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Going Full Vax
Welp. Here I am MAY the FOURTH. Be with you. I guess.
I'm not a Star Wars "fan", but enjoyed the movies. I even liked the "new" movies, though they get a lot of popular criticism for JarJar and other factors. That doesn't change that there's beautiful cinematography, and an OK storyline. And an absolutely bangin' soundtrack, which is actually what I love about the series.
Anyway, I woke up earlier than usual on a day that I wouldn't normally have off, all to get my second covid shot.
I had prepared to the best of my ability: did all of my weekly chores, stocked some bland foods in case I have nausea again, planned to only cook dinner tonight and none of the other nights, and warned my steno teacher that I may not be there Wednesday night if I start experiencing symptoms. Last time it hit me in the middle of the night on Wednesday, but this time I'm getting the shot several hours earlier and also, who can predict what one's body will do? It could lay me out today instead of Thursday (which would actually be more convenient). We'll just have to wait and see.
But in the meantime I had a nice breakfast and felt nervous for a bit, and then got dressed and drove 30 minutes to the clinic.
It was a lot more chaotic than when I got the first shot, but still, fairly organized and everyone was polite and helpful. The poor nurse trying to administer my shot couldn't get my account to pull up for some reason and had to enlist help, which increased my anxiety a great deal (I have a strong fight-or-flight response to shots and waiting/allowing time for psyching myself out does NOT help) but I tried to think about her struggles instead of my fear, and of my sister who has had multiple surgeries, and my other sister who has had two children. I can at least take one shot. Even if I have a panic attack, even if I pass out, those are both only temporary reactions that will come and go, nothing life-threatening and no reason not to get vaccinated. Such is what I tell myself as I'm sitting there sweating and trying not to freak out.
Finally she got my stuff figured out and gave me the shot. I was relieved and sat quietly for the 15 minutes, then shot right out the door because the clock was now ticking for when symptoms would begin. And might I add, I'm very pleased that this is the second shot I've gotten in a row without getting faint or having a panic attack. Awesome! Take that, stupid brain!
I stopped at Target on the way home for a refill of the VERY effective shower spray that![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
lookfar introduced me to, then went straight home where I immediately got to work on this week's bread: Kindergarten Honey Wheat!
This can be made as loaves or as rolls, I decided to try rolls in order to practice separating dough and shaping it.
The reason the author calls it "kindergarten" bread is because this is the dough she gave her kindergarten class to play with and then bake. If a bunch of snotty little kids can make it, so can I, right?
Right! I was very pleased with how these turned out. The dough was a 50/50 AP flour/wheat flour split, with a beautiful egg wash. The rolls came out soft and light (as light as red wheat flour gets anyway) and slightly sweet, downright delicious. I couldn't help but think about my first attempt at wheat bread by comparison; it was edible, but it was a BRICK. Looking at these rolls, I can see that I've learned a lot, and that was very satisfying.
As the dough for those was rising and proofing and all of that, I scooted out into the garden in the 93 degree heat to rescue my milkweed. I've had this potted milkweed out there for like two weeks, and it's dying because it's drying out in the pots. We've had very little rain and a lot of my plants are suffering. I had bought topsoil to try and fight off erosion, but feeling tired and not ready to move mountains of soil I decided to just get the milkweed in the ground for now and worry about laying down the new dirt later. Everyone got planted and watered.
I harvested our first large tomato, it looks really nice!
I want to make caprese sandwiches with it because the basil is finally starting to come up too. Man, what is it about basil that looks just so FRESH and GOOD.
My dill "tree" on the other hand, is getting ready to bolt (bloom flowers, drop seeds and die). This is the best I've ever gotten dill to grow so I'm sad, but also looking forward to attempting to grow from seed in the fall when it's cooler.
Most everything else is just existing for now, I got a few more jalapenos, the passion fruits aren't ready yet, the strawberries are not producing, the lemon tree is pissed at life and I don't blame it, it's damn hot out.
Last time it was a full 24 hours before I felt symptoms in any impactful way. This time they seem to be coming on a lot earlier, which I suspected might happen: my immune system's quicker response to a now-familiar wad of covid spikes intruding on my body. As I started to prepare dinner I found myself in a mild brain fog, and some body aches began making themselves known. My arm was MUCH more sore than last time, I already know I won't be sleeping on it.
For dinner I made venison sausages (bought with a gift card from my sister) with sweet potato thyme mash, green beans, and my lovely wheat rolls. The sweet potato was swirled with a little sour cream, I loved how it looked.
