Time Out Jen

First, my tour schedule won't be announced for a few months yet - gathering info last week was just the primary step.  But thank you all for your guidance on where I should be sent!  When we do announce, if your city doesn't make the cut there's always a chance that a tour could be extended like last year, so no worries. 

Point?  That I'll keep you posted and that "final" often doesn't mean "final."

What else?  Oh, yeah, I did a fun interview with Steve Dale at WGN last week on Pet Central.  I've got the audio of it but I can't post it yet because I can't hear it as SOMEONE hasn't finished the super-special way he's insisting on hooking up my computer speakers because he has a cold and thus is incapable of doing anything other than calling in sick to work, sleeping on the couch, asking me to make coffee, and honking into Vicks-scented Kleenex. 

Mind you, with a more virulent version of this same cold, I did said radio interview, attended multiple book clubs, participated in a photoshoot for Time Out Chicago, went to a book signing and then out for post-event drinks, cleaned and prepared the house for a houseguest and then an evening with friends, attended three holiday parties, did another interview show, shoveled the walk three times, and finally, cooked a magnificent Thanksgiving feast that at no point could I actually taste.

But it's not a competition between us or anything. 

Even though I would have TOTALLY WON.

Except he fully recovered in four days and I'm still sick three weeks later. 

Perhaps I'll give his couch-coffee-and-Kleenex cure a whirl?

Comments

[Morgan]

Puffs with Vicks are better...I didn't even know they made them for Kleenex. But seriously. Inhale. It's amazing, breathing was never so easy. And as for men being sick. Yeah, women totally win that contest. Not that competition is necessary...but...

[Momo Fali]

Screw that. Just sneeze on him.

[Marcie]

Jen, I just love you! I know you hear that all the time, but I do. I am a chicago transplant living in LA. While I do love the weather here, everything else sucks! The food, the night life, everything! I love your books so much because it brings me back to Chicago without getting frost bite! I am anxiously awaiting your next book as I just finished Bitter and let me tell you, I'm living your unemployed life right now!!! Anyway, it would be fantastic if you would come to LA, or Woodland Hills, CA to be exact that way I wouldn't have to fight traffic to get into the city. I would love to meet you, I have so many questions!

Please, Please, Please come to Woodland Hills, CA!!!!! There's a very nice Borders a couple of blocks from my home! Hope to see you there!

SIncerely,
Marcie

[Kate]

ROFL about sick husband versus sick wife.

Husband falls ill, comes home from work at 2 p.m. and goes straight to bed and sleeps 16 hours. Sick wife works a full day, cooks meals, makes lunches, runs to store, does laundry, takes out the garbage and resolves costly repair problems before falling into a broken sleep of approximately four hours.

[judith]

My husband and I got married in Vegas. The minister knew us for exactly five minutes before the ceremony. Because of that 5 minute "interview" before the ceremony, he threw in a part that said "Love isn't about competition".

He's so wrong. It keeps it interesting.

I think you and Fletch are soulmates to me and my husband.

[Tripa]

I missed posting a comment for your previous entry and, because I find it important to say, COME TO SAN DIEGO!!!

[Soren]

You do what i do (and what our husbands don't)... we take the "meds" and prop ourselves up and feel a wee bit better and keep going going going... whereas the men, they sneeze once, forget how to be a man and turn into a big baby who can't even make himself something to eat (at this point, of course, I'm talking about my hubby and not Fletch...) and he's done in 2 days and I'm sick for 6 weeks... ugh.

Key is-- don't get sick in the first place.

And, b/c the other comments are closed-- and I'll have to email this too-- PLEASE come to Toronto!
it's the only canadian city that matters :D and I would totally schedule my client work around coming to see you!
I've never been to a signing before... pllllleeeeaaaasssseee ? :D

[Manic Mommy]

Oh, tell Fletch I sure do hope he feels better. Poor guy.

[Jessie]

Oh dear LORD - Vicks tissues are my newest lover. That, and my Vicks humidifier are what are getting me through this cold!

Feel better Fletch!

[erin]

they make vicks scented kleenex. i would check that out but i am more of a puffs kind of girl.

[Ginny]

Funny how we women tend to consider acknowledging that we are sick to be a "luxury" we can't afford. For me, unless I am running a fever, I can't seem to justify going the coffee/couch/Kleenex route. I feel like too much of a slug and a slacker. Let me run even the slightest fever, though, and I'm so there!!!

And to Alison -- Mobile, Alabama! -- Great town! I grew up there and most of my family is still there!

[Kelsey]

I'll have to remember to have my uncle send me a copy of Time Out Chicago. I love that magazine. I bring a copy home every time I visit.

[AJMick]

I've been sick with this crud the last week while the man was out of town. Translation = I didn't have to take care of anyone else's stuff but my own (and the cats). So I couch surfed and ate simple things when I wanted to and I feel so much better today! Of course if he had been home I would've been cooking dinner and various other things... ugh... men... love them but hate them a little bit, too.

[Prevent]

At the first sign of the cold go to your local Jamba Juice and order an Original Size Coldbuster and a double-shot of wheat grass (if you can shoot alcohol you can shoot this).

If you're already sick then do what the men do...sleeping is the BEST for the common cold and don't forget the chicken soup and O.J.

[Sheri]

Nyquil......gotta love them otc drugs.

[MZA]

My husband won't go to the doctor for anything - cold, flu, broken arm. . . He's afraid they'll give him a digital rectal exam. "Ummmm, honey? You have a sprained ankle. They aren't going anywhere near that part."

He had "chronic" sprained ankles every six months for 10 years (no I am NOT kidding) before he FINALLY went to the doctor. He has Gout. Treatable. Without invasive exams.

I think I am going to schedule him an appointment with Dr. Jellyfinger just because.

[alison]

oh, the reminders of "sick" men makes me thankful that I am single! oh, and please consider Mobile, AL as a tour stop. please. please. please. I'll make you super yummy sweet tea vodka drinks. :)

[Laura]

Mine gets "sicker than others". that's what he told his doctor. the doctor laughed at him!

[Amy]

My husband and I can have the same cold and while he is calling in sick, napping, and acting miserable, I am getting kids up for school, cleaning, cooking, taking care of twin toddlers and not slowing down at all. Men (at least mine) = wimps. (but I still love him - he gets bugs for me and takes out the trash)

[Heather]

That's because men are complete babies when it comes to being sick. Women power on; men act like the world is coming to and end and use it as an excuse to be catered to.

[Domestic Goddess (In Training)]

When my husband gets a cold, you would expect a scene from Outbreak with the hazmat bio suits and all. He equates the sniffles to ebola. I suppose that answers the age old question of why women have to go through childbirth. The species would die out if a guy had to do it.

[KLM]

Those Vicks-scented Kleenex are like the best invention of all time. I'm slightly obsessed with them.

[TUWABVB]

Oh, and don't forget Austin! I met you at the Dallas signing last year and had told you we were in the process moving to Austin....I think you did visit Austin last year as well, but if I have to, I'll drive to Dallas to go to your signing!

[TUWABVB]

I think you need one of my grandfather's famous hot toddies. Man, that thinkg can make you sweat out your sickenss in one night. I've been sick for a week too - not sure why I haven't done it yet, except for the fact that it knocks you on your ass! Let me konw if you want the recipe!

[Becky H]

Since your tour schedule hasn't come out yet.. I suggest making a stop through Madison, Wisconsin! I have started a book club here and of course our first book was Bitter Is the New Black (I read when it was first released, however, I wanted to force my friends that haven't ready your books to start!) They are extremely glad they did:) Of couse wine was included too. CANNOT wait for your new book! Love the cover.

