Well, for me, those stomach viruses are pretty self-limited. Almost 24 hours to the minute from when I started feeling crummy, I started feeling better. Successfully got all the seed-bank samples yesterday afternoon. My research student said he "wanted to be in on" setting them up in the trays to grow, so that's one less thing to do this weekend.

I have some workrelated stuff - class prep and also a bit of research on a paper that is THIS close to being accepted - to do.

I'm also happier than usual because for once, I needed an item and the wal-mart here in town had it. Namely, Perlite. I thought I hadn't a prayer of finding it because they have converted their "garden" section over to a "Christmas" section. But there, in the way back, lurked seven remaining bags of the stuff. I bought them all - if we don't use them now, we will eventually, and it beats running to Sherman for it.

I will refrain from commenting about stores having Christmas displays up before Hallowe'en, and, for that matter, up when the temperature is still reaching the mid to upper 80s.

Pulled out the spruce green alpaca with thoughts of starting the gansey. I will have enough - more than enough - for the size I want. That's good, because one ball of the alpaca looks a little munched and I found the remains of what looks like a carpet beetle pupa in there. Frankly, at this point, I've given up a little - I do NOT have the energy to haul out the rest of the stash (that is not sealed up in plastic) and inspect it. I'm just going to figure that the spraying I did and the fact that I've not seen any beetles/live larvae in a while means it's not too bad.

besides, I've found that of the yarn I have that's damaged, it's not so damaged that I can't cut out the weak bits and knit it up, just with a few more joins. And I plan on washing the finished items with soap, which should kill any residual eggs.

Abundant bugs because of warm temperatures. It sucks. I'm back to fighting ants in both the kitchen and the bathroom.

Folks in NY State and the East, could you maybe stand outdoors, face south-southwest, and blow really hard? We desperately need some of your "excessive" rain down here.