Wrote 900 words and processed a dog pile of orders today. Even better news, the steroids/cortisone shot/Allegra/antibiotic cocktail worked as the doctor forecast. The ear infection is no more, and for the first time in months, the hearing in either ear clocks out roughly the same. But the progress came at a stiff price.

Steroid based treatments are last ditch treatments for ear infections. If they fail – and this is very rare, amen for that – the next stop is a specialist. Experts cost money, so naturally, I hate them. Allow me to introduce my motto: if it’s free, it’s for me. There were times this cure did not justify the savings.

Four of the six days worth of the blister pack of ‘roids, I cursed every dose. Side effects included: mood swings, water retention, insomnia, dizziness, and incoherence. Basically, a normal night out for the intoxicated, only cranked to eleven, and every second oh so sober. Fortunately, the doses tapered off each day. By the fifth, life improved a great deal.

Freed of the last dose, I hit the weights. Strength levels are down about two to three percent. Not too shabby considering seventeen continuous days of antibiotics, antihistamines, shots and a haphazard workout schedule.

All in all, not a bad day out.