Sick and tired of feeling sick and tired? You’re definitely not alone.

Between the flu and a mega cold making the rounds since before the holidays, it would be a much shorter list to name people I know who aren’t feeling puny. The hospital and doctor’s office are places where 'standing room only' isn’t a good thing.

Both Bert and I have battled the cold / cough configuration over the past few weeks which means that there’s a shortage of well people in our house to make chicken soup and offer sympathy. The good news is that we appear to be seeing light at the end of the stuffy head tunnel.

I’ve never thought powering through and going to work when sneezing, coughing and fighting a fever was particularly heroic, but then again I have the advantage of being able to work remotely, limiting my need to be around people. My office is just a few steps down the hallway to a comfy bed and a nap and for that I’m grateful.

Last week I should have worn a sign around my neck that said, “Beware of really cranky person.” It would have provided a warning to any of those who were subjected to my irritable reaction to just about everything.

On Saturday morning the planets aligned in that perfect storm where I actually looked as bad as I felt. It was such a scary image staring back at me in the mirror I had to laugh out loud. But be vigilant my friends, take care of yourself and don’t hesitate to see a doctor if your cold or flu lingers longer and threatens to evolve into pneumonia or bronchitis.

I’ve called a personal moratorium on hugging and handshaking, so don’t take it personally.

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I think most of us can agree January is a most dreary month, and this year we had our fill of Arctic temps as well. With the exception of New Year’s Day not much to look forward to, unlike February with the Super Bowl, Valentine's Day and Mardi Gras. March is the month of St. Patrick's Day and the first day of spring. April is not so dreary although April Fools Day can be annoying. May has May Day, the Kentucky Derby, Cinco de Mayo and Mother’s Day.

June brings us Father’s Day and the first day of Summer! July is star-spangled with the Fourth of July and August needs no adornment, that would be like gilding the lilly on those dog days of Summer. September’s Labor Day and the first day of fall lead into October’s harvest moons and Halloween. We’re all thankful for November and then of course December.

January will be in the rearview mirror come Tuesday and that’s OK by me. Spring is only 54 days away!

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Coming events: Post Falls Chamber Community Recognition Banquet, Red Lion Templin’s Resort, Thursday, 6-8 p.m. Gun Show, Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Greyhound Park and Event Center. NSpire Wedding Event, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., fashion show at 2:30 p.m., Best Western Plus Coeur d’Alene Inn.

Mac & Cheese Cook-Off for the Guardians of the Children, 1-5 p.m. at the Falls Club.

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Happy birthday today to Rod Heitstuman, Shauna Moore, Jonathan Madrid, Marlene Waddell, Lizzie Nowoj, Jadrian Hammon, Pearl Robertson, Jerrilou Shofner, Michaelle Sande, Mike Erin, Sherry Farmer and Rick Demmig.

Tomorrow will be a good day for birthday celebrants Christa Hazel, Rosemary Goodlander, Jeff Hall, Linda Hall, Austin Chadderdon, Nicholle Sheppard, David Townsend, Julie Kirking, Russell Larson and Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Jeff and Candace Smith have no excuse for missing each other’s birthday since they share the date.

Mike Hendricks and Khloe Peacock (13!) will feel fabulous on Friday.

Hope Newman, Jenni Grimmett, Valerie Wilcox, Lauren Adair, John Andres and Chad Oakland will celebrate on Saturday.

On Sunday Rachel Riggs, Cindy Peugh, Allen Hildebrant, Don Waddell and David Gerzina Sr. (70!) will blow out the candles.

Jim Custer, Shannon Damiano, Mel Palmer, Sierra Graham, Brylee Dresser and Helen Sargent mark their birthdays on Jan. 30.

On the last day of January, Jennifer Alexander, Robert Brown, Cassidy Peacock, Sandy Scarlett, Erik Salvador, Linda Wolff, Mary Bell and Bernadette Myers take another trip around the sun.

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Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press and Kerri can be contacted on Facebook or via email mainstreet@cdapress.com. Follow her on Twitter @kerrithoreson.