Get a Flu Shot

It's always good to journal one's feelings on a regular basis. The "regular basis" shouldn't become an obsession or be something that causes anxiety when we fail to journal ... just ordinary "regular" like cleaning house or deleting old e-mails (when was the last time I did that? Cleaning house, I mean.)

However, journaling about physical feelings when those feelings include wanting to keep your head between your knees is easier said that done ... even if you put the laptop on the floor.

This is the season and the reason for the season is the virus-carriers that we can't avoid. The recent high temperatures acted like growth hormones for germs; then we came outside to bask in the sun and pass germs to each other. In other words, it's our own fault that an unfortunate number of us is sitting with our heads between our knees.

Add to that the fact that I didn't get my flu shot. By this time of year, I usually have responsibly shown up for the needle. I do the other "right" things , those that the CDC included in their Suggestion Number Two on their website, http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/preventing.htm

Number Two from the CDC

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.*
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you are sick with flu–like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
• While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.

However, my fault lies in Suggestion Number One (Get a flu shot) and Suggestion Number Three (Use prescribed anti-virals in the first two days of illness.)

So, if you prefer to have your laptop on your lap rather than the floor, you might want to follow the suggestions of the CDC. Also, if you intend to get a prescription within the first two days of illness ... don't get sick on a Friday.

Clean Up Your Mess!

You remember when you were a child and you weren't allowed to leave the house until you cleaned up your mess? That was so unrealistic. That's not the consequences you will experience as an adult. As an adult, if you make a mess, someone is going to throw you out. Vomit on the bar? You're out! Three strikes? You're out! Cheat on the spouse? You're out! Take too many pain killers? You're out!

Maybe our mothers had the right idea. However, once we are old enough to define our defiance as other people's consequences, we reject the childhood consequences that actually made sense.

I think we should say to the duly elected representatives, "You're not allowed to leave the House until you clean up your mess!" The recently elected Republican representatives would have to get to work cleaning up their Republican doo-doo from before. To the president, "You're not allowed to leave the White House until you clean up your mess!" Yes, I realize if that had been implemented during the last presidency, we would be stuck with Bush until hell freezes over. Or maybe it would have gotten folks shoveling the ice cubes down south to Satan and the mess would have been cleaned up a lot sooner than it's going to take to clean up his mess now.

I think returning to the "You can't leave until..." consequences should become the law of the land. It might make politicians, bankers, stockbrokers, clergy and other screw-ups think more carefully about what they do.