So, it turns out that my little cold is actually a fever, sinus infection, and bronchial infection, all rolled into one miserable package.  Whilst I sat there in his office hacking up a lung, the doctor—leaning closer to my face—said, "Right now, you might be contagious."  He also said I should rest and take it easy, and be O.K. to go back to school on Monday.  I'm to take an antibiotic pill the size of a grub twice a day, for the next 10 days, and I have an inhaler–to be used either every 6 hours, or as needed. 

Being the ignoramus that I am, I was blissfully unaware that it had begun. So, I smelled something cooking downstairs, after I got out of the shower. I went to check it out. That was my first mistake. We all know Dear Auntie isn't really much of a cook. Anyways, the tiny TV in the kitchen was turned on, and I didn't notice to what it was tuned until it was too late. Politics. Damn. But, I might as well try stomaching what she's made, right? So I sampled some of that, and managed to keep my mouth closed. It left a bad taste, though, so I got some leftover Chinese out of the fridge—as my uncle had just done—and went about fixing it up, zapping it, you know... Before my uncle or I could escape the room, dear Aunt Bev started in with her railing about McCain and Obama, and I began to remember all the reasons I hate politics, along with the people who froth at the mouth over them.

My food was ready–I could have just left the room. I didn't have to say anything. I mean, really, I think both senators are dishonest jerks who don't sincerely give two shits about the liberties and rights of individual citizens. The public of this country is full of idiots, though, and those two asinine bastards know it. Still, does that justify needlessly provoking someone I was earlier planning to ask a boon of? I suppose it was partly because my aunt's points weren't wholly invalid, and that irked me. I don't like being spoken to in an angry tone, with words that are half enlightening and half stupid, unless I've done something to deserve it. Finally, I just muttered that I hated politics, and left the room chanting, "I take it back, I take it back!" And I do. This country is like an 11 year old boy with a bunch of level 70s, on a moderator account. It doesn't really matter what you think of him, because, even though he's a complete idiot, he has a massive guild, and he ownz your ass.

My hair is falling out a lot more rapidly this time, and I'm not sure how I feel about that.  I really don't want to go back to the little comb-over I had going for the area around my mini cowlick.  The skin on my hands started to show those little tears that look like a rash during drilling ceremony reviews we were doing outside, in JROTC.  There are a couple of other side-effects that I find too embarrassing to mention, but I know how to remedy at least one of those.  At first, there was a discernible change in my moods, and the muscles of my lower back knotted up like I'd taken a good spinal beating with a cinder block.  I'm still a bit irritable, but that's both manageable and likely due in equal part to a conglomeration of other factors, such as my poor sleeping habits, diet, exercise, and I've never been a big fan of the screechy TAG underclassmen who just always seem to be a few feet closer than I want them to be.  The damage those little brats have done over the past year—and seem content to continue doing—to my eardrums can never be undone.  I don't want to be subjected to their twittering squeals about hamsters and their connection to Sasquatch.  Alas, I digress...