My Baby.

It's been a long day...

This morning coming into work I seriously felt like this:

Not only am I already losing my mind to 'vacation mode', I'm crankier than ever today.  You'd think I'd be ecstatic what with my week already half over, Christmas just days away, and a week long hiatus from work.  But of course not...and what else would make me lethargic and exceptionally irritable on what should be a great week except...well I won't go into details, but this comic pretty much sums it up...

Bahaha. Yeah. Nerd.

One nasty side effect I have is this rampant murderous rage.  Not really conducive for safe, defensive driving at 6am.  Especially considering the heavens opened up and dumped about 3-4" of beautiful, powdery, "how-come-every-year-people-forget-how-to-drive-in-the-snow" snow last night.  I'm driving my POS Civic and you're in a 4x4 Jeep Wrangler with big ol' knobby tires, and yet you're driving in between 2 lanes because why? You don't want to be too close to oncoming traffic in the left lane, or the snow drift pile on the right?  Make up yo' mind fool! I can't blame the dude in the '98 Accord for driving 15 mph under the speed limit, but you, you incompetent fool, are thoroughly in my freaking way.

Slowly though, with the addition of caffeine and Christmas treats, and the news of my Christmas bonus this year being $1500 (woo-freakin-hoo!) I've slowly started to come back to the world.  I'm still cranky, still would rather be hibernating, still mourning the lack of sun on the shortest day of the year, and still want to take out my uterus and leave it hanging somewhere until the wretched thing is done cramping.  Ok, so I went into details. Gruesome?  Not as gruesome as I could get, trust me.

The weather has progressively gotten gloomier over the course of the day.  I officially cannot see the houses across the field...nor the field for that matter. This should make for another interesting drive home.  Good thing this time I no longer have to brave the jungle that is the mall during this holiday season.  Last night after work, after it had started snowing and the roads were getting quite messy, I had to pick up one last gift at the mall.  Let's just say I'm glad I only had one thing to get. 

I'm glad the day is nearly over, I'm starting to get antsy and irritable again. And my calculations aren't coming out right! Argh.

When I get home I'm making this:

Now, if only I had some vanilla ice cream...

I heart space heaters

In a world, where half the planet tilts away from the sun for a quarter of the year and people inhabit areas outside of the Tropic lines, there exists the space heater.  It comes in widely varying sizes and designs, with anywhere from a simple on button to multiple settings and programs.  It can be electric powered or gas powered, but either way, its use is the same.  To bring the joy of the sun to those wrapped in the darkness of the bitter cold.  When the sun disappears at 4pm, so does the it's warm, loving rays.  Oh, curse the short, icy cold days...  My gladness during these hibernation inducing months comes from hot chocolate, cuddly sweaters, fluffy throw blankets, and space heaters. 

Huddled under the patio heater, and still cold.

As we rapidly approach the shortest day of the year, I can't help but notice it's somewhat abnormally colder than I seem to remember in my many 20some odd years of Decembers.  At least, sub-zero temperatures with the wind chill certainly feel colder than normal this winter.  Not that 30°F is warm when compared to other locales only several hundred miles south of home but for winter here, it could, in fact, be considered rather balmy. On the bright side, no need to dream of a white Christmas...there's snow on the ground, more snow to come, and freezing temperatures all through until Christmas. 

*For some reason I noticed I had started rhyming in my next paragraph, so I edited it and it became a poem...*  Cold Winter Untitled

I gaze out the window, and what do I see?
Sun and skies of blue, but it's not yet 3. 
The ground covered in a blanket of white. 
The sun reflecting off it, making things bright. 
But don't be fooled, it's ever so cold. 
To venture out there you'd have to be bold. 
Winter's grip around folks, all bundled and grim.
Chimneys smoking, as lights cling to roof trims. 
Just next to this window, it's abundantly clear,
The bitter cold is something to fear.
So the space heater is on, and warming my feet.
Christmas songs are playing, and I rock to the beat.
With my cubicle all toasty and warm
The Christmas cheer here is all in good form.
So Merry Christmas, I'll say to your ear,
And have a full and Happy New Year!

