can continue to occur over the next several months, especially with a cold or over exertion. Hello! My name is unpaid graduate student who works too fucking much and doesn't sleep because she's up all night coughing and her lungs are so tired and her abs are beyond fatigued.

So there you have it. That's whooping cough. I only ever associated it with babies but guess what - you could be as lucky as an adult! Oh, and no, it's not contagious once you receive antibiotic treatment, which I did many, many weeks ago when I thought my head would explode from the pressure of sinusitis.