Sharing.

Travelling Companion and I share many things.  Sometimes she shares information about the Company that Cannot be Named,  which can make it a little difficult for me,  since I don’t know what I shouldn’t know.  Get that?

For example,  I recall once upon a time at a “gathering” being introduced to a very nice person (I’m trying to be as vague as possible here) and thinking to myself,  “Right,  you’re the one they’re going to be punting out shortly”.

See?  Not something that a spouse should know,  and certainly not something one should blurt out.   And no,  I never blurt sh*t out.  That would never do.  So that brings the conversations around to either the weather or offspring.  And really,  who gives a rat’s tiny behind about either?  

Other than those minor pitfalls,  I don’t mind sharing certain things, within reason.  I do draw the line at personal effects,  and when it comes to certain circumstances.

It just so happens that T.C. woke up the other morning with a bit of a sore throat.   For this reason, certain protocols were put into place, with the “no kissy-kissy” protocol being at the top of the list.  For her it turned into a full blown head cold which,  for a person with high blood pressure,  really and truly sucks.  I think that’s the medical term?   She can’t take the usual pseudoephedrine,  which is normally found in most over the counter head cold remedies.  Elevates your blood pressure. Mind you,  it’s getting harder to find these types of drugs in Europe,  since it’s been known for some time that with enough of this stuff on hand,  there’s some way of manufacturing methamphetamine.

I know.  It doesn’t make a lot of sense to me either,  but somebody must have figured it out.  I can’t make this stuff up.  Click the links,  and read up to your heart’s content.   I made sure I stocked up at our local Shopper's Drug Mart the last time we were home,  but I haven’t had to dip into my supply just yet. 

Emphasis on “just yet”.

 

I was therefore a little bit peeved when I woke up this morning at 4:00 with what I thought for sure was a hedgehog firmly lodged in my throat. Ouch.

Fortunately for me though,  I can medicate.  Up to this point it’s only been a matter of throat lozenges (those are widely available)  and acetaminophen to deaden the discomfort.  I don’t want to get overly dramatic here,  since I’m certainly a long way off from the dreaded “head in a vice” routine.  It could go either way.

Generally speaking I’ve been quite fortunate to avoid most any kind of head cold type of thing since moving to Europe in 08.  This too in spite of all Europeans being the “kissy-kissy”  types.  Bob doesn’t kiss strangers.  Sorry.

I found that I’d get nailed on the order of about once a year when I was in the school system,  as most everyone else does.  This in spite of enthusiastic hand washing,  general avoidance of being in anyone’s personal space,  and quite happily being taller than most everyone else in the building.  When kiddies sneeze,  it’s usually best if they’re down around belt height.  I’m just saying.

 

I forgot to mention that Travelling Companion is once again travelling.  She left yesterday morning for the Czech Republic,  where she’s making a three day visit to one of the manufacturing plants to give them a little month end mentoring.    She did forget to call when she arrived,  but I don’t get my panties in a knot over that kind of thing these days.  We’ve become used to first of all being apart from time to time, and also coming to terms with letting the chips fall where they may. Sitting anxiously by the phone isn’t going to get her to her destination any safer.

She did call later on in the evening when she was back in Gmünd, (and I could tell her cold had worsened) as she was about to head downstairs for some dinner.   It seems the driving conditions for that part of the country were not the best last night,  with high winds and snow flurries.   Not a good combination,  especially after dark.  Imagine if you will,  wet black roads with no lines.

Neither one of us are particularly enthusiastic about driving after dark,  which is something we discovered going way back to some of the first times we spent any time away from each other.   Of course it’s always just that much more fun when you have a head cold too.

 

My apologies that I’m coming up somewhat short in the picture department today.  The skies are grey,  and I only went out briefly for a couple errands.  Something to do with food,  and a refill for a pen. 

 

OK fine,  here’s a sunrise from some time back in October.   We had sun then.

Don’t you expect to see some dude with a fiddle up there somewhere?

 

 

Thanks for stopping by.

 

 

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