I love you space heater, you keep me warm in this cold cold office.  When I leave work I will dread that short bitter walk to my car in the frozen wasteland of a parking lot, but while I'm working, I am comfortable.  Thanks.

Christmas Shopping Woes...

Hm, it's been a while since I've been on here. Well first, holy moly it's December already! I've only got about 1/3 of my Christmas shopping left, and I'm at a complete loss as to what to get my dad and one of my sisters.  Usually, I have an idea of what to get my dad and get my sisters to pay for a share of it.  Last year I, we, got him a Roku.  Which I set up for him on October 30th of this year.  A couple years ago, I got him one of those digital picture frames, I didn't have time to add pictures since I had to get it replaced a week before Christmas (the original one I bought did not work), and I don't think he's ever gotten around to putting it up or adding pictures to it.  The year before that, I bought a backpack and stuffed it full of cool travel gear. (they were going on a safari after Christmas)  It's currently sitting in the basement.  Part of me wants to be like, well...he never uses what I get him so why should I bother?  I did find out at Thanksgiving that he does use the Roku we bought him now that it's set up though.  So, maybe if I go techie, I'll just have to set it up for him Christmas morning after we open gifts.  Otherwise he won't use it. 

That still begs the question...what do I get him?  I try to follow his hobbies and get him something accordingly, though he tends to buy what he wants, when he wants it.  Right now his hobbies are so varied, it seems impossible to get him anything useful.  Ooh...<lightbulb on>  He did just buy a new SLR. The problem with that is none of the good accessories that he doesn't have already are within my budget for him.  Even if I split it 3 ways with my sisters, it's hardly feasible for me. And if it's stretching it for me, how could I expect it to be feasible for a college student and a part-time lab assistant looking for another job?  <lightbulb off> Drat. Foiled again.

The same goes for my sister...no idea.  I got her a small art print but that's something little.  Maybe I'll get her some knitting yarn.  She's been knitting lately, though her hobbies and interests skip from one thing to another so much I hardly know what she's into by the time Christmas comes around.  At least with her, when all else fails...I have no problem following the route of fashion accessories.  A crystal studded headband? How dashing.

Some people are so easy to shop for I have a hard time holding back and sticking to my budget.  Other people I feel obligated to shop for, godchildren for example...and yes I have multiple godchildren.  Even a little something "stocking stuffer" quality would suffice.  But in my family, kids tend to pop up in groups.  And these groups of kids grow up together, hang out together.  Like me and my cousins. Between us there are only at most 6 years difference.  And that's between me and my baby sister.  Now, if you give one of these kids a gift, you have to give them all gifts.  Forget that you maybe only close to one of them, or one or two are your godchildren, because once the one gets a gift it's inevitable that the others will get jealous.  For a while you can get away with giving them all the exact same gift though, so it tends to work out.  Luckily, I'm still in that "give them all the same thing" boat.  Last year I tried to give one of my goddaughters something different, and that completely backfired on me.  I had given the other two cousins cheap mp3 players, and got her a video game she was asking for.  Holy smokes, wouldn't you know, she wanted an mp3 player just like her cousins.  Never-mind, her already being a proud owner of an iPod which her cousins didn't have. Needless to say, I feel obligated to get each of them something of equal quality and caliber.  This year they're getting wallets...in a variety of colors but each the same. Watch this year be the year they finally decide getting the same gift every year is LAME.

Of course, a lot of times the age difference and the gender make a big difference too.  And then there's the obligatory need to get a little su'm su'm for any siblings, regardless if you've met the child or not.  It's not necessary, but to avoid jealous, cranky children, why not just get a stuffed animal or two.  And then there's the cousin of the cousin....we usually didn't have this as a problem until recently.  I have no connection to this child whatsoever, though randomly she seems to show up.  I can see her little face when she doesn't get something along with her cousins.  It's quite disheartening...but at the same time, why should I?

