Blair's Cold

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In case you haven't caught it yet, do be on the lookout for Blair's cold.

Blair woke up Thursday morning, the day we were to leave for Atlanta, coughing and sneezing. Blair, who has never taken a sick day from work IN HIS LIFE, said that if it were a workday, he would stay home. So the man was not feeling well. But he pulled it together and we drove to Atlanta.

In Atlanta he passed his cold on to my sister's two boys, who sniffled and wheezed for the 14-hour car ride home to Chicago. The boys are now passing Blair's cold on to my sister and my mother, who lives nearby. It shouldn't be long before the rest of the city goes under.

Meanwhile, chances are strong Blair also passed the cold along to my dad, who returned to the West Coast, as well as to my Aunt and Uncle in Atlanta. I know I woke up last night with a scratchy throat and my nose is Rudolph-red today, so he's also managed to hit North Carolina.

Blair's cold. Fear it.

How Long Does It Take You to Unpack From A Trip?

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When you arrive home from a trip, do you let your bags lie around or instantly dive into unpacking? Me, I'm a diver. We left my aunt's beautiful Atlanta home this morning at 6 AM and pulled up to our house at 11:30 AM. By 11:45 I was unpacked, luggage stored, and laundry sorted for loading. Can't stand to have bags sit around. Can't. Stand. It.

After unpacking, I paused to chat with the pet/housesitter who does such a marvelous job for us and goes the extra mile by having all her towels and bed linens washed and back in place by the time we get home. PLUS, she made brownies for us. This is a woman to be reckoned with.

Being pent up in a car for 5 hours apparently filled me with an energy burst that I translated into putting a second coat of paint on three walls in the front room (ran out of paint for the fourth--darn it), planning the Thanksgiving meal with Blair, grocery shopping (Serious lack of decent sweet potato's. We're not panicking--yet.), and trying to trap 2 tiny black and white kittens we saw on the sidewalk on our way home from the store. I went back with food and a carrier, but couldn't find them. I left some food out. It's supposed to be COLD here tonight and they're so young and small. I hope they'll be all right. I may go out again tomorrow and see if I can find them. They're young enough to be adoptable.

If I ever doubt that I am loved, I need only leave on a trip and then come home to my cats. Both my girls followed me around, anxious, until I sat on the floor and gave each a good brushing and back rub, with lots of lovey-talk. We're currently in the front room watching the Panther Game under the watchful gaze of both cats.

Currently wading through wads of e-mails and getting ready to hit the ground running tomorrow. Literally and figuratively. It's been a week since the marathon so it's time to slowly start upping my mileage, and I also have--let's just say " a lot"--of work to do and leave it at that.

Wonderful to be home. Olivia and Lucy say hello.

Dena

John Irving, Road Trips, Painting, and MORE PROTEIN

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It's been a busy few days and instead of blogging about events as they happen, I let them slide and now my brain is a mish-mash of "meant to blog about it" entries that--due to writer exhaustion--will be shortened to soundbite blurbs:

  • John  Irving. Went to the hear Mr. Irving, one of the most talented writers of our time, speak at UNCG Thursday night. He asked for questions and in about 30 minutes managed to answer only 4, because every answer turned into a story. No one minded. Listening to him speak was a treat. I left feeling inspired, both about writing and life. Yet another reminder that there are books, ideas, and thoughts right in front of us just waiting to be discovered, if only we'd turn off the TV, ignore the e-mails, and participate more fully in life. 
  • Road Trips. Blair and I ventured to Lynchburg this weekend, for the official book launch for our friend Edmund Schubert's book, Dreaming Creek. Ed's parents hosted us in their stunning home in the VA mountains, and this morning we went for a brisk walk with Dora the adorable German Sherpard to tour the fields, streams, and rocks. Came back inside for homemade waffles and hot coffee. Color me happy.
  • Painting. However, we did not linger in Lynchburg because household chores called to us. We came home and raked the front yard, then tackled the front bedroom, which once it's painted will be known as my writer's room. Took both of us working together for almost 4 hours to get the room primed. I love our 100+ year old home, but there is an ungodly amount of window, floor, ceiling, and door trim. Blair and I are showered, but still picking primer paint off our hands.
  • MORE PROTEIN. Did my last long run on Saturday. Felt sluggish, as I had when I ran 5 miles on Thursday. The last time this happened I added protein to my diet and instantly felt better. With the marathon on Saturday, every precaution must be taken to ensure perfect health. Starting to freak out. 

I have a lot of work to do this week, but am going to get plenty of rest, hydrate, and freebase protein every chance I get.