It’s been an unusual week, centered around the flu and a doctor’s appointment that literally made me sick. We attended my wife’s company party a week ago, completing the first leg of our holiday journey. Tonight, my wife plays the role of gracious boss by cooking for her co-worker and his wife. As this endless string of parties continue, a week from now we’ll gather with a group of friends for our annual get-together for dinner. We chose El Gaucho Steakhouse for this year’s feast. The following day we’ll fly back to Indiana for this year’s grand finale. It’s no wonder that we’ll need a quiet New Year’s Eve to properly recuperate. 

Both my wife and I went into the holiday rush this year feeling sick. Imagine how we’ll feel if we somehow make it to New Year’s? She missed a day-and-a-half of work and a corporate dinner, while I missed two days of retirement. In my case, I was just trying to be proactive about my health, and regrettably reminded my doctor of an overdue pneumococcal vaccine. In fact, I had just completed a successful exam and was ready to walk out the door when I pointed out the oversight. It was the second of the vaccines recommended to senior citizens over 65, supposedly designed to avoid pneumonia and save lives. It made my arm swell-up around the injection point and took me out of commission for two days. I have never had an allergic reaction this bad to any form of medication, so I immediately began to think that it was some sort of genocide conspiracy against the aging. One shot and it eliminates Social Security and pension payments, plus ultimately saves on medical costs to society.  Merry f***** Christmas!

A healthier kick-of to the  Holidays began for my wife and I at Disneyland a few weeks ago. Seasonal music and festive holiday decorations added to the Disney magic. My favorite holiday moment so far this year was watching the endless stream of performing choirs unite in a candlelight processional. “Believe…in Holiday Magic” filled the skies with fireworks. The Park is particularly impressive during the Holidays, creating vivid memories, although it seemed long in the past as I fought off chills, fever. stiffness, headaches, and loss of appetite. I did, however, still manage to do my exercises and run a mile, but only slightly over, to barely maintain The Streak before I took another 3-hour nap. 

I got an early Christmas gift this afternoon, an Indiana basketball victory over state rival Butler. The men in red and white needed a last second, off-balance shot to earn the victory, as the ball somehow dropped down the chimney. HO HO HOW? Santa should be delivering a lot of I.U. apparel this year after Freshman Rob Phinisee  DID IT and not THE BUTLER. Tomorrow, on the 3rd day of Christmas, I’m hoping for a Chicago Bears win over the evil Green Bay Packers. Gotta go – our next Holiday Party is about to start – our dinner guests are arriving!