Every year I make my Christmas budget, and most of the time, I hit it right on the dot, if not go over budget...particularly on my husband.  This year though, for once I am completely UNDER budget.  Yes!  This, is what I call a budget success (And being smart about it and getting about 1/3 of the gifts during Cyber Monday). 

Ode to my Christmas Tree...

(sung to O Tannenbaum)

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

How deadly are your branches?

You gave me hives, on my forearms

Never mind, your Christmas charms

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

How deadly are your branches?

I’ve just imbibed some Benadryl

And that’s not just for some cheap thrill

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

How deadly are your branches?

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

How deadly are your branches?

We’ll wait and see, what we will do,

But pretty soon, we may be through

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

How deadly are your branches?

This year is the first time I've ever gotten a real tree for Christmas.  The husband swears by real trees and since I didn't really care either way I just went with it.   Too bad sometime in the middle of decorating it I noticed I was getting hives on my hands and arms. It is fabulously beautiful though.  A little wide, but fits quite well in the corner where we have it hanging.  

'Tis the Season to give thanks...for office closings and other things.

Cool thing about this office...we close for the holidays.  Bad thing about closing for the holidays...we're required to use PTO.  Oh, I suppose I could just not get paid for those days, but what's the point in that?  Good thing I get 15 PTO days every year.

Now, I've only been here for 3 holiday seasons so far, but it usually works out to only having to take 3-4 PTO between Thanksgiving and New Years.  Unfortunately, this year the way Christmas and New Years fall on the weekend, I get kind of screwed and have to take 5 PTO days.  I haven't been keeping diligent track of my PTO this year, but by rough estimate, I think I've used up my quota.  Between a few long weekends here and there, plus sick days, adding all that up on my fingers...eh, c'est la vie. I can't clock time regardless since business is closed for the whole week between Christmas and New Years. Might as well enjoy that time off, paid or no.

It's almost Thanksgiving, and I have bought a total of 2 presents for Christmas.  I'm falling behind here.  I fully intend to take advantage of any deals this weekend.  Now, I'm not one to partake in the frenzy that is Black Friday typically since it involves large murderous mobs of psycho soccer moms and thrifty old ladies, so I don't imagine I will be willing to change that this year.  But, luckily I've heard of a few online deals...plus there's always Cyber Monday. 

In keeping the spirit of the holidays, (and hell yes, I am and have been playing Christmas music for a couple weeks now) it's time to note all of the things I am alive and well enough to thank God for all the blessings in my life.

1.  Family and Friends.  Yes, this lumps everyone from my husband to my niece and even my closest friends.  Though I may be thoroughly annoyed at times, I think on times when each and every one of my close friends and family has brought smiles to my face, laughter to my heart, wisdom to my consciousness, acceptance to my failures, support to my weaknesses, and food to my belly, and I could not feel more loved than I do today.

2.  My job.  It sounds so cliche to be thankful for having my job, but considering too many of my peers have gone too long without work, I find it appropriate this year.  No matter how much I complain about working here, I have it better than most.  That is something to be thankful for.

3. My home.  Do not mistake this for a materialistic ideal.  A house is material, a home is a symbol.  I'm thankful to have a home of my own, the feeling of security and the love that surrounds those I care for within.

4. Dog parks.  For without these, I would have a raging 9 month old furniture eater.

5. The Old Fart and The Puppy.  Bless the old man's young heart that even in old age and arthritic bones will still come greet me with some doggy love and only bites me when he's too scared.  Bless the 9 month old furniture eater who follows me around the house like a baby duck and his soft ears and happy heart.  Bless both their cute adorable little faces.

6. Sunshine.  To remind me today only happens once.

7. Shoes.  One of my many vices.  One of the many accessories of function and fashion, and it comes in infinite varieties.  What is an accessory but functional fashion?

