And with that she said, "I am a genius."

Yes, I did in fact just refer to myself in the 3rd person because I am feeling THAT awesome right now. So about 3 days ago I began to feel a tickle in my throat. In all honesty, I had read part of a book to a student for most of one of the periods at school that day and I had rocked out pretty hard to Taylor Swift in my car that afternoon. I thought maybe I had strained my voice. Then the next morning I woke up with a little worse of a sore throat accompanied by a tad bit of mucous. Yuck! I knew what was happening...this was the workings of a cold or really terrible allergies. I never am quite sure. So, I immediately went to my medicine stash to see what I had. The first day I took loads of Vitamin C, allergy medicine, and sinus medicine. I was trying to cover all of my bases. I even resorted to drinking a hot toddy!! Normally, when a bug like this comes along I just accept and enjoy the fact that I can be lazy, relax, and curl up in a blanket watching movies and sipping on hot tea and soup. But, no go this time!! I'm leaving in less than a week. There was too much to do. I could not let this cold defeat me. So, I went to my personal nurse and asked for advice. By personal nurse I mean my good friend Anna. ;) I had pretty much been doing what I needed to be doing for a cold. But, she told me to take Zinc, so I got a bottle of that too. I also immediately started "googling" home remedies. Pinterest was another source for me, as well. I found this one remedy for a sore throat. You mix 1/4 cup of honey and 1/4 cup of vinegar together and take a tablespoon 6 times a day. I did this yesterday and let me tell you my sore throat is still gone today! Coincidence or did it actually work? I don't know, but I will choose to think it was this home remedy. Now, at this point I was also starting to get the foggy feeling in my head. It's that feeling like your ears are clogged and you can't really breathe. I resorted at this point to drinking hot water mixed with cayenne pepper. I continued taking tons of Vitamin C, Zinc, cold medicine, and sinus medicine. I did not want this thing defeating me or worse, turn into a sinus infection (which usually happens). Now, we are at Day 3 (today). The day where I become a genius and refer to myself in the 3rd person. Again, I woke up with some congestion, mucous, etc. Knock on wood...still no cough though. I went to Pinterest this morning looking for more remedies. I have made my own humidifier by having warm water simmer on the stove with vanilla and cinnamon (a pinterest idea). A lot of other ideas tell me I need essential oils. I also need to soak in a bath in these essential oils so I can inhale the warm vapors. I have no bathtub. So, I don't have any essential oils or bubble baths with essential oils in my home. What's the point if I have no tub? But, I noticed I did have an unopened bottle of hand soap that contained...essential oils, as well as Jasmine and Vanilla. Hmmm, the wheels starting turning. I would turn my shower and bathroom into a sauna. I would also attempt to make my shower serve as a tub. I squirted globs of the essential oil hand soap into the bottom  of the shower and cranked the heat all the way up. Then I stood in the shower, letting the hot water run over me as I inhaled the warm Jasmine and Vanilla essential oil vapors. I took a seat in my shower and let the water run over me while I laid a hot washcloth over my face and I continued to breathe in all the warm goodness. My head began to clear up and so did my nose!! When I got out of the shower I blew my nose and my ear popped and part of my head opened up!! I am still a little stuffy feeling, but all in all a lot more clear!! It was at this point that I said to myself (but out loud for no one to hear)..."I AM A GENIUS." So, I have decided I will do this 3 times a day till I leave for the states. I cannot let this cold get the best of me. I have too much to do and lots of traveling ahead. I'll let you know how it works out for me. Hopefully, I'll still think I am genius by Thursday.