I've got the itchy throat, sneezes, about-to-start-running nose, a mild headache and a general feeling of discomfort. But I doubt this swine is going to fl(u)y anytime soon! It's just really weird though, reading and hearing about it all the time and everywhere you go. The death toll is slowly rising and that's the scary part, even if most of the victims succumbed to the H1N1 virus due to other underlying or predominant complications. And even though I know my immune system can and will fight it, I've never been more scared of stepping outdoors.

Yesterday at the bus stop, while I was returning home from an extended weekend at Mom and Dad's, I couldn't help feeling vulnerable and exposed. Everyone around me had masks or handkerchiefs covering their noses and mouths. I finally fished out a kerchief that I had borrowed from Dad the previous day (the last time I owned one was when I was 9, it had a yellow border and a picture of a kid cowboy surrounded by cactii) and held it to my nose and mouth. Five seconds was all I could take! Then I started yelling at all the paan-chewing, oily-haired, dirty men who were spitting all over the place. I really felt like whacking the shit out of them, when will they learn! Also, I was bored and the bus took forever to come.

Later in the evening, after my walk, I sat down on a bench to cool off and take in some of the awesome breeze (best part of living here, it is always windy!). Five seconds later, I started panicking. I wonder who sat here before me? Did they travel abroad recently? Did they cough or sneeze? Ran back home and straight into the shower! How long will this madness continue!

I can't help feeling bad for the poor piggies though (cleanest and most intelligent animals), being saddled with that name - Swine Flu. My dad was wondering how to pronounce H1N1 as a word, "Should we call it Hiney?," he asked me with that naughty look on his face. I launched into peals of laughter, before Mom came into the room and told us both to behave! She's probably still cursing him considering he's the one that first got the cold and passed it on to us, and she has it worse than I do. Poor thing! (Before anyone starts panicking and, like Marmalade, threatens to have us quarantined - we just have the seasonal cold, there is no fever, diarrhea, vomiting or any of the other symptoms. Besides, dad has already recovered.)

Hope everyone out there is fine. Just remember to do 2 things - Wash, wash, wash your hands every opportunity you get, and drink a LOT of water. Take care.