Cold

Very trying day. Have cold. At early stages of work day go to bathroom and am very disturbed by image in mirror. There is severe puffiness under chin and and eyes. Hair somehow both coarse and greasy and see that all of skin has taken on sallow tinge. Have brief, but wholly sincere and desperate fantasy that will go to the tanning salon. The Contessa returns from a walk outdoors. She says that it is Like Spring. Go outside myself to witness. It is like spring except that the light is still of the depressing winter variety, not matter how warm it is. Have extremely slender moment of clarity when realize that am in middle of traditional february slump. Knowing that am in slump, however, only provides the most slender of reliefs. The rest of the afternoon spent in very low depression, and also unfortunately, in task of a large mailing. As feel strongly that this is the job of a work study student and not me, mood darkens. The Contessa helps with mailing. She curses Susan's name and then takes it back saying, unconvincingly, that she is just kidding.