Happy Saturday morning, ladies and gentlemen. I’m watching the news on the couch. The dogs are outside. The boys are playing video games. M is off at Zoomba. Well, no, T just entered the room and asked to watch television. I’m ok with that.

So I’ve been sick most of the week and missed work Thursday and Friday. I’m the most guilty sick day person ever. However, after emailing back and forth with my friend Preston, who said his wife had the same symptoms as me and ended up with bronchitis, I scheduled a doctor’s visit. And yet, I had both bronchitis and a sinus infection. You know how I know I’m sick? I don’t want to work out at all. Well, today, because I’m on drugs and have hardly moved for three days, I kind of fel like working out. But I’m taking off until at least tomorrow.

Thursday I cancelled all my classes, meetings, etc. and crashed on the couch. I tried to watch Observe and Report (thank you, Red Box) but the movie sucked. I read some Ellroy and channel-surfed before watching the first episode of Eastwick. You know how sick days go.

What did I do the rest of yesterday? I watched all the Thursday night shows (Parks and Recreation has improved, but The Office is off to a slow start) and went out for coffee just to leave the house. I answered a few emails and slept through the early afternoon before rising to clean the first floor. M and the boys left for the homecoming parade/celebration with about half the neighborhood right after school. I was surprised as I thought T would want to stay home. So suddenly I had the house to myself again, and the house was kind of clean. I sat on the couch and listened to Vic Chesnutt, Sparklehorse, and the Lost in Translation s/t. You know, this whole being sick thing has been important on a couple levels. First off, you realize how expendable you are. The world moves along with you. This is a good thing. I don't mean to sound narcissistic, of course the world moves along without me, but still, you don't quite realize how true this is until you don't leave the house for a couple days. Second, this reminds me to work hard not to define myself by my job. What if I got sick and couldn't work for an extended period of time? They'd replace me. They'd replace anyone. And I have to work hard personally to make sure I'm not so identified with my profession that I wouldn't know what to do with myself otherwise. Know what I mean? There's a balance between loving what I do/dedicating my time to something I consider very meaningful and making sure I have a life separate and independent from elements I can't control. Third, if this is the case, what can I control, and how can I create meaning in my life independent of work?

Anyway, I also watched Jeopardy for the first time in forever. I did pretty well. We didn't go to the homecoming game because the rain arrived just before so T and I watched the Travel Channel (Extreme Conventions). He asked me to watch the whole thing with him because he said I always ditch him halfway through. This is true. So I watched the whole thing. Do you know they have a convention in Vegas for celebrity impersonators? Some of them do not look like who they say they are. And some of the impersonators are pretty worthless. How marketable is a woman dressed like Trinity from the Matrix?

Later M and I watched the first Flashforward episode. Well, I did give up halfway on that one. And the kids eventually fell asleep (they were wired) and I read Ellroy on the couch until crashing on the couch listening to the rain through the window near my pillow.

This morning was calm and quiet. 4:00AM has its advantages, you know. After M gets home I’ll hit Costco. T plays football this afternoon. I must cut the grass tomorrow.

We’re due for harsh wind and sub-60 temps early next week. Can’t wait. I love autumn. Have a great weekend.