Warning: Sleep Deprived Rambling

Spent the night coughing, so if my post sounds a little like I've lost a few brain cells, that's why.

The good news is that coughing is the final phaze of a cold for me, so after today, I should be pretty well done. Yay.

I went to DD's school last night for a meeting about entering high school -- how did my kidlet become an almost highschooler so quickly?? They talked about expectations (they do four years of the core subjects instead of fewer like most schools... for instance, when I was in high school we were only required to take two years of math). She'll have four years of Spanish when she's done (which is wonderful). They have a work experience program set up to help the kids earn money for tuition (it's with a nearby credit union and their pay is automatically set up to deduct 30% for a tuition account). It sounds wonderful. I admit, I've been looking at another private high school that's about ten minutes from my house (they're high school ONLY so I couldn't put her there for this year). It's slightly less expensive and SO much closer. But DD melts down if I so much as talk about it.

I bought three turkeys yesterday. Then I discovered I already had five in my freezer (yes, I have a huge chest freezer). When I posted about having eight turkeys in my freezer on Facebook I was surprised at the responses. Folks seemed surprised that I had bought three turkeys in the first place, never mind the other five. I can't be the only person in the world who stocks up on things when they're on sale, can I? I've also bought a TON of gravy and canned vegetables. There are times of the year when different things go on sale -- so why not buy a TON if you have the room to store them? I'm giving serious thought to buying more turkeys, actually, because I can use them for Dakota's food and I can donate some to the local food pantry. A fifteen pound turkey is only $5 right now ... it's crazy to not buy as many as I can keep.

Still waiting to hear from Samhain ... two more weeks will be twelve weeks. See what happens when you don't have a contract in two years? Would have been nice to have my old editor back (though, to be honest, my actual editor left Samhain and I'd been reassigned to someone who never contracted anything I sent, so maybe this is a blessing in disguise -- perhaps my submission will be sent to someone who has a better appreciation for what I write, as my last editor was looking for erotic romance, primarily M/M).

No big plans for the weekend. I imagine we might take down one more tree at my SIL's house, but otherwise, it should be fairly quiet (:::fingers crossed:::). Anyone have any news? Plans? Silly jokes?

=====================

You Are Ready to Take on the World

You are clear-minded and bright. You think through things well. Your personality is extra spicy and larger than life. You love to have fun, and you are passionate about everything you do. You are inspired and energized by so many things. You've got a natural high going on. You tend to have a fast paced, busy lifestyle. Not a lot of people can keep up with you.

The Crayon Test

About 75% right.

=================

Thing I've Learned About Girls From Sleepovers

DD had a friend sleepover last night (they had a field trip yesterday and have a harvest festival today). I like her friend (how can I not like her... she LOVES Dakota). But I'm exhausted this morning and a bit wiser on how girls works when they run in packs (even small packs of two):

1. Girls are just as rowdy as boys.

We had plenty of activity last night. Running, playing, tug-o-war, wrestling. The dog was in heaven. I was not.

2. There's lots of giggling.

As in nearly non-stop giggling. At one point, her friend was rolling on the floor laughing at something I saw no humor in.

3. There's lots of whispering.

If they aren't giggling, they're talking.

4. There's no "off" switch.

They never, ever want to go to bed.

On a side note, why is it when we're babies / toddlers / kids we never want to nap and "bedtime" is a curse words, but when we're older we'd give anything for a little afternoon siesta?

Already sleep-deprived, I'm barely able to keep my eyes open this morning. I have a feeling today is going to be a very, very long day, especially since I suspect there is more tree dragging in my future.

Have a great weekend all!

====================

You Are a Deer

You are trusting of yourself and others. You give people the benefit of the doubt. You are grateful for this life you've been given. You feel blessed for what you have. You see the world through the eyes of a child. You are rarely cynical or jaded. You are unselfconscious and totally natural in your behavior. You are free-spirited.

What Forest Animal Are You?

HAHAHAHAHA... no. That's about 95% wrong.

*snort*

===================

**YAWN**

I'm tired. Yesterday was crazy busy ... and then I opted to go to agility for both classes. OY. Got home at almost 9 pm -- don't think we'll be doing that again any time soon.

Then Dakota was up sick all night. About every 90 mins she needed to go out. It's not her fault, but the last time (at about 3:30 a.m.) I very nearly cried.

She's feeling better now, probably because she's empty, and is sleeping. Wish I had that option.

She's going to the vet today to have her weird spots looked at. DD is sure they're cancer and that the dog is going to die. *sigh*

On another topic, DD has another field trip today and it's also the opening day of our local fair. I've often said that God has a warped sense of humor... because despite the fact we've had weeks of the most beautiful, sunny, warm GORGEOUS weather, today it's pouring rain. POURING.

DD's field trip? They built cardboard boats in science class and today they take them out to sail them and see if they planned right and they'll float (with two passengers on board).

And, I swear there is never good weather for the fair. It rained pretty much all four days LAST year, and it looks like at least three of the four days this year are going to be wet.

So ... see? Warped sense of humor.

In any case, I'm just hoping to get through the day in one piece and not drive off the road or walk into walls because I'm asleep on my feet. I'm also thankful I'm not the one floating a cardboard boat in the rain...

Wishing you all a wonderful day.