After that Jameson had a production meeting for one of his shows, so I worked on my steno homework while he did that. It was around this time that I started getting truly achy, and my eyeballs were doing that weird watering thing that happens when you're sick, know what I mean? I was drinking loads of water and a ginger/turmeric/mint tea, and my body suddenly demanded a banana (this happened last time too so I actually bought extra bananas just for this, maybe the potassium is needed), so I consumed all that and took a Tylenol and felt a little better. But I stopped steno after an hour and just laid down to write this and relax with some random YouTube junk. Right now I'm enjoying Daily Dose of Internet for my mindless internet time.
Wednesday, I woke up feeling sore and tired, having not slept well due to body aches. But I wasn't nauseous, which was excellent. It's amazing how much nausea can sap you of all energy and motivation. I had a nice breakfast and watched Attack on Titan, soon Jameson woke up and checked on me, then he taught some classes while I worked on some steno. In the afternoon he left for a rehearsal, and I had a PB&Banana sandwich and then just kind of collapsed into a slug. I find it very hard to literally do nothing all day unless I feel sick. So today, for once, is a day to do nothing. I had done all my chores. I had made a beautiful bread. I had made rice porridge and instant ramen and had lots of tea ready to go. I had the internet, and my steno machine. I even had a weighted blanket should I get a rare and elusive nap.
For once, I did nothing. And it was great. Except for feeling like crap.
Steno class was a little rough because I was sitting in a hard folding chair for two hours and my body was aching. But it reminded me of the time I played the Barclay's Center in Brooklyn with the circus, a two hour show, standing, with the flu. Three times a day. This was nowhere near as bad as that. I wanted to wuss out, but couldn't.
After class I ate a bunch of random things around the house, which is a fun thing to do when you're sick. Pretzel bites, ice cream, stale pringles, jellybeans left over from Easter. Then I flopped down to do more nothing. I had a little box fan going in the corner of the room, the sound of it reminds me of summer visits with my mom.
Jameson got back home later in the evening after a small Cinco de Drinko celebration with some friends.
Thursday morning, thankfully the body aches were gone and although my temperature is still elevated it's not by much, only a degree or so warmer than usual. I felt internally exhausted, though, a feeling hard to describe but I guess it's a sort of recovery mode. I hope my immune system enjoyed playing with the covid spikes.
I felt energetic enough to run to the store for a mango and some chicken, then back home I cooked the chicken in the leftover "cowboy candy" simple syrup I've been hoarding in the fridge. Mixed with a little soy sauce and garlic, it's a spicy/sweet/umami flavor that I hope will soak into the bland chicken breasts. When that was done I chopped up the remaining jalapenos from my garden along with carrots and garlic, and pickled them for a coworker who recently gave me a jar of her homemade blueberry jam simply because she saw that I like to garden and cook.
I separated out some of the sticky rice, watered it down a little with some pea milk, then mixed it with mango chunks and put it in popsicle molds. There's way too much for us to eat all at once, and I see recipes for doing this online, so it can't be BAD. When I eat one I'll share how it is.
Then I did a little meal prep, ate lunch, cleaned up the kitchen, and did about an hour of steno practice while Jameson taught his online class. I stopped when I heard him wrapping up, had a little snack, and just sort of collapsed for a bit. I do feel better, but something inside me is still rather worn out from the vaccine. Not "tired" like sleepy, or "tired" like physical. Something else. so weird. When you haven't been sick for a while, maybe you forget these sensations.
And then I woke up, because apparently I WAS actually tired and took a nap. This is so extremely rare for me I can't even tell ya. But Jameson smiled at me and that always gives me HP, so I pulled myself together and we went to the grocery to hunt dinner. I had a nice salad and he had quiche (which I wanted but my internal calorie counter wouldn't allow it), then I practiced steno while he played games, until it was time for him to go to rehearsal. While he was away I packed lunch and got my work clothes ready, then went off on a crazy hunt for a childhood book that I've never been able to find (still no luck). Every once in a while I get one of these wild nostalgia kicks where I've just GOT to find that one thing I had as a kid, but there are some things that will never be seen again. The tiny purple soft plastic triceratops with black eyes, tail curled neatly around his feet. The dark hardwood rocking horse that was probably handmade somewhere. And this children's book about colors, lost to time because there are billions of children's books about colors. But still, it's fun to look once in a while. You never know.
Now I'm going to watch the last few episodes of Attack on Titan, and call it a night.
