Apparently there are four distinct strains of flu available to be caught this year, two can be somewhat serious and two are mild. As advertised, that's exactly what I've been through. Picking up two granddaughters from pre-school every day, with the added bonus of them taking a trip to Japan in January, has kept me fully exposed.

Yes, I got the vaccine and I'm glad I did. This could have been a lot worse (and last year it certainly was). I hope that when the kids' mom finishes her schooling I'll no longer needed for afternoon pick-ups and can spend December and January somewhere warm where people aren't all exposing each other to the flu with every indoor breath.