*yes, i have a cold. no, i won't drink that.

so the most common response i've been getting when i tell people that i've come down with a sore throat and a cold is: "did you drink any cold liquids? that's why you're ill." you know, sometimes people just come down with a cold. (and for the record i didn't drink any cold liquids anyhow.)
now i'm getting all sorts of motherly advice from everyone i know about how best to take care of my cold. i work with almost all women (there are about three male teachers at our school), so everyone has their two cents worth of old wives' tricks to cure me.
one of the worst remedies i've heard, though, is drinking warm milk with a little honey in it and butter. yes, butter. warm milk and honey, okay. i can do that. it might make me fall asleep, but it's pretty painless. but adding butter? i think i'm going to vomit.
but by far the most ridiculous remedy for a cold is offered by the rather abysmal textbook i use to teach english to my seventh graders:
"this is a home remedy for a sore throat. cut slices of meat, put pepper on them, and tie them around your throat with a flannel cloth. it always works."
what the hell? like i'm really going to wrap meat around my neck.
i think i'll just stick to the cough drops, thanks.