Tis the season to be sick?

You may have noticed (or maybe not) that I've been a little absent this week. Hardly any comments, or none at all. I have been "under the weather" for the last four days. Did you ever wonder about such phrases? What do they actually mean and where do they come from? I was particularly curious about "under the weather" and this is what I found:

1. To be under the weather is to be unwell. This comes from a Maritime source. In the old days when a sailor was unwell, he was sent down below to help his recovery - under the deck and away from the weather.
2. "Under the weather. To feel ill. Originally it meant to feel seasick or adversely affected by bad weather. The term is correctly 'under the weather bow' which is a gloomy prospect; the weather bow is the side upon which all the rotten weather is blowing." From "Salty Dog Talk: The Nautical Origins of Everyday Expressions" by Bill Beavis and Richard G. McCloskey

cited

This is what I learned.

1. Under the weather is the perfect description of what I was feeling: sick to my stomach, dizzy, and a headache. The first two could be the same symptoms of seasickness (although I wasn't anywhere near a boat OR the sea), and the headache was due to weather - the impending rain that was coming. It was a sinus headache. 
2. I would NEVER make a good sailor.
3. Besides - I'm afraid of water.
4. And I can't swim.

I didn't accomplish too much these past four days. I DID put up all my Christmas decorations. It DID take me FOUR days. My sister, Pam, came over on Wednesday, before I was sick, and we went out and bought a Christmas tree. Jim put the tree in the stand and we let the branches open up more before decorating it. In the meantime, Pam decorated my hutch with the stable on top, and all my snow babies on the shelf. It looks very nice.

She came back the next day and stayed for about an hour. Then I chased her home because I needed to go to bed. After I rested I  got up and put a string of lights on the tree. Then rested. Repeat. 

This wasn't what I had imagined it would be like, since I was so looking forward to decorating this Christmas. I love Christmas and all the decorations. Mine have been packed away since eight Christmas's ago, before we hit the road. I was very happy to see my old ornaments, instead of VERY happy, ya know? I'd open a box, unwrap each  ornament, set aside to hang later. It got to the point when I said, "Oh no, not another box of ornaments!" How Scrooge of me!

It was fun to see all the ornaments that we bought from wherever we traveled: Paris, Ireland, Germany, South Carolina, Memphis, Natchez Trace, Toronto, Glacier National Park, Yellowstone, Santa Fe, Sedona, Door County (WI), just to name a few. What was REALLY interesting? Every one of the ornaments was made IN CHINA! Except one. The one from CANADA - Toronto. Which was made in CANADA. Does that reflect what's happening to our economy or what?

The good news is, the tree is lit, the ornaments are hung, the house is decorated. I'm starting to feel better. 

Now to tackle wrapping presents.

I feel another headache coming on!