8. Iced Tea.  Because sometimes drinking water is too boring.

9. Thanksgiving/Christmas Night movies with the cousins.  One year we decided to go see whatever movie was opening on Christmas night, now we just go watch a movie together after we've had our fill of food and holiday cheer.  Hard to keep up with the tradition now that we share holidays, but a great tradition to keep to spend some quality time with family.

10.  Potlucks.  This goes without saying.  I love food, I'm thankful that I often have a bounty of food at my disposal.  I enjoy the company of friends and I enjoy cooking for my friends.  Thanksgiving has become a holiday of feasts for not just one day a year, but an entire weekend of feasting.  Potlucks bring together food and friends, sharing our favorite recipes and having fun with people you care about.  That's something to be thankful for.

There is so much to be thankful for this year, and always, and it's good to remember those things.  I may bitch and moan about a lot of things and I may have the most words to say when I'm in a bad mood, but to get out of a funk, the best way to do that is to lighten the heart by remembering and being grateful for the wonderful things in life.  Life being one of the greatest blessings of all. 

Thank you Lord for the happiness in my life, for the gift of love, and help me to share that love with those around me.

Body Wars Part 2 and Kitchen Disasters...or not.

It's the Revenge of the Virus: Do not Give Thanks.  I was completely shut down on Friday, as whatever new virus inhabiting my body wrecked havoc on my sinuses.  Unforgivingly battering the weaknesses in my immunal armor.  Even being drugged up and knocked out, I fought a losing battle.  Even today, I lack energy to fight though the enemy has subsided for the time being.  Looks as though it may have found a new host to attack, a more formidable enemy presenting more of a challenge than I obviously provided.  Though I still feel very damaged.  I just hope that I manage to keep under the radar for that psycho stomach flu that has ravaged through several of my peers. I'm just going to hide from the world until I manage to pull together my bleeding forces and regroup.  Unfortunately, I only have 3 days to do that because Thanksgiving is on Thursday.  Time to pump me full of vitamins and other herbal home remedies plus enough cold medicine to knock me out every night.  Hopefully that will finally blast what remains of this horrid virus down to the depths of hell where it belongs. 

Speaking of Thanksgiving, I'm excited that it's here.  This year we plan on frying the turkey.  It will be our first attempt at frying this baby up ourselves, so hopefully it all turns out.  Otherwise, that's 13 lbs of turkey down the drain.  All the research and planning and preparation in the world pales in comparison to actual experience when it comes to attempting a new manner of cooking.  Another first for this year will be my first attempt to make Mamang Taba's famous Leche Flan. Mmmm.  My favorite.  My family never fails to remind me of one holiday in my youth in which I disappeared, only to have them find me crouched in the corner with one entire pan of the sweet delicious creme custard.  Hoarding it all to myself and managing to eat it all myself.  And I wonder why I have huge thighs...

I attempted a trial run last night, having listened intently as my Ninang recited my great grandmother's recipe from heart.  Scribbling carefully detailed instructions across 2 note pad pages with the secrets of the most perfect leche flan known to man.  At least, to me.  So this attempt was important in order to hone my leche flan making skills.  Trial #1 started off well, preparing the ingredients for the caramelized syrup.  Separating the yolks from the whites for the custard...waiting for the syrup to thicken. Then it went to hell in a matter of seconds.  So I'm stirring the syrup, waiting for that tell tale sign it's ready, though from a verbal instruction, although very detailed, it is extremely difficult to determine what the hell I'm looking for.  I'm stirring and I'm stirring, and the syrup is boiling and bubbling and after a long while, I decide...screw it let's try to use this.  But the second I turn off the heat, ROCK HARD sugar.  Needless to say, I flipped my shit. Wide eyed, I told my husband I think I ruined a pan.  Thankfully his brains were still functioning and told me to throw it in the sink.  As he was calming me down and so lovingly helping me scrape out the sauce pan, we discussed how I inadvertently made rock candy and that I probably wasn't the first person do to so. 

