Great Expectorations

I've been a sick, sick girl, in bed with the 'flu until today. Thank goodness I finally feel better. I'm virtually never sick--I probably go 4-5 years between colds, but this knocked me out, even though I had the flu shot. My friend, Liz, hearing my voice on the phone, said with authority (she has two boys), "You need an expectorant." We do not own such a thing, of course, and because there are no children/grandchildren, we have understocked medicine cabinets. We do not own potions and pills that normal families do: no cold medications, no vaporizer, no cough syrups, no anti-nausea medications, nothing, nothing, nothing.

I'm horrified at the date, considering I had barely started my Christmas shopping. Yesterday I tried to go out, but crept home after just two hours of local stuff, went back to bed at noon and slept until well after dark. Today I headed for Potomac Mills, feeling much better (anyone who lives in Nova is shaking their head at that bit of folly, but if you haven't been to Potomac Mills lately, they have some really good stores now) and it's a lot closer than going to Short Pump or Pentagon City. Besides, the other two malls have parking decks, and who knows whether another cement thingy might take another swing at me.

It was a traumatic week, what with the flu, the car crash (I still haven't got Mr. Aluminum Can back, and although I have a rental car, I really miss him), and quitting my job. It has been soothing to take up my stitching, and work on Catharine McNeal in between blowing my nose and napping.

Here's my overall progress:


Since I had to go to Woodbridge anyway, I stopped at Astoria Pizza and got this--it's about as much Christmas decor as I've been able to manage. Festive!


This photo is from two years ago at Christmas. Pink was not pleased at being dressed as the Christmas elf.


Off to finish decorating the tree and wrap some stuff! See you later in the week!