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Sick

I get sick very seldom. But after a recent drive over to the Western Slope of Colorado, I found myself dropping off to sleep one night (in a straw bale casita made by my friend Paul) - then was suddenly very awake and unwell. Unwell here just means knife-stabbings inside the throat when I swallowed, a fever, and headache. A cold, I guess, or rhinovirus - maybe this respiratory thing that has been flying around Denver.

So I drove back home the next day so as not to infect the various people I'd been hoping to consult with. The trip wasn't bad, what with the glorious Colorado landscape, and even the rain was nice, like  driving through Scottish hills, migrating clouds, and mist. And I managed to wrap up the "Order of the Phoenix" CDs. Ms Rowling is a compelling storyteller, even when you know it comes out.

When I got home, Suzanne had made chicken soup (she's been brutalized by all this for a week or more), and I was in bed by 6 or so. And slept through till after 10 this morning. Although I don't feel well, I'm not hacking and coughing, either.  There are times when lying in bed and reading book after book after book is, all in all, not a bad way to spend a day. It might even be a SMART way.

One of the books was the "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane," written by Kate DiCamillo, and illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline. It's a wise and heartbreaking children's book, about a china rabbit who learns something about love. But also a couple of science fiction ebooks, "Salinger," some comic books, part of "The Bonobo and the Atheist," by Frans de Waal, and "Eat Move Sleep," by Tom Rath, (author of "Strengthfinders"). Lately, I realize, I'm plowing through 4 or 5 books a week, mostly ebooks.

I also have a ton of stuff to work on related to my consulting life. But I still feel lousy. So I'm not doing any of that.

Next week, I head off to Bulgaria to meet with library leaders and present on the trend of community reference. I definitely do not want to be sick then. So it's up to write and drink tea, then back to bed.

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