After years, and I mean years of everyone ranting and raving about the neti-pot, I finally tried it this weekend.

Let’s recap, I suffer from extreme allergies. I’m allergic to grass, weeds, dust mites, animal dander plus some food and medicine. I suffer all year round. I’m currently trying the shots, but not having much luck. I’m willing to try anything at this point since they seem to be getting worse. My mother and aunt Jan have been recommending I try the neti-pot for years. However, I’m a terrible breather, I hate breathing out of my mouth and I hate anything near my nose, so I didn’t think I would be able to do it.

These last two weeks have been the worse that I’ve ever had with my allergies and finally I broke down and bought one. Today I didn’t take any medicine and I could barely function this afternoon and thought this is a good test for this neti-pot. I read and re-read (I have a huge problem with reading instructions, I usually mix things up) so I wanted to make sure I had these right. Lean forward, tilt head, pour. Got it. It feels like you are drowning (or it did to me). I had a problem with not panicking and breathing through my mouth. Got through the first nostril. Second one was even more problematic. The water would not go through, it like dripped, finally there was a stream, but it took a while. After that I blew my nose. And I’m not kidding you, it was heaven. I can’t remember a time I could breathe like that. It felt like a high, I almost started crying. I kept thinking this is how normal people breathe? This lasted for three minutes. I almost wish I didn’t know what I’m missing.

After 15 minutes I sneezed again and started feeling sinus pressure and after two hours I’m back to my normal.

So, I tried it and I’ll probably do it for a good rinse of my nose and a fix. I think it would help those who have mild allergies, but I’m still looking for my cure.

Kind of long, but the ending is so worth it.

Jane Lynch and Chelsea Handler talking about Jane’s new book:
“My wife really was my co-writer,” Jane admitted. “Although I do not credit her at all.”

Handler joked that she had no idea Lynch was gay, to which Lynch replied, “I’m not really gay, but I love having a wife. You should try it.”

Last weekend I got to finally visit my favorite husband in Chicago. I got to check out his pad and his place of work, the place that keeps him from me.

I love the house and the vibe around it. As for the workplace, it was so stinking hot and humid in the offices, I nearly lost it. However, it was very cool to see everything and I finally have a visual.

He took me around the neighborhood, and we ate at a really good place, Moonshine, which is a brewery nearby. In fact we ate there for brunch on Sunday during the Bears game (which was great energy) and enjoyed the mimosas which were 90% champagne and 10% orange juice. Then after going downtown for some culture and shopping we ended back at Moonshine for dinner.

We also met up with Drea for her birthday, did a dinner and movie (Jerry’s sandwiches and 50/50). It was great catching up and hanging out.

Speaking of movies, since it is pretty much college but more civilized, we didn’t have much entertainment in Nick’s room. I brought cribbage (which he beat me twice, the student overcomes the master), but other than that it was movies. So we watched Love and Other Drugs & Away We Go. I would say my favorite was Away We Go. In fact, Nick said “there are very few movies that actually make me think about having kids and that was one of them”. It was just really good and I loved the dynamic of the main couple.

We walked everywhere (of course). I did not bring appropriate footwear for the trip. Though I did have a cute bag (if I haven’t told you about it, I love it! $44 Amazon). Speaking of shoes, yep, we found 70% men’s shoe rack at Macy’s, you should have seen Nick’s face.

I also flew, which was awesome. I’ll doubt I’ll be able to do that again, but for this time it was so worth it. Not worrying about driving, not confined anywhere (except for the hour plane trip) and on the way there I had no one next to me, read a magazine and by the time I was done, booya descending! The way back was a little different, first I took the 6:30am flight, which meant we were up at 3:50am and Nick, being the sweet man he is, rode the 40-minute train out to the airport and walked me to security. The actual plane ride was full of interesting people, I thought it would be all business people, but the 20-something girl next to me, who weighed maybe 120lbs, took up more room than me. She, at one point, was spread eagle with her foot on my side. The guy across the aisle from me took off his shoes and socks to really enjoy this hour long plane ride, wtf.

I lost my shit really bad twice, so that was not as awesome. Need to get my emotional side under control stat. So I started a journal, maybe if I pour all my emo crap into that I won’t feel the need to be a human fountain. We shall see.

I do want to take a moment to thank everyone: to those friends and family who have heard my pathetic whining and let me vent. And to my mother, who has helped me tremendously with Mollie and Evie. Who got me started in yoga and has been an ear when I can’t shut up. And finally to my husband who is putting up with more than I’m sure he ever intended to from me. I know it is also hard for him, I mean, who doesn’t want to be around this.