This Just In: Subtropical Storm Nicole Depletes Human Nicole's Strength

Gregarious.  Energetic.  Enthusiastic.  These are words that others use to describe me, and that I usually use to describe myself.  

Usually. 

Today they did not apply.  Especially at 10:55 am. 

That is when I did some risk assessment: which was more hygienic? The couches in my department lounge, roughly as old as I am, and cleaned...probably never?  Or my matted office rug, speckled with grass, and last vacuumed...three weeks ago?  

My rug won.

I curled up  under my homemade fleece Boilermaker blanket to recharge my body after it sweated, trembled, and sat (sat?!?!) through its first class--and first three hours physically at work--in 8 days.

This exhaustion is not (to my knowledge) Bell's.  It's whatever the heck else is going on.  

One theory: Subtropical Storm Nicole is gaining strength in the Atlantic.  She has taken my gregariousness, my energy, and my zest in order to fuel her strength.  

It's the best theory I have right now.  Scientific? No.  But heck--I teach English.