Since I had already done the custard portion, I had to try the syrup again.  The second time, I used a candy thermometer as recommended by my husband to help me from totally screwing up a second batch.  If I had been using my brains I may have thought of it, but seeing as my brain was half functioning, I'm glad he was there to help.  This time, I stood at the pan the entire time watching and stirring to make sure I didn't miss that key point where the syrup teeters the edge of supersaturation, when it is thick enough for the recipe.  I stopped it probably well before I should have, but since my Ninang is vacationing in the Philippines and won't be returning until Weds, I left it at that and will have to ask her to show me the technique rather than describing it to me in words. 

In baking the custard, I tried to keep a close eye on the cooking process, to make sure I didn't do anything else wrong.  But, alas, in my haste I used the convection setting on my oven, and though I cut down the temperature by 25°F and set the timer to 2/3 the time of the recipe, I still almost burned it when I checked on it after 30 minutes.  I have yet to taste this creation but sent one off with the hubby to work as promised to a Filipino coworker of his.  I'm ecstatic to report that even with the mishaps I encountered, it still exceeded the expectations of a fellow Filipino, considering it was my first attempt ever to make it.  HOORAY!  The final test will be when I taste it and if I indeed managed to pull it off, only my own discerning tongue will be able to tell. 

Grumpy Is as Grumpy Does

Sometimes I take a moment to marvel at the evolution of progress, the ingenuity and genius of certain individuals, the speed at which technology has taken such a possessive hold in our lives.  Conversely, I can't help but marvel at the lack of ingenuity in others.  Perhaps this lack is due to too much technology, being so dependent on such, how on earth would people think to use their brains for once? 

I was handed a drawing not 5 mins ago, a drawing that had a map as one of the layers.  I was asked if we could print that drawing without the labels.  Maybe because my head happens to be so congested and I'm feeling very light headed I had to clarify what they were looking for.  The conversation is as follows:
X - Can you print this map for me so I can cut it out?
Me - Sure I can copy it for you, there are parts on there that were scanned in so they aren't in any drawing I can just print off.
X - Oh, no, I don't want the labels.
Me - So...you want just the map part?
X - Yeah, I'm going to cut out the area around Thorton and fax it to Mike.
Me - Ok, I have that somewhere.... (internally: Really? And Google Maps was too hard for you even though you spend most of your day on Facebook?)

Now I know for certain I have participated in my share of dumb moments, having many "duh" moments of my own, but sometimes it's a matter of just stopping and thinking for a minute. 

The timing of this cold is incredibly inconvenient.  I may still be sick by the time Thanksgiving comes around next week, I'll most likely still be sick for opera date night on Saturday...which is one of my favorite Shakespearean plays - A Midsummer Night's Dream...and to top it off, I have PMS.  So not only am I worn down from the internal battle for my body, I'm pissy as well.  Which only makes for a more grumpy me. 

To add to that grumpiness I managed to have another spider dream last night. I HATE spiders.  In which 3 ginormous spiders slunk down from the sky...well, ceiling...surrounding me.  And I mean ginormous, like the size of my fist.  I ran, terrified, only to be laughed at in my dream.  One was wiggled in front of my face before being taken outside, one was promptly disposed of, and the last...well one of my friends in full hockey gear came barging in the room and slid penguin style on his belly, hockey stick out, knocking the spider under the door of the room I was hiding in.  That spider somehow miraculously grew to the size of my head and was holding my leg back trying to bite me.  Oh it makes me shudder just thinking about it. 

Hopefully when I get home tonight the most I'll do is cook myself dinner. Then I fully intend on watching tv til I fall asleep. 

