With a little help from my friends

February 28, 2016

Hello again. I've been away a bit. My cold went from bad to worse and I finally had to haul myself into Urgent Care. 

Oh. No wonder I had been feeling so lousy. My cold had turned into bronchitis.

Random, gratuitous photo
Thankfully, I got some meds, and am already on the mend. I'm looking forward to sleeping in my own bed soon. I've been sleeping on the couch, sitting up, for 10 days.

And sitting there coughing, I was thinking about how nice it is to have friends. They can be a wealth of information and inspiration. For example . . . 

A dear friend told me about Feeln, a movie streaming service. For $1.99 a month, you have access to a library of light, feel-good movies, including Hallmark movies, chick flicks like Sleepless in Seattle, and old, classic movies. It was great this week, as I spent a good part of it lying on the couch surrounded by Kleenex, ginger ale, and takeout boxes. I think I've watched about eight movies on my laptop. My favorites were The Magic of Ordinary Days and Loving Leah.

Another friend who volunteers at the library told me about Overdrive. This app lets you download and listen to library books for free. I really prefer to read a book rather than to listen to one, but I'm thinking it would be nice to listen to a book occasionally when cleaning or knitting or cooking. I'm looking forward to using this.

And another friend just posted a great tip about the Secretary of State. Not sure what it's like in other states, but in Michigan our Secretary of State offices are notoriously crowded and slow. If you need to renew your driver's license and can't do it online, you can plan on a good three to four hours waiting in line. But did you know you can make an appointment? Me neither. This helped my daughter this week as she was able to walk past a line snaking out the door, with about 45 more people inside waiting, wait just 10 minutes for her number to come up, spend two more minutes getting her picture taken and paperwork done, and walk out the door. "Greatest life hack ever."

Yet another friend asked me this week whether I had a humidifier. Duh. We'd just bought a new one in December "in case we get sick this winter." Our old one hadn't worked for several years. Well, I'd stashed the new one away and totally forgotten about it. If it hadn't been for my friend, it would still be sitting there.

I could think of lots more examples, but it's time for my nap  . . . 

Got any good ideas to share?

Linking with No Place Like Home.

21 comments

  1. I hope you feel better soon, Deborah!
    Getting by with a little help from our friends is always a good thing! Enjoy a little down time while you recover!

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  2. Hope you're soon all better! I've been wondering about Feeln, but haven't been able to find anything that gives any clue about what they have available besides Hallmark movies. From what you said, they might be just what I've been looking for!

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  3. Sorry to hear you've been so sick. May you feel better real soon.

    Love & hugs ~ FlowerLady

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  4. SO GLAD you are feeling better. I have been off line for a while and just doing a tiny bit of catching up. Things are movin and shakin in my little world and the internet was keeping me from it. All good, but busy and lots - so forgive me for not acknowledging my care before this. HUGS.

    PS: Only new hack I can think of off the top of my head of late is to thinly slice lemons and place in a muffin tin and cover halfway with boiled water, freeze, and you will have crystal clear decorative lemon ice cubes for your guests' iced water or tea or for use in those decorative self-serve glass urns. Pretty nifty hack.

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  5. Oh Deborah, I hope you feel LOTS better really soon. That sitting up sleeping for 10 days is really hard on the back. I've been there when I couldn't sleep because of torn rib cartilage. It just adds one more problem to the mix. Get well SOON!

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  6. Dear Deborah:
    I am so glad you went in and got some medicine. I too am just pulling out from a cold I came down with last Sunday. Actually, it's my first time to be sick in years and years but NOTHING LIKE what you got. I hope you continue this week with extra sleep and rest and nothing major going on! God Bless!

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  7. I hope you are soon completely better, Deborah. I always like a rice bag to heat up in the microwave and cuddle with when I'm feeling achy and ill.

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  8. Hi Deb...I have noticed that you seem to have been MIA. So glad you are on the mend! Oh yes...and The Magic of Ordinary Days is one of my favorites! Take good care :)

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  9. Oh Deborah, I am so sorry your cold turned into bronchitis - you poor dear! It sounds like your precious friends have been taking good care of you {{smiles}}

    Rest up, dear one, and feel better soon! Love and hugs!

