Another new year has officially made its way. It's a reminder of how fast time is flying. As far as major accomplishments go, I would say my biggest one was paying off my oldest credit card debt. I am at the point thankfully that I'm able to pay off my credit card balance every month w/o carrying over debt that would quickly snowball into interest. Workwise I obtained 3 new certifications and received recognition for my work from management. I'm in the process of renewing my Comptia Sec+ certification that is set to expire 01/11/24. Thankfully they give an option (for $200) to take a training module and successfully pass five assessments to renew it. The alternative is to retake the exam for $329. I am not utilizing my Sec+ knowledge since I'm not in a cybersecurity role but nonetheless I do feel like it's a good one to have on my skillsets. I so far completed four modules and passed 100% after several dozen attempts (each assessment)...LOL. I anticipate finishing the last module by this weekend, well before my current cert is set to expire.
Dom and I made it through another year of living together for better or worse. We're currently experiencing the worse part of it. As a school teacher he is unfortunately susceptible to catching "bugs" that his students and/or fellow teachers have. One of his teachers was out of the office and in the hospital for the RSV that seems to be the latest virus plaguing the U.S. He started feeling stuffy and coughing violently the week before their holiday. He forced himself to go to work (because he was no more time off) which I think helped me initially not succumb to it. In fact I left for Detroit while he was at work on his last day.
So I was fine while in Detroit. I staved off a potential sore throat that was coming my way prior to going. I came back home on the 26th and the next day I started getting sore throat symptoms again. I tried gargling with salt water like I did the week prior but it didn't go away. I woke up on the 28th with a severe sore throat. I continued to gargle to no avail and drank hot tea with honey and lemon. Dom in the meantime was still hacking and feeling stuffy. I didn't feel any cold symptoms. That changed the morning of the 30th.
I was disappointed because I was planning to hang with Eugene and his friend on NYE but knew I would not be in any condition if I was coughing and sneezing. Things got worse on NYE and I knew that I would not be making it there, my third year in the row not attending. 2021 I had "stone drama" and in 2022 I was in Detroit. I am glad we did get together over the summer for a day this year at least. I was feeling feverish as well and barely ate. Dom made some tasty beef barley soup that I did manage to eat a bowl and half of it. I popped some Tylenol and before 9 I decided to head upstairs and spend the rest of the night in bed. I opted to watch a Netflix movie called "The Noel Diary" It honestly wasn't that great though I was pleasantly surprised to see cameos by Dexter's Dad actor James Remar and none other than Half & Half actress Essence Atkins who is my age. The lead actor in the role was pleasing to the eye but the lead actress worked my nerves. The ending was so stupid too. But it did help me pass the time. I went to bed just around midnight (I could tell because our resident idiot[s] was [were] out shooting firecrackers or a gun). So that's how I rung in the New Year.
I'm not coughing as much today but it's still there. And my mucus continues to feel very thick even though I'm trying to drink more water. I'm actually trying different approaches. I took a zinc pill and also some manuka honey and black seed oil. I also resumed gargling and did a neti. Dom and I went to the store on the 30th and I bought some knock off Lysol that was 80% cheaper that I've been spraying periodically hoping to kill the virus we keep spewing when either of us coughs. I unfortunately go back to work tomorrow though I may opt for a sick day to give me one more day of recovery. I have days that will go to waste so I may just do that.
Dom says he's almost at the tail end of his cold though he still has the cough. I am praying this goes away. It's not the way I wanted to end or start the year. Not that I welcome this at any time. Uggh.
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