**The OFFICIAL Weekend Singles Thread***Jan 18-20 2008 - Home Remedies

January 18, 2007 | WFTR

[WFTR]

Welcome to the Weekend Singles Thread

Okay, here's the story. I'm sick, and I'm grumpy. We don't have a planned topic for tonight, so I'm going to try to make a "good" from two "bads" or a "right" from two "wrongs."

I arrived home from Christmas vacation on the 29th of December with a sore throat. I spent the 30th, the 31st, and the 1st trying to get better but only got worse. I worked on the 2nd and 3rd. I was off the 4th through the 6th and actually got better. I wasn't 100%, but I was close. I was ready to start my new year. Last Friday, I was starting to feel a little bad again. I went to Wal-Mart to get drugs and orange juice. My orange tree gave me a nice crop this year. I shared some with my folks, but I'm glad that I saved a good supply for myself. They've been helpful. I spent last weekend trying to rest, get plenty of fluids, stay warm, and get healthy. I only got worse.

On Monday, I missed my first day of work. On Tuesday, I missed another. On Wednesday, I felt pressured to get back to work, so I went in the rain. I never made it to my office. I started coughing as someone driving through the plant stopped to offer a ride. The cold, wet day was too much for me, and I couldn't get any air. I ended up in the nurse's office for about an hour. They finally took me to my car, and I was okay to drive home. I haven't tried to return.

Today, I saw a doctor, and he gave me drugs. He gave me pills to kill any bacteria that could be causing the problem and an inhaler to reduce my congestion.

I've been FReeping a bit because I'm so concerned about the presidential race, but my head isn't working well. I'm not saying things as well as I'd like. I'm also running to be a delegate to our state convention. The state convention will determine which candidate really gets Louisiana's delegates. Otherwise, I've watched more Law and Order than I can stand. I haven't taken a walk in over two weeks. I don't look like a guy addicted to walking, but not being able to take a walk is making me crazy.

Now that you know the situation, here's what we'll do. I invite everyone to share their home remedies for colds, flus, stomach ailments, and anything else that they have in mind. Let's hear about everything from the standard chicken soup to those old herbalist cures that the mountain people knew in past generations. I may not get around to using this information, but maybe we can have some fun and exchange some folklore.

[snugs]

Would not recommend Sunny Delight there are so many additives in it including I believe vegetable oil stick to more pure orange juice or vitamin C.

[WFTR]

I'm feeling better but still not up to doing the graphics. My bonus questions may be a little more controversial. Let's try to play nice.

1. I've read articles talking about studies claiming that people in monogamous sexual relationships have better immune systems than those who are celibate. The idea is that the exchange of pheromones, germs, and anything else that passes between two people so close will serve to strengthen the immune systems of each. Apparently, multiple partners will offset the effect and may overwhelm the immune system. Even if true, this outcome wouldn't justify someone violating his or her religious beliefs, but do you believe that being in a monogamous relationship is good for the immune system? Does this finding make sense?

2. Do you think children tend to carry more colds than adults? I rarely spend time around children, and I was around a baby at Christmas. I wonder whether he gave me this flu/cold.

3. How much do you think traveling or moving contributes to being sick? Being in different settings means being exposed to different germs for which the body may not have immunity. In these days of more frequent travel, maybe the germs are going to be well mixed into every society. On the other hand, maybe we aren't mixing quite that much.

[darkangel82]

I just buy the Ocean Spray juice and drink that, the kinds are too tart for me.

[Shadowstrike]

Garlic.

Kyolic Garlic capsules have no ‘taste’ but all the benefits. My Dad takes 2 in the morning, and 1 capsule before bed. The Saturday before Thanksgiving I got sicker than I can remember being, and stayed that way through Christmas, he on the other hand never even got the sniffles.

[A knight without armor]

I’m with you. It’s tingy! It’s tangy!

[A knight without armor]

A tad off the subject. But I’m sitting here listening to an old Art Bell with Elizabeth Clair Prophet. I have zero idea who she is. But in general I find talk radio in the middle of night so sad and lonely. There is something haunting about the voices and bumper music. It is like the world is dark and quiet and turned off. And yet here are these people talking in the night. Sometimes I wonder who is listening? People in their cars, people working, those up sick or with a sick one, some like me with nothing to do.

[WFTR]

I'm sorry to hear of your neighbor's sickness. We have a history of cancer in my family, so I know that the cancer bell may someday toll for me as well.

Bill

[WFTR]

My mom gave me whiskey, honey, and lemon juice once when I was a kid. I remember that the taste was okay at first but that the aftertaste was horrible. I drank most of it in one gulp to avoid more aftertaste.

I've never heard of ginger wine. We have ginger ale over here, but ginger ale isn't alcoholic.

[Kate of Spice Island]

1. What's your favorite TV show to watch when you are sick? Is it different from what you'd watch when you are healthy?

When I am sick I tend to get all out sick and really don't want to do anything. When I was in the hospital (for four days right before Christmas) I watched the Disney channel during the day and then put up with news untiil it was time for Seinfeld. I usually don't stay up late but they weren't giving me bedtime medication until after 9 PM, which is past my usual bedtime.

2. When you are sick, are you more likely to cuddle with your pets because you want comfort or less likely because you are worried about giving them germs or even getting something extra from them?

I never pondered this one, but I have a therapy pet that is with me all the time.

3. When you are sick, do you really like to have someone to take care of you at all times or are you more thankful that being single allows you to lock the door and suffer in peace?

I want to lock the door and suffer in peace AND have someone take care of me, too. (Just no pleasing me when I am sick!)

[WFTR]

Can pigeons catch human respiratory infections? I've always heard that birds and people can get many of the same respiratory problems. I wonder whether you have to take extra precautions caring for your animals when you are sick. The snakes don't really "cuddle," but a nice thing about reptiles is that we don't share any common viral or bacterial diseases. They can't catch anything from me.

I can understand watching the reality shows a little bit when feeling poorly. I've watched a few minutes of them this week, and that's a few minutes more than I typically watch.

[WFTR]

Thanks for the pictures. None of the products that you guys use are the same as what I usually see in the stores. I wonder why the big international companies don’t try to standardize more. Maybe the cost of making different products for different countries isn’t enough to justify changing.

[WFTR]

I've watched a bit of Mythbusters this week. I'll watch Mythbusters occasionally anyway. Maybe I've just watched more this week because I've watched more TV in general this week.

Bill