I'm supposed to be able to work from home again on Monday...yes, PLEASE!
I'm not a Star Wars "fan", but enjoyed the movies. I even liked the "new" movies, though they get a lot of popular criticism for JarJar and other factors. That doesn't change that there's beautiful cinematography, and an OK storyline. And an absolutely bangin' soundtrack, which is actually what I love about the series.
Anyway, I woke up earlier than usual on a day that I wouldn't normally have off, all to get my second covid shot.
I had prepared to the best of my ability: did all of my weekly chores, stocked some bland foods in case I have nausea again, planned to only cook dinner tonight and none of the other nights, and warned my steno teacher that I may not be there Wednesday night if I start experiencing symptoms. Last time it hit me in the middle of the night on Wednesday, but this time I'm getting the shot several hours earlier and also, who can predict what one's body will do? It could lay me out today instead of Thursday (which would actually be more convenient). We'll just have to wait and see.
But in the meantime I had a nice breakfast and felt nervous for a bit, and then got dressed and drove 30 minutes to the clinic.
It was a lot more chaotic than when I got the first shot, but still, fairly organized and everyone was polite and helpful. The poor nurse trying to administer my shot couldn't get my account to pull up for some reason and had to enlist help, which increased my anxiety a great deal (I have a strong fight-or-flight response to shots and waiting/allowing time for psyching myself out does NOT help) but I tried to think about her struggles instead of my fear, and of my sister who has had multiple surgeries, and my other sister who has had two children. I can at least take one shot. Even if I have a panic attack, even if I pass out, those are both only temporary reactions that will come and go, nothing life-threatening and no reason not to get vaccinated. Such is what I tell myself as I'm sitting there sweating and trying not to freak out.
Finally she got my stuff figured out and gave me the shot. I was relieved and sat quietly for the 15 minutes, then shot right out the door because the clock was now ticking for when symptoms would begin. And might I add, I'm very pleased that this is the second shot I've gotten in a row without getting faint or having a panic attack. Awesome! Take that, stupid brain!
I stopped at Target on the way home for a refill of the VERY effective shower spray that
lookfar introduced me to, then went straight home where I immediately got to work on this week's bread: Kindergarten Honey Wheat!This can be made as loaves or as rolls, I decided to try rolls in order to practice separating dough and shaping it.
The reason the author calls it "kindergarten" bread is because this is the dough she gave her kindergarten class to play with and then bake. If a bunch of snotty little kids can make it, so can I, right?
Right! I was very pleased with how these turned out. The dough was a 50/50 AP flour/wheat flour split, with a beautiful egg wash. The rolls came out soft and light (as light as red wheat flour gets anyway) and slightly sweet, downright delicious. I couldn't help but think about my first attempt at wheat bread by comparison; it was edible, but it was a BRICK. Looking at these rolls, I can see that I've learned a lot, and that was very satisfying.
As the dough for those was rising and proofing and all of that, I scooted out into the garden in the 93 degree heat to rescue my milkweed. I've had this potted milkweed out there for like two weeks, and it's dying because it's drying out in the pots. We've had very little rain and a lot of my plants are suffering. I had bought topsoil to try and fight off erosion, but feeling tired and not ready to move mountains of soil I decided to just get the milkweed in the ground for now and worry about laying down the new dirt later. Everyone got planted and watered.
I harvested our first large tomato, it looks really nice!
I want to make caprese sandwiches with it because the basil is finally starting to come up too. Man, what is it about basil that looks just so FRESH and GOOD.
My dill "tree" on the other hand, is getting ready to bolt (bloom flowers, drop seeds and die). This is the best I've ever gotten dill to grow so I'm sad, but also looking forward to attempting to grow from seed in the fall when it's cooler.
Most everything else is just existing for now, I got a few more jalapenos, the passion fruits aren't ready yet, the strawberries are not producing, the lemon tree is pissed at life and I don't blame it, it's damn hot out.
Last time it was a full 24 hours before I felt symptoms in any impactful way. This time they seem to be coming on a lot earlier, which I suspected might happen: my immune system's quicker response to a now-familiar wad of covid spikes intruding on my body. As I started to prepare dinner I found myself in a mild brain fog, and some body aches began making themselves known. My arm was MUCH more sore than last time, I already know I won't be sleeping on it.
For dinner I made venison sausages (bought with a gift card from my sister) with sweet potato thyme mash, green beans, and my lovely wheat rolls. The sweet potato was swirled with a little sour cream, I loved how it looked.
