Made It To Paducah for Pre-Wedding Beers, Then To Our Hotel (Schitt's Creek Would be an Up-Grade). Slim Picking in These Parts, I Guess

Just two days. Just two days. Tunga's already online looking for another place to stay tomorrow night. I told him, "We are in the middle of nowhere and I picked the better of all evils." The plumbing works...what else does he want. 

This morning, we are meeting Sue and Dave at Land Between the Lakes and hiking in search of bald eagles. The wedding isn't until this evening, so we'll make the most of the day...and temperatures aren't even going to hit 90, which is a bonus. 

The beers at Dry-Ground Brewing were good, with several original IPAs. Definitely a good way to spend an evening.

We drove into the hotel late at night, and I'm unsure what we'll find outside in the morning. This is a part of KY that was hit hard by tornadoes a year or so ago. Just check out the devastation that NPR reported.

Ah, but we made it to the wedding day and a memorable trip. That is what matters most. 

And it is good to put money back into the local economy. Phew. It's hard to imagine how a town picks itself back up after a storm like that. 

Made It To Nashville with Only a Slight Delay. Was Graced By the Hospitality of Dr. Kevin Leander, Vanderbilt University. Nashville's Definitely in a Boom

I didn't expect delays, but leaving Tweed, the pilot announced no flights were going into Nashville and we had to head back to the gate. Fortunate for us, it was only a 35 minute delay. We arrived by 6 p.m. their time, got our rental car (upgraded to a BMW...nice), and headed to the hotel. Kevin came by to pick us up, took on on a slight tour, and then we went out to a BBQ joint.

Delicious. Afterwords, we hiked across the Cumberland River and took pictures of the city. We drove by the tourists listening to bands and drinking their brains away, but we avoided that romp and simply walked instead.

I laugh that Dr. Leander came to take us out. When I was a Ph.D student, Kelly and Kathy put me on a project reading his work and I was blow away by his brilliance, but also how complicated his thinking is...it took me quite a while to understand what he was writing. Since, we've met from time to time and a few years back bonded over an Improv performance with Vygotsky's Sister - a consortium of his friends who were also scholars. It was a riot. I've always loved the way his mind works and I know how lucky we are that he was our tour guide for the night.

This morning, we'll do more touring and then we are off to find a brewery in Paducah before settling into our Mayfield hotel for the wedding. 

Great evening. 

It's Been a Minute, But I'm Taking a Couple of Days off to Attend a Wedding in Mayfield, Kentucky. Looking Forward to the Joy Ahead

So, Tweed has direct flights to Nashville and the round trip is insanely cheap. This is a game-changer for sure. As a result, I'm heading this afternoon, meeting scholar friends in Nashville, going to a wedding, and hiking with Kentucky peeps who will visit for the day. I'm packing audio books and a promise to myself to simply enjoy being elsewhere for a few days. 

Joanne Warren is getting married. We made the Kentucky connection during her interview at Fairfield University and it was then she laid a plan into action and has crossed every t and dotted every I since. She also maintained CWP programs as a graduate student for several years, of which I'm thankful.  Crazy, too. The temperatures of Tennessee are predicted to be cooler than the ones we've had in Connecticut the last few weeks. Going south for a cool down? That doesn't seem possible. 

I spent yesterday putting away CWP summer work and storing items for the year to come. I also bought poison ivy lotion because my legs and ankles are a hot mess. 

Was wonderful to have dinner with the Sealey-Wooley-Johnsons last night, too, and to see Justin before he departs for Memphis. The rest are leaving for Trinidad. Sad to think I only have a couple of years left with all of them until their centrality goes to Penn State. Much can change by then, though. 

Here's to low key thunderstorms, less-than-bumpy skies, and a wonderful time on a mini-adventure. I'm definitely not one for weddings, but I do love an impromptu adventure.

And I'm off.

I Could Write About the Syllabi I Spent All Day Monday Creating, But Instead Wish to Share a Video Created by the Youth of Ubuntu Academy

 In a mild panic because the University computer decided to update itself on the last few seconds of editing the film form Ubuntu Academy (I thought I lost it forever), I was able to recover it. This is the recording of them reading the lines from the community poem we created together. They wrote to me, I stole their words and created a stanza for each, and we responded to Jason Reynold's poetic novel, Ain't Burned All the Bright. 

