Thriving through the Greek economic crisis

[mom2three]

I do acknowledge that term, but it may not be any of those things. Have you ever checked sulfite intolerance? It may be something weird that you have never thought about before - even something like vehicle exhaust. As to your new health problem, I feel for you.

[mom2three]

I admire you so much. I think you are doing awesome through all of your life events.

[greekislandgirl]

I do have sulfite intolerance, but I thought that was only in red wine (which I don't drink - I don't drink ANY alcohol, or smoke, or anything like that!). But you're right, it could be anything at all... I could spend the rest of my life chasing ghosts. (Sorry to be a downer.)

Thanks for the hugs everyone... I had a rough day... DH went to his parents' and called me the moment I was having a bit of a 'break down' unfortunately, I was hoping to keep that to myself! His dad has the flu and it's quite bad (he's the one with major heart failure and all kinds of problems, he takes 15 drugs/day), he's going to the cardiologist tomorrow, his stubbornness kept him out of the hospital over the weekend which really angered Dh because he really wasn't doing well. Ugh. We are all really under the weather to put it lightly and have had enough!!!!

[alotofgooddeals]

i am thinking of you...hope things get better really quick!

[brenda67]

HUGS...I hope everything get's better for you honey!

[brennasmom]

GIG ~ So sorry to hear about the struggles. I have been sick lately too. Hope you are feeling better soon.

[greekislandgirl]

thanks for the hugs and healthy wishes everyone. I had actual energy for the first time in weeks today and started tackling the house... oh my goodness, the house... it is such a mess!!! With both of us sick for so long, it just looks terrible - cluttered, messy, dusty, dishes scattered around, laundry piling up, kitchen a disaster.

So... today I did the following so far: (not frugality related... sorry!!!)

- walked to city center to pay a bill and pick up a package
- stripped the bed and washed the linens
- washed clothes
- hung up two loads of laundry (one is still going in the machine)
- gathered up all the dishes scattered around the house (jeez...)
- filled, ran, and emptied dishwasher and re-filled it
- washed all the pots and pans, dried, put away
- cleaned the small appliances
- cleaned the countertops, stovetop, kitchen walls & backsplashes
- decluttered the bar in the kitchen
- reorganized the tupperware cabinet
- fixed a broken decorative plate
- took everything that's not supposed to be in the bedroom out of it
- dusted in the bedroom, living room, and hallway
- made lunch

Still have to do:

- put clean sheets on the bed
- hang up the clothes that are in the machine right now
- wash the kitchen floor
- swiffer the rest of the floors
- change the sofa slipcover
- clean the dining room table
- reorganize and put away all the medicine
- put all financial stuff in the office and update everything
- change the decor from winter to spring in the living/dining room
- declutter the living room

Luckily the bathroom, pantry, and office are in good shape and are not on today's list. Eek. That is a lot of stuff - plus I have to make dinner. I should stop writing lists and go do some of this stuff....

[greekislandgirl]

I'm taking another break to update my list... so far I've done today:

- walked to city center to pay a bill and pick up a package
- stripped the bed and washed the linens
- washed clothes
- hung up two loads of laundry (one is still going in the machine)
- gathered up all the dishes scattered around the house (jeez...)
- filled, ran, and emptied dishwasher and re-filled it
- washed all the pots and pans, dried, put away
- cleaned the small appliances
- cleaned the countertops, stovetop, kitchen walls & backsplashes
- decluttered the bar in the kitchen
- reorganized the tupperware cabinet
- fixed a broken decorative plate
- took everything that's not supposed to be in the bedroom out of it
- dusted in the bedroom, living room, and hallway
- made lunch
- put clean sheets on the bed
- mopped the floors in the kitchen, hall, bedroom, living and dining rooms
- swiffer the floors
- clean the dining room table
- put away winter decor
- reorganize and put away medicine
- put all financial stuff in the office
- put down clean rugs in the kitchen
- folded and put away towels

Still have to do:
- hang up the last load of laundry
- change the sofa slipcover
- update financial stuff
- declutter the living room

I'm so tired!! but I feel better... I'll tackle the living room stuff tomorrow and the finances. I think once that's done I'll feel a lot better.

[Didi]

Great to read you're feeling better today!

[zakity]

Wow! Glad you are feeling better! I think I am just exhausted by reading that list.

[alotofgooddeals]

i know that you feel like you have lots of energy and its hard not to do things when we feel well but try not to overdue.....you want to continue to improve...

[greekislandgirl]

yeah, a.l.o.g.d. you may have had a point there. My ear is bothering me quite badly today. I've been on antibiotics since Wednesday so I guess I expected it would have resolved by now. It's almost as bad as the day I went to the hospital for it so... I don't know, I give up!

[Didi]

Take it easy!

Recovery also requires energy.

[greekislandgirl]

I'm still alive... my ear is still screwed up though. Can't hear on the right side. To make matters more pleasant, Dh and I both got some sort of intestinal bug. Luckily it was mild. He had it yesterday, I had it today. As of last night, he seems to have a new cold; he slept on the couch in an effort to protect me from it.

Seriously folks: I can't take it anymore! I told Dh today that we should get tested for AIDS. How else can you get sick so many times in a single season? I think he's up to SEVEN TIMES since October. I'm at five now.

FIL is a little better, still has a fever. We are all so tired and feeling run over. I missed my second Turkish class in a row. That makes me very sad but my stomach was hurting really badly at that time. I'm going to the hospital tomorrow so my 'progress' in getting better can be evaluated.

Okay, I know you are all just fascinated with my cruddy health. The real reason why I'm posting is eggs.

The cheapest way to buy eggs here is small size, in a box of 10. Last spring, on the island, a box of 10 small eggs was €1.10, but cheaper on the mainland. But by the time we moved up here, the price on the mainland was up to €1.19. After about a month, it went up to €1.21. After another month, €1.23. A few weeks ago, I posted that the price had jumped suddenly to €1.41. Today, I went to the store and found the price is now €1.88.

That's a price increase, from €1.19 last summer to €1.88 today, of 37%, for a food that is supposed to be a cheap protein source.

Compared with what we paid on the island, where I was constantly complaining about the prices, the price has gone up 41%.

What the heck???? I get it that gas is more expensive, but these eggs are not coming from far away. There have been no sales tax increases, and the supermarket has reduced the salaries of all their workers by 22-32%.

This is why we need a revolution.

In other news, in 90 minutes the PSI deadline arrives. Will Greece get 90% investor agreement or will we have a 'credit event'? Should be fun....

[Didi]

Imho: You can get ill rather often when you're exposed to stress (nasty job / bad relationship / noise from the neighbors / sleep deprivation, whatever the cause may be and I'm sure worries about finances would be a good stressor for me). It's a downward spiral: you get sick once, then you have a hard to time get back to the level you had, then you get sick again and hey, you'd not even made it to the level you used to have etc. Try to do some exercise every day so that the next time something comes around you're less vulnerable / likely to catch it. Take small steps at a time, adding a minute or a few minutes to your routine every day.

I'd make friends with the owner of the chickens' coop next to your apartment. (sheesh 40% increase).