tamaranth | The Joys of Sick Leave

Spent Monday afternoon, and all day yesterday, Sick: flat on my back, tired and headachy and nauseous. Nothing like a migraine, though a little like the beginning of one. Could only read in short bursts, and couldn't concentrate on writing.

I could easily have taken today off too -- "come back when you feel better," they said; and after the big deadline last week there's a bit of slack -- but I found myself experiencing the novelty of Company Loyalty. It is probably because I've spent so long as a contractor, when sick leave meant loss of earnings, no different from any other time off. The thought of getting paid to lie in bed dozing, with weighty tome and weightier cat, made me feel that I shouldn't abuse the privilege. Which is very odd, because in previous paid jobs I've always regarded sick leave as additional holiday, or at least mental health days.

Decided I was well enough to come in and werk, though possibly not quite as productively as usual. Perhaps this was the wrong decision. I get dizzy every time I move, and the smell of my colleague's hot chocolate is making me feel sick. And the cab ride from the station was no fun at all.

This reminds me of the way I feel after ingesting milk-based products -- except I can't think of anything I might've eaten that would spark such a reaction.