Super proud of the kids and teachers. 

Now, if only I can get my email working again. Phew. Last night did not end as I hoped it would. Too many technological glitches, but we got this!

Today's another day. 

Thankful for the @NYTimes for Offering 25 Summer Refreshing Recipes As One of Them I've Never Had, So I Went Right To It Before Hitting the Beach

Crispy Gnocchi Tomato Summer Salad. It was delicious, easy, and perfect for a beach day (well, when we headed back indoors...outdoors, tequila was all that was refreshing). 

Very simple recipe: skillet the gnocchi, slide 1/2 a red onion, basil, and parsley, cut up several kinds of tomatoes, add feta, and mix with balsamic vinegar. Next time, I think I will add garbanzo beans, too. It was filling, refreshing, and delicious.

The water was choppy, however, and standing, kneeling on the paddle board was a little rough. We all ended up falling into the water. I'm now debating about getting a second board, as there's a deal at Ocean State that might be too good to pass up. You basically buy the paddle board then they give you cash back to buy more products in the store (for the same amount). That's how I got my kayak a few years ago, and it took me two years to spend down the gift cards. 

Happy work week, world. It's Monday, but I don't have to do a 9 hour day; I can simply ride the day with what comes my way as I close out summer events and beginning thinking about the Fall. 

I feel good. House is clean. Laundry is done. I was exercised and fed, and I stayed cool in these temperatures. The water was refreshing, I lost my sunglasses twice in the Sound (both times, Beverly found them - okay, I wiped out on the Paddleboard). 

My sinuses are still driving me nuts and my poison ivy blotches are maddening. I'm not sure if it's on Karal and she keeps swiping me with the oils. I keep having breakouts in new spots. 

The weekend was an exhausting kind of relaxation, but one that I needed. It does pay to live by sand and ocean...that's for sure. There's no excuse NOT to take a little holiday when you can.

It's the Mundane That Is Attractive To Me Now: Mopping, Vacuuming, Doing Laundry, & Sitting Within a Cold House

My brain is still not working. I had a good sleep and couldn't wait to do nothing but, well, absolutely nothing. It is the waltz of mindlessness, cleanliness, calmness, and serenity that is attracting me most. 

I spent the day catching up with people, talking with students of yesteryear, and arranging hotels and rental cars for a soon-to-come wedding. And it felt great. I was able to hang up my hat of obligations, worry, frustrations, and dumpster-fire extinguishing, to simply fold laundry, load white cloths in bleach, and not stressing about time, responsibilities, nor Workday. 

I'm not sure what today will bring, but I am hoping to continue a weekend of relaxation. It's hot in CT, the humidity too intense, and the lack of rain has caused conditions to be dusty and thick outside. My nostrils and throat would like reprieve.

I'll deal with my psoriasis, poison ivy, and dry cough in hopes that rain and cooler temperatures are on the way. It's Sunday, and I will use it as a day of rest, because that is exactly what the universe has ordered.

Be well. Rest. Recover. 

I think I shall make a gnocchi and tomato salad.

Thankful to @JasonReynolds83 for AIN'T BURNED ALL THE BRIGHT. Finished it 38 Immigrant and Refugee Youth & We Wrote a Community Poem in Response

 

How To Become The Sun

with thanks to Jason Reynolds for Ain’t Burned All the Bright and Kwame Alexander for modeling the poetic possibilities of a community poem written by the 2022 members of Ubuntu Academy, a summer program for immigrant and refugee youth.(video coming soon)

 (Will)

And I’ve been sitting here

wondering about words,

the ways they’re just like birds

flying high above us at times…

soaring, 

swaying, 

floating 

and diving…

with each one we learn we are arriving

to shine as stars in the sky…

one word at a time,

we are in our prime

growing together as if we are one…

This…our light…this … the sun. 

(Gabrielly) - Brazil

And we dance to our music,

along forests and rivers,

while listening to Brazilian beats,

the simplicity of people

hand in hand with God 

and the friendship of family, 

our family with this friendship.

O Bambu va gemer.

The bamboo will moan, 

and we will ask ourselves, 

“Are we doing our best?”

