I can't talk. My cold took over completely this week and, although I'm starting to feel better now, the voice took a hike today. It's hard when you can hear the words in your head but they no come out. I can't boss my friends around or dispense my usual helpful (and lengthy) advice, and I know people are suffering as a result. Walking around scribbling my comments on a little pad of paper, like Dwayne in Little Miss Sunshine, is ineffective, although amusing for others. Laughing is a challenge and sounds silly. It comes out like a strange scratchy wheeze.

It's frustrating and bizarre when this happens, because even when people realize you can't speak, they forget quickly and still try talking to you like normal. I had my last section meeting for class this morning, and I told my group about my voice in a croak turned whisper. Right away they commented on how horrible I sound (Ya, thanks. I know. Heard it before.) and launched into questions that required explanation, rather than a simple yes or no. Not being able to really answer bothered me, and I ended up pantomiming "I can't speak!" a lot today. Oh well. In a few days I will be better, and I'll temporarily have a sexy Kathleen Turner voice, and I'll love that, and no one will be able to shut me up. So there.

In the meantime, I did the right thing and stayed in tonight, even though I wanted to go out. It's rough, but this way I don't have to deal with not talking anymore, and people are safer without me hacking at them anyway. Plus, I can't hear one more person tell me I sound like crap. It could turn ugly. I will write out some very nasty words on my notepad.

Exciting Friday night at home on the couch! Woo-hoo!