The end of my Cold has arrived.

   Well, it has been seven days today since my cold set in.  As of this morning I finally felt back to 100% normal.   Monday and Tuesday, I was still waking up with a plugged nostril, but a handful of kleenex was lasting the whole day.  Yesterday was much better, though I did have a piercing head pain that would not go away.  By head pain, I do not mean a head-ache.  This was a pain, starting on the left upper side of my head, which drove like a nail right into dead center between the ears.  Not sure what a migraine is supposed to feel like, but maybe I now do?

   Today, one full week from last Thursday, I felt very much back to normal, with the exception of a minor head-ache that seemed to come and go throughout the day. 

   So, how long does a cold last?  Well, this one was bad for four and better for three days.  But regardless, this cold was still better than coming down with a flu bug.

   May yours be non-existant.

Putting Cold predictions to the test.

   Should have known better than to write anything about catching a cold without tempting fate.   For a nice Thanksgiving treat, I am being treated to a good old fashion head cold.  So after a couple nights of sinus head pressure combined with a good case of post nasal drip, drip, drip, I am starting to feel a little bit better on day three.

   Though still better than coming down with the flu, I really wish this could have held off until after Turkey Day!  Food is not as good when you are constantly interrupted with a blowing your nose, and or coughing.  It also tends to place you down at the far end of the table from the other family members.  Not that I blame them of course. 

  So, if all predictions are correct, I can perhaps look forward to getting my first good nights sleep tonight.  So far, no problems with chest congestion, so hopefully this on will not morf into an infection battle. 

  So, just like everyone else, I really do not like colds!

People still ask, “How long does a Cold last?”

   Seems that one question people keep asking is “How long does a Cold last?” 

So I’ve done some more research and the answer remains the same.  Still looks like now mater what you do, you can look forward to seven to ten days of misery, or at least un-comfort, before things will get better.  To complicate matters, cold viruses, like the flu bugs, change as they hop from host to host.  Thus, guaranteeing they will find future hosts who lack the immune system to fight them off, before they get a chance to invade and multiply.

    Things to watch for though are symptoms that go beyond that of those of the cold which started the whole mess.  The side effects of having that sore throat, fever, blocked nasal passages among others, is the increased risk of infections caused by other bacteria which takes advantage of the situation.   Other factors that can affect outcomes is the level of stress you are experiencing at the time.  Increased stress has been shown to weaken the immune system.

   So, if after 10 days, you are feeling worse than when it started, you may have something else your body is fighting, other than the cold which started things.  Secondary bacterial infections can be very serious, leading to worse things such as bronchitis, pneumonia, meningitis, sinusitis and even middle ear infections.  If you keep running a fever (higher than 38.5°C/101°F), this is a good sign that a bacterial infection has taken hold.  If you are experiencing any of these including the fever, after 10 days, the recommendations are to get yourself in to see your physician and get checked out.  An antibiotic is likely going to be recommended and prescribed to fight of the infection.

   I have read that Zinc supplements can help shorten, or at least lessen the effects of the cold, if started right away.  I have tried this myself and did not see any positive effect and as such cannot recommend it myself.  But, I have some Zinc sitting on hand just incase.  Maybe next time, if I don’t wait a couple days to start?  I do take one tablet of vitamin ‘C’ each day, and though scientific research has not yet proven it to be helpful, I’ve been cold free for over a year, which is a first.

   So, it’s too late, you already have the cold and are wondering what you can do?  Well you might be surprised that Chicken Soup, does help, at least in that it gets fluids into your body along with some healthy nutrients.  Your favorite pain reliever and decongestants will also help to at least, reduce the misery.

   I wish you luck in either fighting your cold, and or, hopefully keeping your possible future cold at bay.

Just in case you are wondering.  This is the enemy each of us must fend off.

80 on 80 in Nebraska

So, your heading West across the big wide state of Nebraska.  You are driving down the Interstate Highway number 80, traveling at 75 miles per hour plus.  Or as some would say, doing 80 on 80!

 

After traveling for hours after crossing from Iowa into Nebraska, you see something up ahead which does not look like a normal overpass up ahead.  As you get closer you can see what appears to be a giant covered bridge, straight out a Madison County Bridges scene from the Outer Limits. 

 

What you see as you get closer is what is actually a building which spans across the interstate, which contains a history lesson on how the West was made.   Having driven underneath this monument a number of times over the years, we did actually take the time to stop and go inside during one trip in years past. 

 

This is what could be one of the best stopping points along what is an otherwise very boring stretch of highway.  What I cannot understand for the life of me, is that they forgot to place the thing near any exits?  If you want people to stop and shop, do not expect people to drive backwards the other direction over 3 miles.  the average person is not going to feel they have the time to drive over six miles out of their way to see something that they have no Idea about what is inside.

 

Hopefully they will add an exit near this wonderful buildings, to make it more accessable and inviting for passerbys, to not pass this one up.

 

The great Platte Arch Monument

2009 Yellowstone – Bull Elk in rut.

What could be more exciting than being witness to two bull Elk fighting for the right to mate with the herd.

Two Bull Elk fight for mating rights.

Bull Elk lock horns.

The dominate male on the right was successful in deterring the rival bull from sticking around.  Minutes later the rival on left, turned and headed back up the bank into the nearby hillside.  Shorty there after, the winning male bugeled his success to the females down by the stream.

   This September visit to our first National Park, resulted in some of the best wildlife spotting we have ever been lucky enough to witness.  After starting our visit out in the Old Faithful and Upper Geyser Basin area, we worked our way back around to Lake Yellowstone and then headed up past Canyon and Tower and then up to Mammoth Hot Springs, taking stops at each along the way.  The fall season ended up being a bit more of a challenge, as the road between Old Faithful and the Norris Geyser Basin area was closed for road construction.   Just north of Mammoth heading down toward the north entry gate near Gardner, we happened upon a large herd of Elk along the river one early morning. 

    Viewing two male bull Elk fighting over the right to mate with the herd was something we each thought we would only see on a TV show.  To witness this first hand, was something we not only felt lucky about, but truly privileged.  The National and State Park systems are assets which each of us needs to make sure our government representatives know is appreciated and always in need of their continued support and protection.

Yellowstone 2009

    We just returned from a wonderful week in Yellowstone National Park.  We only wish we would have  had many more weeks to stick around.  A word of advise is the park does start to shut down mid September.  But what a great time of year to enjoy the nature of what is Yellowstone. 

    What a thrill to see Bull Elk locking horns while fighting for the right of the herd next to a mountain stream, glittering into the warm haze of the morning sun.  Or, perhaps the site of a black bear turning over rocks to gain access to the moths hiding beneath.  Maybe it was the site of over 400 Buffalo grazing in the golden fall colored grass, leading down to the blue of the Yellowstone River below.  Perhaps it was the a family of three Otters gliding down the rapids only to turn around and climb back up the rocks in what appeared to be nothing more than a trip to the local amusement park.  Then again, I think the sight of a Ospry swooping out of the sky to snatch a trout out of the stream, while hordes of fishermen could only stand hip deep in the water staring in envy.

Any single item of those listed above is reason alone to take the trip to Yellowstone.  But, I haven’t even gotten around to taking about the thermal features.