Preparations for Santa

It's officially Christmas music time.  Some people don't care for Holiday music before Thanksgiving, but as the weather cools and the leaves are piled up it's hard to forget the holidays are just around the corner.  Personally I include Thanksgiving as part of the holiday season, and I seriously have no problem blaring "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas" in the beginning of November.  Usually, the holidays don't have the ability sneak up on me...but this year I'm having a difficult time believing it's already halfway through November.  It's been officially 1 year since we bought our house, and unfortunately not much has changed from just after Christmas...LAST year. I'm hoping to accomplish something before the year is out...maybe?  My motivation is shot since there's hardly an available budget for home upgrades.  Not to mention things keep pushing it back.  Like having one broken television set and one broken washing machine which will either have to be repaired or replaced.  Having to dip into our extra cash to pay for those will not necessarily set us back but it will prevent us from going forward.  Not getting a raise this year has prevented any extra cash flow savings postponing future renovations. 

I started off this morning in a rather bright and cheery mood, not unexpected as I did get ample sleep last night and drove to work absorbed in the joyous Christmas music playing on the radio.  That feeling though has managed to plummet into a blend of restlessness and moodiness.  Though I have been listening to the same, normally cheer inducing, holiday tunes, it's somehow been tainted by the slow taunting creep of a sore throat only indicating yet another viral attack on my body.  So they want to play dirty do they?  Sneaky bastards. So time to wage an all out attack.  OJ, vitamins, sleep, the whole shebang. Hopefully its not that bad, but considering I'm practically falling asleep here at the computer, I'd say the outlook looks shady. 

My Furry Children

Oh my furry children...

I think maybe it's time to kick Kona out of my bed.  This is the second night in a row he's woken me up by kicking me.  Both nights I was too out of it to determine if he was awake and just restless or lost in a fabulous dream where he's running around chasing rabbits. It's now impinging on my REM cycles.  He used to fit just perfectly at my feet but now is encroaching on my space.  Getting too big my dear...you may be the cutest puppy in the world but at 70 lbs I think you need your own bed now. Too bad we spoiled you, now we have to train you to not sleep in our bed.  I'm sorry, but mommy needs sleep.

Old Man Hunter and 3 Month Kona

Old Man Hunter and 5 Month Kona

Old Man Hunter and 8 Month Kona

Looking at Kona now vs when we first got him 5 months ago, yeah, he is one large puppy. And if we thought Hunter was a grumpy old man before we got Kona, he is one ornery old bastard now.  Poor Hunter at 13 going on 14 years is arthritic and in the early stages of canine fecal incontinence.  Yesterday, when this last picture was taken, that biscuit in his mouth that he walked around with teasing Kona with for 20 mins before eating, when he finally got around to eating it he decided it was time to poop.  I was watching him eat his biscuit, which he does so painfully slow in order to torture Kona in my opinion, and saw him lift his tail in preparation to just drop one right there in the middle of the hallway.  As I ran to stop him and throw him outside, he managed to squeeze one out....right on my foot. GROSS.

Hunter is so grumpy towards Kona that he'll growl and bark at him when he's in the same general area and even when Kona is in the other room, not paying attention to him.  It's come to the point that we quarantine Hunter to his own space for a while, otherwise he's pacing around in a fowl mood all night, even when Kona is lounging on the floor.  Not that he lounges around all that often.

I feel bad sometimes knowing we crate Kona while we're at work, but then I think of the destruction he has caused.  I'll try to add pictures later if I remember, but he started eating the futon.  A co-worker of the husband has the same dog, a redbone coonhound, who is a 2 year old 80 lb menace and who we most recently heard ate a brick. Yes, a brick. How that is even remotely digestible, I have no idea...but if that's any indication of what kind of mischief Kona can get into, then I'm glad he's locked up when we can't watch him.  I need a vacation away from my dogs I think. Sigh.

SchizoBC Review - Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh

Before you sit and do the math, yes I finished another book in 4 days.  I read a lot, I read often, and I read pretty fast...when it's interesting. 

Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh

 

It is strange that my first 2 reviews here have an angel theme, but that's how my luck rolled when I finally got to borrow the ebooks from the library. 

Archangel's Kiss is book 2 in the Guild Hunter's series, and I did read book 1, Angel's Blood, earlier this year. 

