laid low

It was inevitable. The snotty nose that the kid at preschool was sporting last week passed on to Dennis and so to me, so I spent today in bed (mostly). I had to muster some strength to attend an important Firefighter Staff Meeting in Dennis' room, and we had walkie-talkie training ("HOLD THE BUTTON, DENNIS"---"What, Mommy?"). Maybe this means I'll get over the back-to-school ick before we actually go back to school. There were a couple of runny noses at orientation and one kid dripping like a fountain at child care at the gym last night, and I'm hitting the vitamins and hand sanitizer like an addict. Please, Lord, let my immune system handle my being a preschool teacher! They say the first year is the worst, and I was sick a good bit last year. Maybe I'll get over it quick. I sure hated to miss a day at the gym but it was necessary.

We talked to some wildlife experts. Yes, we've had reports of a cougar in the area. No, they can't do anything about it until we have actual evidence (i.e. photograph of said animal or photograph of damage). We're thinking of a wildlife camera. Or getting what they told us was a predator light, a kind of light that prevents them from coming over to see us (looks like eyes of a predator to them). And I'm trying prayer, of course. We're told he won't stay in the area long (he might be the same cat that was in Jemison a while back) unless there's a good food supply. Like chickens (next door), sheep (behind us), and goats (a couple houses up), I guess. Scary stuff! There are no reports of him attacking a person yet, but who wants to be the first? Not us.