After that Jameson had a production meeting for one of his shows, so I worked on my steno homework while he did that. It was around this time that I started getting truly achy, and my eyeballs were doing that weird watering thing that happens when you're sick, know what I mean? I was drinking loads of water and a ginger/turmeric/mint tea, and my body suddenly demanded a banana (this happened last time too so I actually bought extra bananas just for this, maybe the potassium is needed), so I consumed all that and took a Tylenol and felt a little better. But I stopped steno after an hour and just laid down to write this and relax with some random YouTube junk. Right now I'm enjoying Daily Dose of Internet for my mindless internet time.
Wednesday, I woke up feeling sore and tired, having not slept well due to body aches. But I wasn't nauseous, which was excellent. It's amazing how much nausea can sap you of all energy and motivation. I had a nice breakfast and watched Attack on Titan, soon Jameson woke up and checked on me, then he taught some classes while I worked on some steno. In the afternoon he left for a rehearsal, and I had a PB&Banana sandwich and then just kind of collapsed into a slug. I find it very hard to literally do nothing all day unless I feel sick. So today, for once, is a day to do nothing. I had done all my chores. I had made a beautiful bread. I had made rice porridge and instant ramen and had lots of tea ready to go. I had the internet, and my steno machine. I even had a weighted blanket should I get a rare and elusive nap.
For once, I did nothing. And it was great. Except for feeling like crap.
Steno class was a little rough because I was sitting in a hard folding chair for two hours and my body was aching. But it reminded me of the time I played the Barclay's Center in Brooklyn with the circus, a two hour show, standing, with the flu. Three times a day. This was nowhere near as bad as that. I wanted to wuss out, but couldn't.
After class I ate a bunch of random things around the house, which is a fun thing to do when you're sick. Pretzel bites, ice cream, stale pringles, jellybeans left over from Easter. Then I flopped down to do more nothing. I had a little box fan going in the corner of the room, the sound of it reminds me of summer visits with my mom.
Jameson got back home later in the evening after a small Cinco de Drinko celebration with some friends.
Thursday morning, thankfully the body aches were gone and although my temperature is still elevated it's not by much, only a degree or so warmer than usual. I felt internally exhausted, though, a feeling hard to describe but I guess it's a sort of recovery mode. I hope my immune system enjoyed playing with the covid spikes.
I felt energetic enough to run to the store for a mango and some chicken, then back home I cooked the chicken in the leftover "cowboy candy" simple syrup I've been hoarding in the fridge. Mixed with a little soy sauce and garlic, it's a spicy/sweet/umami flavor that I hope will soak into the bland chicken breasts. When that was done I chopped up the remaining jalapenos from my garden along with carrots and garlic, and pickled them for a coworker who recently gave me a jar of her homemade blueberry jam simply because she saw that I like to garden and cook.
I separated out some of the sticky rice, watered it down a little with some pea milk, then mixed it with mango chunks and put it in popsicle molds. There's way too much for us to eat all at once, and I see recipes for doing this online, so it can't be BAD. When I eat one I'll share how it is.
Then I did a little meal prep, ate lunch, cleaned up the kitchen, and did about an hour of steno practice while Jameson taught his online class. I stopped when I heard him wrapping up, had a little snack, and just sort of collapsed for a bit. I do feel better, but something inside me is still rather worn out from the vaccine. Not "tired" like sleepy, or "tired" like physical. Something else. so weird. When you haven't been sick for a while, maybe you forget these sensations.
And then I woke up, because apparently I WAS actually tired and took a nap. This is so extremely rare for me I can't even tell ya. But Jameson smiled at me and that always gives me HP, so I pulled myself together and we went to the grocery to hunt dinner. I had a nice salad and he had quiche (which I wanted but my internal calorie counter wouldn't allow it), then I practiced steno while he played games, until it was time for him to go to rehearsal. While he was away I packed lunch and got my work clothes ready, then went off on a crazy hunt for a childhood book that I've never been able to find (still no luck). Every once in a while I get one of these wild nostalgia kicks where I've just GOT to find that one thing I had as a kid, but there are some things that will never be seen again. The tiny purple soft plastic triceratops with black eyes, tail curled neatly around his feet. The dark hardwood rocking horse that was probably handmade somewhere. And this children's book about colors, lost to time because there are billions of children's books about colors. But still, it's fun to look once in a while. You never know.
Now I'm going to watch the last few episodes of Attack on Titan, and call it a night.
I'm supposed to be able to work from home again on Monday...yes, PLEASE!