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  10. Sending you a hug and hope you feel better soon. Where would we be without Family and Friends????? Take care.

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  11. I'm so glad you have gotten some medication to help you get over this. No fun coughing forever. What great ideas your friends have shared with you! My only idea would be to hang onto those friends ;) Hope you're feeling more yourself very soon.
    Wendy

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  12. It's a good thing that you went to Urgent Care, Deborah. You poor thing, sitting up to sleep for ten days! Hopefully you'll be on the mend now!
    I've seen both of those movies that you mentioned and loved them, also. You certainly received some good tips from your friends. Take loving care of yourself, sweet friend, as you deserve it. xo

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  13. Hi Deborah, so glad you went to Urgent Care. I pray you are better soon. This is no fun to endure and Bronchitis is nothing to wait on. My hubby gets it every year and right now he is fighting to get over strep throat. Trying not to have it go into Bronchitis.
    Yes, our friends are a blessing in so many ways. Take good care and feel better. Rest as much as possible. Hugs!!

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  14. Oh Deborah, thanks for your lovely visit. So sorry your cold got worse. Just take it easy this week and get well soon.
    Sending hugs your way, Julie xo

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  15. Oh no! Goodness gracious, this illness has taken a chunk of your time. Praying that you'll soon be feeling well and ready to be doing again. I can't renew my license online because I need an eye test so I'll be doing the waiting thing because there is no such thing here as an appointment. I'm just glad that there is no penalty for having to allow a license to expire as mine did last week because of being so ill. Your friends have told you about quite a number of good things!

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  16. Dearest Deborah,
    Oh my, you are there where I was on January 4... Christmas I got the flu and when that was over with I had a bronchitis for a long time. On January 20 we drove to Atlanta, the Costco round etc. and on the 25th the dinner for Pieter's Monday Night club and than I was flat with excruciating back pain.
    Due to my kidney problems I cannot even take over the counter meds so it was tough but all that rest and good, healthy eating did do me a lot of good (I gained a few pounds too...) and now that we're both into walking that is fine.
    Always remember that we have to balance: body - mind and soul so after some stress or whatever in life, we might be shown the bill for that. Eat enough fresh fruits (any) and veggies and drink lots of water.
    Due to my many bronchitis attacks over a lifetime, I will never ever go back to work in January in North Dakota at -40ºF as that did yield me my worst 6-week bronchitis.
    In India they had to take me to the hospital one time. Not good while doing your consulting work. I was sitting upright almost the entire night for coughing and hardly could breath. It wears you out completely.
    Hope you soon will feel well again!
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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  17. Thank goodness for friends and modern medicine! Sending you positive healing vibes. Feel better soon, Deborah!

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  18. Dear Deborah,
    I am SO glad you are finally on the mend! It's no fun being sick especially with a nasty case of bronchitis. Watching feel good movies is a wonderful way to help pass the time and I don't know about you but it helps one to get sleepy and fall into a much needed nap too. That is what I do and I have been doing that {whenever I'm feeling ill} since I was laid up with my back three years ago. To be honest, I haven't really been well since mid-January. Sometimes I think it is better to talk about it because your blogger friends can pray for you. I guess I'm just too private but I was also raised this way. Old habits die hard! I also like to drink lots of water but I find listening to a book difficult as I prefer to read a book that is in my hands. I guess I'm just old-fashioned. Anyway, dear friend, please feel better soon and thank you for taking the time to share. You will be in my prayers.

    Hugs,
    Sandi

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  19. So glad that you are on the mend, Deborah. Bronchitis is nothing to fool around with. I'll bet your abs hurt from coughing....I'm just now getting over my nasty cold and I know about sleeping upright on the couch. I love all the tips you have shared - I'll have to see if I can make an appt. at the DMV here in Washington - such a great idea. Thanks for the movie suggestions, too - my computer is too slow for downloading movies here, but I am always looking for new DVD's to watch. Hope you start to get some energy back soon. Take good care. A hug xo Karen

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  20. I'm so sorry to hear you've been so sick... bronchitis is so miserable, and sleeping sitting up for ten days, oh my! I do hope you are back in your bed now, and feeling better! Hugs and love to you :)

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  21. hi Deboraht,,,,i love your blog , Is wonderful , you have a new follower
    Angelica

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