How I survived the Awful Death...

It's the beginning of cold and flu season, which means I am sick. I work in the restaurant industry, and on any given day I come into contact with almost 100 people or more, and roughly one in five of those people are carrying "the awful death." Half of my co-workers are sick. In the last 3-4 days, I've left the house about twice.

I've spent a lot of time the last few days raiding bathroom cabinets for vitamins and medicine, and only today found Tamiflu. This isn't a product endorsement, I just took my first one three minutes ago, so it probably won't help me at all, but I wish I found it sooner. According to the product Web site, if taken within two days of experiencing symptoms, Tamiflu helps stop the flu virus from spreading throughout the body. Or, if you've been exposed to someone with the flu, it can be taken as a preventative measure. I'm not exactly sure how this is possible, but if you're like me, you're willing to try just about anything to avoid the awful death.

Hydration is always key, especially when you are sick. Since contracting the awful death, I've a gallon of grapefruit/orange juice and an entire box of tea. Mint tea is great for opening up those nasal passages, and lemon tea with a dollop of honey soothes sore throats. And don't forget to drink plenty of water. This is especially important if you have a fever.

A hot and steamy bath or shower helps soothe aches and pains, and can also clear up nasal passages. I purchased some SudaCare Shower Soothers in lavender-mint in a small sampler from the Cub Foods discount rack a while ago and I thought they were awesome. I've even used them to feel refreshed after a hard night of drinking and would go as far as to say they could cure a hangover. Upon further Internet investigation, however, they appear to be pretty expensive and I probably wouldn't purchase them at full price.

Nasal decongestant spray is wonderful, but apparently addictive? Not according to Mayo Clinic asthma and allergy specialist James T. Li, M.D. Well, that's a relief, because I go through quite a lot of it throughout the winter months.

I also found these tidbits of information taped to a package of Kleenex from MSU Student Health Services that I would like to share with you:

• According to Louis Harris and Associates, "Bless you!" is the most common response to a sneeze.
  
• DiscoveryHealth.com shares that the average cough releases and explosive burst of air moving at speeds up to 60 mph.
  
• The Spanish flu epidemic of 1918 killed 20 to 40 million people worldwide.
  
• The average preschooler gets six to 10 colds each year. Adults can get between one and three.
  
• Despite what your mother or grandmother told you, going out in cold weather with a wet head will not make you sick. Colds and flu are caused by viruses.
  
• The Web site tos.beastlet.com reports that the average sneeze propels 100,000 bacteria into the air at an average speed of 103.6 mph.
  
• Animals catch colds, too. Some of the species which may suffer include chimpanzees, gorillas, horses, cattle and cats.

Should I get the flu vaccine? I'm not sure. Some years I get it, and some years I don't. I never really notice a difference either way, sooner or later it's going to get me. There's no escaping it. And what is the deal with this FluMist vaccine spray?

My boyfriend brought me a can of Amy's No Chicken Noodle Soup (I'm a vegetarian), but I refused to eat it for a day or two because I was skeptical. Usually, I don't care for imitation meat products, since I already don't like the taste of meat, and I never liked canned chicken noodle soup anyway. I was wrong, this soup is DELICIOUS. Perfect for those cold winter days when you're stuck at home with the awful death. It's also low fat, no cholesterol, dairy-free, lactose-free, treenut-free, vegan and certified Kosher. Granted, a serving does contain 540mg of sodium.

I've spent a lot of my time the last few days editing this blog and watching season two of "Mad Men" (I know, I'm behind). I'm not sure why the dates don't appear on this template, so if you know how to fix that, or have any other suggestions, please let me know.

I also made some vegetarian chili.

Here's my recipe:

2 red onions, chopped


2 garlic cloves, minced


3 celery ribs


2 zucchinis


1 green bell pepper, diced


8 oz mushrooms, sliced


1 can kidney beans, 1 can black beans

1 14 oz. can of stewed tomatoes

2/3 cup of tomato sauce

1 small can of tomato paste

1 tsp. cumin, coriander, cinnamon and chili powder (each)

1 bay leaf


2 Tbsp. brown sugar

A dash of Frank's Red Hot or your favorite hot sauce, to taste.

Basically, toss those all in a large pot and simmer for half an hour or until the vegetables are tender. It's great to make a large batch and freeze for a warm, hearty meal any time you're too sick to cook or go out to eat.