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I write this as I have been laid up in bed for four days, sick with the flu during the the polar vortex nauseatingly called “Chiberia” (did I forget to hashtag that?) and wanting to feel better. I was fine on Saturday, before the super cold set in, and I met a friend from my previous graduate program who was in town for a conference. I got some cool shots:[flickr id=”11848460876″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”original” group=”” align=”none”]

And:

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And this:

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But now my body is achey and I feel like death. I’d like to blame the cold, but science tells me the cold doesn’t actually make you sick with things like the flu, so I encourage you to get the flu shot if you are thinking about it, because now I wish I had. Trust me, when you’re in grad school, the last thing you want to be is sick. It kills your productivity, your coherence, and your quality.

The only thing I’ve done work-wise this week is read. I got sick of watching Netflix and Hulu Plus, so I started reading the Divergent series by Veronica Roth, a local Chicago author, and I am digging it. I have about 100 pages left in the first book, so I plan to knock those out tomorrow. Reading, though, is productive for a writer, so I am considering it a little victory.

Have you read any good books over break, MarginAliens? I read Ginsberg’s Howl again, and also read David Levithan’s Two Boys Kissing, both of which are really good. I started a few other books but ultimately landed on Divergent as the winner of the week. I am going to try to read a book a week. If you have any suggestions, let me know! Also, do you have anything you wish I’d blog about? I’d be happy to take requests!