My dears, a brief hiatus from the blog. I’ve been pretty darn sick – gone from bad to worse – and ended up in the ER for breathing problems a couple of days in a row, each time getting worse. Last night was my worst breathing ever. I’ve had mild asthma attacks over the last 20 years but nothing like this. They gave me a big stick (a huge steroid shot) that nearly made me pass out from pain (why don’t they ever tell you when the shot hurts like a son-of-a?) and a nebulizer of albuterol and oxygen treatment. Even after that, still struggling to get my breath. No pneumonia from the x-rays but I can’t stop wheezing or coughing which may be complications of strep or viral bronchits (since I’m already on giant antibiotics) cranking up my asthma to eeevil levels. Think good thoughts for me and don’t be alarmed if I don’t answer phone or e-mail messages in the next few days – I’m taking a health hiatus. Poetry has to wait until I can breathe again!
Also, a warning, peeps – if you can’t breathe, and you’ve been sick, don’t hesitate to go to the hospital or at least urgent care. Breathing is very important, apparently. The hospital folks seem to take this stuff very seriously.

Update: In the middle of this health crisis stuff, a person shows up at our door and repossesses our propane tank, because apparently our landlord has not paid their rent for the tank for months. No hot water, no tank. What a freakin nightmare.