Just Not Fair

It's just not fair. I have a long weekend, what with the Labor Day holiday on Monday and a comp-time day off on Tuesday. Here in Maryland, we are having some of the most breathtakingly beautiful weather of the year to date.
Here is what I had planned to do with my time these 4 days:

• Work 4 1/2 hrs on Sunday (the price of that full day of comp time on Tuesday- Sunday hours are worth extra comp hours)
• Find someplace new and lovely to take my kayak for a solo paddle, with picnic
• Buy a small chest freezer during the Labor Day sales
• Hit up the farmers' markets for produce now that everything is at its peak quality, and prep pounds and pounds of lovely things to freeze for winter in my new freezer
• Spend time in my hammock with books, or napping
• Spend time on my beach with books, or wading
• Work on my travel scrap-books
• Possibly drive up to visit my bestest friend V, who will feel lonesome once her sweetie-pie departs early Monday for a long separation.

Here is what I am actually doing with my time these 4 days:

• Working 4 1/2 hrs on Sunday
• Blowing my nose
• Coughing
• Whining
• Taking a cocktail of Tylenol, Mucinex, and either Benadryl or Claratin (depending on time of day) every 6 hours
• Napping and/or lying about feeling stuffy, achy, and clammy
• Whining some more
• Feeling generally sorry for myself

It's just not fair. I am sick enough to be medium-miserable most of the day, but not quite sick enough to call out of work (on a weekday I would, but Sundays are always minimally staffed, so someone else would have to be called in on short notice to cover my station. My conscience would only allow me to do that to a colleague on a holiday weekend if I were at death's door.) I'm with-it enough to be bored and antsy lying about the house, but not quite up to doing much else. Also, my head aches enough that even crafts and scrap-booking are unpleasant. My neighbors are all outside riding bikes and puttering in their gardens, or carrying chairs and coolers down the path to the beach. It's just not fair.

p.s.- No, it's not Swine Flu, thank-you-very-much. It's a run-of-the-mill upper respiratory infection of the non-specific variety, not helped at all by the sudden explosion of Fall-season pollen in the air.

A Sad Day

A sad day. We lost Ruby, the lead mare of our little herd. She had been sick since Saturday with a severe colic, which despite all my parents' and the vet's best efforts, steadily worsened. She couldn't eat or drink and by this morning, her poor belly was swollen to twice normal size. She fought the good fight, but about 10am today, her body couldn't take it anymore and her heart just gave out. Mom and Dad were with her, Mom having spent the whole previous night in the stall to monitor and comfort her.
Ruby was a terrific little horse, an American Miniature, and like most of her breed she was sweet-natured and intelligent. She was very gentle, affectionate, a willing worker, very steady, and patient with children. There is a little boy in my parents' neighborhood with Down Syndrome who loves to stop by and visit the horses, and Ruby seemed to know that he needed extra gentleness. She was a very attentive mother, and gave us a beautiful filly, Rosie, who survives her along with Star, another mare. Poor Rosie seems bewildered and distressed by Ruby's absence. I know how she feels.
Ruby was beloved by our whole family, and many friends besides. She will be sadly missed. Goodbye, sweet girl.