“Books are brain food.”

That’s what the magnet next to my desk says. It’s very cute. It has a little book worm with glasses on it.

I think the saying on the magnet is true. Too true.

Reading definitely keeps your mind moving. Just like food keeps your body moving. For my brain, Thanksgiving came a bit early. I’ve read too many books in the past few days. My brain is experiencing a food coma. It’s tired. It needs a break. It doesn’t want to work anymore. It needs to sleep.

Really wishing I could change the world this week…

On Monday I showed my class Killing Us Softly 3: Advertising’s Image of Women. By the end of it I was feeling pretty unglued. We talked about whether or not advertisements that objectify and dehumanize women contribute to a culture that is accepting of violence against women. I am a big believer in the power of media. My students weren’t as convinced. They didn’t seem nearly as disturbed by the images as I was. I wonder if it’s because I tend to shelter myself from that as much as possible.

On my way home from campus on Monday I saw a girl who couldn’t have been a day over 13 standing on the side of the road holding a sign asking for help for her family. I wanted to call the police. It was dark and cold out. It seemed dangerous. And it seemed wrong for parents to put their child out there like that. But I don’t think it’s criminal. So I did nothing. I still feel torn about it.

On the same drive home I heard a song by Florence + the Machine called “Kiss with a Fist.” Here are some lyrics:

i broke your jaw once before spilt your blood upon the floor
you broke my leg with your touch
sit back and watch the bed burn
well love sticks sweat drips
break the lock if it don’t fit
a kick in the teeth is good for some
a kiss with a fist is better than none
a-woah a kiss with a fist is better than none

Apparently, it’s not supposed to be about domestic violence. Coulda fooled me. I find it appalling. It sounds to me like it’s okay to lash out at a partner as long as it’s mutual.

Last night I sat in on a domestic violence support group. Hearing the women’s stories made my heart hurt. I just could never imagine treating another human being that way.

On top of all this I’m taking the Food Stamp Challenge this week in honor of Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week. Which means that I am eating on only $21 for the entire week. It is rough. I am really seeing how incredibly privileged I am when it comes to food. I really appreciate that we can afford to spend a little extra for hearty, whole-grain bread and pasta, brown rice, fresh fruits and vegetables, organic lean meats, and yogurt! Oh, yogurt, how I miss thee. The grits are getting old fast. Of course, we splurged and spent part of our allotment on Starbucks coffee. Probably should have gone with the cheap stuff. Then maybe I could have gotten something other than “Valu-Time” peanut butter and jelly. I feel like I’m eating sugar sandwiches. And the $.99 Marsh bread tastes like fluffy cardboard. It’s only Wednesday and I am soooo over this. But enough complaining. That’s not the point of the challenge. It’s for a week. And then I get to go back to my spoiled life. I really can’t complain. But really, nobody should have to eat this way. $21 is nothing.

This is the flu that never ends. Yes it goes on and on my friends…

I thought I was better. And then I had to lecture yesterday afternoon. I coughed the entire time. One of my students was kind enough to share her cough drops with me. They helped a little. I hope I didn’t spread my germs around too much. This feels like the never-ending flu. It’s just been up and down and back again. I took NyQuil last night to suppress the coughing so I could sleep. It did the trick. But it also kept me in bed until 9:00! So now I feel even more behind than I did yesterday. And poor Jon is just getting sicker every day. I started off terrible and have been slowly getting better. He started off feeling just a little crappy and is slowly working his way up to terrible. Nutso flu.

Maybe now?

So yesterday I was starting to feel a bit better. And then this morning I woke up with a massive neck- and headache. I took some medicine and went back to bed for awhile. Then I laid around on the couch for awhile. And then I took a nap. And now I think I’m finally starting to come out of it. I still feel ridiculously tired, though. So I’ve lost another day to this flu. I’ve gotten another day behind in my work. And I missed my mini-marathon. It was today. And it was gorgeous outside. Perfect weather for a long run. And since the route goes right by our apartment, I could hear people cheering on the runners as they zoomed by. I felt so pathetic just sitting inside. I’m pretty sure I couldn’t have made it one mile today, though. Gah. Stupid stupid flu.

Okay. I’m done complaining. Moving on. Feeling better. Finding my energy. Buckling down. Working. Working. Working. Working some more.

A Vacation I Didn’t Ask For

Tuesday evening I noticed a tightness in my chest, and I found myself coughing a bit. I told Jon that I thought I was coming down with something. By the middle of the night I was shivering with fever, and by the morning I was vomiting. I have been absolutely miserable for the last three days. I can’t even remember the last time I was this ill. And I don’t know if I’ve ever gotten so sick so fast. It just came out of nowhere. I am finally done with the fever, and now I’m just dealing with some lingering body aches and plenty of sniffles and sneezes. Jon’s been a good nurse – feeding me chicken noodle soup and Gatorade and Sudafed. I’m crossing my fingers I haven’t passed anything onto him. Now that I’m starting to feel better, I suppose it’s time to start catching up. I feel so behind after taking these days off to rest. I don’t even know where to start really. Stupid flu.

Costume

Crazy Cat Lady

Jack-o-Lanterns

 

This is our 7th year carving together! Mine is on the left.