Winter’s here, and you feel lousy: You’re coughing and sneezing; your muscles ache; your nose is an active mucus volcano. These symptoms — so familiar at this time of year — can mean only one thing: Tiny fanged snails are eating your brain. ~ Dave Barry, American author and columnist
When I wrote my last post, I truly intended to take only a few days off, then get right back to work.
It didn’t happen that way, and I apologize. Some things can’t be helped.
Like crud and mud.
My son Domer came home a few days before Christmas, bringing the “galloping crud” along with him.
Some early gift, huh?
I used to average a winter cold annually, right around Thanksgiving. Often, it went to laryngitis or a sinus infection.
But since the COVID Pandemic, my immune system seems to have become more robust, and I’ve managed to avoid that misery.
Vaccinations, sensible health habits, and staying away from crowds are a powerful antidote.
Domer has been pretty much the same.
But this year, I guess we were ripe for the crud. He had one good day (the day he arrived) before succumbing to it — and I followed suit five days later.
The coughing, sore throat, chills, runny nose, stuffy nose, and general malaise made for a less-than-enjoyable holiday. We masked up to attend church services, managed to cook some decent healthy meals, and opened our presents surrounded by tissues and sanitizing wipes.
As soon as he left to go back to work, the other bane of this season struck: Mud.
Here in Central Illinois, we usually expect to see snow by this time of year, but guess what?
The ground is bare. Except for lots of mud.
We’ve had rain and this “perma-cloud” thing that’s hovered overhead for weeks on end, meaning poor Monk can’t go outside without bringing the outdoors in.
Sick as I’ve been, I’ve found myself bending double to wash and dry his filthy feet — and then dragging out the Swiffer to clean the floors from what I invariably overlooked.
Snow might be wet, but at least it’s a clean wet.
If I wanted to live with mud, I’d buy a nice working farm … somewhere down South, where at least it’s warm!
Musings by an ND Domer's Mom 
I did the same, Debbie. I was only going to take a break until right after Christmas but it went on until after New Year. But I have to say, I enjoyed my time away.
And speaking of the crud, so many people I know (and work with) have succumbed to it. In fact, one of my longtime blogging friends got it and she is still not feeling well.
“Snow might be wet, but at least it’s a clean wet.”
You got that right! We are expecting rain/snow this weekend and part of next week. So, we might be getting lots of mud as well. I guess I’ll be using the rain/snow boots I bought last year but never used.
Hope you’re feeling better, my friend. Sending you lots of positive energy for a speeding recovery! Happy New Year!
X
Happy New Year, Ron! I’m glad you enjoyed your blog-break. We all should, really. It’s nice to step away every so often (and even nicer to step back into the thick of things!)
The forecast snow seems to be right on schedule. We don’t usually have much “winter” until after the first of January, in my experience. I don’t think Monkey remembers much about it from last year, but I imagine he’ll love romping in it when it does appear! And I’ll be happier cleaning up cold water than nasty mud, that’s for sure! xx
Tis the season for the crud … and I imagine it will bless me in the future. Oh boy! Hope you get better soon. What struck me was your use of “perma-cloud” …. so true for our region of the country in winter. The ever-presence of gray & the cold temps … (Cincinnati doesn’t get much snow) … but being a snowbird shortens winter and lengthens spring. Besides, the sky is often blue on cold days.
I hope you can avoid the crud, Frank. Domer was home nearly a week before I caught it (and I was hoping my immune system was strong enough to avoid it, too). I guess we’re all pretty run-down at this time of year. Sigh.
Yes, I love those sunny, cold days when I can curl up with a good book in a south-facing window! It’s just not the same when the skies are gray, is it?
Yuck! This weather. We have had similar weather in Maine. Floods and mud in December? What the heck! Hope you feel better soon.
Thanks, Laurie — I’m gaining on it. It’s just taking far longer than I want! Maybe after this next cold blast, we’ll get to see your husband and his measuring stick tallying up the piles of snow???
Today it is snowing. Six inches so far and it’s still coming down. Nice to see!
It’s about time, too!!!
It’s too bad you can’t return the ‘gift’ of the crud as soon as it arrives. At least you can take to your bed of affliction and recover relatively quickly. If only there were a way to help the weather ‘recover’! I have seen some mutterings about snow for the midwest and New England. Rain is lovely, but snow certainly makes the landscape more appealing — and cold temperatures make cleaning up those doggie feet less of a chore!
