So, for those keeping score at home:

I stayed home sick Monday and Tuesday, made myself go in Wednesday when I felt slightly better, and am today feeling much worse and at home again. At this point Friday is up in the air.

green_trilobite has also been sick since Monday; it feels a lot like that time we both had the 'flu, except it's about a month earlier than when they usually start running PSAs and offering free vaccinations. Several people had to go home sick last week, and I found out yesterday when I went into the office that a few other people had been off for a day, though I don't know whether they had the same thing.

I'm hoping this didn't get spread around to theengineer's party guests.

Things you learn when home with a cold:

Bovril has a very elaborate website. I don't think it's even the official site.

Score another one for Google

With the search terms "Steena colorblind cat space," I was able to turn up Andre Norton's All Cats Are Gray, the plot (but not the title or authorship) of which has been stuck in my head for nearly thirty years.