There were several other things I meant to note on Monday: Alpha turned 18; Beta, Gamma, and Delta had a great first day of school. Alpha’s been packing so she can move in to the dorm at UT tomorrow.

What sidetracked me was just a little thing, but one that put me flat on my back for a full 24 hours: the dreaded Summer Cold. When I heard the news report that Gov. Bredesen was hospitalized with flu-like sympoms, it crossed my pitiful little hypochondriac mind that I might ought to see a doctor… but I couldn’t summon the energy to get out of bed and go.

That, and I’d be too embarassed to go to the doctor for a cold. Even if I did feel like I was going to faint every time I stood up, was alternately freezing and sweating, and the rattle in my lungs that sounds like a harsh October wind through dead leaves along with a wheeze like the creaking door of a haunted house.

Theraflu helps, as does peach Schnapps in my orange juice. But mostly, I think sleeping the better part of 24 hours did some good (despite the fact that I now have twice as much to do and less time to get it done). I think I will live, but it may be a few more days before I can think clearly through the… well, I won’t be graphic.

Whining aside, I’ve been working on a pretty exciting new project — the kind I actually get paid for, and don’t get sued for. More about that a little later, but it’s both productive and fun.