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What to do when the people around you aren't feeling well

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Katy's not doing well. Her throat is giving her grief and the antibiotics she's on are making her feel queezy. I think she's caught my cold. She's had a rough day. Make that a very rough day. This was supposed to be her first day back at work but when she managed to get in, they turned her around back home. She feels bad about all the time she's been off work. The good thing is that though her boss is scary, she also has a good head on her shoulders and realizes that the leave is justified, not frivolous.

As if that wasn't enough for today, we went to get the damage estimated on the car. It's not looking positive. Since the Rover plant went belly-up, the car value dropped like a stone and parts are getting scarce. That means that though the damage isn't *that* bad (mostly scratches all along the passenger side) and some bodywork, it comes up to about 1500 pounds worth of work and parts. Since the car is now worth only about a grand, that means it's probably going to be a write-off, even though the car is still mechanically and structurally sound. This sucks the big, pus-filled, boily ass. What's worse is that her driving confidence got a beating along with her car :(

We just had a little conversation, and I have to agree with her, she's due a hell of a lot of good karma in the next year cause this last one has been crappy. She's convinced she's jinxed. I'm trying hard to make her realize that if you get into that sort of frame of mind, you'll always focus on all the bad stuff and overlook the fact that some good stuff has happened as well. Still, I don't want to make light of the fact that the last year has been really, really tough on her.

Right now, she's not feeling well and I don't know how to make it better, except to ply her with tea (which makes everything better), ply her with hugs and generally try and give her a hand wherever I can.

Cause I love her.

And I'm worried about her.

So *hug*

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How scary is that?

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From listening to the conversation over the weekend, I've come to the conclusion that my parents and Katy's are WAY too similar. As in twins-separated-at-birth-by-gypsies similar :)

Oh, and apparently, Katy and I are turning into our parents as well. Katy gets me to come from the bedroom into the living room to give her her cup of tea that's standing about 2 feet away. My mom does the same to my dad. When she's leaving for work in the morning (and isn't always all that awake), I ask her: do you have your lunch? your keys? your pass? your phone? My dad does the same to my mom.

Now I ask you… how scary is that?

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What could go wrong…

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ATLANTA, Georgia (AP) — Scientists have made from scratch the Spanish flu virus that killed as many as 50 million people in 1918, the first time an infectious agent behind a historic pandemic has ever been reconstructed.

Full article here: http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/conditions/10/05/1918.flu.pandemic.ap/index.html?section=cnn_us

My first thought is … what's the worst that could happen? And then I remember that we're talking about the US here…

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The plan, take … three?

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The original plan was to go do a London bus tour, but that fell through when I realized that my mom and Katy didn't really want to deal with the crowds. Then we were supposed to go to the Zoo, but that fell through when Katy was feeling poorly this morning because of the antibiotics she's taking. So mom and I went walkies in Cambridge. I got some nice walking boots, and I almost bought myself a kilt. I'm still debating that issue. I'd like a kilt. I have no idea when I'd actually wear it, and I have zero scottish blood in me, but still, a kilt would rock…

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Planes, trains and automobiles

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I went to pick up my mom at Heathrow yesteday. The London Underground website is evil. Eeeeeeeeeevil! Their website told me that the best route to the airport was to go from Kings Cross to Paddington and then switch to the Heathrow Express train. What the website doesn't say is that you need another ticket for that train and that ticket is 16 pounds. SIXTEEN!!! And that's a one-way. It only cost me 17 to get a round-trip from Cambridge to London. Finally get there and I wait for mom to go through customs and baggage claim. My patience was severely strained by a 15-generation clan taking up a whole lot of room and making a hell of a racket. I now strongly support leash laws for children.

Had a very slow night last night. We were all tired and we all ended up going to bed at 9pm.

Today was fun. Went walkies in Cambridge, spent too much money. I am now the proud owner of a citrus zester.

We're off to London tomorrow.

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[Recipe] Salsa

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2.5 kg tomatoes (blanched, peeled and grossly chopped and drained)
2 large onions, diced
2 green peppers, diced
2 red peppers, diced
1 yellow pepper, diced
6 hot peppers, chopped (I use jalapeno, but you can use finger chilies for a bit more oomph! Remove the pepper seeds to tone down the heat)
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/3 cup white sugar
2 tbsp salt
zest and juice of 2 limes
large clump of fresh coriander leaves.

Mix everything except the lime and coriander. Bring to a boil while stirring. Cook uncovered for 15-20 minutes, until thickened. Add lime juice and coriander. Cook for another 5 minutes.

Put in sterilized pots. Store forever in a cool dry place.

To sterilize pots (I use jam jars, but mason jars work just as well), wash in warm soapy water, rinse with very hot water, place upside down on a baking tin and leave in a medium oven for 15 minutes. Boil lids. Fill while warm and cover promptly. Tighten lid and Bob's your uncle.

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