The number of no votes at all was amazing. And although the process is to draw a connecting line people circle the name, underline, check mark, and other oddness. I don't think the guy who won is a bad guy, but I really hoped to flip it blue. Oh well. It was nice meeting all the super involved civic minded people.

Catching up with my news reading...

Former New York mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced Sunday he is giving a record $1.8 billion to Johns Hopkins University to support student financial aid at his alma mater and make its admissions process "forever need-blind."

Okay, that is impressive.

Oh wow.

Timelies all!

So I barely did anything at the con this weekend. (Went to a concert and songwriters showcase from the musical guests, the Chromatics. Also went to the Masquerade.)

Don't know what got into Mr. S this weekend to make him so wild.

WHINE ALERT!

My allergies are BAD. nose is running, throat is sore, cough is intermittent but persistent and ouchy. My eyes re watering and my whole body is generally achy. oh and occasional very strong sneezes that come on with almost no warning.

Add to that my pinched sciatic nerve which last night started with shooting pains down my leg and eases up only to attack again when I dare shift positions and or lift that leg.

I know my lung capacity is already diminished, but this just started 2 days ago and that is way too fast for bronchitis to set so I am FIGHTING IT. I am drinking all the water, tea with local honey (supposed to help with allergies), have taken my 24 hour allergy medicine, plus the cedar specific drops, and now I am headed to the shower to hopefully get any pollen in my hair out and gone as well as steam my head and lungs. I guess a neti pot also to try and de-gunkify my sinuses.

I do not know if I can build a pillow contraption to where I can sleep on my stomach and have my face face downward like a massage table, but I may also try that. If I have another night of draining into my throat I will likely not have a voice tomorrow.

I also need to eat, but everything seems like work and in my head I think it will all make me more congested - does dairy stuff do that? am I making things up?

I hate everything.

Homemade stroganoff tonight, not bad. I used the pre-sliced beef meant for cheese steak sandwiches, and it cooked up beautifully. I need some mushroom bouillon because I hate the texture of actual mushrooms.

I had a voice teacher advise us to abstain from dairy before signing because it's supposed to increase phlegm, but I don't know if that's actually true.

I got the same advice about dairy before concerts in school back in the 70s.

I don't think it actually produces phlegm, but it coats the vocal cords.

Aha, apparently thickens mucus rather producing more phlegm, probably still not great for congestion [link]