I now have a guest book for this diary. So those of you who do read it (heh� so far I haven�t seen much evidence Anybody�s been reading it) can leave me comments and such.

Just so you all know, there are only 8 days more to my birthday. Yes, on the 17th I will be 27 years old. I don�t care about presents, really� I�m not greedy or especially focused on material things, and I know most people don�t really have much $ this time of year anyway� but emails and happy birthday wishes to make me feel special would be muchly appreciated. My birthday last year was kind of depressing, nobody remembered it, and I�d just like this one to be a little nicer.

The one thing about being sick, I do tend to write in my journal more. Probably because I don�t much have the energy for anything else and I get feeling lonesome and bored. I still have a fever, and I�ve still got that whole really attractive drippy nose thing going, but my throat doesn�t hurt nearly as much as it did. I�ll be going to bed early tonight, and allowing myself to sleep in tomorrow if need be. Did all my banking by phone and got a few grocery essentials, so I don�t have to go anywhere in the AM. I managed to get my shift covered� I really can�t afford the time off for so many reasons, but the doc gave me specific orders and I plan to follow them. I can�t afford a day off, but I certainly can�t afford hospitalization again either. It�s either look after myself now, or end up in really rough shape. The doc really gave me Hell last time I got sick, mainly because if I had done what I�m doing now and taken care of myself, it wouldn�t have happened. He says I�m still not fully recovered, and I don�t need to risk a month in the hospital instead of a week next time. He also said that it isn�t impossible for me to work myself literally to death� I was at some risk of actual respiratory failure last time, and with my weakened system, it really wouldn�t take much to put myself back there.