Lament of a Stomach Virus

Last Wednesday I was over at a friend's watching the end of the Super Bowl that I missed. I had my daughter with me and all was well. Then came the broccoli. Up from the little one's mouth. And again. And again. About four times total, I think. She seemed neither worse for the wear afterward, a little tired but not terribly upset that she had just upped an entire dinner's worth of the green stuff. It was, upon reflection, her first actual toss since becoming a toddler as her only previous vomiting occurred as the constant upchucking of an infant (and that hardly counts). She pretty much was tuckered after that and snoozed in my lap for about an hour. The next day wasn't too bad for her, and then all hell broke loose.

Thursday night my wife got sick. Noodles decorated the trash can. I got home a little late that night, tried to take care of her and fell asleep. Then a terribleness awoke me at a little past two in the morning and I had to take a knee. Two knees, actually. I stumbled down the stairs in the dark and barely made it to the bathroom. There such stuff that shall not be named came out of me from both ends. My wife and daughter felt better after throwing up. Me, not so much. Pain came after that. As far as I know I still have an appendix, but if it ever decides to give up the ghost I imagine now I'll know what it feels like. I ate saltine crackers without the salt and drank water for two days. I think I actually lost five pounds. It was without a doubt the worst sickness I can remember having in many years.

I don't succumb to much illness. The regular sneezing and coughing and all that is usually lost on me for whatever fortunate reason. (I thank vitamin C for that.) Throw a stomach virus at me though and apparently I drop to my knees in submission just like the next person. It was pretty horrible, enough so that being "better" now is still feeling a little strange. I got a good look at all the patterns on our shower curtain that faces the toilet let me tell you.

But that's all in the past now. Onward! One neat thing we're doing at home right now is a "time of use" program with our electric company. They are using it as a pilot program this year for those that wanted to sign up for it. Basically it means there are "peak" hours of electric use during the weekday that you are charged a higher rate for depending on what season it is (winter or summer). All other times of day (including weekends and holidays) are considered "off peak" and you are charged a much lower electric rate. The idea is you shift your highest electric use to these off peak times to not only save money but I imagine lighten the load a bit off the grid. In our case it was a no brainer as we already do laundry on weekends, schedule the thermostat settings, etc. An additional OC measure I'd like to take is set up a timer on our water heater to shut it off during the peak times and overnight. I will prevail against wasteful electric use!

A few other projects going on around the house that I will detail as they happen. Fence updates will occur and other such things, and the podling is always useful fodder for blog entries. Until then.

Blog on!