Right now, I'm trying to get as much done before one (or both) of the kids' schools calls to tell me that one (or both) or the kids are too blech to continue with his or her (or their) day. This morning, all four of us woke up with scratchy throats and achy bodies. No fevers yet, which would have made the call to stay home much easier. Still, I have a feeling this all bodes ill. No pun intended.

So I wait -- and clear as much off of my desk while I can. Not because I fear I'll be too sick to work -- that almost never happens -- but that I'll soon be trying to work while the moans and hacks of my beloved fill the air.

A couple of observations, unrelated to illness -

There is a current controversy about a building on one of the campuses where I teach. I couldn't give less of a crap about the controversy in question but remain amazed at how quickly and violently academics get their backs up and feel all persecuted. It is a wonder -- an irritating wonder, granted, because one of my least favorite things to do is to listen to adults sanctimoniously bitch about something -- the speed at which this righteousness occurs. Shame it can't be bottled as a fuel.

Unrelated to that, this video with Kermit the Frog just makes me want to find someone to hold me. It makes a lot more sense if you are fond of Wes Anderson films and Elliot Smith, which I am. Otherwise, it might not make a whole lot of sense.

Right. I should be working.