bronchitis?
I'm still sick. It's been, what? 26 days. After my cold symptoms (conjunctivitis, sore throat, congestion, cough, yellow mucus) cleared up, the sore throat persisted pretty badly for about a half a week to a week. following the sore throat, I had slight chest pain for two days and then the cough came back yesterday pretty badly and I'm coughing up (clear) phlegm. Do I think I have bronchitis? I thought I had a really bad cold for the first 2.5 weeks but now I think it might be bronchitis. I coughed so hard this morning I thought I threw up, but it was just a little stomach acid. I cleaned the room today and vacuumed up so much cat hair. I also brushed the cat outside. I'm allergic to cats so I don't think that's helping my immune system either.
Other than that, I'm fine. I took Nyquil last night for the first time since early January and it hit me within like, the first 10 minutes. 10-15 minutes after taking it I fell asleep. I woke up after a couple hours, took a shower at like midnight. Almost fell asleep in the shower and then went straight to bed and fell asleep. I woke up early.
I so don't want to go to the doctor. They might not do anything, because it might be nothing if this is just the lingering remnants of the cold. If it is bronchitis, I know it'll go away eventually. It just might take a couple more weeks. I bought a couple of cds today; the fray, somewhere in time ost, and the grease ost, for driving-listening purposes. I bought 2 movies; the count of monte cristo and the lake house. I tried to find the illusionist but I couldn't. those 3 movies are my favorite movies ever (phantom of the opera is up there; but I "borrowed" the dvd from my mom. she wouldn't give me her OST cd.) I was really tempted to buy the collection of the 9th and 10th doctor seasons at B&N, it was a bundle for $54. Maybe later when I really grow nostalgic for it. I just started watching it so it's still fresh to me; I've grown an attachment but not enough yet. I might find it cheaper on Ebay or something.
I've realized that I prefer to own the things that I really like vs digitally, so I'm not restricted to having to stream it all the time. I used to think streaming is best because of the convenience but I'm not sure anymore. There's just something about physical/analog things (you can show people w/o pulling out a device, they can borrow that thing from you, you can take it places, you can doodle/write in/on it, it doesn't have to be charged. it's just always there for you.) I miss the days growing up where I could go downstairs and browse the dvds that I've watched over and over again, like an old friend. I never have to worry about not finding it because I know it is there. There's something about going to someone's house and looking at their things; you're looking at their life. Their books, movies, cds. You're looking at something that they drove to a particular store for (possibly called or looked online to see if they had it in stock), waited in line to buy with the money they worked for, drove home, and put it there. It's purposeful and it shows others how that person wants to be seen. Social media can be similar to that, but I feel like it's not as purposeful (unless you really like to curate social media), and social media is filled with unwanted things as well.
There's beauty in effort. There's beauty in choosing a pen, and paper, sitting down at a desk and writing a letter. Then, posting the letter with a stamp that you chose, and waiting to see if you get any response. There's beauty in waiting.
There's beauty in inconvenience.
There are everyday things that you miss when you don't go out and interact with the outside world. I believe that going to the library, shopping at a mall or a store instead of online and keeping your gaze forward instead of down are huge factors. I'm not saying completely forsake the internet, but I think everyone's lives would change for the better if we used it less. The internet is great for exchanging ideas but when it's used as a supplement for real life, that's when I feel like it controls me, not the other way around.
I stopped using my smartphone and I carry a flip phone around. If I don't have a camera with me, I'll just use the camera on my flip phone. I know if I have my smart phone, during any downtime I'll feel like I need to go on it because I know it's endless entertainment. When I'm driving, I'll feel the need to post a video right there of the sunset. If I feel the urge to google anything, I'll do it right then. But like I said, there's an art to waiting for something. I know that anything that I suddenly want to google can wait until I get home.
If you were forced to be on the computer for a solid straight week, nothing else, you would probably never get bored. You might be exhausted or annoyed but not bored. But I believe that humans are supposed to get bored. there's supposed to be silent times, that's when the mind can wander and imagine. the great, big void. That's the mind. If I could compare the internet or social media to anything, it would be a black hole. it's so strong that if anyone comes into proximity with it, they can't escape it.