When my head is jumbled, this is what you get

I took a sick day today. That never happens. Ever. Except today. And tomorrow. And maybe the rest of the week is this cold doesn't leave me alone. Seriously, I don't stay home unless I'm basically on my death bed, but a cold has me staying home? No fever. Just an awful, awful cough, which has let to a deep penetrating headache, a couple of sneezes every hour and lots and lots of mucus-filled tissue. I spent the majority of the day in bed with Sandy beast, alternating between fits of sleep and fits of wet, sloppy attacks on my face. If I don't get to feeling better tomorrow, I'm going to have to go see a doctor and get some medicine. This generic Musinex just isn't cutting it.

One of Elizabeth's Christmas gifts was a game called Wii Fit, which is basically an exercise video in a game. It comes with a "balance board" that you stand on to work on strength exercises, yoga, balance and aerobics. It allows you to set targets to lose weight over a certain period of time and counts your calories, etc. It's pretty cool, designed to make working out fun. And it's a workout, let me tell you. Running, biking, yoga stretches that my body wasn't designed to do, ab crunches, and my least favorite game, the hula hoop. No, seriously, I suck at the hula hoop. It works, though. The first night, I worked out for 30 minutes and actually felt it. I've taken the past two nights off because I just don't feel well. Elizabeth is working out now, riding her bike, trying to drop some pounds and get into better shape.

Had a nice trip to North Louisiana this past weekend. Visited with my dad, stepmom and grandparents in West Monroe, before going over to Ruston for lunch with an old college buddy who was in town from Auburn. Also visited with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law and had supper with them. Always fun to visit with friends and family, even if the reason we normally visit Ruston weren't in town, as they were in New Orleans at the Saints game.

Speaking of the Saints, I'm disgusted. The 13-0 start was amazing, but the team has lost its identity over the past two weeks, and it's at the absolute worst time. This is when teams are supposed to be playing their best football, entering the playoff drive. Instead, it seems as if the Saints peaked several weeks ago and are limping into the postseason. These days, you've got to be careful to say an ill will about the Saints, lest people will accuse you of jumping off the bandwagon. That's bull, though. I call it like I see it, and what I've seen from this team recentlyj is not good. If Payton and Brees don't rediscover this team's offensive identiy, there will be no Super Bowl in the future for this team. And the fans deserve better than that.

Three of my nephews are in town at their grandparents, and the rest of Elizabeth's family is scheduled to join them on Thursday for New Year's. It's an annual tradition in the Granger household to have Christmas on New Year's Eve, build a fire, roast some weiners and 'mallows, and pop some firecrackers. Generally, it's tons of fun. We might even have some friends coming down to join us this year. However, I only hope that I'm healthy by then and up for the fun. We've also got a Christmas gathering on Saturday in West Monroe. This sickness needs to leave me alone!