update

It has been three weeks. THREE WEEKS. And I am so tired of being sick. Today I feel as if I have turned a corner, but then I have said that before only to feel just as bad (though in a different way) hours later. I have heard from several people who had this strain of flu and we all agree - the worst part is the coughing. It is almost relentless. Even the cat is fed up with it and has managed to pull down a towel off the shower curtain rod and made a cozy little bed for herself in the bathtub. When she is not asleep on the chesterfield. Can't say as I blame her, really. At least she is no longer sleeping on my head, or my chest.

I have managed to continue working at night - the fresh air feels so good - but it was getting embarrassing to have to phone clients back after rescheduling their appointments to say "um, sorry, I'm sick again."

I have more than an adequate supply of kleenex, vitamins, lemons, ginger ale (and even ginger beer), chicken soup, cough drops and bottles of cough syrup (currently Benalyn, Robitussin, and Buckley's). Then there is the Vicks Vaporub which has not done a darn thing for relief. I have a new vaporizer, several new toothbrushes and change my pillowcases every other day. I am fighting this with everything I can think off and yet still this damn thing hangs on.

The bad news is my birthday weekend away has been cancelled.

The good news is I have lost several pounds.

9 days on

Violet is still ... under the weather. Unwell. I thought I heard her say she was feeling "wretched" this morning when she came in from work. I'm sure she didn't mean it.

I am getting worried about her eating habits, though. She keeps picking at those candy dishes she has laid out all over the place. And her breath, well, it smells a little, weird. I keep trying to get really close to determine the various notes, but every time she starts coughing and wheezing and getting all drippy.

Yep. Must be those Ricola candies she's constantly eating.

I think I'll take them away from her, one by one.

Abby is here to help you, my pet.