[LisaS]

Feel better soon. I totally hear you on the whole man sickness thing...they really are big babies. Even my babies aren't as big of babies as my husband. I also just found out that we are both Pi Phi's--that totally rocks!

[Kari]

Feed Fletch wine. Wine cures everything :-)

[MandyJo]

You should so come to Kansas! My friends and I would love to meet you!

[Heather, Queen of Shake Shake]

I think men know something we don't know about this sick business. I started acting like a man when I get sick and it's so frackin' awesome! I highly recommend the couch/sleep/bring me everything tactic.

BTW, I plan on being in Nashville for that BlissDom conference and am tickled pink (like the pink martini they had at the previous conference) that I might get to meet you.

[Kel]

I feel your pain. I went home to Wisconsin for Thanksgiving and caught a bug which I still have. Maybe I'll try Fletch's cure. By the way, I thought of you while driving through Chicago. What a huge improvement the Dan Ryan was from the last time I went through. Chicago is still one of my favorite cities. Hope you're better soon.

[TheBabblingHousewife]

Women still do "stuff" when the men go comotose for a few days...that's why they get better so much faster.

[kalisah]

Men just want to be mommied when they're sick.

[Beth]

Try green tea with honey,Emergen-C, and Zycam for two days then proceed onto the alcohol treatment for the remainder of the month. Trust me, I'm a nurse.

[Stephanie]

After 26 years of marriage I've learned to fake it. Not THAT! Taking care of a sick husband. Since I work at home, every time I go to the kitchen or bathroom, I make a big deal, "Honey do you need anything?? A drink, more tissues, etc." as I pass through the sick ward that is our living room. He gets tired of me waking him up every 20 minutes and goes into hibernation. Heh. Survival of the fittest or at least the sneakiest. Warning - do not use when they are actually sick. Too unfair.

[tracee]

Feel better Jen.

I think I have the beginning of something similar. Or perhaps leftover hangover from the holiday party this weekend.

Here's my thought. Alcohol kills germs, right? Just drink enough wine until the cold goes away!!!

Let me know how that works out for you!

[Texan Mama]

Know what always makes me feel better? Little Debbie Snack cakes. And right now they have the ones shaped like Christmas Trees. YYYYYUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMM.........

[sue Treiber]

it can't hurt!

[kristin]

yeah, men are wimps. Except when their man-cold lasts a month and you bug them to go to the doctor and when they finally do they end up in the freakin' HOSPITAL with elevated calcium levels that leads to kidney issues and all sorts of other serious stuff and 5 days later they are actually in surgery this morning to remove a wonky parathyroid gland. Yes, that brings us today. I could really use a new book from you to read to pass the time while I'm waiting.

[Jeanette]

Put on your jammies and cushy socks, have Fletch make hot cups of green tea, tune in to Christmas music and read, sleep, read, sleep... repeat for several days. You'll feel better just in time for the weekend and more holiday parties! Feel better!

[MissAmy]

Same thing at my house. He didn't even remember me being sick and it happened a week before his sudden illness but I was to wait hand and foot. Honestly.

[Jessica]

That is how all men are. Which is an obvious statement. I would recommend the couch - kleenex thing. You are probably still sick because you haven't rested any! Let him place nurse-man for awhile.

Hope you feel better!

[LindaS.]

Um, not that Fletch turns into a 5 year old, er, not that my husband turns into a whining baby, uh, I better shuddup now.

[Emily]

Jen, it's your turn to whine. Take a nap on the leather couch, and make him take care of your furchildren. But before you do that, you should e-mail me a happy birthday. :P

[Jennifer z>]

Feel better soon Jen! And make Fletch take care of you until you are!

[LindaS.]

It never ceases to amaze me how men automatically turn into 5 year olds when they get sick. You never hear so much whining from an adult...

[Kristen]

Maybe you should give Fletch's version of recovery a try and slow down - overworking yourself can do it too.