Sinuses completely stuffed up, hot and cold flashes, aching head - The Cold has reared its ugly head. I have so many things to do at work but I don't think I will last past 3 p.m. I just hope I can meet with my boss today to discuss my salary and position, as scheduled. If I miss that, I may as well kiss any progress goodbye for the next two months. That's just how it works here.

I believe I will start reading the Paris 1919 book I got for xmas. I figure a good dose of non-fiction will be a nice balance after the sci-fi Pullman trilogy. You know, I was disappointed with the end of the book. The stories maintained a nervy control and tension for a good part of the three books, but the last half of the third installment just got overblown and succombed to some weird writing. I can't quite describe it, but all of a sudden I felt a little lost, slightly bored and unable to continue suspending my disbelief. But of course, no one knows better than I that beautiful beginnings don't guarantee a great end, or anything else for that matter.

My nights are spent in deep, undisturbed slumber, which is very strange considering the major changes and difficult thoughts that are taking place. I don't know how on earth I've managed it, but I'm grateful to the gods of slumber.

Still, I miss him so much today. Today I feel as though he's like a caricature, a character in a book, something only to be imagined, something far away, something that can't be touched...