While some of you have been frolicking and killing electronic animals, this blogger has been on her death bed. I've had the flu for SIX DAYS and I still haven't stopped coughing or regained my appetite.

So I'm turning to the rest of you for help. I've taken airborne, slept most of the week, imbibed plenty of non-alcholic fluids (including an unhuman amount of Odwalla juices), cried to my cats and tried to catch up on Nip/Tuck.

What in the name of all that is holy do I need to do to get over this thing? Please share any and all potions and remedies.

A car alarm down the street is beeping about once per second, not with the urgent wail that marks an intruder, but with the constant pulse of an amplified heartrate monitor.

This has continued uninterrupted for more than 36 hours.

When I'm lying in bed, it haunts me - like an electronic drip from a virtual sink.

A lot of communities would solve this problem with a brick. But Sunday morning I talked to my neighbor Bob, who lives nearest the chirp, and he told me his solution: He politely slept with earplugs.

So now it's early Monday and the beep persists.
And we endure.

Fall is just around the corner, hiding behind a Dumpster, ready to jump out and slap your cheeks around until they turn pink and your nose starts to drip.

To prepare, I've come up with a list of items that belong in every closet, so we can all cope with such an unsociable season without the aid of artificial mood brighteners.

Please offer your own suggestions, so I won't feel so despondent while I'm dressing in layers.

This is my shopping list so far:

1. Sweaters
2. Soup
3. Brown liquor

I always wondered where Hawaiians vacation. After all, they live in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Then again, all of us know that, which means Hawaiians are plagued by the many gifts of tourism: High prices, overcrowded streets and bad, bad shirts.

Turns out, they vacation here. Or at least they should, according to this article from yesterday's Honolulu Star Bulletin Travel section. Apparently the writer liked it here because some of her descriptions were so enthusiastic and thesaurusified it almost made me blush.

One of my favorite quotes: "Despite a recent windstorm, we headed out to Point Defiance Park which, contrary to its name, never actually housed military operations."

Wha?

The writer goes on to recommend all seafood restaurants. I would've thought Hawaii -- surrounded by ocean -- was the place to get your fish fix.

A South Sounder had a similar experience with locals radical for Tacoma, which you can read about here. Which brings me to my question: Which one of our dear Hawaiian readers wants to swap houses? Call me.

We've been gone for a couple o' days. Sorry about that.

My excuse: After a sort-of late night Saturday at the Jive, we ran 22 miles on Sunday for marathon training. During the latter part of that, I cried, got sniffed by a large, scary dog, fought the urge to kick a large, scary dog in the chops and/or crotch, then went to sleep just long enough to want to sleep more. Since then, it's been deadlines up the rear.

All that leaves little time for blogging.

Now it's time to make up reasons why other GritCity bloggers were out of commission. I heard Gentry put her bootlegged American Idol DVD on repeat and spent the weekend salivating.

I was listening to a top 40 radio station the other day and a girl calls in, requests an overplayed song and says to the DJ "It's my favorite of all time right now."

That quote has become my new catch phrase as I find myself jumping around from obsession to obsession on a monthly basis at least and each time, it's the best thing EVER.

This month? Podcasts.

I'm currently subscribed to eight daily news podcasts, a weekly Project Runway rundown and the 20-episode "Learn French by Podcast." Just when it seemed I had reached the end of the road on iTunes, I searched for the word "Tacoma" and found a hidden gem: the Tacoma Cat Hospital podcast by Dr. Craig A. Smith.

Dr. Smith publishes sporadic casts, each about 15 minutes long. His most recent podcast (published June 29), titled "Elmer Needs To Go," tackles the topic of urinary problems in male cats. Among his other previous casts, you'll find "Old Cats" and "Fat Cats." The Dr. is surprisingly good at this medium and, if you have an almost-uncomfortable adoration for your feline friend, you'll appreciate the free health insight (meant for informational purposes only, NOT as a substitution for veterinary care).

Who are the people in your neighborhood? (The people that you meet each day.)

Check our list of 75 gatherings around Tacoma to see if there's a Night Out event near your house Tuesday. Or, just sniff the air for barbecue sauce and wander over and say hi. It might not be an official function, but at least you'll meet some people. And there's no penalty for being friendly with your neighbors the rest of the week.

Until then, go listen to Sesame Street's song to set the right mood.

I spotted them first when I lived on St. Helens Avenue: Splendid small posters that fused images with poetry, slathered on the seemingly undeserving sides of abandoned fences.

I'd be lying if I said I hadn't considered peeling one off for myself.

And so, each month, I'd check the spot where I'd seen 'em, sniffing for mystery as I circled Wright Park, eyeing transformer boxes and old brick walls.

The words – Beautiful Angle – came to me through a haze of Monsoon Room martinis and lurking around the stacks at Kings Books. (The great god Google pointed the way.)

Now I am proud owner of three of these works of art, birthday presents from my folks.

And a new mystery arises:

The Beautiful Angle Web site includes a short aside describing the inspiration for this poster. (Andy Warhol? The Tacoma Dome?!)

TACOMA DOME FLOWER, JANUARY 2006

WHEN THE TACOMA DOME WAS FIRST CONSTRUCTED IN 1983, A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS WAS DISTRIBUTED, LOOKING FOR ARTIST DESIGNS FOR THE BUILDING'S ROOF. ONE OF THE RESPONDERS WAS ANDY WARHOL, WHOSE PROPOSAL WAS THE "TACOMA DOME FLOWER." THE GOVERNING BOARD INSTEAD CHOSE THE EXISTING DESIGN OF OVERLAPPING TRIANGLES. AHH, WELL.

Some T-town sleuth out there, tell me: Is it true?

Ever since Kelly turned me on to apartment therapy, I've been looking for an excuse to write something about it somewhere.

And now I can, thanks to Exit133's apartment therapy-inspired contest!

Enter here.

I'd do it myself, but somehow decorating has taken a back seat (along with cleaning, most days) to work, impromptu dinner parties, impromptu movie parties, impromptu vegan baking parties and sleep.

Over at Barb Clements' blog, "Open House," you can find info on 20-somethings cutting back on weekend pints for the opportunity to invest in real estate (link). If you're not ready to make that leap, check our her post on common mistakes renters make before and after signing a lease (link).

Welcome to my new obsession, Etsy. Please have a look around.

Consider it a Costco for the DIY-savvy (minus the giant muffins). The site sells artwork, crafts, zines, beauty products, clothes and misc. geekery. You can shop by category, color, top seller and more. Or just click on Sampler for a random roundup of neat things. Many items cost less than 50 bucks.

Buy yourself something nice. Support indie artists. Bask in good karma. (Save me the good stuff.)

My preliminary picks:

But I do love vegan cookin' zines.

INT. RAD JUNK SHOP

When we last left our heroine, KELLY, she had snagged a hot, yellow Danish chair from a MAN PLAYING BONGOS INTERMITTENTLY.

For $30.

To make it an even $60, she buys an Art Deco entryway table.

MAN PLAYING BONGOS INTERMITTENTLY: You have excellent taste!

KELLY: Aw, shucks.

FIN.