I can't stand some of them, either. Lion's Chenille T&Q is really rough, but their Velvet Spun for babies is pretty soft. This might be the one referred to earlier. Caron's Jewel Box was always so pretty to me on the skein, but I never liked any of the pictures of FOs they'd put on the band, so I never bought any. I think the fascination has to do with an attempt to make something velvetty, as chenille isn't too far off from that sort of texture. Unless it's the really rough type, like you said.
Get better, Noreen. Flus are never any fun. Are you distracting yourself with yarn?
Anastasia
--who doesn't mind chenille yarn so much, as long as it's not cotton. For some reason, that stuff looks HORRENDOUS once it's washed the first time. I've seen wet cats that don't look as bad as wet cotton chenille yarn, although said cat is usually much more angry than the yarn is.