When you avoid dealing with your current situation, when you try to push it off until later, when you just won't see what's right in front of your eyes, it always comes back to haunt you with a vengeance. Exactly one month ago, I talked about actor withdrawal. I mentioned that one way some people deal with the "Withdrawal Effect" is by immediately jumping into another project. I decided to use this tactic now that the Winnipeg Fringe Festival has come to a close.

As soon, as I came back from the Peg, I had an audition lined-up, rehearsals for Birth (which goes up in less than two weeks), background work on a local film set, grant applications, plays to watch and a few classes to take. I was going to keep busy, I was not going to go into withdrawal.

Unfortunately, my body disagreed with me. It heartily believes that I need to go through this.

I woke up this morning feeling like shit. I'm sun burnt, bug-bitten, breaking out, and tired. My nose is stuffed up, my eyes are runny, and my throat hurts. I'm coughing, sneezing, and generally feel achy all over. I was going to avoid it some more because I had a very full day ahead of me but, piece by piece, things got either canceled or postponed.

The Universe is trying to tell me something along the lines of: "Hey Nancy! Chill. Relax. Chillax even. Sit down and grieve the fact that your amazing, awesome, stupendous adventure is over. If you do this for me, I promise you, the next one will be even better. But if you don't, then I'll just make you sick. Some more. Love always, The Universe."

Easy choice, no?