Monday, October 11, 2021

Attack of the Pot-Scrubbers


This cold has laid me low. It really took hold yesterday and I felt terrible. It feels like someone has scoured the inside of my nose and throat with a plastic pot scrubber. I tried to take Olga on her afternoon walk to the cemetery but I had to cut it short and come home, I felt so fatigued. My temperature was slightly elevated -- 99.6ยบ, not really enough to be called a fever -- but I took another Covid test just in case and it was negative. So whatever it is, it's definitely not that.

On Saturday, when I felt a little better, I did some minor work in the garden, pulling weeds, cutting down the cardoon and some old globe thistles, and propping up some leaning Michaelmas daisies, which get very top-heavy when they flower. Of course I took a few more photos of things that are still blooming, like the few sunflowers that survived the squirrel offensive (top)...


...and our yellow dahlia, which I moved from the patio out to the lawn so we could see it better. The other dahlias have passed their peak, but this new one is still going strong.


The beautyberries look like brightly colored pharmaceuticals (no doubt psychedelics)...


...and though the zinnias, like the dahlias, are past their prime, they still have a few nice flowers.


This is a penstemon, which we planted a couple of years ago, and to be honest I thought it was long dead. My weeding revealed it deep in a flower bed, lanky and sun-starved but blooming. Persistent little devil! We used to have two of them, but I'm sure the other one is gone.

I finished a Newbery book, "Crispin and the Cross of Lead," which I really liked. And I watched a fantastic old English horror movie from the '60s called "Island of Terror," starring Peter Cushing, in which a village on a remote island is terrorized by silica-based life forms created (of course) by a wayward scientist in his laboratory. They looked like giant starfish (or maybe plastic pot scrubbers) with a single tentacle, so obviously made of latex that the attack scenes were completely laughable -- especially when the poles controlling the tentacles were visible! But terrible effects are all part of the charm of old horror movies.

When I was a kid our local TV station used to broadcast an old horror movie every Saturday afternoon, on a weekly show called "Creature Feature." I wrote about it here. "Island of Terror" would have been the perfect "Creature Feature" movie, and in fact I'd bet money that it aired there at some point.

Today, fortunately, Olga's dog walker is back on duty, so I won't have to manage the dog. (Dave would do it in a pinch, but to get him to walk her I have to overcome his belief that she doesn't need a daily walk. That's an extra psychological task that I find it easier to avoid.) We also have a guy coming over to do our annual gas inspection. I'm going to let Dave deal with him so as not to give him the plague.

50 comments:

Moving with Mitchell said...

Glad the cold is at least beginning to wane and also glad you tested negative again. No matter what our symptoms, it’s easy to jump to the Covid conclusion, and the thought of it only makes you feel more ill. The flower photos are, as always, beautiful. I love those old, bad horror films. The only kind of horror I really like is the kind with plastic pot scrubbers and visible poles.

Ursula said...

I don't wish to play mother or big sister, however, Steve: Which test did you take?

Once you have symptoms the lateral test will not work; you'll get a negative regardless. You'll need to take the PCR to ascertain whether you are positive. Trust me on this one.

Having said that, and to keep it all in perspective, the other day I bought some milk and toilet paper at the corner shop. The cashier looked terrible. As I have known the guy for years I said as much. Yes, he replied, I've got flu. You know, just flu. Bog standard flu. Let's leave aside my firm conviction that people who are ill shouldn't schlepp into work (and, in this case, possibly transmit their affliction to colleagues and customers). It was vaguely amusing to be reminded that there are other illnesses flying around aside Covid. Yesterday I was even more "amused" to be informed by some headline and article that should you hit the jackpot, Covid and Flu - catching both at the same time, your risk of DYING dramatically increased. Really? Who'd have thought it? And there I was dreaming of Pneumonia on my death certificate. Or a blod clot.

Hope you'll get better soon,
U

gz said...

Well said Ursula!
There are so many other usual seasonal viruses.
Look after yourself..and enjoy those flowers

Anonymous said...

Was the wayward scientist from Wuhan?

Anonymous said...

As just a remark, as far as I know, there has been no 'flu in Australia over the past winter. Not a bad thing when people used to die from the 'flu.

