Erg

Ich habe ein Kold... (that's what I used to say to my German instructor, who'd just sorrowfully shake her head while tsk'ing at me.)

I am in full-fledged 'head cold' mode. Headache, full sinuses, dumb, and did I mention headache? The Gods save the poor termite-treatment guy when he gets here in half an hour. I'm not happy. There is termite damage since the previous treatment and a hole - actually four holes! - in a wall in our master bathroom. Can you say, "livid"? I thought you could. And their contract specifically "doesn't cover repairs to damage caused by termites'. Uh, yeah. Should have read that better before we contracted for the service.

Other than that, it's been a good day. I am on my break from my low-carb diet and am now going to eat chicken noodle soup and frosted animal cookies while finishing my re-reading of Lyon's Pride by Anne McCafferey. Funny how we go to old, old favorites when we don't feel well, isn't it? I plan on re-reading Louisa May Alcott when I'm done with this set of books.

Speaking of that - books of this type, that follow a set timeline and setting but are NOT written as a series - what are they called? "Set"? "Themed"? (That's ackward.) Or do we just default to "series" anyway? Or is there a designated term for them?

I was mistaken

I'm pretty sure, after getting worse as the day progressed, that I have the flu. Which I appreciate since it comes hard, yes, but like March, leaves easy. And much quicker than a cold does.

I've been whiling my hours of grumpiness/sleeplessness away online. I've found (and purchased after getting Arni's opinion) a new camping mattress. This one. It holds up to 450lbs and will fit inside my little Viking tent. Supposedly it's practically impervious to punctures and has no 'stretched plastic' sag. Amazon had it for about $90, which is a lovely low price and included free shipping. Who was I to argue? My only complaint is the patterning of the thing. Camo. Ugh. But as I plan on creating a linen slipcover for it, I won't have to see that for very long. I need it by the first weekend in April so I can camp at "The Battle of Clontarf" up in Havre de Grace, MD. I expect it will be a tad cold there during the night but between my tiny tent, my sheepskin cover and my handy-dandy Coleman propane heater I an gonna be snug as a bug in a rug.

I've been enjoying web-browsing in between bouts of playing catch-up with eLists gone too long ignored. Like what I can read here, a museum weblog that I learned about after reading of someone's search for Viking-era toys. One entry in the blog had a picture of two dolls in it and although those were not what I was looking for, well, there were all these other neat entries and then I was caught. It has been really fun to browse. Especially since so much of it has to do with their Egyptian collection.

And then there's This English-usage site with tests and fun stories about the uses and antecedents of English words.

That should keep me silent ('cause my throat really hurts) and happy (don't come near me, I'm a really grumpy sore meanie right now) until this flu passes.

[edit] This is prety darn handy too: http://www.historyfiles.co.uk/KingListsBritain/EnglandYork.htm

[more editing] And thanks to pearl my new screen saver is this: