Blair's Cold

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?

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

They're Cute, But Exhausting

I'm in Atlanta with family. My sister, her husband, and 2 kids, ages 5 and 19 months are also here. To my great amusement, the 19 month old has attached himself to Blair. He's constantly on Blair's lap. following him around, wants to be carried, and has had Blair read "The Tractor Book" approximately 9 million times. I'll post pictures soon.

I am going to have to run a marathon sometime soon just to work off the FOOD I've eaten this week. Chips, cookies, chocolate, pizza... I think the jeans are already feeling tighter.

Looking forward to getting home and doing some running. Happy to find I'm missing it.

Cat Writer's Conference was great. Much smaller this year than in year's past, likely due to the cost of travel, but some fantastic seminars. I only attended Friday but wish I had been able to spend some time there on Saturday. Felt great to reconnect with friends and colleagues.

Now going to watch the Ohio State/Michigan game and try to detox myself from a sugar high. Looking forward to being home tomorrow and seeing the kitties!

Cat Writers of America - Atlanta Conference

Soon I will hop in a car and head south for the annual Cat Writers Association. I'm presenting a workshop there Friday on "Publicity, Promotion, & Pulling Your Hair Out." I've been feeling a tad guilty I haven't done more to spice up the workshop like PowerPoint or a laser show or interpretive dance. But then yesterday I received a call from a fellow presenter who has spent the last 2 months pulling together her PowerPoint presentation only to be told there will be no computer access. (People--always, ALWAYS confirm you have the A/V you need in place.) So now I'm not feeling so bad...

On an entirely separate note, a local radio station has gone to all holiday songs, all the time. Normally this annoys me but I spent the morning driving around GSO singing along to "Jingle Bell Rock," and "Have A Holly, Jolly Christmas." Who AM I?? If you see me handing out flowers at an airport, please intervene.

Happy Tuesday.