California scheming

I flew into Cali on Sunday feeling like death warmed over. I have had bronchitis for the past week. I got sick last Sunday and have not been able to shake the cough. Last time I was sick was in January 2011. Guess I shouldn't have been bragging to my colleagues about how I never get sick.

I was worried that I would have a coughing fit on the plane but it turns out half the people flying seem to have the same thing I do. I was so hopped up on dayquil that I didn't realize my colleague P was on the flight until he smacked me on the arm at the bus stop for the rental cars. He thought I was ignoring him on purpose. Embarrassing.

I went to bed at 830 last night because I had a long day today, including a meeting with my boss who hates me. I have to say that every time I interact with him he is nicer to me. But, this is an example of what is driving me insane:

DHBoss: Oh Franki, you are so tan, you are taking so much vacation!

(Note that I have been working 10 - 12 hour days, including working weekends)

Me: I'm not sure what you mean.
DHB: Your face is so red!
Me: I think it's because I have a fever. I'm trying to shake bronchitis.

(Note that anyone around me knows I'm sick because I have a horrible cough and my coloring is about as healthy as a super size me diet)

DHB: You are not sick. You have allergies. I have allergies too. 

(he coughs, perhaps to compete with my lung splitting cough which I can't control)

Me: Um, no, I have bronchitis.
DHB: You need to go home! If you work when you're sick it just drags things out forever!

Then he gave me a bunch of assignments due at the end of this week. When I pointed out I don't have time to stay home sick because I have so much to do he agreed with me.

So, why suggest I go home sick?

I talked to someone who used to work for my boss and he said "if you call in sick you better have a doctor's note."

No shit.

In other, happy news, I've gotten to see a bunch of colleagues I haven't seen in 3 months. Every time I come out here I feel like a geek star because everyone seems happy to see me.  Even my old boss wants me to share his office (I declined, my coughing drives even me crazy). Today three large (tall and fat) men accosted me in the hallway when I was walking to a meeting. Turns out they are consultants I've been talking to on the phone. They recognized me because my Cali colleagues keep talking about my pink highlights.

Today's the first day I got 10,000 steps in since I got sick. I hope I'm turning a corner with this bronchitis shit. I'm pretty much over it. And I can't keep taking double doses of dayquil and mucinex (am I even supposed to take those two things together???) just so I can get through the day.