Not So Down or Out in Jersey

I rarely get my husband to come into Manhattan to have some fun in the big city. Unlike me, he prefers the quiet, laid back atmosphere of North Jersey. So, it was to my amazement that I convinced him to NOT ONLY come with me to Manhattan today, but to come to a 6 year-old's bowling birthday party at Chelsea Piers. It's not that bowling isn't fun (though we didn't actually bowl because the kids were having too much fun), nor that birthday parties aren't fun. But when you're 5 times the age of the majority of the guests, the fun is of a different sort. Nevertheless, he agreed (and, I must add, happily) to join me.

Given these incredibly lucky circumstances, it was predictable that something would have to interfere. Enter the unfortunate onset of cold symptoms that seriously sidelined me from the fun. Despite my best efforts to medicate my symptoms, I was sniffling, blowing my nose, and trying my hardest to keep my eyes open (sinus congestion makes it nearly impossible!) all day long. 10 mg of Sudafed (it would have been more had I not run out), 50 mg of Benadryl, and I was still a miserable sick mess.

In the end, I made it through the party, followed by a visit to the giant used bookstore, "The Strand", and dinner with friends. Now I'm back at home, laying under lots of warm blankets, and having a laid back night at home. With 20 mg more of Sudafed and 50 mg more of Benadryl, I am ready to curl up and fall asleep. As much as I would have liked to stay in Manhattan and have some more fun, I'm truly appreciating my quiet, laid back night in NJ. It only took a virus to make me see the merits of my new home town.