Oh that smell, dba’d, didn’t see it

Yesterday was my niece’s 11th birthday which seems beyond impossible. I clearly recall holding her in my arms when she was a tiny baby like it happened a couple months ago.  I talked to her briefly on the phone yesterday followed by a longer convo with my brother.  Unfortunately the reality of me living in Florida for the entire lives of my two nieces and  one nephew has meant that there just never has been much opportunity to cultivate the sort of uncle relationship that is plugged in or connected.  Another part of it is my inherent desire to just keep to myself, a trait I surely got from mom.

So yesterday on FB I posted about an odd issue I have been having off and on for maybe a couple weeks, a phantom cigarette smell.  Basically I get this sensation in my nose that is similar to what it feels like to emerge from a smoky room, a lingering faint smell.  At first I figured it was just something at my office I was smelling although it didn’t make sense since obviously there is no smoking allowed within 30 feet of the building.  I even went so far as to ask other co-workers if they smelled the same thing, nope.

So after mentioning it on FB I got some responses including some that have had the same sensation.Cindy found this link which I found both interesting and disturbing.  It describes the condition as “parosmia”.  When I read the details of it the possible causes ran a very wide spectrum from the minor (dry air) to the horrible (brain tumor, Alzheimers).   The link also had dozens of comments from other people that have experienced this same odd sensation.  There was even mention of it being a spiritual phenomenon called “Clairellience” where the smell is related to somebody from the spirit world trying to communicate with you.  I have to admit that it is odd this has popped as we are approaching the 1 year anniversary of my mom’s death. (a lifetime smoker).

So basically my take away from all of this was similar to how I treat most physical ailments, wait and see.  Hopefully it goes away just as it came.  In the meantime I will try to nail down anything different with my routine that could be a contributor to this weird problem.  I didn’t smell it when I woke up this morning but I can feel it ramping up again as I type.

Yesterday I went to my credit union and completed the process to open a DBA business account for the timing business.  It was maybe a 15-20 minute thing that was painless.  It now allows me to both accept and make payments under the business name which will remove a hurdle that was making things seem less professional.  I have been lucky to be able to get guidance on how to get things set up from my buddy John who also is an event timer.

I didn’t see any of the republican presidential debate but I did read about some of the highlights.  I have to admit, thanks to Donald Trump I am enjoying this run up to the election more so than I can ever recall before.  He has managed to add a professional wrestling type of aura to something that is normally dry and boring.  It’s entertaining, that is for sure.

This weekend shall contain the typical components of most of our weekends, some work, some rest, some exercise, and a movie.  We also will have the dogs at the house for the first time in a couple weekends which will add to the fun.