Here you'll find the online coffee and chat salon of chick-lit/cozy mystery authors Diana Killian, Karen MacInerney, Michele Scott, Maggie Sefton, JB Stanley, Heather Webber, and Kate Collins. We'll be posting regularly about our writing, our lives, our latest releases... even where we'll be popping up next. So grab a cup of coffee, pull up a chair... and join the conversation! Also be sure to check out cozychicks.com for more information on us, our books, and contest opportunities.



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    Strep throat, politics… and Firetruck

    Karen MacInerney Icon

    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!

    8 Responses to “Strep throat, politics… and Firetruck”

    1. Great post, Karen. Not that you’re sick, that stinks. And I should know since I’m sicker than a dog as well. What’s up with mucus anyway? Does it have a purpose?

      Yes, we have come far as a nation. Very encouraging. I only wish my mom had lived long enough to this this historic year. She would have love it. Years before her time, she marched for civil rights, gender equality. A great inspiration for me, and my children.

      Hope you feel better.

      Marianne Harden

      PS….I accidentally sent my beloved beta, Pumpkin, off this mortal coil by over cleaning his bowl. Who knew Clorox was so difficult to rinse out? Moral: a clean bowl isn’t always a good thing.

      by Marianne Harden on March 6th, 2008 at 4:00 pm

    2. RIP Firetruck.

      Mention of clean bowls, I’m shocked my husband never killed his beta. Poor beta, he’d go WEEKS of living in murky water, my husband would remember to clean it, and send the poor thing into shock of having fresh water.

      That fish lasted five years I think. Maybe shocking their system is good for them.

      (I was in no part involved with the raising of said beta)

      by Marissa on March 6th, 2008 at 4:33 pm

    3. Marianne,

      Amazing, isn’t it? I like to think your mother is watching from somewhere up above with a huge grin on her face. My daughter is a big Hillary fan — loves the idea of her blazing a path for the rest of us.

      Thanks for the well wishes — I’m much better — and so sorry to hear about Pumpkin. Clorox is pretty strong stuff, I guess. Maybe they should send out instruction manuals with bettas!

      by Karen on March 6th, 2008 at 9:30 pm

    4. Marissa,

      Evidently murky is better than Clorox-fresh. :)

      And if he’d like another betta to care for, we’ve got one named Princess (who’s male, but what the hey?).

      by Karen on March 6th, 2008 at 9:31 pm

    5. Is the beta dog friendly? My lab tends to think animals that are smaller than her are for play.

      by Marissa on March 7th, 2008 at 12:48 am

    6. Karen,

      ICK on the strep throat! I had it once and all I remember is the penicillin that I had to take. YUCK!

      My condolences about Firetruck. Give Ian a big hug for me. Where do I send flowers?

      by Traci on March 7th, 2008 at 2:12 am

    7. Poor Firetruck! And poor you, being sick. I’ve been down for the count all week with the nastiest head cold I’ve ever had. Ever. I’m on day 5 now and still no sign of letting up. Ugh.
      It’s definitely that time of year for sicknesses. We call March the “plague” month.

      I’m not that political, but I’m really into the elections this year. And that says something. I love that my kids are witnessing history.

      by Heather on March 7th, 2008 at 8:32 am

    8. Welcome to Fluville, Karen. It’s yucky here. Only yesterday did I turn the corner.

      by Maggie on March 10th, 2008 at 9:33 pm

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