Rude Awakenings
January 28th, 2008
We are home.
The road trip back was largely uneventful, but I’m sure Heather would disagree. She spent the first leg curled up in a ball and in pain.
We stopped for gas in Beaver, Utah and when I rolled down the window, I was hit with a winter blast of icy cold air. My days of walking puppies in sunshine and 60° weather are over. It was the same this morning when I took Coco out for her first business trip. Wind and cold were a cruel reminder of the season we had left to get some sun.
I can’t describe the euphoria, even while sicker than I’ve been in a long while, of walking barefoot on a beach and watching the dogs play. The sun, sometimes a flitty mistress, still rejuvenated me during a time of heavy stress and illness. The sun made me think that things will get better, that I will get better and that even though we are in the deepest heart of winter now, it’s a matter of weeks before we’ll start to thaw. Trip report after I catch up and do some long standing work. o
January 28th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
things *will* get better.
they always do.
January 28th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Glad to see you made it home safely.
January 28th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Glad you are home. I am so sorry that you had such a rotten trip. Traveling while sick is one of the worse experiences out there.
I hope home offers some bit of comfort.
January 28th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Glad you made it home safely, Jon.
January 28th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
I think a lot of people out here in the hinternetland were feeling for you and your family the past couple of days. I know I was. Attempting to get out of the freezing cold only to get sick and wind up in the hospital - kind of the last thing y’all needed. Glad you’re home and hope all of you are feeling better.
January 28th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
If it’s any consolation, the sun left with you. We are all dark and moody, filled with clouds and pouring rain right now. The sun will come. And so will good health. And some day you will laugh about that trip you took to San Diego in winter 2008.
January 28th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Do you have to do the laundry?
Sun is glorious. We have it today in Montreal and I cannot tell you how my heart sings. I hear rain is forcast for wednesday. We were skiing yesterday. Strange strange planet!
take care, wish Heather well!
January 28th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Glad you made it home safe. It took us about 4 months before we were able to laugh at the non-vacation that we now refer to as hell. Hopefully that day comes for you as well - sooner rather than later. Our highlights were pouring rain, leaking tents, drippy sleeping bags, dead alternator, dead battery (going down a mountain), and pneumonia. Have a better day.
January 28th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
what is going on? you sound way stressed (and sick) and heather is curled up in a ball of pain…i hope things take a turn, you both sound like you need major r&r…how’s leah?
you all take care, and i’m sure i’m not alone when i say i’m looking forward to hearing more from both of you.
January 28th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
It sucks that you all had such a rough time, but good that Heather’s recovering and you got some peaceful sunny moments.
You cracked me up talking about Coco’s business trip. We used to say “doing his business” when we first got a dog and our daughter was tiny. Then one day, years later, our daughter said “I wish you wouldn’t say he’s doing his business– it sounds like he’s out there doing his taxes!”
Since then we can only say it for a laugh and it stopped being utilitarian– now we just say “take him out” or “he’s out pooping.” Not nearly as glamorous as “doing his business.” In his little leisure suit with his little briefcase…
January 28th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Bummer about the snow and the sick. Hope your family starts to feel better soon. Maybe you’re all allergic to the sun. There’s this lady in my neighborhood that I assuming is allergic to the sun because she walks around in a hat, a handkerchief pulled up to the bridge of her nose, dark sunglasses, gloves and an umbrella. She’s either allergic to the sun or Michael Jackson lives on my block.
January 28th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
I know it sounds yucky, but with all the germs floating around today . . . I started drinking a teaspoon of organic apple cider vinegar in a glass of apple juice and have been amazed how well it has worked as a preventative to colds, flu, diarhea and nausea. Once you’ve got it though I don’t know how well it would work. San Diego dog beach is where we spent Thanksgiving and it was glorious. I loved your pictures.
January 28th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Congratulations on getting home safely Jon, you really are a trooper. I know the feeling of ‘just get through these next few moments, then I can collapse’ . I’ve driven while really sick before and often in the throws of an almighty migraine, hunched over the wheel, knuckles white with tension, just willing myself to get home. I can’t believe you did it for seven hours, with a kid and two dogs.
