When I woke up this morning, the house was freezing and it smelled like piss. My nose was runny, my throat hurt, and my head was foggy. It took my brain a minute to work out the details.
Yesterday, it was nearly 60 degrees. I opened some windows and turned off the heat. It was nice to have fresh air circulating in the house. I know I closed the windows before I went to bed, but I must have forgotten to turn the heat back on. Hence the temperature in my bedroom.
I’m happy to report that the piss wasn’t human, so that’s a win. The dog must have another bladder infection. Great. Time to break out the steam cleaner. Again.
The unfriendly Minute Clinic nurse told me yesterday that the sore throat and runny nose aren’t Covid or Strep, so my best bet is some more Advil and a teaspoon of honey.
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All that is settled now. The carpet is cleaned. I lit a couple candles to help with the smell. The advil has kicked in and the warm coffee feels nice on my throat. The heat is on, there’s a log in the fireplace, and I’m watching the snow fall outside my living room window. Yes. Snow. Just the perfect amount, and I’m loving every minute.
Lee slept over at a friend’s house last night. Cal is still in bed. Jack left for work about an hour ago. The dogs are asleep beside me, one curled into a tight little ball and the other sprawled on her side, snoring just a little. The snow is only supposed to last about an hour, so I’m planning to sit here and watch it until it stops.
It’s vacation week for me and the kids. We have a few plans, but no big trips this year. Last year at this time, we were in Florida on a boat watching dolphins with my mom. That was an incredible trip, but there’s something nice about this, too. I’m doing small chores around the house; cleaning out closets and drawers, making the phone calls I keep putting off, repotting the plants in my windowsill. I’ve already read two books and crocheted about a quarter of a blanket. Tonight there will be chicken pot pie and rehearsal with the bell choir. I’ll have brunch with a friend and book club later this week. Both boys have plans to go into Boston with friends, and it’s strange and wonderful that they still want to go to the Aquarium, albeit without me.
Yesterday, I was a little sick, but super productive. I changed the sheets and did a few loads of laundry. I took the dog to get her nails trimmed and did some grocery shopping and changed the lightbulbs and moved the lamps so that I can read in all my favorite places. I went to the Minute Clinic and bought some cough drops and wrote an article for the church newsletter. I dropped some clothes off at the donation bin and helped Lee clean the pet cages and brought out the trash. I read a little and watched a movie with Jack.
Yesterday, it was important to me to be productive because I was feeling a little bit stuck. Today, I’m feeling exactly the opposite. I feel like my runny nose and the snowy weather are exactly a perfect excuse to stay right where I am. I’ll get up to make another cup of coffee or put that chicken in the oven, but this fire and this weather aren’t going to last all day. I’m just going to enjoy them while they last.