Strep throat, politics… and Firetruck

So I got my annual March bug last week — usually it holds out for Spring Break, but I guess since we have no big plans this year, it decided to arrive early — in the form of Strep Throat. I was only out for two or three days, but the timing could have been better.

I got sick Saturday night, you see, and Tuesday was the day of the primaries here in Texas. Which is not ideal if you’re trying desperately to sleep so you can stop feeling like you’re the bottom of someone’s shoe. The bottom of a marathoner’s shoe, actually. A marathoner’s shoe on a track frequented by cattle suffering from gastrointestinal distress.

But I digress.

Anyway, that stupid thing rang SIXTEEN times on Monday. By four o’clock, I was huddled in bed with the covers around my ears raving to whoever would listen (not the recorded voices on the phone, alas) that if they called again, I’d start actively campaigning AGAINST all three candidates.

It didn’t help.

Speaking of campaigns, I was thinking the other day how proud I am to be an American. Why? Because regardless of how you feel about them politically or personally, two of the three people currently running for the top political office would at some point in our country’s history — including, in one case, the first two decades of the twentieth century — not have been ALLOWED to vote.

Wow.

Isn’t it encouraging how far we’ve come?

Well, that’s my pithy thought for the day. On yet another note — I’m rather ADD today, aren’t I? — I’ve loved reading your comments on Firetruck’s mishap last week. I plan to respond to them tonight — but feel obligated to share the sad news that he did not last the week. I feel awful about it, to be honest, but Ian took the news well. (Probably in part because I didn’t mention the whole egg noodle/disposal episode.)

RIP, Firetruck… may you have a cleaner tank and a better keeper in the fishy hereafter!