You guys rule. Thanks for the comments and updates. I’m still sick. Here’s some replies to the kind souls who wrote yesterday…
Carisse: Hook ’em horns! From what I hear, the philosophy department had one heck of a softball team.
Catrina: I totally agree. I’ve beendrinking pints of DeTox and Breathe Easy, with a side of Echinacia and Chamomile mint. Stupid Ralph left for the day, but his friend Vertiginous Vinnie stopped by this morning. Which means I’m typing this with my eyes closed as the keyboard spins rather disturbingly otherwise.
Cute Overload is the best. I refreshmonkey their feed regularly. Bunnies cure all.
Steve: Thanks! This flu is like a writing exercise. My lit professors always said that constraints catalyze creativity. I’d like to add that vomit volumizes verbosity.
Has your son experienced a traumatic event? His DVD behavior sounds like a cry for help. But then, I’m a girl. It could just be a call for boxing gloves and a little brother.
Meg: Eggs? Org. Perhaps I should rethink my question.
Seriously though, the new kitty nurses. Like, he sucks on things. Schlurp schlurp schlurp. He’s a big snoring baby with hairballs. Schlurp.
Also, hooray to your librarian destiny! Mine got beat up by my better-pay-as-a-user-advocate destiny. But librarianship is an identity, it’s larger than a single profession.
Linda: I have no idea what movie this is. The only thing I really miss by not having cable is the movie previews. Sometimes I remember to check the apple site, but mostly I just rely on word of mouth and Salon.com. This was good? I should watch it? Better than Ang Lee’s finest? Will I require insulin? Will they even play it here in the cinematic desert of Ithaca, NY?
All: My friend Kara has put up some of our photos from NYC and Paris on flickr if you wish to travel vicariously.
I reverted to what has become my default state: slumped on the couch, cat snoring on my shoulder. 
this morning for a bit before passing out. My cat nurses in his sleep. 
I didn’t travel this year, so my tragic demise will only be witnessed by the Cats (who couldn’t care less and will cheerfully sleep on my head, living or not). I’m done for. Save yourselves. 
With even more hairstyles, weird hats, and weapons. Waste your holiday break the new-fashioned way!
well-reviewed, and I enjoyed it despite my friend Kara’s warnings. She has a point, the characters can be less than sympathetic. Still, I enjoyed the book’s authentic voice, and the author’s willingness to describe a young woman’s reaction to desperation and loneliness.
Here’s a 44 minute recap to get caught up on the plot.
Seven days of travel have reached their natural conclusion. My traveling companions and I are quite sick. We all have a vile sore throat-and-fever combination. It’s probably a French childhood disease that we would have been immune to had we grown up there. Hopefully, it’s not The French Disease (or The English Disease, depending on who you ask).