======================

You Are Open-hearted

You are dignified, spiritual, and wise. You are also a seeker of knowledge and often buried in books. You are knowledgeable and well-read. If no one can teach you, you'll teach yourself. You are open minded and a visionary. You understand the world and just may change it. You are the master of new ideas, techniques, and ways of looking at things.

The Windowsill Flower Test

Who knew?

=====================

Sleep, Ah Sleep ...

Sleeping is no mean art: for its sake one must stay awake all day. ~Friedrich Nietzsche

I'm tired.

Here's the thing: I'm not a good sleeper. I don't know if I was as a kid (well... except when my brother would threaten to wait until I was sleeping and then push in the "drawer" of the trundle bed I was sleeping in), Mom would have to answer that -- but the last 15 years or so, I don't sleep well. If I get more than a couple hours solid sleep in a row, I call it victory. OH, I stay in bed a good solid eight hours (mostly), but I spend much of that staring at the walls.

Part of that is because I'm a light sleeper and I acknowledge that, but the other part ... ? I have no idea. Last night was no exception. Bed at nine-thirty, read until ten, lights off. DH comes home from work around eleven and I wake up when he comes to bed. I did get a solid hour of unconsciousness, which was good. Then, because I'm awake, he gets gabby and we talk for awhile until he nods off (DH could sleep through a nuclear war -- comes from being stationed on an aircraft carrier in the Navy). I lay there, wide awake. Finally, after listening to him snore ("I don't snore") I get up. The dog gets up with me. I wander around the house, have a drink, stuff a rag in DD's door because it's thumping just a bit from the wind, check the emails on my new phone (*G*), curl up on the couch with the dog. By now it's well after midnight. I stare at the ceiling a bit, brain is going a hundred MPH and won't slow down...

Eventually I nodded off, but this morning five a.m. came WAY too early.

In other news, the friend from yesterday with the swallowtail butterbabies on her fennel reported MORE swallowtails on her parsley! AND, she said her kidlets found two monarch pillars on her milkweed (yes, I've indoctrinated her and her boys to the dark side ... of pillar ranching). She's not THAT far from me (a couple hours), so I guess it's about time to start looking for monarch eggs. YAY!

Brandy had asked about the field Cigna owns with all the milkweed. I haven't seen the woman who was going to work with them on NOT mowing until the first frost for several weeks, but I'm hoping to see her this weekend at the dog park (she's owned by a goofy Golden Retriever). Hopefully, that's all settled and there won't be a mass pillar-cide this year.

DD found the coolest spider in her schoolroom the other day. He was fairly small with a bright yellow butt.



I've never seen one like it before. We scooped and released. Anyone know what he is?

And now I need more coffee.

Have a great day!

=========================

You Have Depth

You are the ultimate escapist. If you can't escape physically, you escape with your thoughts. You love the idea of travel and faraway lands. If you could, you would travel constantly and see the world. While you are a bit on the quiet side, you're a great partner. You are supportive, devoted, and loyal. More than any other type, you honestly still believe in true love. You hold on to your ideals.

The Cookie Test

Mostly right.

=================

Thursday Things

None, but people of strong passion are capable of rising to greatness. - Comte de Mirabeau

Sorry for the break yesterday, but I couldn't face doing much of anything. I've been a bit stressed for many reasons, some of which I won't talk about here. It's caused me to not sleep well, again, and after not sleeping well for a while, I get odd symptoms: dizzy, shakes, nausea, headache. Yesterday was one of those days.

I was in bed at 8:00 last night, but still only slept in fits. Up at 4:00 because DD has her shadow day today (NO SNOW, thankfully ... they were saying it was going to snow and I had visions of another reschedule) and I have stuff that needs doing before we leave.

We sort of had agility last night, though I left Dakota at home again. She's feeling better -- she never got all that sick -- but the vet won't vaccinate her until she's two weeks past her last symptoms (which would be Monday next). So, she'll miss beginning class tonight as well. Last night, DD ran another dog that was being boarded there instead. It's been convenient that the past two weeks that our dog has been out, there have been other dogs for her to run.

I suspect DD will eventually get into a profession that deals with animals. She probably knows more about training dogs than most adults at this point, since our agility instructor is also a trainer and has really taken DD under her wing. If we still live here in another couple years when DD is looking for a job, I'd be willing to bet she goes to work there. She talks about being a dog trainer or a vet tech for a living. She doesn't want to be a vet -- "I don't want to do surgery" -- but that may change. Who knows?

In other news, my tomato plant that had blossoms now has one itty bitty tomato on it. For pollinating, I just brushed the flowers over one another and I guess it worked, at least in one case. I imagine that there are female and male blossoms on a tomato plant, just like there are on squash plants, so I assume not all flowers will make fruit anyway. The plants are crazy with little flower buds, though, so I may have a bumper crop nice and early this year!

DH mentioned building me a greenhouse, too ... we'll see if that pans out. Would be nice to extend the growing season out here a bit.

I'm itching to put in my garden. Sadly, it's still buried in snow...

===================

Your Soulmate is Reserved

Substance matters to you, and you're not really drawn to flashy or overly outgoing people. You're looking for a partner who will last a lifetime, and your soulmate is equally serious about love. You aren't a romantic, but you don't mind a partner who is. In fact, you sort of prefer it. You've got your feet firmly planted on the ground, and you would like someone to get you up in the clouds occasionally!

What is Your Soulmate Like?

Sounds good ... maybe I should mention that "you'd like a romantic partner" thing to my DH? He could use a nudge. *G*

=======================