The weekend of uninterrupted working/partying/bowling has been cut short as Ariel made an early return from her mom. What started as simply a nagging cough (pronounced as a mere virus at a doctor’s visit on Friday) has blossomed into a full-blown something nasty. The cough is still dry, but she had a fever of 103. In the long run, this could just simply mean she’s hot-blooded (check it and see). In the short run, though, the best place for her to be is back home. Advil is bringing the temperature down to manageable levels, but nevertheless I’m keeping a close eye on her. Kath now feels bad that she’s down in Atlanta and I’m handling this solo, but I think it’s preferable: Keeps the baby out of germs’ way.
On the other hand, the neighbors are relieved, since I’ve shut down the searchlights, disconnected the disco ball, and sent the strippers home.
PAD
• 
Don’t send away the disco ball. It’s got that hypnotic look to it that will help her sleep.
Yuck.
I was phenomenally sick for a couple weeks, though no fever. Didn’t get any sleep, really. Had a cough and a throat so sore that I couldn’t speak. I hope that she doesn’t have something like I did, because that bášŧárd held on for two weeks and started to let up only gradually after that. :\
Dammit, and I convinced my girlfriend to buy the first Supergirl tpb with her comic store gift card so you could afford some peanuts while you were bowling. :0)
Sympathies to Ariel, Peter. Came home from work on Friday at noon with a temperature of 103… (First time anyone can remember me leaving work early through illness… ever.)
Then spent the next two days in bed. And not in a good way.
Got out of bed an hour or so ago.
Isn’t food wonderful? And cold drinks! Wow – they should be available on prescription.
Tell Ariel I send my best wishes for a quick recovery.
Best wishes for Ariel’s swift recovery.
Although I bet the disco ball woulda helped with the getting-well bit. Disco cures all ills, ya know.
Wow. That sucks…o.O
Eloquent comment, ne?
My sympathies to Ariel and caretaker Poppa, and wishes for strong and fast recovery. Can’t be too careful this year with everything going around. I was so relieved at a large holiday party this week that the hosts took it upon themselves to good-naturedly announce to each new arrival that they were happy to see everyone but were instituting a “No Handshakes and No Hello Kisses” rule for the duration given the current nasty Humbugs going around. Once everyone had the permission not to worry about needing to demonstrate that they weren’t hiding weapons in their hands, there was no awkwardness whatsoever, and we all just adopted the Japanese greeting custom of a respectful bow. It was a “sensible shoes” moment, as my Grandma used to say….
She’ll be fine, plus it’ll help build up her immune system so she won’t get sick as much as she gets older.
And my trademark non-belief-specific holiday wishes:
“Happy whatever the hëll you freaks celebrate!”
Peter David: On the other hand, the neighbors are relieved, since I’ve shut down the searchlights, disconnected the disco ball, and sent the strippers home.
Luigi Novi: What about the pot? You did make sure to hide the pot, right?
I don’t care if you sent them home early, I’m still charging you the full weekend for the strippers.
I hope Ariel gets better, though. Happy Holidays!
I find strippers do wonders for a fever.
I don’t see why you sent the stripers home. Why, those girls were just trying to help, and they’re closer to Ariel’s age than regular nurses. And candy stripers wear such cute uniforms…
[Um, Tom. That’s *strippers*, not *stripers*]
Oh.
Never mind.
At least you could’ve sent the strippers to my home!
Although, my wife might not be as appreciative as I ‘d be…
Anyhoo, we both hope Ariel is feeling better.
Hey Peter, Sorry to hear that you and your daughter. What helps me get over that kind of stuff faster, is a glass of Thero-Flu, with one or two shots of whisky(not very strong stuff), lemon, and honey. That will kill the cough and let you get some sleep, which is usually the best thing.
does she do more than dance?
Sorry about Ariel, PAD… how much for the strippers?
It’s a nasty caugh that’s going around. I have it too but not to that degree. We’ve been passing around colds to each other in our house. Sucks. My little nephew’s been sick too and he’s 7. Hope she feels better soon.
Sympathizes. Get well dance sent your way. Does your daughter like teddy bears?
Best wishes to Ariel for a speedy recovery.
Funny how many people focused with laser-like efficiency, on the word stripper in that whole post.
Sounds like some people might need to get out a little more. ;o)
Could be she got the rockin’ pneumonia & the boogie woogie flu — sounds like she might have got it from some Foreigner. LOL
Make sure it isn’t the flu. That’s been killing lately this season. Not enough vaccinations – and a very bad flu season. Get her checked out. Better safe than sorry.
Attention PAD: for that awful Foreigner joke, I’m never buying any of your stuff ever again.
For at least, like, a week.
On the one hand, I’ve been dismissing most of the news articles about the year’s “virulent flu bug” as just another bout of the usual media-induced populace-frightening frenzy that boosts ratings and keeps us folks docile(*). On the other hand, a fever of 103 is nothing to laugh at, and it’s good to hear Ariel is feeling (slightly) better now; hope she makes a full recovery soon.
(* = Whatever else you want to say about Michael Moore and Bowling for Columbine, I think he does have a valid point about how the media overinflates fears and dangers for their own benefit, while keeping the public anxious as a result. Don’t give in to undue fear, folks)
And now, for something a little more lighthearted…
Disco cures all ills, ya know.
Don’t you mean, disco causes all ills, Anjela? Heck, just look at John Travolta’s movie career as an example…
Sorry to hear Ariel’s under the weather. It does sound like, at the very least, a flu-like illness. If she feels like she’s been hit by a MAC truck, it’s actual influenza. People KNOW when they have it.
Either way, the best thing for it is to push a lot of fluids and plenty of rest and relaxation.
The Influenza web page at the CDC (where I work) has great information (and is a little less dramatic than the media).
Go to http://www.cdc.gov and click off the home page. It’s right at the top.
There’s a great article in there about how to know if someone needs to see the doctor. If they’re not having the serious signs, then keeping them away from everyone else is the best. All the doctor can do is say, “Sorry you’re not feeling well. Call if it gets worse!” So free up the space for someone with complications. Most people will do just fine with some TLC.
And remember this next year when you’re making up excuses not to get the flu shot.
I would also recommend a good dose of some fantasy and sci-fi movies. Does wonders for the immune system.
UGH! That sounds like what I had a month ago, which seems to have been that nasty Type A flu that the shot doesn’t protect against. I didn’t die from it; I just acted dead for a week. I used Sudafed cold and cough during the day and a combination of Tussin DM, plain Sudafed, and Tylenol at night, to pretty good effect. Lots of fluids! And sleep!
Best recovery to Ariel!
Peter – I don’t know a better place to post this, but there are plans of Supergirl being involved in “Superman/Batman” #8 and later issues. Do you know if this is Linda? Will it lead into a new volume written by you?
Pascal
The Supergirl showing up in B/S #6 is the new one who has been showing up in Superman for the past year. I think Peter has said all he can say (or should be said for that matter) about Linda Danvers. Now, if only I could bribe Peter and DC into doing a Buzz miniseries which explores exactly what he was doing for a few centuries.
Jess – On the Wizard cover a Supergirl is featured with blond hair and a cross of Linda’s two costumes. The cover says “World premiere of Supergirl” or something like that.
Look here: http://groups.msn.com/artofjimlee/superman.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=1946
“On the other hand, the neighbors are relieved, since I’ve shut down the searchlights, disconnected the disco ball, and sent the strippers home.”
Chippendales? Right?
Best wishes.
Halamadak!