belly of the beast

Ugh. I was up at 2am, tossing and turning until I finally got up half an hour later, took a bath, started to fall asleep on the couch, and then ran to the bathroom to puke my guts out. I eventually went back to bed, only to awake at 6am for more of the same. Luckily the second time there was nothing recognizable.

So I stayed home from work, and I've been resting on the couch all day, barely able to read. Is anything more miserable than having an entire bed-ridden day during which you can't really read?

I had an acupuncture appointment at 5pm, which I thought might help, especially since I hadn't had any incidents since the morning. I showed up, waited for my Chinese medicine specialist, Lisa, and when we sat down upstairs in her bright, cozy room, I started to sweat and feel uncomfortable. "Are you okay?" she asked, and I said, "I think I'd better go to the bathroom." There go the popsicles I had managed to keep down all afternoon.

I suspect this is a stomach flu from babysitting my nephews on Saturday night. The younger one was puking all night Friday, and his mother was reluctant to leave him into our babysitting care. The older one, who Erik put to bed, puked in his bed just after we left at 11:30pm that night.

My other suspicion is food poisoning-- Julie, Brian, Andres, Erik and I ate at Mama Mia last night, with a stop afterwards at Voodoo Donuts. My suggestion, of course. And I did eat too much.

Being such an over-committer of plans, being out today really threw a wrench into my week. I don't have any time off yet accrued at work, so I'll have to work an extra day next week while everyone is off. Assuming I am well tomorrow, I'll have to go in to the office for two hours in the morning before heading back to our holiday party, which is on a sternwheeler that boards right by my house. It's funny that for someone who doesn't like to plan-- particularly travel-- I have so many little intricate tasks and events that take a tumble as soon as one thing goes wrong.

In Thailand, I grew grateful for opportunities to exercise my patience. I wish that worked better here.