Midnight Concoctions

So I woke yesterday morning at around 2am or so and my throat was killing me, my tonsils swollen and hard. I really don't enjoy being sick, and in the last few years my throat has been the hot spot for ailments. I had one naturapath tell me its because I never speak up for myself so I tend to shove my stress into my vocal area. Whether that is true or not (I tend to like it for its poetic ring of half truth) I once more am fighting a throat bug and hoping strongly that it isn't strep and will not live long enough to become so. So immediately after feeling this throat monster rearing its ugly head I got up and concocted the "Get out of my throat you bastard bug" tea.

Here is what I think I remember putting in said tea. I vaguely remember telling Sean that it actually tasted good at the time, but sick people are not objective about medicine tasting good. (and I cannot imagine that these ingredients would make the most lovely flavor, but you never know!)

Ginger root (driver, heating, and specific to healing throat ailments)
Calendula petals (lymphogogue)
Valerian (I also had a seriously torked back at the time which is why I chose the muscle relaxant and sedative aspect of this)
Elder flower (febrifuge and antiviral agent)
Sage (astringent, aromatic -opens passages ways, antibacterial, warming)
Oregon Grape root (antibacterial, antiviral)
and an astringent tea blend with rose petals, white oak, blackberry leaf, and more sage in it (to tighten the mucous membranes in my throat. ) I have no idea the measurements because I threw it together in the dark (impressive no?) but it was generally equal parts. Oh and a bag of echinacea tea. I let it steep for ten minutes and then spent another ten minutes attempting to guzzle it but being forced to sip due to its extreme temperature. Felt better afterwards and fell right asleep.

When I woke my throat was still sore of course, but the tonsils were less hardened which is good. I then spent the rest of the day watching movies and guzzling in round robin style, Traditional Medicinal teas, Throat Coat, Echinacea with elder and breathe easy. I think I went through ten tea bags today. I also procured some of the Throat Coat Lozenges that I love so much and pack a powerful punch and relieve the throaty angst.

My throat is less sore, I can drink cold water now (which I couldn't touch all day without agony) My nose is now acting up, sneezing and general snottiness, but I think its a good sign that I am pushing this thing out of me now.

Writing Exercise #1

Ok so I have been writing a lot and not anything for this blog, so I thought I would use one to feed the other, so to speak. I found a website called Golden Buddha that has 364 days of five minute writing exercises. I did not do todays assignment, but made up my own and here are the results.

Peanut Butter Toast

The lid of the peanut butter jar made a tin noise as I twirled it off with my left hand, a metalic ring briefly hung in the air. I set the lid with a small clang on the mottled gray counter and dipped my silver butter knife into the brown chunky spread. I set the jar down and lifted my perfectly dark brown toast, 100% whole wheat bread with a touch of honey,proclaimed the bag, now in the fridge. I carefully spread the dollop of nutty (legumey!) goodness on the toast. It made a pleasant rasping sounds as the knife touched the burnt surface of the bread, still hot from the toaster. I watched as the chunks of Adam's chunky peanut butter were left at random intervals on the surface, the golden brown of the buttered peanuts covering the darker shades of burnt bread. I set the knife on the top of the jar where I always left it, knowing I should put the lid on and the knife in the sink, but not caring. There were more important things to worry about. Like biting into this beautiful concoction and breaking my nights fast. The crunch of toasted bread differed in quality and length from the smaller crunch of the chunks of peanuts. The sensation of brittle toast on my tongue contrasted with the feeling of smooth peanut butter on my palette. The salty, smooth, rich, nutty flavor of the peanut butter complemented the sweet, grainy, burnt, smokey, umami-ness of the toasted bread. I reveled in the perfection that is peanut butter toast and walked into the living room.

Samurai Rabbits Fighting Ninja Pigs!

Lazy Blogger

Ok so I realize I have completely slacked off blogging for quite awhile now. I apologize to anyone who even bothers to read this anymore! I have you see been writing. Writing like there is a deadline and loving every minute of it. I just hit the 65,000 word milestone this morning and I am still going. Hopefully the draft will be done by the new year and I can resume my blogging duties. For now, however, you will just have to wait.

Ok here is a picture you might like in the meantime.

Once again Kermit the stocking holder bites the dust. See you again next year Kermit!

UPDATE: I have since hit the 72,000 word mark. Maybe I am getting good at writing, or at the very least fast at typing.

White Lion Cubs!

White Lion Cubs born!