I dragged my body out of bed today. This cold is really getting to me. I feel like my brain is working at it's normal rate, but every other part of me is going around in half time. Now, the phrase cold can refer to two different things, the virus or the weather, and I'm not sure which one I'm referring to. I know that I've got a virus. My head is foggy, my eyes are watering, my nose is stuffy, my body is achy. On the other hand, when I dashed to the van this morning, I realized my head was tilted downward in order to avoid the wind and the rain.

I was sitting in my car, heater running full blast when I realized that I hadn't brought along a cup of coffee. I guess I don't normally take coffee with me anymore. I've gotten out of practice because who needs coffee when it's 82 outside? The last few weeks have seen that kind of weather, and then this weird cold front swept through the southern part of the United States, and now I'm wishing I had my ski jacket and cup of coffee to warm my hands on while I'm driving.

So maybe it's that kind of cold. But then I reread the last paragraph, and I'm not sure. I don't think my verbs are agreeing or maybe their not parallel, but my head just doesn't want to function and sort the whole thing out.

Back to the main point. I got into the car or van or whatever. First, I made sure that Kate got into the vehicle. Then I got into the vehicle. Turned it on. Busted a U-ey (that's Texan for took a u-turn), and headed for school. I'm driving along. Stopping at the required stop lights. Making mindless notes about the different things I'm seeing when I realized I'd passed into Portland mode.

Definition: Portland Mode is the act of mindlessly traveling from one point to the other without absorbing the fact that it is cold, wet, gray and depressingly icky outside -- often accompanied by listening to talk radio because there is nothing else to do while making the congested, horn-honking commute to work or school.

So, I jerked myself back into Aggie mode and brightly asked Kate how she was doing. Fine, was the answer. I tried again with something like, what are you going to do in school today. She mumbled, Spelling Test. That sort of ended the conversation there. I was sorely tempted to flip on the radio. I stared at the road and realized it wasn't raining anymore but my wipers were still on. The water being kicked up was splattering the windshield. Depressingly Oregonianesque, I thought. Then I tried to think of the date, and realized that it must be about 2 months before Christmas. I mean, this kind of weather is suppose to happen in October which would meant that I hadn't gotten past Halloween, yet, and I'd better get planning for Thanksgiving. So soon? When would I ever get a break. Then my mind focused again, and I shook the virus thingy that's attached to the inner part of my nose and managed a few minutes of clear thinking. Ah, that's right it's February. Time to start planning swimming lessons, pool parties and barbecues.

I guess I'll just hang in there. Maybe go to some place colder, like the ice rink. That always makes me feel better.