Ginger tea

[vaneramos]

Symbicort and the cough syrup prescribed by the doctor have offered some relief but no healing for the cough that has plagued me for at least two months. I doubt this is allergies, as I thought at first. It seems to have more in common with the virus that seems to have afflicted so many people this year, except it does not really drag me down most days. I am unaware of having had any fever. Yesterday though, I was losing my voice again.

First thing this morning I went downstairs and made some ginger tea. I learned this from leafshimmer, who made it for me when I had a bad cold at Amber Fox. You slice up some fresh ginger and simmer it for a few minutes, then add honey, to make a pleasant and warming remedy. It gives the throat a little buzz. I have made it a handful of times over the years.

How strange it is to realize my visit to Amber Fox happened almost a decade ago. My 10th anniversary on LiveJournal is coming up in April. I date a great number of friendships from that time. Danny, too. However, few of them visit here now. Some have migrated to Facebook and stayed in touch, but it seems the majority have moved on. I have changed, too. It just doesn't seem that long.

It is fortunate I'm working at home this winter. The cough has slowed me down, but I can work when I feel up to it rather than when I have to. Consequently, I usually work. This week I sent queries to two new magazine markets. I'm also learning the ropes of the new laptop while working on one assignment.

Yesterday I discovered voice recognition software may be a good tool for transcribing recorded interviews in Express Scribe. It's a little awkward learning to talk while I'm listening, the way translators must do. But it's already as efficient as fumbling over the keyboard, which I've been doing for decades. This would be even better if voice recognition could transcribe the whole interview, but teaching it to understand my own voice is hard enough.

Comments

[leafshimmer.livejournal.com]

I had totally forgotten that I made that for you when we were both there! What I do remember is spending time with you, particularly one marvelous midday when it was sunny and warm and although it was mid October, we took our shirts off and lay together in the sun. You said, "we will not see a day like this again this year," and how prophetic those words were.

I'm glad I still get to "visit" with you occasionally here.

hugs, Shimmer

[inishglora.livejournal.com]

Your post prompted me to look up how long I've been here: Just about 8 years. As you say, the majority have moved on, what with novelties wearing off and all that. I don't care for Facebook's intrusiveness, but incidentally there are 2 guys with my name, one in the States (Florida to be exact) and the other in Toronto. That's one way to keep the relatives from dropping by, I guess! :) (I'm kidding, they all know I'm in Minnesota).

Hope your cough resolves.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I'm glad, too. I also remember that lovely afternoon time spent with you, too. I still have a lot of vivid memories from that weekend, some of them difficult, but mostly beautiful and enjoyable.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I don't think LJ was ever a novelty. In its heyday it provided an innovative platform for writing and played a significant role in the growth of online communities. It is not as fast or flashy as others that have sprung up since. In case you choose to look me up on Facebook, I was going to say I am the only Van Waffle, but to my surprise there is another in Estonia. Vanessa is my niece. Van (or more precisely Silvanus) was a named passed down many generations in my family.

[inishglora.livejournal.com]

Silvanus is your given name? If so, it's quite fitting, what with your focus on the natural world. :)

Hereabouts, there's a brand of frozen waffle sold in co-ops and other organic-themed grocers, named Van's, which always made me think of you.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

No, Silvanus was the given name passed down to my grandfather and uncle, but my parents just gave me the abbreviated form.

We get Van's Waffles here, too. In fact they are gluten-free, so I can eat them.