Well, I'm home sick. I don't know exactly how it happened. I woke up this morning feeling kind of disassociated and cranky, but that normally goes away after a cup of coffee. Going into the second hour of our Monday staff meeting my face felt really hot and I left the meeting to take an aspirin. I mentioned to my supervisor that I wasn't feeling so good and might take some sick hours if the aspirin doesn't kick in. She had strong feelings about the matter, and suddenly I found myself with a free afternoon.
Honestly, I really didn't want to go home. Felix and Angela are in Ohio, and the cat is still mad at me for painfully combing out half a pound of snarled fur. I knew if I went home I would lie around feeling depressed. So I went to Starbucks and drank iced tea. About 20 minutes later I felt my fever drain away. What now? I needed groceries for sandwiches. Maybe I could get them downtown?
You might think that the Loop would have a grocery store. It doesn't. The nearest grocery is a Dominick's on Madison just west of the expressway. Luckily it's just a few blocks from Ogilvie Station. I bought salami, cheddar, bagels, and about half a gallon of half and half (the only size that was left).
I walked back to Ogilvie Station, where I had about 50 minutes to kill until my train was ready.
The best view at Ogilvie is from the Caribou Coffee looking out on Riverside Plaza. Never get stuck in their food court. It's just too depressing. I had the best cup of coffee I'd ever had at Caribou. Which is to say, I didn't feel like spitting it out. And for the first time I wasn't angry about their fake stone fireplace.
Forty-five minutes later I walked over to the depot and got on the northbound line. It was packed. Who goes home at 2:30 p.m.?
So here I am. The cat resents my presence, and I can't stop thinking about the things I needed to do at work. Maybe I should have some vodka. Is that good for a cold? Probably not.