Friday, May 16, 2008 -- 9:50 AM Today I have the sniffles. That usually means I am in the process of getting a full-blown cold. That is just what I need in the middle of May! I knew that I was in trouble last week, when one of my CNAs turned up here with a handkerchief tied over her mouth, while she coughed and coughed. She coughed so much that a gob of mucus finally came out and she spit it into the wastebasket. That was enough for me. Today I told her that if she got sick again, not to come here.   Last night I had plans to go downtown today, go to my bank, and then go to a few other places that I had not been to in quite a while. Actually, it was more like a year or so. When I got up this morning, the temperature was in the 40s and it was raining. I decided that with the onset of this cold I did not really need to take a risk on going out and catching pneumonia. That is probably one of the best decisions I have made this year.   I am still having pain in my legs, knees, hip, and back. The medication my doctor has prescribed for me knocks out most of the pain within one hour. The downside is that the medication is a narcotic, which can be addictive. I am also on another medication, which is also a narcotic, for my anxiety. It, too, can be addictive. I sure hope my doctors know what they are doing. I imagine it is going to be hard for me to get off of these medications once I no longer need them.   Today I am not planning on doing much of anything other than sneezing, coughing, and blowing my nose. LOL  I will also try working on the two groups I have started -- Laughing Matters, and Disabled Survivors of Sexual Abuse -- to see if I can put some new life into them. Both of them have gained new members during this past week. I have one or two new ideas, which I plan on incorporating into the groups.   I am also giving some thought to starting a third group. To my way of thinking, the members here should have groups with as much diversity as possible. Even if some of them seem similar, differences can be developed into them. That is my plan, so now I have to wait and see if something comes of it.   Quotes for Success:   “So far the only successful substitute for brains is silence.”   Anonymous