(Leondro) - Brazil

And we’ll laugh with the culture of Cape Verdi,

the mixture of European & African elements, 

our folk tales & festivals of language,

our carnivals of traditions -

Saco vazio ñao fica de pé

The empty bag never stands alone

And we’ll find ourselves breathing, too,

changing channels for something new,

discovering language with Ubuntu,

where we open the book of how we grew,

Reynolds burned bright, and we will, 

….We will, too.

(Camilly) (Brazil)

And we are from welcoming people,

our fruits, our vegetables, our beaches and our rivers.

Brazileiro não desiste

I stand as a Brazilian 

and I won’t resist

any part of this journey

(Gabriel) Brazil

And we are on the road of finding out,

If I never leave my place or home,

I’ll never see the things the world

hides from me, 

Se vocé naô sair do lugar aonde vocé nasceu 

nunca vai descobrir coisas que o mundo esconde

This is why we want to breathe.

(Helen) Congo

Why we want to be happy.

Our lives are short,

Hiwet hxar eya,

and that is why some of us choose

to watch videos of Eritrean sunsets

and sunrises.

(Axli) Dominican Republic

And some of us choose to do the merengue -

It is a dance for the humanity of people

and, yes, we’ll learn the power of words at school.

We’ll celebrate Díade la mujer,

and watch anime,

fuimos a donde el diablo deja la chanceleta. 

Not all of us who have left the Dominican Republic,

are lost. 

Some of us grow stronger every day…

stronger together

(Angelica) Colombia

La cumbia, currulao, pasillo, mápale, abozao, salsa

Some of us move with the accents of our people,

the history of Colombia,

the prayers to God,

the music para aplanchar, volerus, 

cumbia y música de toto la mompposina.

We know how to breathe and we dance.

(Jose) Haiti

Because it is by this chance 

that we’re playing this game together

as if we are our own YouTube video…

The who, the what, the when, the where, the how.

Kòman, and the way I’m able to be another WOW from Haiti.

Yes, I’m the youngest in my family, 

but I have so much to prove.

(Brenda) Mexico

And I’m been sitting here

wondering about their words,

and how like birds

they fly high above us at times…

soaring, 

swaying, 

floating 

and diving…

here we are arriving

as if all of us are stars in the sky…

one word at a time.

Here we are, with effort, we try…

to grow together as if we are one…

This is our light…this is our sun.

(Sydney) Haiti

It is up to us to leap ahead

L’union fait la farce

to get ahead.

We must learn all day long,

and help one another

to become part of this song.

(Daniella) Haite

I am summer sun dances and I the music,

I am the clear oceans 

where we hear drum beats hitting 

every part of the body,

Bon bagay, 

the good stuff

living life to the fullest,

until we’ve had enough.

(Marcelina) Zambia

We are gifts. We bloom with hope,

We offer Mujezo, this compliment,

and me, I am a Zambian flower, 

a Congolese bloom,

who offers light to the darkness 

in every room

I enter.

(Gabriella) Brazil

We are the garden that reaching towards the sun,

building our community as we all have fun,

rooted in history and culture, we love to talk,

Lá em casa a gente conversa,

together, arm in arm, we are ready to walk.

(Byron) Ecuador

Está chevere esta fiesta

We are the music 

We are the lyrics,

Que día tan vacano, 

Oh, what a wonderful day…

Ecuadorian and American

We are having our say.

(Pedro) Brazil

And if you open the door for me,

I will open the door for you…

with a photograph. A memory.

even a drawing, too.

This is my culture

& my happiness.

We give our all. 

We give our best.

(Andres) El Salvador

And I have memories of the landscapes in Colombia

Este  habla hasta por los codos

and I can’t stop talking about 

the importance of my independence,

but I also am also a part of a team…

to play soccer is every boy’s dream.

(Jalen) U.S.

And I’m sitting here, too

wondering about the words,

the ones that are like birds

that flying high above us at times…

soaring, 

swaying, 

floating 

and diving…

extended metaphor,, here we are arriving

as if we’re only stars in the sky…

one word at a time.

this effort, we try…

and we grow together as if we are one…

We are the light…We are a sun.

(Ana) Brazil

And in my veins 

flows the search for new knowledge,

this is the waterway of being human,

the possibilities for creation and connection. 

Nâo ponha a carona na frente cos bois

We are the possibilities.

From many backgrounds we become one,

With energy from all our hearts,

we’re made into the sun.

(Giovanna) Brazil

We persist, resist, and insist 

on never giving up,

We sing with culture,

and we dance with love.

