Still here....Just sick and coming down from four non-stop days of writing. I am so bummed to be sick again - with a cold this time - I just want to feel healthy but - I know, I know - that's a tall order with the schedule I've been keeping lately. Indeed, it seems as if my immune system has flown south for the winter and forgot to invite me along for the vacation.

But - thanks to a co-worker, I have discovered the glorious treatment that is Zicam. It's a nasal gel that actually stops a cold. You're supposed to use it at the first sign of getting sick - unfortunately I always think that I just have allergies for the first 6-12 hours of having a cold. Such was the case Sunday night as I sneezed my way through some homework and the SAG awards. Then yesterday I kept sneezing and sneezing and sneezing and NOTHING was helping. Not the allergy medicine, not the cold medicine. It was horrific - like something out of a bad sketch comedy. I was supposed to be writing but it's hard to type when you're literally sneezing every 60-120 seconds.

Finally, at about 9 p.m. last night, I went to the store in search of some NyQuil in hopes that it would knock me out of my misery. As I scanned the shelf, the Zicam caught my eye and I remembered that a co-worker had tried to tell me how great the stuff is. At that point I was ready for anything so, despite its $11 price tag, I picked up a box and took it home. The stuff is a teensy bit messy and it tickles a little but, wow, it works. I know I sound like an infomercial - but look at this way. I sneezed all day Monday and then after I used the Zicam, I sneezed one more time and now, 15 hours later, I haven't sneezed since. I still feel fairly crappy but not as crappy and I'm fairly functional today. Looks like Zicam has a sinus remedy too - going to have to check that out.

Despite my sneezing, I did manage to finish a 2500 word article for my magazine workshop yesterday. The piece could have easily been much longer but I feel like it needs some direction before I continue because right now I hate it. Also continued working on a short story for the fiction workshop - that's not due until next week but it seems to be shaping up OK.

OK, there are a lot of other things I want to write about - why I'm glad Sex & the City is finally done for, why I think more cities should start a revolution and issue gay marriage licenses, bit it will all have to wait for now. There is work to be done and then more work and then homework and then more homework....so, until later.