Oh, Linda, Domer for sure doesn’t want the crud back!! He’s pretty much over his (he battled it for about five days before I came down with it), and it’s just now that I can see light at the end of the tunnel. The weather people keep reminding us we’re living in drought conditions, but I wish they could see my backyard. Better still, I wish they’d show up every time Monk wants to come back inside with his perfectly muddy feet!!
Aw, what a rotten ‘gift’ for Christmas! The gray lingers here as well, but it sounds like winter will finally arrive tomorrow… am I ready? Probably not!
We’re kind of on alert for incoming snow, too, Eliza, and I have to admit it might be better than all this rainy mud! Poor Monk loves his backyard, but he’s not a fan of the water bucket and towel cleanup procedure!
Oh, I hate that you were sick during the holidays! I haven’t had a cold in years, but had one between Thanksgiving and Christmas (right on the tail of a stomach bug- something else I hadn’t had in years!). It’s no fun! I hope you’re back to normal now and hope Monkey can help you out by trying to keep his feet clean!
Ah, you, too, Kelly? It seems these viruses haven’t been particular when it comes to spreading their misery around. Everybody has been sick here. Even the hospital is restricting visitors. I guess the good thing is, the bugs aren’t fatal. Glad you’re feeling better — and I’m looking forward to, as well.
I feel for you. Both mud and crud are definitely tough to deal with effectively. Hopefully, you’ll get some freezing weather and a break from the crud too.
Thank you, John. I know you, too, have to deal with the mud, having a dog and all. I keep a bucket of warm water and a towel at the ready for cleanups, and Monk has adapted to the inconvenience of it, but still. He probably thinks I’m some kind of neat-nik, ha!
I’m sure he appreciates being clean.
HaHa, only because he’d rather roam around the house than be stuck in his crate until he dries naturally!
😁
Ugh! Poor you and poor Domer! Hope you’re well on the road to recovery now, and that the ground gets a bit drier. Muddy pawprints are not fun!
I think I’m gaining on it, but golly, this has taken far longer than I remember. Of course, we don’t have a clue what it is (something respiratory, but probably not COVID), not that that matters since the docs can’t seem to cure these bugs anyway. Sigh.
Well, try to find time to give yourself a bit of cossetting till you feel fully back on your feet. 🙂
So sorry to hear about your bout with the crud and then the mud-out-of-season added to your misery. It sounds like you and Domer managed to make the best of it. For some reason I cannot fathom we have not gotten sick yet this winter but I suppose we’ll catch a cold sooner or later, probably in February now that we’ve planned a trip to visit our son and daughter-in-law. I love Dave Barry’s quote, comparing his nose to an active mucus volcano!
Congrats on staying “bug-free,” Barbara! I hope you can continue to do so, especially with a big gathering planned. Isn’t Dave Barry a hoot? His description is so yucky … just like a cold is!
Oh Debbie, I’m so sorry that you are not feeling well and that you have double trouble with the wet muddy paws! Not much fun for your son either to spend his holiday time off being sick.
It does sound like you came up with a good idea on how to minimize the mud. And I’m glad Monkey is willing to participate with the paw dips! What we do for our furry four legged buddies!
Sending warm wishes to feel well soon.
Thank you, TD. I’m beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel, but this sure hasn’t been fun … and I wouldn’t wish it on anybody! I have to keep reminding Monk that I bought a dog with four white paws, not four black ones, heehee!
So sorry for the crud for you and your son had! Many of my friends and family have the crud! I have been hiding from it. My husband and I hardly go out. We live with daily medical crud so to get this winters germs would be very challenging. I’m so glad you’re on the mends. This is our new normal for our world! I pray you and your son have better health for the rest of 2024.
Thank you, Tanya — and I hope you and your family manage to keep avoiding it. It’s definitely not fun! It seems like everybody I know has been (or is) sick; even the hospital has put in restrictions for visitors.
Same here. Crud and mud. I wish it would snow. I hope you’re feeling better now. Did this recent storm (the one arriving here today) bring you some snow?
All we’ve got thus far is rain … lots of it … and that’s made the backyard a hog trough! Poor Monk has to get his feet dipped into warm water and dried off every time he goes out. Neither of us is happy about this, but we don’t control the weather. Snow, while cold and wet, at least is a better option than rain. They keep telling us we need the precipitation. Hope you get the snow you’re wishing for!