(Ana Julia) (Brazil)

Pois estou certoque nem a morte, 

nem a vida…

nem alguma outra crintua nos poderó separar do acorde de deus

que esta em Cristo Jesus nosso sennec.

My grandmother’s time lives within me,

like your ancestors live within you.

The pride with our culture sets us free

Inhaling. Exhaling

We’re taking in life

We’re letting go of bruises,

and allowing letters fall to page,

I now see how every word cruises

with new possibility and hope…

Failure is not our option. 

Giving up? No, Never! Nope.

(Rhaiza) Spain

Our only limits, come from our soul,

our only traditions, our customs 

they help us to grow…

they help us to glow.

(Junlin) China

And we wish everyone firecrackers

and mooncakes festivals.

你好

hello

I am Chinese

(Martha) Congo

And some of us were born to a family 

that believes in God,

with respect for others,

and the importance of

bringing with me, with us,

a smile,

(Cheikh) Mauritania

We were born to national anthems,

to lyrics, and to dreams, 

taught to sing forth our humanity as children,

or so it seems.

تعال الى هنا

taeal alaa huna

We breathe together.

We Inhale. We Exhale.

Sister. Brother.

(Michael) U.S.

And I’ve been sitting here

wondering about the power of words,

and how, like birds,

they flying high at times…

soaring, 

swaying, 

floating 

and diving…

with every new one, we’ve been arriving

as stars in the sky…

one at a time.

with effort, we try…

we grow together as if we are one…

This the light…this the sun.

(Euniceca) Haiti

Lavi pa espire ann auanse timoun

We must keep going, we must not expire

We must uplift ourselves further, go higher and higher

even in the darkest times.

(Jennifer) Brazil

O coraçao dos outros é terra onde ninguém pisa

Our hearts must walk similar lands:

to parties, with stories, under weather, and with music.

Alone we might break. 

Together we are thick and difficult to cut in half.

(Livia) Brazil

And that is why we are walking forward, 

one foot in front of the other, 

focusing on one step at a time….

for our little sisters and our little brother.

One step, then two, 

then three, then four, 

Who wants to be an outcast?

Another step…

and more and more and more.

(Kevellyn) Brazil

Soft water beats a hard stone…

that is, until it sticks

.We find light in darkness 

because we are

candles and lit wicks

with smiles, celebrations, food and gifts…

soft water beats the hard stone

until it sticks.

(Valery) Ecuador

Arrecho nunca muere y si muere, muere arrecho

Learning is listening, and listening is learning, 

each of us together keep this flame burning,

our points of view, our ideas, our language and our story…

We burn best together, offer more light with our glory.

(Yagmur) Turkey

kafanı ısırırım, I’ll bite your head,

no Turkey for you, and it’s time for bed,

kafani isirim, your head will be bitten,

this word play, translation, and we read what is written. 

It always feels great to be understood,

Learning language together, it just feels good.

(Tania)

Faze aque lio tem que faze

We’re going to do what we’re going to do, 

burning our bright, and lighting the way, 

finding these words to have our say

We’ll  inhale and exhale, 

we’ll keep breathing, too,

channeling our minds 

in search of something new,

In finding English this summer together with Ubuntu,

We opened a book and, wow,  look how we grew,

(Miguel) Brazil

A divided nation will never move forward,

we must be the light, walking toward and toward

the better day for us all, always standing hand in hand, 

opening doors for others, the possibility of this land

Da qui pra frente e so pro trais

There’s no going back,

for all of us here,

There’s just staying on track.

(Geovanna) Brazil

a pressa e inimiga da perfelcao

it’s okay for us to slow down,

to listen to music, to dance, and to smile

but for our friendship to grow

it always takes a while.

(Yasmin) Brazil

a vida não é mamão com açúcar

learning is easier when voices come together…

good humans offer shelter to others 

even in bad weather

(Krislley) Brazil

Tente tirar o bem de uma situação ruim

Situations change. The good brings us better.

The appiness arrives 

when learning together. 

Inhale. Exhale. 

Choosing what’s right.

Nope, Not yet. We Ain’t burned all the bright.

(Yaritza) Dominican Republic

Siempea te va a compañar dios en las buenas y en las malas.

We’re burning light and guiding the way.

