Transmission from within the brain fog

I'm very out of sorts today. Ever since my world insisted on developing stress fractures all around me, I've had these days where I simply cannot focus on anything. It's especially bad if I have to work (which I did today), because I perpetually feel like I'm verging on a panic attack, but never quite get there. I spent a lot of time at the boards twitching and randomly tapping my feet today, because, well, twitching and tapping seemed like the Thing to Do. I even caught myself hyperventilating for no good reason at one point. And it wasn't like I had no control over these things; it was more like they were convenient ways to override the muddle in my head. The embarrassing thing is that at the time, I felt like, "Hey, if the craziness takes over enough, maybe they'll send me home for the day..." (And yes, the pretty blue flashing "CRY FOR ATTENTION" warning light is going off for me, too. I'm calmer now, if not totally focused.)

Tomorrow is Kristi's birthday, whence she will be old like me 32. She swore up and down (as she does every year) that I don't need to get her anything, and I (as I do every year) totally ignored her. I won't reveal what I got her, on the off-off-off chance that she actually reads this bloggy-thingy. Actually, I can mention one thing, because she already knows about it: a deco-ish orange enamel pendant that she was very fond of. I offered to buy it for her over two months ago, on the stipulation that it be a Birthday Present, which means no-get-um 'til Cake Day. She's been admirably patient, I must say. Tomorrow night, we'll be dining at Aimie's Dinner and a Movie, where the feature will be The Hours, which she's been jonesing to see for quite some time now. Should be fun.

Meanwhile, in the Giant Petri Dish (i.e. the house I share with small children), Abbey's recovery from the fever has been rather slow. She was bad on Sunday, checked up fine on Monday, went to school on Tuesday, had a fever again by Tuesday night, and stayed home again today (as did Nik) with Grandma, who miraculously did not leave for Zagreb with no forwarding address immediately following. It's not strep, which she tested negative on, but she does have the swollen node thing happening in her throat, which of course worries us. She is, however, responding to constant spoiling very nicely.

If you'll excuse me, I think I'll go find out what effect Kahlua and milk have on this mood. (And find out if I can talk Kristi into a backrub...)