The Lurgy

I've always loved the word "lurgy" as a fun Britishism. Like "faff" and "plonker". However, I guess I had never heard it spoken, because I always pronounced it in my head as LER-gee (like allergy), but the g is hard like in guy. I can't even think of a way to write that phonetically. It doesn't rhyme with anything, except sort of like piggy?

So today, I have the Lurgy. I was cold all day yesterday, my face feels hot to the touch today (except I can't even get my temp up to normal when I take it), my stomach is roiling (though I have eaten some, so it's not that bad) and I have a headache.

Tomorrow, I'm supposed to go to a big science/children's museum that's 2 or 3 hours away (depending on traffic, which will be bad at the time of morning we need to go) (and then we either need to leave well before rush hour or hang around until 7 at night). And spend all day in a crowd. So my husband might be doing museum duty.

I was feeling so bad
I asked my family doctor just what I had
I said, "Doctor" (doctor), "Mr. MD" (doctor)
"Can you tell me what's ailing me?"

And I'm trying to write. Or at least re-reading what I have so far and adding to it, because I keep thinking of things to say. Which is good. I really need to move forward with this book, but my brain is foggy.

Like most parents, I just keep dragging along most of the time.

So what do you do when you're sick, but not really SICK?


SIX DAYS TO NEW BOOK!

Honorable Excerpt 2:

“Your wife is an evil hag,” said Jean-Louis, keeping his voice quiet, “who cares nothing for anyone but herself. Ondine is injured, has been shot at several times over the last few weeks, kidnapped twice, and just spent the night alone in a dark cellar. I hold you and your wife responsible for this, as well as for Amandine’s conduct, especially her tendency to open her thighs for everyone.”

His former mother-in-law shrieked, but this time she noticed his expression—the one that had made his soldiers shake in their boots.

“I should call you out,” growled his former father-in-law.

“I would kill you. But I cannot face you in a duel. You have no honor. You lied to Mademoiselle de Bonnefoi for years and tried to cheat her out of her inheritance. And now you prefer she die. Do you realize that Ondine nearly died too?”

“And now you think you will have her share of the manufactory,” said Monsieur Ferand.

Jean-Louis thought about telling him they were already married and he already had her share, but decided against it. “I offered for her when all I knew about was her small dowry.”

Hélène’s uncle snorted.

“We only discovered the truth two days ago,” Jean-Louis said. “Now I plan to use my control of her share to get rid of you and the Ménines. We shall improve production and increase sales instead of trying to rely on a tramp of a daughter to sell chairs at court. She was probably working against you and the manufactory, just as she was a blight on my military career.”

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Honorable Officer Excerpt 1

Mademoiselle Hélène’s hands gripped his arm, making him fumble his gloves. “They were shooting at you,” she said in a squeaky voice. “They couldn’t have mistaken you for Ondine.”

He froze, mind whirling. “They might have thought I was you.” His throat closed up. “Or maybe they hoped to leave Ondine defenseless.”

She whimpered and gripped his arm more tightly.

He cupped her cheek, his rough fingers sliding across her silken skin. He almost forgot the danger they were in. Her huge, blue eyes darted around his face. Her mouth was open, panting in fear. He was already starting to step toward her, to claim a kiss for his heroics, to steady his own nerves, when Fourbier cleared his throat.

Jean-Louis stepped back, shocked at what he had almost done, angry at Fourbier for witnessing it and for interrupting.

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