Buying new pairs of shoes? Ha, I deserve a good day!

(Gustavo) Brazil

A crianca que você era, teria orgouho da pessoa que você e noje?

We are children and adults all at the same time,

investing in ourselves before we reach our prime,

finding words to our stories and language for our dreams,

one summer at a time, at least this is how it seems.

(Jessica) U.S.

Here we are sitting

still working with words,

we’ve taken them high,

and we’ve flown with the birds

soaring, 

swaying, 

floating 

and diving…

This is Ubuntu. We’ve always been arriving

to sparkle our bright like stars,

to light up the sky…

We are one word at a time…together we fly

this is what it looks like to grow together as a community of one…

It’s finding one another… 

That’s how to become the sun.

Late Additions

(Giussep Banga Banga)

Je n’ aime pas les criminal,

And we do not like to be criminals,

but represent Burundi Democratiqu du Cong,

We go to parties, play soccer,

keep learning all day long,

We do what we can to become part of this song

(Daysi)

And I sing of saints of Ecuador,

with a peace of mind as I explore

November 10th and the miracles

for solving my family’s problems.

Dios manda problemas a sus soldadas mas fuertes 

y los mantiene siempre de pie.

With God, I stand strong. We are soldiers.

New words each day, We grow bolder.

And We Recorded. And Today Is the Last Day After Five Weeks of Solid Work. And There's So Much Still to Accomplish. And There's Even More to Celebrate

I'm afraid to leave the house. I know exactly what is about to happen, and how much I will need to hold my breath. Not only do we have multiple closing events, but it's also pizza day, and did I mention I have not finished editing the final project. Let's just say I'm doing all I can. I will need Brenda and Jalen's help, aligning photographs with the reading of the community poem we created. Actually, it's pre-recorded. They just don't know that. 

Matt Tullis. He's a good man. 

He recorded two sets of kids who wrote a podcast, the 2nd (featured here) a blow-by-blow of brotherhood arguing about gaming and Marvel comics (but this is how it is done in Colombia). "Bro, why do you think that way?" "Bro, have you seen that movie." Hilarious and wonderfully done. 

Jessica and Will fly out to Jamaica at 4 a.m. and I just want to sleep past 4 a.m. without waking up with anxiousness 20 times a night (or having to pee). 

Did I mention that today will be over 100 degrees? Yep. It will. I refuse to go outside until I have to, but definitely not to play. 

And I do need another 24 hours to edit the film I'm putting together for the kids. I have only 9 more hours, including clean up, and I can say, "Thank God It's the Last Friday of Summer!"

Be well!

What? Only Two Days Left? Okay! That's Why We Are Running with Matt Tullis to the Media Studios to Learn More about Productions and Podcasting

Yes, they do write the shows. No they don't. Yes, they do. You need a plan. In my country, there is no writing. Podcasters just talk. Trust us, there's a written plan. No there's not. 

This has been the argument this week and guess what? Matt Tullis told the kids, "Every pod-caster has a written document that guides a great show. You may not think that, but they exist." 

Touché!

The kids were also fascinated by the green screen and we must have taken two hundred photos. Within minutes, they were cutting out their images and putting them in silly memes and scenes from around the world. Did I mention that I've never seen a more selfie-oriented groups of human beings in my life?

Truth is, I can see why. These kids are beautiful and brilliant. 

They would make excellence additions to any mediated world they want to live within.

Today, however, we'll be recording a community poem created from the words of the Ubuntu Academy youth and going forth with two podcasts written by teams of kids. We made the executive decision to take more control of recordings so we can accomplish the most growth with language and learning. I'm optimistic this is going to be absolutely historic and incredible. 

These kids rock. 

Yesterday was a phenomenal writing day and all the kids accomplished tremendous amounts of storytelling. They've had fun the last couple of weeks and the the work is coming together. I can't wait for this day to begin!

12 Signed Up and 38 Have Shown - Ubuntu Academy Has Been Such an Incredible Joy This Summer. Three More Days of Literacy Nirvana

This year, through the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants and ESL educators across the region, Ubuntu Academy chose to burst at the seams. It's funny because this morning's memory was of the first cohort in 2014 - 9 individuals with two graduate students. It has grown every year since, and the literacy leaders have tuned, retuned, aimed higher, become more creative, and learned to master their craft even more every year. It is remarkable to experience and witness, and because there's no teacher institute this year, I'm with them 100% of the time (my heart has grown full).