Steve Reed said...

Ursula: You're correct that a PCR is needed to definitively rule out or confirm Covid in symptomatic people. I would pursue that if my symptoms were more Covid-like, but I don't have the loss of taste/smell, the high fever or (most importantly) the cough. I have what my coworkers had, which is mostly in the nose/throat, and one of them had a neg PCR during their infection. I'm certain it's a cold.

Incidentally, though, lateral flow tests are apparently good at detecting infection in recently infected symptomatic people. (And I took one several days ago when my symptoms first began to appear, in addition to the routine tests I take twice a week for work.)

https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2021-07-14-lateral-flow-tests-are-95-effective-detecting-covid-19-when-used-onset-symptoms

Andrew: I suspect there's been flu but it's been buried beneath all the Covid data. There's probably a lot less of it because of our masking/isolation.

Steve Reed said...

Ha! By way of Oxbridge.

Ursula said...

You are right, Andrew. The decrease in the common garden gnome variety of flu is indeed remarkable. Praise compulsory mask wearing when in enclosed spaces.

Unfortunately, after eighteen months Cloud Covid dimming both mood and spontaneity, I am a damaged case. When I am out and about and someone (without a mask) coughs or sneezes in my vicinity I go into a five second meltdown, drizzled with contempt for the offender, before recovering my equilibrium.

U

Steve Reed said...

Thanks! Yeah, lord knows there's plenty of other stuff roaming around out there, despite all our focus on the Big C.

Steve Reed said...

I agree re. horror movies. I don't like any realistic horror. I like cheeseball horror.

Bob said...

Hope you feel better soon.

Maybe some Beautyberry Tea? I mean, a psychedelic tea might prove effective, and the color alone would be glorious!

Ms. Moon said...

Funny how different your beauty berries are than mine.
I'm so sorry you're sick. That's just miserable. Are you back at school? I hope you stayed home.
I remember Creature Feature. Also...Shock Theater. Same-same.
Terrifying!

Kevin Wood said...

Yes, Creature Feature definitely aired Island of Terror at some point. It scared me enough to leave quite an impression on me although I didn't remember the name of the film (I did look it up a few years ago, though).

Kevin Wood said...

I specifically remember one of the monsters being hacked open with an ax and all of its spaghetti guts pouring out!

Ed said...

Our youngest came up with a sore throat and a slight fever yesterday. Since she is the only one unvaccinated, not by choice, I suspect we might be in for another round of Covid in our family. Testing is on my list for this morning. Fortunately the rest of us are vaccinated so hoping for minor symptoms. Hope whatever you have gets better soon!

Ellen D. said...

Nice to see your blooms as I have nothing blooming here. The leaves are changing, tho, which is lovely to see.
Hope you feel better soon!

Steve Reed said...

LOL -- YES!!! That was actually two different incidents. At one point, a guy attacks one with an ax, but he can't break the shell. Then they begin to divide (in order to procreate) and when they do, spaghetti comes out!

Steve Reed said...

Ms. Moon made beautyberry jam from hers! Not as purple as one would expect, though.

Steve Reed said...

They are a different species, as I told one of your commenters the other day. Same bright purple color, though!

Yes, Creature Feature on Channel 44 with Dr. Paul Bearer! I'm sure you got it in Winter Haven.

Steve Reed said...

Well, there's plenty going around out there besides Covid. It could just be a garden-variety cold!

Steve Reed said...

I'm surprised some of these plants are still going. They're making it last!

Anonymous said...

You get more done even when you're feeling sick, slightly feverish, and plain ol' lousy than I do on a day when I feel fine. Taking Olga for a walk, reading a novel, watching old horror movies, writing a blog post... that's very impressive stuff. Steve. This may be the longest blog comment I will write all day. I'm tired already! LOL. Take care there.

Edna B said...

Your garden is still looking great. The blossoms here are done for the year. I do hope your cold gets better soon. Keep warm and take care, hugs, Edna B.

Red said...

Some plants hang on as long as they can. They must be in a very sheltered spot with some sun.

Sharon said...

Sorry to hear that some nasty bug got you. Take care of yourself. I love that dahlia, it's beautiful and those purple berries are quite unusual. Your garden continues to amaze.

ellen abbott said...

