I’m sore and I just know I’ll be more so tomorrow. I had to get some blood work done today so I decided to walk the 2.8 miles to the lab for exercise. No big deal, I thought, since I used to walk that distance to my old job and still walk a mile and a half as often as possible to and from my current job. Today, though, I was fasting per my doctor’s orders. I couldn’t even drink coffee. The walk seemed so much longer than I remembered it to be. Amazing how a lack of caffeine slows down time.

The good thing - I got to the lab right as they opened and was third to arrive. That means I was seen right away.

The bad thing - the phlebotomist didn’t appear to be all that eager to be at work.

Let’s just say she wasn’t gentle. To top that off, she poked a vein that has never been used for blood work before. It’s a rather pronounced vein, which I’ve pointed out to other lab techs in the past, but a couple of them actually said it looked “too thin” to use. When this particular tech looked at my left arm, I just assumed she knew what she was doing and would use the more sturdy, but not-so-visible vein.

To this day, I kick myself for nearly every assumption I make.

After she filled the two vials and placed the gauze over the puncture, she pulled it away after maybe five seconds and blood immediately ooooozed out. She pressed the gauze down again for another five seconds, lifted it up and blood ooooooozed out even more. That has never happened to me before.

With a small laugh she said, “You’re a bleeder,” and reached for the tape to secure the gauze to my arm.

I thought to myself, “Yeah, but only when my veins are brutalized the way you just did. Thanks.”

After all that, I rushed to Starbucks to suck down an iced latte and eat some coffeecake. I wasn’t about to walk the mile back to my office so I decided to metro. Oh, but because it’s President’s Day, they actually had the platform I needed *closed* for track maintenance at 8:30 in the morning. I understand President’s Day is a federal holiday, but a lot of places don’t observe it, even in Washington DC! So, I was forced to walk to my office anyway. By the time I got there, I was ready for a nap.

Current Mood: Tired

In 15 days, I will officially be in my 30s. I’m turning 31 on March 2nd and will be forced to then say, “I’m in my 30s.” Turning 30 wasn’t a big deal for me really. I didn’t have any sort of emotional collapse over leaving my 20s behind, but the idea of being 31 is kind of surreal to think about. Over the course of this past year, I can honestly say I’ve felt my body getting older and that is somewhat depressing, ya know? Regardless, you won’t find me clinging to my youth or fighting the signs of aging. Age really is nothing but a number, especially when it comes to the mind… and the soul.

Current Mood: Balanced

The flu decided to bestow its wonderful presence upon me for the first time in my life. To be quite frank, I would have much rather lived the rest of my years not knowing how it feels. Last Saturday, I was bugged by a mild but annoying cough. Sunday, I slept all day but didn’t really feel anything outside of just really drained. Monday, I guess all the extra sleep gave me enough energy to go to work and make my way to the local clinic. Because I have been sick twice before in the past few months and I’m traveling in a few weeks, I told the doc I didn’t want to take any chances of waiting this out like I normally do. I’m not one to run to a doctor just because I’ve got the sniffles. The doc basically told me it probably wasn’t the flu, and even if it was, I was outside the 24 hour window of treatment with an antiviral like Tamiflu. She said I should feel better by the end of the week and if I didn’t, to come back for a no-cost follow-up visit.

The doctor was wrong.

Tuesday and Wednesday…were…hell. I had a high fever. I ached from head to toe. Muscles. Joints. Bones. My hair would have hurt if it had nerve endings. I couldn’t walk up and down the stairs without holding the handrail and putting both feet on each stair before moving to the next one. I was a pathetic mess. My fever peaked and broke Tuesday late afternoon. I woke up literally drenched in sweat. I almost instantly felt the improvement, which was a much welcomed relief. Wednesday was spent mostly in bed recovering.

Vedder, my roommate’s dog that I claim as my own, was sooo sweet those two days. I think dogs are quite empathic. He could sense I wasn’t feeling well and instead of sleeping on the other couch, he curled up on the floor by my head. When I was in bed, he stayed in my room with me even when my other roommate was making her dinner. That’s unheard of for him!

I’m probably 90% better today, thankfully. I’ve got a little bit of congestion and a slight cough, but I’m functional and thrilled about that.

I wouldn’t wish the flu on my worst enemy. If you’ve never had it, consider yourself lucky and get vaccinated so you never do.