Day 334: More Sweltering Heat, More Ants But No More Stomach Woes

Saturday, August 16

I had every intention of sleeping in, but it was way too hot.  Sweltering, really.  Humid like the east coast.  I got up at 9:30 and stretched.  My sore throat was almost totally healed.  No more gargling with sel gris water.  I felt rested.

I went downstairs and my water war last night clearly did not put an end to the army of ants marching in a defiant trail toward my trash can.  It was unsightly.  I sprayed the trash can with Raid ant spray, as well as one of the baseboards along the trail.

I left to run errands.  I went to the bank and to the painted pottery place to pick up the work my co-workers and I did last week.  I loved the way my leaf plate came out, as well as a cute little trinket box I made for Susan’s birthday.  Upon returning home, I went to the gym and ran for forty-five minutes.  I have been neglecting my workouts, especially with the lethargy I had been feeling from my celiac disease coupled with travel (early morning flights).

I’m not sure where the day went.  I watched the Olympics and worked on my story on gluten-free dining.  I made homemade salsa with organic heirloom tomato, red onion, garlic, fresh lime juice, cilantro and fresh ground peppers.  I wished I had chiles.

At last, my celiac symptoms were clearing up.  No pain.  The swelling and bloating was still lingering.  I snuggled with my kitties and watched more of the Olympics until I began to fall asleep on the sofa.  I sprayed another round of rogue ants with my plant water bottle and tried to kill yet another new trail that had been made by these dogged little buggers.

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Day 333: Nauseous Heat, Rosé & Ongoing Celiac Woes

Friday, August 15

Once again, I got up and headed over to Beaverton for label press checks and to pick up some of the printed labels.  By the time I got to the winery my co-workers were in the midst of a birthday celebration picnic.  I brought a gluten-free bun and made myself a pulled pork barbecue sandwich, followed by a meeting on our events.

I picked up a case worth of wine to restock my wine rack and then returned to the office in downtown Newberg.  Because it reached a high of 104 degrees out, I pulled the wine from my car and placed it under my desk, out of the sun. 

My sore throat was getting better.  But my stomach was still dealing with the gluten contamination of the past week.  It’s crazy how long it can take for my symptoms to subside.  And the heat outside was making me nauseous.

After work I went to my friends’ house in Dundee.  I brought a bottle of our rosé.  A bottle of Chardonnay was already open.  The air conditioner in their home made me feel better.  I played with their kids and helped my friend get her toddler to pose in a cute tutu and feather tiara for some beautiful photographs.  She looked like a little fairy.

We ate turkey and cooked greens for dinner, enoying the rosé, which was tasting great.  We sat outside and it was one of the most perfect sunsets.  Plus, a full moon was a day away.  We ended up chatting for a few hours until I realized I needed to get home.  We were all yawning politely.

By the time I got home, the ant infestation was out of control.  I water sprayed the trail from end to end and wiped up drowned ants.  Not very Tibetan Buddhist thinking.  But I was tired, I wanted to go to bed and my stomach was now churning again from the ongoing celiac symptoms caused by gluten contamination that still kicked in every time I digested food.  I got sick yet again.  It was painful and I was still bloated and swollen.  My small intestine wasn’t as bad as it was in Missoula, and was little by little getting better.

But it was so hot in my apartment, especially without A/C, that I was feeling feverish.  Not the best way to end the work week.  At least I could sleep in, finally!

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