There is a way to keep flying (for fun) during these months between
old cert expiring and new cert wending its way from St Louis: rent a
Cub or other LSA.

I ran into the same mindless events that you mention, but with respect
to exercise-induced asthma. If I didn't exercise in cold weather, I'd
never know I had asthma. Never been hospitalized, never lost a day's
work or a night's sleep, never had an attack that I didn't bring on
myself. But I need to inhale albuterol before aerobic exercise. This
was true from the beginning of my flight training. But last year, the
FAA reached down *after* I had walked out of the AME's office with a
two-year renewal and demanded all sorts of new stuff and, when they
got it, decided that a special issuance was in order, with an annual
physical. No way! I will be flying under sport pilot privileges after
December. In December 2011, when the special issuance expires, I'll
plan my next move.