You know that crud that's going around and making everyone so sick?

 Yes. That crud.

I have it.

It's been a bit frustrating. Being sick always is. Of course, there's no "convenient" moment to be ill, but this case of the gallopin' gleep has really disrupted some robust momentum for me. 

I went to my doctor's office yesterday hoping for a walk-in visit, but it was early in the morning and they were already full for the day, including walk-ins. They suggested I go to another affiliated clinic in town. Turned out, the local ISD closed for the day because so many locals are sick. To my relief, though, the second place accommodated me. I tested negative for covid and the current strains of floo for which they are testing, so that is something of a relief, I suppose. Hopefully I'm mostly over it. I'm taking antibiotics, happily.

This is my first absence from the job I started in March, but they have been most gracious about it. I sit near a young person with a major health issue, and another young lady at work is pregnant, and I'd be devastated if I infected them. I don't feel 100% now, but I'm much better. I'm not at work because I have a productive cough and I'm hoping that will largely clear out by my return to work on Friday (which is my Monday). 

I've been doing more creative writing, and my editorial duties at RacPress have stepped up considerably in recent times. This is all good, but it means that my dance card stays full and I don't have a lot of flex in my schedule for five unproductive days, especially since my new job, while the best ever, does not have pay for sick leave. But, of course, healing is the priority. I expect this is the last you'll hear from me on this current bout of the tizzik. Fingers firmly crossed.

***

I used to enjoy watching awards shows. I was a fan of enough movies and music that I actually cared that some of them won an award, but it's been many years since I couldn muster the crap to give over what anyone in Hollywood thought and decided to reward. The bad behavior and gleeful devilry on the red carpet and stage have made such shows unwatchable, in my view, and it seems every one is a new low-bar opportunity to make the new show the most low-class spectacle imaginable, a feat they best again and again. I will not dignify the vile stand-outs from recent Sunday's Grammy Awards by a direct mention, but I want to mention a couple good things. One performer was rocking a custom colorway pair of boots from John Fluevog that were absolutely gorgeous. I was happy to see that. 

The other happy surprise is that one of my favorite performers of the last decade, Sierra Ferrell, actually won four of the coveted awards for her old school Country/Folk music. She's absolutely superb. She's a fantastic guitarist, and has written a robust majority of my favorite new music I've heard in the past five years. It's thrilling to see her gain genuine recognition. The icing on the cake was her delightful original ensemble that made her look like an Appalachian fairy come to life on stage. She's an marvelous spark.

What makes this all the sweeter is the fact that one week ago today, I bought a couple tickets to see her in early May in a city a handful of hours away. Jonna will go to that show with me, so watch this space for news on the madcap getup I mean to make for myself before then. It should be a good time for us to kick up our heels and enjoy hearing some fantastic live music before she is playing arena size gigs. I can't wait!

Hope you're hanging in there, and getting through whatever is challenging you at the moment. Stay warm, make sure the varmints have unfrozen water bowls, and take good care of yourself. :)