There's a line somewhere between thinking through/talking out problems, and wallowing in them, and that's the balance I'm always seeking, with mixed success.

Exactly!

And I think that complaining in a safe place is totally necessary at times.

Well, my fever has finally broken. I'm back to normal (though I'm still a little sore and achey, and I still have a nasty headache).

However, now S has the fever. Which is not good. Particularly since her fever is running two degrees higher than mine was. It's hovering right around 103, but at one point it spiked all the way up to 103.9. I'm quite worried about that. And she can't take the fever reducers (ibuprofin) I was taking, because they are processed in the liver. I'm hoping it will drop down a degree or two, and that she shakes it in one day, like I did.

Otherwise, we'll probably have to go back to the hospital, and neither of us wants that.

SAHD.

Aims, love? What's SAHD? Me no unnerstand.

"Here's what you do, okay? Give her a fish with a note on it that says 'Life stinks without you.' And you stuff it full of chick stuff like little soaps, right? But *erotically shaped* soaps, otherwise she might think it's a lets-be-friends-fish."

Tep, where is your tag from? It's cracking me up.

Also, Nora? Not eyerolly.

Aims, love? What's SAHD? Me no unnerstand.

I think Stay At Home Dad.

What's SAHD?

Stay at home dad.

Also we need to chat about Tucson, if you are still going though I know things are probably up in the air with S being ill.

Man! Hope S. recovers quickly. Universe! Lay off her! Just for like a week fer crissakes at least.

Sean, get S to drink as much as humanly possible. If you have a blender, maybe make her some crushed ice. Wiping down her arms and neck with a cool cloth is a good idea, too. The friction brings the blood nearer to the surface and the evaporating water cools the skin, which helps cool the blood. Make sure she is dressed very lightly and doesn't bundle up. She's got to get that temp down. If she can stand it, maybe a luke warm shower is not out of order. But mostly, she's got to drink drink drink.

HA! I *knew* you would!

I know, I know - my sunny optimism is so predictable.

I do recognize that mindset, though, and I think it tends to sustain and validate itself. Which leads to spiraling. Next thing you know, you're saying things like....

you can't keep it all bottled up inside. That leads to rage blackouts, heart attacks, and tumors. When stressful shit happens, and you need to talk about it, then by all means, talk about it.

Crazy talk! She still believes in Freud's Talking Cure! Dude, didn't the insurance companies explain to you how all we need are pills now?

I don't consider that to be "complaining," at least not in a whiny, refuses-to-take-good-advice way.

It is complaining! That's what happens when you voice your complaints. Just because people don't want to think of themselves as complainers doesn't mean we drain the word of its meaning, stuff it and mount it on the shelf.

Yay, Mom!Advice.

I'm with Cindy, Sean. That's a really high fever for an adult.

Poor Sean and S! Listen to Mom!Cindy. She is very wise.