So I'm recovering from a week and a half long bout of strep throat and sinus infection. The worst of it was New Years Eve and New Years day: fever, sore throat, aches, pains, ick.

It was bound to happen...I've been spending a lot of time in hospitals lately and around little people with big germs.

Basically, I rang in my new year with a bottle of cough syrup, antibiotics, gray sweat pants, 3 boxes of tissues, the Twilight Zone marathon, and no Sausage. It was very sad. I can tell you about it now that it's all behind me.

It seemed a fitting capper to a sucky year. And I told myself I was just getting it all out of the way early in the new year so I can be happy and healthy for the rest of it.....besides the new year doesn't really start ticking for me until January 7th (today), my birthday.

Then something frightening happened....just like an episode out of the Twilight Zone itself: I lost my sense of smell and taste. I mean there was nothing. I was unable to even taste my menthol cough drops and unable to smell the Vicks VapoRub that I kept globbing under my nose....and that stuff is strong.

It went on like that for days. Even after I started feeling better. Still, nothing.

Do you have any idea how scary it is to lose your sense of smell and taste?

I've had plenty of colds and stuff but nothing like this had occurred before. By day 3 I was in a total panic that I may have permanently damaged the nerves in my sinus cavity or my taste receptors and was looking at the very real prospect of living a life where I would never be able to smell or taste my food again.

Never be able to savor meats, cheeses, potatoes, pastas, sauces, wines, and breads. Never able to smell cookies baking, stew stewing, garlic chopping, lips glossing. Perfume perfuming, coffee brewing....Nothing.

I envisioned a life where I would never again be able to taste grilled cheese and home fries, foot cheese pizza, or a big bowl of slump.

I couldn't imagine anything worse. And I didn't want to eat because it seemed pointless to eat things I couldn't taste. I had to force down ice cream for my sore throat and hot soups even.

I mean I am a person who can endure a lot of crap and get by on very little. I can go without things for lengthy periods of time; everything from sex to money and companionship, and still be a relatively content human being. But take away my ability to taste? Just bring me out back and shoot me because I would not want to go on.

I'm sorry but I'm a foodie. We'd be talking major depression and nasty bitchiness if something came along and took away the pleasure I derive from food. Just one week without enjoying my food and I'm a raving lunatic imagining the worst.

Thank GOD (yes I actually prayed on it) I don't think it's permanent anymore because I'm feeling better and can sort of smell the Vicks now. But I'm still gonna go see an Ear Nose Throat guy just to make sure.

As I mentioned in an earlier post I am not making any resolutions per say....but as a result of this recent scare I will resolve to be more appreciative of the little things that we take for granted everyday. Like our ability to taste things and enjoy our food! You truly don't realize until it's taken away.

This year in addition to grabbing balls, I will also remember to savor tastes. Though, not necessarily in that order :)

On the upside: Talk about a crash new years diet...I have already reached my goal weight just 7 days in, quite begrudgingly and without even trying. My hip bones are now protruding just the right amount, not too much and not too little. My stomach is flat, but not too flat (I like to keep a little meat on the belly so it's still curvy). And the scale reads the number that I always aspire it to be. Bonus.

Most importantly... my taste buds are slowly coming back. Just in time for cocktails and cake.