I went on vacation and learned that the phrase, “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas,” does not apply to flu-like symptoms. BTW, those flu-like symptoms have since been confirmed to be the actual flu. While quarantining myself for the past few days, I am often asked, “is it swine flu?” Well, to be honest, I don’t know. My doctor says that he wouldn’t be able to tell without a test, but that it didn’t matter since the treatment (Tamiflu) works for both (which was later prescribed to me). So I guess I’m covered for this flu season at least.

[Natalie Dee]

Anyhow, here the highlights:

• Tamiflu, Sold Out? The first Walgreens I went to couldn’t fill my prescription because they were out of Tamiflu. Since I didn’t want to wait until they got their next shipment, I had to go home and look up two other locations to call and see who had it in stock. Once that was taken care of and the prescription was transferred over, I headed over to pick it up. Too bad I got the two addresses mixed up and went to the wrong Walgreens at first. Doh!

• Fever, What Fever? It never fails. Every time I’m sick with a fever, my fever mysteriously goes away the minute a nurse or doctor takes my temperature. It’s like the freaking Michigan J. Frog (aka, the WB frog mascot that only sings when there isn’t an audience). At the same time, it really makes me question whether there’s something wrong with my thermometer since it claimed that my temperature was ranging between 100.8 and 103.8, ’cause I sure didn’t feel that hot.

• Theraflu’s Motto Should Be: “Sweat Out The Flu In You” I must have drunk at least six packs of Theraflu over the last 3 days. Each dose was like taking a trip to a sauna ’cause I would start to sweat like a menopausal woman with a hot flash (more so in my sleep than during any other time). But hey, it did work, so no complaints here.

• Cats Can Get Swine Flu Now this last one is just plain un-be-liv-a-ble! While I may not know for sure which flu I have, I was disturbed to learn today that a cat in Iowa was reported to have contracted swine flu. That means that my little Dolby is at high risk since he’s been hanging out with me in sick bay for the past four days. I’ll have to keep an eye out for any suspicious symptoms. Dangnabbit!

This post is dedicated to my dear Dimmy. She passed away suddenly on October 9, 2009. We don’t know the cause of death, but we suspect that it was a heart attack. She was only four years old, so it was very shocking to lose her and also very sad. We gave her a country burial that weekend. DL, Dolby (my other cat) and I miss her a lot. I hope she rests in peace.

What I miss the most is this: Every night, when I was ready to go to bed (e.g., computer and lights off), she would hop onto the bed and curl up next to me. While it would appear that she wanted to sleep next to me, she was actually getting into position to ask for a massage. I’d humor her for a few minutes and then hide my hands under the blankets to tell her, “No more, I’m going to bed!”

[Photo via Ju_li_a/Flickr]

Subnote: What I paid was is a bargain compared to the current price of membership, which is $500 for a lifetime membership while an annual membership is now $20-$50 per year.

After re-discovering of the member’s discount and services page this week, I’ve decided that I need to pay more attention and put my alumni status to better financial use. My first order of business will be to reinstating my library card. FYI, this was my original reason for buying the membership, but in all honesty, I haven’t stepped foot in that building since I left….but that’s gonna change!

I’ve known for a long time that I want to have a more traditional Chinese wedding and would also love to incorporate those cool/detailed/quirky personal touches that are in vogue today. Problem is, the wedding blogs that provide the best tips and tricks for those cool/detailed/quirky personal touches are rather lacking in content for ethnic weddings.

[Photo via bakingarts/Flickr]

Sure, there’s the occasional “real wedding” recap of a Chinese or Chinese hybrid wedding…but there’s not really a whole lot of nifty ideas floating around. You could count the fancy Chinese to-go boxes, fortune cookies, paper lanterns and decorative chopsticks, but here’s the problem — Chinese to-go boxes and fortune cookies are about as Chinese as Kentucky Fried Chicken (read Jennifer 8. Lee’s book, The Fortune Cookie Chronicles, if you’ve missed that memo). Plus, most of those paper lanterns and decorative chopsticks are more Japanese in style…which is kind of a no-no if you’re going for a more traditional Chinese wedding. I mean come on, just because we’re all Asian doesn’t mean that our stuff is all the same.

For now I’ll just have to do my own research and experiments while reading my cousin’s blog, which is documenting the making of her wedding ceremony (wedding #1) and the Chinese banquet that her parents/in-laws are planning (wedding#2). Fun times.

If you’re planning a big fat Chinese wedding or know of another blogger who is, please do let me know – I’d love to add it to my RSS feed *wink*wink*

www.nataliedee.com

So sometime last week, I lost my headphones/hands-free for my iPhone. It wasn’t in my room and it wasn’t at work. I thought for sure that I had left them behind at someone’s house. Little did I know, there really were in my room…..hidden in the pocket of my white sweatshirt.

Of course,  knowing me, I didn’t realize this until I opened the door to my washer after doing my whites. There they were — all neatly coiled up on top of all my clothes. I tell ya, if an inanimate object could grin and laugh at you for being stupid — then this would be that moment.

Here’s the good (and borderline miraculous) news — they still work and they’re clean. I don’t understand how – ’cause it certainly doesn’t say that they’re waterproof on the box. Plus, I doubt that waterproof means that they’ll survive going in with my whites (i.e., this means they were washed in hot water with color-safe bleach, detergent and softener).  If anything, here’s one point for Apple.

Side-note: I’m a Mac and my brother’s a PC. In recent months, the PC has been out doing the Mac (but that’s another story)….finally, my electronics have proven their worth.