it's flu season again. time for my yearly rant regarding the flu, flu shots, and "the stomach flu."

flu shots help prevent whatever strain of influenza virus they predict may be floating around this year. the flu is caused by the influenza virus and is a respiratory illness. symptoms of the flu are as follows:

• Fever (usually high)
  
• Severe aches and pains in the joints and muscles and around the eyes
  
• Generalized weakness
  
• Ill appearance with warm, flushed skin and red, watery eyes
• Headache
  
• Dry cough
• Sore throat and watery discharge from the nose

i know what you're thinking. where's the stomach pains, the diarrhea?? you got a flu shot last year and you still got sick! you were throwing up and had diarrhea for two days. it was horrible! that darn stomach flu. dianne, why didn't you list the vomiting and diarrhea?

well, because you had gastroenteritis. it's caused by any variety of stomach bugs, be they viral or bacterial. there is no flu involved in the so-called "stomach flu." no flu shot in the world will keep you from getting gastroenteritis. washing your hands might help, though.

remember: flu = lungs, nose, throat. if your stomach is involved, don't blame your flu shot.

nerd.

i make no attempt to hide the fact that i'm a total nerd. and in my nerddom, i admit that i love the following things: star trek, sci-fi, books about germs and forensic science, and fantasy novels. yes, fantasy novels. the more magicians and dragons involved, the better.

some of my favorite books as a teen were from a series called dragonlance. these books had it all. elves, magic, dragons, war, romance, death. and an evil mysterious master wizard.

turns out they are making an animated movie out of said dragonlance series. and to play the evil mysterious master wizard? only the man with the coolest voice of our generation.



seriously. i wet myself just a little.

dick prall, park west chicago

went to see my boy, dick prall, play last night at park west. we got there a wee bit late (oops!) due to total ass weather. it was like a monsoon was rolling through chicago. every dip in the sidewalk had become a lake, and traffic sucked nut.

dick rocks.


got dick?


went to dublins with my best friend lynn and my buddy robb. this is where you will find lynn and i after any show.we put $5 in the jukebox. the selection was crap, but we got some random stuff out of there. barenaked ladies, duran duran, foo fighters, johnny cash, michael jackson, tom petty, even some old school funk that made us break out our rollerskating moves. in all, the night was a big thumbs up.

she's crafty

having two little girls is like owning life-size baby dolls. i get to play dress up whenever i want. halloween is one of those times when i go a little crazy, but they like to play along.



scary.





yes. in fact she is missing her two front teeth.







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witches.
witches and me.