You know, Rebecca doesn't find this stuff amusing anymore.

What a Monday it's been. I woke up at six this morning with a terrible asthma attack. My albuterol inhaler recently got lost ran out, and I had ordered a refill, but by the time I got to the pharmacy yesterday, it was closed. So, I had nothing. Worst of all, I had one of the God-awful Christmas songs they play at work stuck in my head! So I put on my Sound of Music CD and read Davita's Harp until I dozed off again two painfully wheezy hours later. (I'm still amazed I was actually able to go back to sleep at all, considering how bad my breathing was.)

Then I had to get back up at nine to get ready for work. At least I wasn't wheezing anymore when I woke up. One of my co-workers was sick -- although she actually came in and tried to work before she almost puked, which I admire -- so we were short-handed, and the insanity hasn't slowed down since Black Friday. We were so busy that it took me forever just to get to my locker and root around for 86 cents to buy a Snickers bar (I had forgotten to pack a snack to eat). Since I had no inhaler, I took a full dose of asthma medication last night, which gave me a headache for most of the afternoon.

When that was finally over, I went to the pharmacy and picked my inhaler, which fortunately was only $30. One of my medications is $30 and one is $80, but I can never remember which is which. Then I went by the Dollar Store and spent my last bit of cash on Draino, Cheeto's, and one can of French-fried onions to eat raw make more green bean casserole with. (It was my last bit of cash because I forgot my paycheck to take to the bank!) For some reason, it didn't turn out as well as the ones I made for Thanksgiving, and even though I meant to make it go for two meals, I just finished eating the whole thing. Oh, well.

And did I mention that we didn't see the sun once all day today? Nothing but depressingly gray, overcast skies. Bleh!

But, two little pick-me-ups that made a bad day so much better. Weird how messages like this sometimes come just when we need them.

• E-mail from Mr. G: "In Boston right now and it's so cold! Hope I get to c u Friday, been too long."
• Text message from Athena: "I miss u! Hope we can get together next time I'm in town, I'll b home soon.

P.S. Oh, and one more pick-me-up for the day: NCIS's Cote de Pablo on the cover of Prevention:

 HOT DAMN! Isn't she gorgeous? I'm drooling.