Sunshine Wolf
May 28, 2000

Housework Is Unhealthy-Medical Proof!

I have just spent my entire 3-day weekend being sick. This, as weekend activities go, was NOT on my preferred list of things to do. My sister drove down from NC for a weekend of R&R, Fun & Frolic. Fun & Frolic can be seriously impeded by illness.

My planning started on Thursday. I spent some time looking for fun stuff to do – the sort of stuff that my sister and I enjoy. There are several interesting exhibits at the art museum, an Egyptology exhibit at the natural history museum, Joseph & His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, my favorite metaphysical book store, the farmer’s market, the Chinese grocery store, the really good health food store, Sis needs new glasses, a restaurant or two and maybe a movie. I wasn’t quite sure that was enough to keep us busy for 3 days, but it was a good start.

Thursday evening, after work, I started cleaning the house. My sister has always been a homemaker rather than having a job outside the home. Her house is always clean and food is always cooking. I, on the other hand, do good to keep the garbage at a level that doesn’t arouse the interest of the health inspectors and call for pizza. THIS time it was going to be different. I was going to show my sister the new me! I bought a new comforter for the guest bed. (All right – it’s my son’s bed, but since he’s living in Tennessee…..) I washed the sheets, made up the bed and even laid clean towels out for her BEFORE she needed them. I cleansed BOTH bathrooms. The kitchen counters were duly disinfected. I mopped and vacuumed and even shampooed the carpets. I put good smelling stuff out everywhere. I even fluffed up the dog’s pillow. As a result, the dog will now not sleep on her pillow, but it sure looks nice! I swept off the back porch/balcony thingie and arranged my bargain green plastic furniture aesthetically. At least, I arranged it as aesthetically as one can arrange 2 chairs, 2 side tables and a footstool in a small area which also contains a LARGE doghouse. Having completed a job well done, I set off for bed. My nose was a little stuffed, but I was confident I’d be better in the morning – it was just a little dust.

Friday at work, my throat was a bit scratchy and my nose a bit more sniffly. Fortunately, we got to leave mid-afternoon to start the weekend early, so I came home and started popping vitamin C. The apartment was still clean, and I was confident I’d be rid of the sniffles in a jiffy. I started preparing a lovely dinner for my sis since I had a little extra time. I was turning into a regular Susie Homemaker! All the while eating vitamin C as the scratchy throat got scratchier and the snotty nose got snottier. By the time sis got here, I was officially sick, but I was NOT admitting it. We ate, planned our time out, talked, ran a few errands, visited the ducks and geese at a lovely riverside park, and got my daughter’s schedule for the next day coordinated with ours. It was early to bed in hopes that I could cure myself overnight. Guess what? I couldn’t.

By golly, we were going to have fun – and have fun we did. We got lost in the health food store, stuffed ourselves at a Chinese Buffet, got REALLY lost in the book store, ate dinner, cruised Target and came back home. I’m still eating vitamin C but by now had added Sudafed. We discussed my illness in depth and came to the only possible conclusion – I should never have cleaned the house. I was fine until that happened. I’ve been getting plenty of rest. My job is relatively low stress right now. My diet has been reasonable and I haven’t been around any sick folks. It just HAD to be the housework. I bundled off to bed with a few sharp words to the domestic goddesses and the renewed hopes of another overnight cure.

Rise and shine – and sniffle! ARGH!!!! Off to the museum to check out the mummies. Then off to find new glasses for sis. Then dinner out and I was ready to die. I wanted to die. We stopped at the store for reinforcements in the kleenex and meds department and then back home. We watched a movie then went out and sat on the green plastic furniture, sipping Mimosas and eating chocolate creams. We talked and talked and talked. Finally I dragged myself off to bed for another night of tossing and turning.

I woke up this morning feeling a bit better. We did our last bit of visiting and negotiating. There’s always negotiating involved with the two of us. She always has stuff I want at her house which I try to con her out of and, likewise, I always have stuff which she tries to con me out of. She left early enough to beat the traffic and I lay down on the couch for a bit. I am definitely feeling better today, though not 100% yet. I’m thinking it was the Mimosas and chocolate creams. They taste better than vitamin C and Sudafed. Perhaps I have discovered a miracle cure for the common cold. Actually, I think I have discovered 1 cure and 1 preventive measure: FIRST – no house cleaning (preventive measure) and SECOND – Share sipping Mimosas and eat chocolate creams on the back porch/balcony thingie with someone you love. (miracle cure). I may not wait for my next cold to try the cure again……after all, Mimosas and chocolate creams may have preventive properties as well!

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Well, if you only clean the house like that once in a while, then you shouldn’t get sick too often!! Glad to hear you are getting better though! Hugz

BBe
May 29, 2000

fun fun fun!!!

Hi from one sickie to another.

I’m glad that you’re feeling better SW! It’s a bummer dragging around sick with company. Peace and love,

darkart
May 29, 2000

haha neat!! I’ll remember to put em in my remedy list! Anyway hope you recover soon, all the best and sounds like you really had great fun!

oooooooooooooo , i LIKE the cure 🙂

I agree, cleaning house is dangerous. I like the cute. Feel better soon. 🙂 Love + Hugs,

I better not clean this place until fall, don’t want to get sick during the summer. Sending you Chicken Noodle Soup wishes on a speedy recovery.

