Nuts.

I feel like I just got over the cold I had a month ago, the one that came to Switzerland with my mother and me and led to a lot of concerned "hmm"ing on her part, and now I've got that familiar scratchy-throat feeling again.

Of course it's my fault - we had two weeks of beautiful weather here in Berlin, the kind of weather that makes me joyfully stick my boots away in my closet and wear my sandals everywhere. I was especially glad about open-toe season because, about a month and a half ago, my left boot started to come apart at the sole. Being too cheap to buy new boots, I applied some duct tape (thank you, Garrison Keillor) and hoped that its adhesive power would last until warmer weather (it actually was quite effective, provided I was careful not to step in any puddles). So I was happy to switch to the Birkenstocks, and when it turned chilly and rainy again earlier this week, I refused to accept it or don reasonable footwear. Ergo, sniffles.

I also think this sickness has something to do with meat. I've started eating a little meat here in Berlin - not a whole lot, maybe once or twice a week. But I think I'm going to get back on the vegetarian bandwagon in California. It's healthier, and the only meat I eat here is pretty much döner and wurst, which aren't really available (at least in the same form) elsewhere.