I can breathe, but I can't speak.

Five months ago, for Christmas, we got an air exchanger for the house. Because when you have asthma and allergies, and a long haired dog, and a long haired cat, and unfinished dry wall and floors, and a wood stove, - air quality is important.
Like all our renovations we started off with great gusto, and then when the project was 80% installed we stopped and went back to doing other things. Now that the weather has become almost summer like (27 degree today) and we can open the windows for fresh air, we decided that the last step of installation could be completed. It was humming (or hissing) along for me when I got home from work yesterday. Peter thinks it looks like a robot and has taken to calling it Marvin. The installation guy also defrosted the deep freeze while he was at it. Thanks Sweetie.

It may be psychosomatic but both Peter and I feel that the air in the house is a lot cleaner, even though it has been only a few hours. One of the ways we can tell is when the sun comes through the window pane, the beam of light doesn't get dispersed through a haze of grey dust, dander and soot, but actually hits the floor. And neither of us woke up with the sniffles this morning.

Waking up with sniffles is actually something I got used to a long time ago. It usually gets worse in spring with the pollen, and sometimes the allergies give me a sore throat. That is why, when I woke up last week with a sore throat I just took an antihistamine and went to work anyway. Three days later it still wasn't better and then I lost my voice. That was last Saturday. I have been voiceless for a week now, although the course of antibiotics that the doctor prescribed seems to be working and I can almost talk.
My doctor insisted I stay home from work for two days unless 'you don't have to go outside, do physical labour or talk." Pretty much sums up my job. She said I couldn't go to work, but she didn't day I couldn't go shopping, so I took advantage of having a week day off to prepare for an art fair I am doing in June. I feel so ahead of the curve. (I'm sure that feeling will go away)
It was the worst possible week to get sick though. I was preparing a 'special' street planter to be part of the Alliance of Kings Artists summer art series Unommon Common Art. The planter was due to be finished by Monday, and since Monday is a holiday here, it had to go out Friday. So I went to work Friday and did a lot of mime for my co-workers. All of who had something clever to say, along the lines of "Today is a good day to argue with Jane" and "Gee, Jane, you're almost the perfect woman."

It did get finished though, and the idea is that by the end of summer, the plants will envelop the bicycle and it will disappear. This is the plan, but tonight we are scheduled to get frost, and there is always the worry that enterprising young hoodlums may try to throw it in the harbour, so I took a picture now for posterity.
In case you are wondering, no, I did not get frustrated with my cycle riding and trash my own bike. This was on found on the street, along with a lot of other debris as the university students vacate all the rental units for summer.