January 28th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
I feel your pain. While not sick myself, we are in the midst of zero & slightly below weather here in Southeast Alaska, with winds that bring the windchill to -20. Sunny days don’t bring much solice as they only mean colder weather. I am desperate for a vacation.
January 28th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Glad you all made it home safely before the day from hell (today) roared in. Thought I was going to die on SR92 and let me tell you that is not my idea of how I want to go.
I want to go on a beach with the sun shining and a drink in my hand.
Looking forward to a “trip report”.
January 28th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
I’m glad you all made it home safely and are on the mend now. Really sorry the trip was marred by such illness!
Winter is rough…winter where you are? Well, I think you should plan the next getaway to somewhere warm for like, two weeks from now!
January 28th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
It is 64 degrees and humid at 12:30 AM here in Dallas. Cooked out on the grill tonight. Supposed to have a cold front through but Thursday will be the worst at a high of 48. The warm days make it easier to get through the chilly ones.
You guys have all had a time of it…hope you and Heather recover quickly and way to take control and get the family out of Dodge, Jon. The puppies looked like they had a good time!
January 29th, 2008 at 5:08 am
Glad to hear you’re all getting better now…it is harsh when you’re sick and subject to such weather (I’m in North East England - not quite as bad as SLC but quite bad enough) - hopefully your next sunny break will be a lot less stressful
January 29th, 2008 at 8:08 am
on the plus side it looks like you will get to try out that new snowblower…
January 29th, 2008 at 9:46 am
Hi John -
Dooce has been in my read list for several years and I haven’t come around in 6 months or so (since my dad got sick). I came to do catchup and check up on you guys and hit your link from her post. I wanted to share something that worked for me (although it is very hard to do) in getting back my well being. I did a 10 day lemonade diet (I know it sounds silly but it worked for me) following the steps from Stanley Burroughs’ book. I was only able to do 10 days because I had to go to my parents for the holiday (and my mom would have had a heart attack if I wasn’t eating). But after 3 days, the worst part of the undertaking, I started getting my energy back an feeling much better than i had in a LONG LONG time.
Anyway, I don’t know if it is something you would consider but I figured I’d let you know just in case. The results from others everywhere I see them are similar (with the exception of folks that don’t follow things to the T).
Good luck to both of you as you battle this.
D.
January 29th, 2008 at 10:16 am
We, too, instruct our puppies to “do their business” when outside. And now, when we walk, I inform them that this is a perfect “business opportunity”.
Glad you guys are home safe and sound.
January 29th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
glad you guys pulled through!
guess you should of watched this before your trip
http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1799333
; P
January 29th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
I think you guys should consider moving to the south. Yeah, its cold here. sometimes. The thing is for every couple days of cold, there is a day of 60 degree weather. It’s like a little present that says ” I’m sorry winter sucks, but here is a little prize for suffering those couple days” I don’t know how you guys do it with all that snow. My mental health would not survive it. I NEED the sun
January 29th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Hi Jon - I am so sorry that your trip didn’t turn out the way you planned it. I loved it that Heather gave you a big shout out for ignoring your own sickness and not complaining about packing up the car. I want a Jon. Do you have a doppelganger here in NZ?
Speaking of temperatures, it’s funny how every year in the thick of summer or winter we forget how it feels to be cold/hot.
Last night I got home from work and stripped off to a singlet and shorts - opened all the doors and windows - watered the gasping pots on the deck - ate an iceblock and drank frozen coke - lay on the couch sweating - had a freezing shower and left my hair wet - went to bed with my window wide open with no sheets waiting for a single tiny puff of air to come in.
6 months ago I couldn’t have imagined this for the world.
January 29th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
isn’t dog beach great?
i swear, my morning and evening walks with josh in newport are my favorite part of my day, and the weekends at dog beach, best part of the week that doesn’t involve big scary rocks, motorcycles, or a very pretty girl.
i just bought my first snowboard, an arbor roundhouse, and am taking the pooch for his first visit to snow. i wonder if he will take to it like he took to water.
hope it’s good back in utah. i’ll be back in your state in a few weeks. this time, board in tow.