Saturday was bad, the only way I felt comfortable was lying down. Since four year old had been diagnosed with the flu a few days earlier, I checked out my symptoms on the web. Dry hacking cough, headache, fever, painful to breathe using chest, running nose, yeah, it was the flu. Fortunately for me, the web site I found was sponsored by Tamiflu, which said the flu was treatable if caught within 48 hours. So, I had the pleasure of bothering the on call doc and had him send in a prescription for Tamiflu.

That shit is expensive, $66 for 10 pills. My insurance covered about half, so it wasn't too much out of pocket. It seems to really work, too, by no means do I feel healthy and one hundred percent, but I can walk and put in a modestly productive day.

I must say I was extremely pathetic Saturday. My dad, with a reconstructed heart and two reconstructed knees, shoveled our driveway before taking nine year old for the day while I shivered under many layers of blankets.

In other health related financial news, I'm trying to get my pretax money back, they seem really picky about filling out the forms. They also make you fax the stuff in, dangit, they need a web submission method. We'll see how it works, once I get the hang of it I'm shooting for four figures of reimbursement.

Before there are too many complaints, I am coughing into my elbow (want to see the dried pleghm?) or kleenex, washing my hands until the skin dries and cracks, and wiping down keyboards with an alcohol soaked paper towel. I am trying not to pass this on. Next year a flu shot for sure.

In the next tedious health update, my feet feel worse. Good thing I have a podiatrist's appt tomorrow.

I have played a few games of Pirates, it's fun. Not as much fun as riding my bike, having sex, or even playing Squad Leader, but fun. I'm still figuring out which ships I have are unbalanced, my two American ships are vastly outclassed by my two pirate ships. My sole English ship, when coupled with a Captain allowing it to move and shoot, is very capable. I have Spanish crew, and two identical Spanish forts, but no Spanish ships. Further playing is warranted.

Stress at the Ha household is rising higher. Mrs. Ha's depression has strengthened, with all that that entails. Nine year old was very helpful this weekend though, even doing several loads of laundry. And four year old has been sick, she's getting over the flu and has an ear infection. I have the work cell for a week, and when I get rid of it I'm taking some much needed time off. Lots to talk about with my therapist.

Mrs. Ha's family is not very functional, and when things turn bad it tends to bring out the worst. Since Mrs. Ha's mom is recovering in a nursing home from a shunt, with not much chance of regaining her facilities, things are very crazy and tense and angry. More stress.

I'm sick of winter, February has been brutally cold, with a bit of snow. Today it was getting close to blizzard like driving conditions. But in a month I may be riding!

It appears that today is the last day before Ash Wednesday and Lent. I may cook pancakes today, I gather that's the traditional English way to celebrate, along with burning the Pope in effigy. How will you celebrate Fat Tuesday/Pancake day?