I remember the old horror movies though it was late night Saturday night. and then I had to walk down the long hall in the dark to get to my room for bed.

I still have some zinnias and the orange cosmos have finally put on buds and started blooming.

Kelly said...

I was already symptomatic when I took my first rapid test, followed by a second two days later at the hospital. Both showed strong positive results (meaning the positive line was much darker than the control line). I never ran fever, never lost my taste (though I did lose smell), and the cough only came later. My initial symptoms were incredible head congestion (worse than a cold) and a killer headache. Just saying.

I assume your beautyberry is the same as our American Beautyberry? It grows wild here and we sometimes call it French Mulberry. I've read the berries can be used for tea or jelly, but are quite astringent. If I'm going to go to the trouble to make jelly, it will be mayhaw, not beautyberry!

Margaret said...

Having a cold is miserable, so I'm glad yours is improving. Is Dave a cat person? They don't require daily walks. In fact, my Mari would recoil at the thought.

Allison said...

It's always amazing to me how BAD a cold can make you feel. It just seems all out of proportion to such an insignificant virus. Hope it fades into the distance with all due haste.

crafty cat corner said...

This is the same thing that Tom has had. He has actually got over it well considering he's not a well man but did get antibiotics. D3, Zinc and Vit c are good vits for the immune system and do not cost much. Just a thought.
Briony
x

e said...

I am sorry you are laid low and thank you for not spreading. I hope you feel better soon.

Yorkshire Pudding said...

Is Dave some kind of crazy guy? Of course dogs need daily walks to keep them in good shape. If a dog is allowed to slob out, he or she will become slobbish, fat and unhealthy. Dave should read this: https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/walking

The Bug said...

We have a beauty berry bush that my aunt gave us last year, but it's still rather puny. It might not like where we planted it.

The Bug said...

PS I hope you're feeling MUCH better by now!

Catalyst said...

It would be a pity if you learned that your cold symptoms are due to a gas leak in your home. But, then, I certainly don't want to put that worry into your mind.

Steve Reed said...

Ha! Well, a lot of that stuff involves just lying around, so it's not that difficult! (Is there such a thing as "passive activity"?)

Steve Reed said...

Well, these are the bright spots. A lot of the plants have definitely waned.

Steve Reed said...

Our garden is pretty sheltered since it has fences and walls on all sides, and we're still getting a bit of sun.

Steve Reed said...

You should see the beautyberries we have in Florida. They put these little things to shame!

Steve Reed said...

I don't think my parents would have allowed me to watch them at night. They knew I'd be too scared to sleep!

Steve Reed said...

My tests were negative before symptoms, at the onset of symptoms and after the onset, so I feel pretty confident I'm negative. Still, I'm staying home and away from everyone else! (Which is wise no matter what illness I have, right?) I've had nasal congestion but I wouldn't say it's all that unusual for a cold.

Actually, our beautyberry is a slightly different species, as I understand it. The American ones seem bigger and clustered more tightly. Same family, though.

Steve Reed said...

Ha! I used to have cats in New York and that was one of the great things about them -- they were so independent! Dave, unfortunately, is allergic to cats.

Steve Reed said...

I've been taking an over-the-counter cold remedy that helps a lot.

Steve Reed said...

I've been craving acidic foods like citrus and tomatoes, I'm sure because of the Vitamin C!

Steve Reed said...

Thanks, E!

Steve Reed said...

Well, he knows she needs to go out, of course, but he thinks the garden is adequate and I argue that she needs more exercise than that. At least now that it's a weekday her walker is coming again.

Steve Reed said...

Ours is in a sunny spot, and I think they like that (?).

Steve Reed said...

Ha! No, nothing is leaking gas, fortunately!

Rachel Phillips said...

Ursula, if the man in the corner shop had flu he would have been in bed. Flu takes away the ability to stand up, walk or work. He probably had a heavy cold. Please excuse me interrupting here but there are so many myths about flu.

Ursula said...

You are right, Rachel. I should have been more careful with my tenses and what he actually said, namely, that he had had flu and was now on way to recovery - and that's why he still looked like shit but couldn't afford to take more time off.

U