Thanks to your generous proddings, I figured out how to get a WordPress API key and got Akismet to turn on yesterday.  So far, it’s working like a charm.

Coughing spasms are the worst of what I’m dealing with now as far as illness goes.  Seems like sleep is meant to be interrupted by uncontrollable coughing at least once per hour.  The fever is even lower grade — in the late evening it kicks up to mid-99 level (just enough to be uncomfortable) and stays that way until morning.

Thank you for your well-wishes.