Yesterday's post-lunch exercises turned into an afternoon bonanza of games, relays, competitions, sweat, desire for water, laughter, and physical activity. Yes, it was hot, humid, and pretty much miserable, but the laughter cooled the team down, so much so that people walking by were pulling out cameras to capture the happiness. That's the power of the work. 

It also helps that we have absolutely brilliant and beautiful human beings attending this summer, as well as teaching. We are so fortunate, too, to have a core group of Brazilian students adding to the mix of the work. They bring thirst, humor, ambition, culture, dance, and enormous appreciation. 

When we pack up for the day, and all the students take part in the clean-up and organization, I can't help but think, "Wow." Jessica, William, and I stayed late last night simply dreaming about a location or school or place or space where we could do this work all year round, with other passionate, dedicated educators who find bliss in giving their all to the potential of the young people they've chosen for a career. 

It is amazing to me to see the demographics of summer programs in contact to those during the academic year. I always tell my students the best time to be in campus are June, July, and August. That's when the greatest education occurs (plus campus is a stunning environment in the summer - all props to the athletic teams who run camps, too --- they are sure to feel the same energy). 

There's Nothing I Love More Than the Authentic Laughter of Teenagers Who Crack Themselves Up, Even While Acting Impish

Yesterday, William and Jessica had kids work in new groups where they were to practice writing dialogue based on what they were learning about each other. Somehow, the four quietest boys in the core of 36 students ended up together and found they all have odd, if not sick senses of humor. From the very beginning of what they started to read, they got the giggles, and we learned why. In the middle of the script their basic conversations when morose.

A: How have you been?

B: Oh, Not so good.

C: Why do you say that?

B: My dog died.

A: Yeah? My cat has cancer.

C: Oh, this is sad news.

B: Yes, a dead dog is sad.

It was random and I think they just put onto page the words they knew, but they were enough to be sickly odd and made them laugh. They could not get through their script reminding me once again that water falls from the eyes under extreme pain or extreme laughter. Often they go hand in hand, especially as a coping mechanism. These were boys who never draw attention to themselves, but simply absorb instruction like sponges. No one in the room expected them to be silly, and when they dropped the lines, it was universal laughter. It came out of left field and shocked everyone, but in a good way...a sick, bonding way that is truly adolescent, human, and kind-of funny. 

I can never stop laughing when kids lose it and they're uncontrollable with the giggles. This is what happened and I found it to be precious. Yes, not so funny unless you're there, but witty none the less.

Hi, friend. How have you been? Oh, I have a dead dog now. You? Ai Ai Ai

I Went Two for Two This Weekend, and Even Got Edem and His Foot Out of the House for Some R&R (But I Did Accomplish the Work Goals on my Plate, Too)

This is our last week of literacy labs and one of my favorites - one where all the energy can be located to Ubuntu Academy and our literacy work with immigrant and refugee youth. Over this weekend, I was able to edit two articles for a journal, and finish the outdoor work that's needed to be done. More importantly, however, there was chill time for Crandall, having two days at the beach. Yesterday, though, was supposed to be cloudy and crappy, but it turned out to absolutely gorgeous. The clouds went away and on my way to the grocery store I was sucked back to the sand. It's all good. It's a form of church. 

I did eventually get to the store, then back home, and when I thought about cooking I said, "Edem, Pam's people are eating steak tonight. Want to over?" His crutches moved really fast to my car. Steak. Polish kielbasa and homemade pickles. Onions and mushrooms. Salad. Potatoes. It was total summer joy.

And Jake loved it. This is a dog who never forgets a pal and he was super excited to have Edem's lap to rest on. In fact, Edem was his go-to pal the entire day. There's nothing like impromptu dinners, either, when food comes together and everything is simply delicious. 

I do hope for rain, however, as the dryness of everything is a little much. When I mowed yesterday it was a dust bowl, and the poor flowers are super thirsty. The butterfly bush however is busting with purple flowers and the swallowtails, monarchs, and nymphs are loving it. The bees, too. It's like a mini-ecosystem of thriving, thirst-driven creatures. 

Okay, now it's time for the mind game again. I need to get my intellect on for the remaining five days. I also need to get this throat to be not so dry. Damn sinuses.