Mr. Jossly Legume

I have come down with a cold.  It started after lunch on Friday with a headache (I thought it might have been MSG in one of the foods I ate, but the dining staff checked the ingredients lists, and it wasn't on there) and a slightly sore throat.  (The sore throat is my typical start-of-a-cold symptom.)  I figured I'd spend the weekend resting at home, since conserving energy helps me overcome colds more quickly.

My symptoms stuck with a mild uneasiness until Sunday afternoon.  Thing One asked me to escort her to a laundromat, since she wasn't sure she'd be comfortable there on her own.  (It turned out to be fine.)  While her rug was in the large washer, we stopped by a thrift store.  I found a ceramic owl figurine with a small chip in it, a candleholder in the shape of a watering can (which would go well with my other mosquito candleholders on the porch), and a mystery novel.  Then, at the cash register, I saw two, small owl figurines on the display case behind the counter, and a pair of larger owls on a shelf on the wall.  (If I had known it would be that easy, I would've walked up there right away.)

The owl pair are "cast stone", which I'm guessing is stone dust mixed with some sort of liquid that hardens.  The larger owl looks like this.  The smaller owl looks like this.  According to the first link, that owl went for $75.  Another website claims the second owl, though smaller than the first, sold for $95.  My receipt wasn't itemized, but I can tell you that the most expensive items I bought were $8 or $6.  Either other people got ripped off, or I got a steal.

After the laundromat, Thing One and I browsed one of the indoor flea markets (owl music box for $8 and overpriced, framed photo for $18) and picked up some dinner to take home because she didn't feel like cooking.  It was about the time we got back to her house that my sinus pressure and runny nose started, so I've probably passed along my cold to Thing One and her mom.

What with the sinus headache and runny nose, it took me quite a while to fall asleep.  I woke up in the middle of the night, after dreaming about Thing One's extended family.  We had returned to her house quite late, and I was going to sleep on the sofa, but everyone was up and talking about how late it was.  So, after not falling asleep and then after dreaming about not sleeping, I figure I'm not going to function well today.

Just before my alarm went off, I started a rather Dickensian dream.  Mr. Jossly Legume had to dispose of two bodies (a man and a woman) and went to his crony's legitimate place of business to acquire said friend's help.  However, two less-than-reputable coworkers of his friend met him at the business, but before I could figure out how they would insinuate themselves into the situation, the alarm woke me up.