Sick and In Bed

Today I called in sick to work. Some nasty bug has been making its way through the masses, and no one has been spared. Two weeks ago we were still laughing about who got sick and who didn't. At this point, everyone has had it. I've been a little sick for a week now, but it was mostly congestion. Then, just as I thought I was on the road to health, I got hit HARD. Yesterday my mucous was bloody, so I knew the battlefield (my throat) was getting destroyed. My throat feels incredibly sore today, and not being able to breathe through my nose isn't making things much better. My mouth is dry and my nose is runny. The skin on both is cracking. Ugh. Jon looks like he is getting better at this point, although he wasn't feeling too great all day yesterday.

I can't help but wonder if this is not the swine flu that we are all getting. Seriously, no one got out of getting sick. And that's what they say about the swine flu, right? That what makes it so dangerous is that humans don't have the immune system to avoid getting it. But once you have it, it's just the regular flu. So for all I know, I am now under the influence of the dreaded disease. I must admit, that makes being sick a little bit more exciting.

For now, I will lie in bed and hope that rest will make me better. I can use the time to explore my options for the future. I was talking to some Rentals people yesterday, and they gave me the impression that all of them have some kind of plan for the future. Considering that most of the people working here literally have NO money saved up, I was a bit surprised. (Those of us who came from far away places have tended to be 25 or older, so I just figured they had been working long enough to save some money. But so far, everyone I talked to literally has to save up if they want to be able to afford anything more than this week's rent. How do they live like that?)

So, about my future. It is pretty clear that leaving New Zealand should be the way to go. I hear that fruit picking is extremely lucrative, but that won't be happening until after spring is over, which is a long time to wait around here with nothing cool to do. Plus, there are some other good options. For example, how cool would it be to work at the Olympics in Canada? It would be another foreign country, there would be snow again, which is awesome, and we would be smack dab in the middle of extreme athletic performance! Plus, mom or the fam (or anyone from the US) could come visit me at minimal cost.

Speaking of which, did I mention that Jon Stenstrom came to visit me here in National Park? It just so happened that the bus he was taking through the country was making a stop at my house. But they had had a long night before they got to National Park, so we just talked and went into the hot tub. Then Jon and I went to bed. We had to work early in the morning... ew, I disgust myself. Just for that statement, I am going to do something irresponsible today.

ANYWAYS, back to the future. (I crack myself up!) So, applying for another snow job would actually appeal to me. I've had a good experience with it so far. I do not think Jon wants another blue collar job, so he will be seeking a real job or a place that will pay to further his education. I will probably be applying to some real jobs as well. Maybe. I don't think I'm ready for anything steady just yet. This travelling lifestyle is getting to me. But I did find out that being a ski instructor is actually a shitty job. I was going to get trained to be one, until I found out that they rarely get a full day's worth of lessons scheduled to them. Often, I see ski instructors chilling in the staff room. Basically, they get a couple of hours worth of lessons, and in between, they have to sit around with nothing to do. Plus, the pay is little better than mine, a.k.a. minimum wage. And they have to deal with miserable kids all day. I think my job is better. The one thing I WOULD like to do, is deal with the machinery at a ski resort. Maybe drive a CAT (the snow flattener thingy) or work on lifts that have broken down. I'm sure there are lots of cool things to learn about mechanical things on a ski resort. I could learn a lot that way. I'm sure the pay wouldn't be great, but it would be one way to gain experience in something closer to my field.

Ok guys, Jon just came in and told me he got sent home for being sick. I think a nap is in order for both of us...

Jalissa