I've just watched Rachel Maddow and company expose the southern Republican Senators for the Hooverites they really are - blocking the auto industry bailout, endangering the country and the world, in order to gain their political agenda of busting the UAW.  Just another backward-thinking, evil-parent Republican ploy...  blocking progress to achieve their political ends.   We need cooperation, but of course, they are going to block progress, just because their bungholes are angry over the election.  This is what we can expect from them at every turn. 

Well, I have the worst cold ever.  I have been miserable all day, medicating with OTC cold meds, drinking plenty of liquids, and staying warm.  I don't understand why this cold can keep coming back on me, every time I think I have it going away.  I just don't know...and it gets more virulent each time it comes back.  What is this? 

I spent many hours on the phone today, with a young woman from India (I think), who sounded like she was doing business on the sidewalk during a riot perhaps.  I pictured her sitting on the curb, with her fix-it manual on her knees, patiently going through each and every step it takes to try to get my TracFone to work, while angry or frightened mobs ran back and forth behind her.  At the end of this lengthy session, it was finally decided that I need to receive a new number for my phone, or a new phone.  Actually, it's probably not the phone, just the Pin Number or something that is not allowing my phone to work.  It performed every function that was asked of it many times over.  But it was exhausting, probably because of my head cold. 

I was supposed to go out to eat tonight with my kids to celebrate a birthday, but I was too sick to go.  I realized at 4:30 p.m., after getting off the phone with India, that I was still in my nightgown, sweater and boots, still stuck to my box of Kleenex; my nose very sore from constant blowing, my lips parched from breathing through my mouth, and I was supposed to be in the next town in less than two hours.  Of course, I did not make it, and called to cancel.  The only sensible thing to do.  It has been below zero a couple of nights this week, and it makes sense to keep close to the wood stove, and keep the fire going brightly.  I can only hope that tomorrow finds me much improved.