Asking for it

I suspect there's some part in my genetic makeup that renders me especially susceptible to any variants of influenza that happens to be floating around. The latest incarnation to invade my system has made my weekend a confusion of sniffles, coughs and aches. I'm sorely tempted to call in sick tomorrow, but there's important work I need to submit if I don't want to end my career as Coffee Boy Grade 37654813.

As consolation, I'm thinking of the short work week, which means I get an extra morning to wake up late with. Getting up at dawn's not all that it's cracked up to be, not when work can easily stretch past 8. Although routine may be altered, since I'm finally getting my laptop tomorrow. I hope it's a brand-new one that doesn't come to a juddering halt for a split second each time I open an email. Obviously, there are many useful things that we should be spending tax revenues on. I just hope one of them's my laptop.

While we're on the topic of laptops, I realised I committed a real faux pas on Fri night. On the way home after dinner I asked Xian if I could carry her working bag for a while. She'd managed to stuff her laptop into it, and it seemed quite a load. She must have thought I was trying to be a gallant gentleman, since she said, 'Don't worry, I can handle it.' At which point I replied, with complete honesty and absence of mind, 'I only want to see how heavy your bag is.'

After testing it out, I told her I was impressed she was able to lug all that weight around. And I returned the bag to her.

I guess I was lucky she didn't attempt to brain me. Maybe it was because there'd be too many witnesses. In any case, xian, if you're reading this, it may interest you to know that I've had a miserable flu-filled weekend, possibly the result of the residual bad karma. Hope it's enough penance. If not, well, you could always make me carry the bag.