TLC Day

If there's one thing I tried to do this year while sitting in a cold rink for four-straight days, it was bundling up as best as I could. I went to great lengths to layer clothing so that heat wouldn't escape, but the colder temperatures across southern Manitoba brought a chill inside the rinks at the Hockey For All Centre that eventually infiltrated my layering. As a result, I was going in and out of the rinks all weekend, trying to reclaim some warmth between games in the lobby and the hospitality room with coffee. Despite my best efforts, the chill just continued to work its way through the jackets and sweaters I was wearing, culminating in a case of the sniffles and some grogginess yesterday that bled into today.

Granted, I did go to bed earlier last night as I was tired, but it was very clear that I had myself a head cold this morning as my sinuses were clogged and my nose was a runny mess. After a shower, some medication, and a box of tissues, I was ready to tackle the day as best I could despite the setback. Would I make it through work?

The good news is that I did make it. The bad news is that I'm feeling pretty lethargic tonight, so it's going to be another early night for me as I work to fight off this cold bug. Honestly, I hate being sick, so getting through this as quickly as possible is my goal. If it takes a few days, so be it, but I'm hoping the ol' immune system opens a can of whoop-ass on the cold so I can get back to my healthy, normal self.

I do want to point out that going in and out of the cold literally has nothing to do with catching a cold, and the fact that I was around a vast number of people all weekend likely led to the sniffles. That being said, the Mayo Clinic's Dr. Jesse Bracamonte does point to the fact that colder weather can lead to catching a cold indirectly.

"If you're a little bit colder outside, your body's immune system may just drop a little bit because it's spending extra effort to keep you warm. That's not with everybody, but, in some cases, it may predispose you to a cold," says Dr. Bracamonte.

"When it's cold outside," he continued explaining, "typically people gather around the fireplace or around your home. Therefore, if people are sick, you're more likely to be in close proximity to someone who is ill, thus catch the cold."

See? Being around people at the rink was the problem. I assume that I probably was in the vicinity of someone who had a touch of this cold bug, and now I have it as it settled into a new host. These are the unforeseen health risks I take to broadcast great hockey for people!

Jokes aside, I'm off to medicate and get some rest. I'm sure I'll bounce back tomorrow and be back with something to say about a hockey story of some sort. It seems to be what I do here on HBIC!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!