If I dye my hair green I’ll look like a Christmas tree! LOL I am already dark brown….green hair would be “the end”! LOL

see?????? I knew it all along!! the only reason i am so healthy is that i refuse to clean!!! now you ahve given me written proof!!!…(feel better, dear;))

🙂

I was going to clean off the top of my desk, But now———–

BlueEyes
May 29, 2000

It figures that chocolate would be part of the remedy! I too had a good time with my Sis (who was sick!) and we buzzed Target on the way to Tangerine Beef.

I don’t have a sis to clean for, so I just close my eyes and sift through the gore. Kidding. Hope you feel well soon. Love your medication, chocolate.

Willy & Wilma
May 29, 2000

Being exposed to all that disturbed dust did you in,Sunshine! A dust mask may have protected you.

Cleaning, blech! Garlic Park… I’m still laughing! I do that all the time, read things differently from what’s really there. What a surprise to get a note from you, as you’re on my list of diaries I want to read. =)

I was given a little wooden female figure sitting in a pretty frock and apron smiling coyly, on her pinny is printed ‘housework makes you ugly’ – so we can’t have that can we girls?

Of course, it was all that unaccustomed housework that did it. I happen to think lots of things are more important than housework, as long as you clear out the garbage, keep things fairly neat and prepare good meals.

You’ll just have to set up another weekend to have fun with your sister. This time keep the housework to a minimum.

Torin Invanusson
May 30, 2000

Perhaps it is simply the dynamics between you and your sister that dropped you in your tracks. But probably it was dislodging that much dust! With a grin…

To answer your note question, Me? *bats eyelashes* Moi? Total Global Frogination. 🙂 Dust bunnies got the wolf… grrrr sure it wasn’t the cleaning chemicals? or the smelly stuff? 🙂 Vinegar Power!

Nah, I think the mummies knew you were coming and they put a curse on you.

Yes!Yes! It was the veranda! It’s always the veranda! I’m a firm believer in the healing powers of the porch-stoop-vernada-lanai. So what did you con your sister out of?Is it my color? :))

Outside heals it every time. Regrettably, when the nose is going, dairy products are to be limited. Fewer kaluha and creames, and more mimosas

I KNEW IT! I’ve been trying to tell hubby for years that housecleaning was hazardous to my health! I will have to remember that mimosa trick… And is your favorite store…Crystal Blue?

Bless your heart! I hope that you are better soon! I have a friend that got some kind of wierd pneumonia from cleaning her attic. That was my excuse never to go to my attic ever again! HeHe! Love,

Thank you for your supportive note, Sunshine. I trust you are feeling fine again.

Please come visit ODForum, your opinion and advice is valued!!!

The life of a lotus eater is not for everyone, Sunshine.

I’ve been ill also, wish I’d been with you. I can be sick and have that kind of fun. Damn the dust! I have the wolf photos, you must see. Thanks for wwwinfo, contact me for pics asap. Antibiotics please

I have heard this line before, and I must say that the only thing unhealthy about housework is the fact that it never ends. LOL It’s a never ending cycle, isn’t it? Trying again honey to write poetry!

Hi…Phoenix and Dragon? Haven’t been able to entice them yet to order from us. Crystal Blue is on Euclid and one of our best customers…they sell our zen gardens like crazy! Sue

I have always suspected that housework was unhealthy. Now you have proven it

BlueEyes
June 2, 2000

Alright! Let me be the first to try to entice you back here with a bit ‘o Chunky Monkey? No? Phish Food? Aw, come on, SW, you give such good story and I’m in need……..

Sorry you were puny when your sis visited. I will keep in mind the remedy.

I’m sooo glad to see you’re doing better 🙂 I’ve always told my mama that housework was killing me! hhhhmmmmmmmm…. thanks very much for your note 🙂 *SMILE:)*

sorry, I haven’t a clue what Mimosas is, but if what you say is true and it is the CURE, I’ll take it! LOL

Yes! I will start on the preventitive messure this very instant! I, of course will have to explain to the live in boyfriend, but he knows how I am. As for the cure, well, yes, I think I’ll try that too. >’.'<

I know this illness! It gets better….takes time….and you had the *best* time getting there, didn’t you? *hug* -sophist 🙂

Hope its all behind you now, SW! Sux being sick in this heat! Be well… :O)

Sorry to hear that you weren’t feeling well…sounds like you had a pretty good time in spite of it though. And yes, housework is a dreadful experience…wouldn’t it be nice to have a maid or two? *sighs*

Luckily Rich is very house proud and does most of it… although I am doing washing right now… STOP THE MACHINE!!!!!!!!!

okay, now that i know what causes illness…..!! take care

::nods sagely:: You stirred up the germies with all that cleaning. However, alcohol, taken internally, is a known cure for many illnesses. Now, stay away from that nasty housework. It’ll kill you if you aren’t caref

I just realized … I booked the gondolas for my Cxmas cruise/party yesterday, which means I now have only 24 weeks to get my place ready for the party! Life is so unfair, sometimes! XOXO

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