When I read a book in a series that even remotely entertains me, I do feel the need to read the other books in that series.  Don't ask me why, because I certainly would not be able to tell you.  Maybe it's a slight compulsive disorder, maybe I'm just weird.

Anyway, in Angels' Blood you meet Vampire Hunter extraordinaire Elena Deveraux, a member of the Guild Hunters.  In a world where vampires live alongside human kind, work for angels, and are Made by angels, the Guild Hunters are basically contract bounty hunters for any angel who has a rouge vampire on the loose.  Those rouge vampires are dangerous when not leashed by the angel who has them under contract.  So, when an angel has a vampire problem, they hire a Guild Hunter, and Elena is the best.  Born with the natural skills for a Hunter, Elena is soon contracted by the dangerously sexy Archangel of the city, Raphael. But this time, it's not a wayward vampire she has to track...it's an Archangel gone bad. 

Sucked up in the midst of a killing spree, Elena finds herself in an exceedingly dangerous position...and on top of that, falling for the Archangel Raphael as well.  SPOILER ALERT!  In the end of Angels' Blood, Elena connects in a way with her archangel in a way no other human has ever done before...She becomes the first Made angel, made through the love Raphael has surprisingly, wholeheartedly given.

In Archangel's Kiss, Elena wakes from a year long coma to find herself attached to a new pair of wings.  But she's weak and as a newly made immortal, with a mortal heart, she can still die.  Almost immediately, her handsome and dangerous lover, Raphael, breaks the news that she must recover and prepare for a flight to Beijing, where the archangel Lijuan is throwing a ball in her honor. Ancient and without conscience, Lijuan's power lies with the dead.  She has the ability to raise the dead and keep them sustained for as long as she is entertained by them.  And she is planning something sinister for Elena...

Elena begins rigorous training to strengthen her muscles and to learn how to get along with her new wings.  Amidst training, she has to once again use her Hunter's skills to find the person responsible for a series of beatings, kidnappings, and deaths all aimed to destroy her.  Raphael and Elena know Lijuan is planning something for the ball, and have to play along with her games in the weeks leading up to it, as she tries to scare up weaknesses in the newly made angel.

The ball is such a small part of this book, it almost makes the story anti-climactic, but it was a lot of action and surprising.  It wasn't the best written story, some things seemed to be thrown together in an attempt for explanation, but the plot flowed well, and the action was never ending. Even, the steamy kind.  There is quite a bit of passion exchanged in between the lovers, and although it goes into some detail, it's not nearly as risque as other stories I've read.  I'm listing the third book, Archangel's Consort, in my To Read list and look forward to reading it.  Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book, I love it when authors come up with different concepts on the supernatural/mystical...I give both Guild Hunter books 4 stars. 

Schizophrenic Book Club Review - Angelology by Danielle Trussoni

I've decided to begin a Book Club...the members being Me, Myself, and I.  It will be hereinafter referred to as the Schizophrenic Book Club or SchizoBC for short.  I have managed to read an immense volume of books in the entire 26 years of my existence, with 21 years of actually being able to read, about half of that being in the last 5 years, and the majority of that in the past year and a half (I find I read twice as fast with my e-reader).  It seems only logical that I begin to write reviews.  The club is highly exclusive, no other persons are allowed to become members unless they tend to stick to a highly regimented diet of fantasy fiction, science fiction, horror, mystery and the occasional historical or religious non-fiction. 

While I cannot go back and review any of the numerous books I have previously read, it's an overall fact that I probably will not give many bad reviews.  Mostly because if a book is that bad, I won't continue reading it.  Another reason we don't give many bad reviews is because due to the nature of the book clubs general genre and type of literature most prominent in the reading list, we enjoy stories (even mediocre ones) for the sheer entertainment value.  While many serious literature fanatics pin point the errors in prose and plot problems of the author, I tend to have a more innocent approach to each story, absorbing words and mentally transforming them into a video presentation in my head and getting lost in the movie so to speak. Only when the author has done an incredibly poor job of pulling the plot together and/or character development, unanswered questions, etc. do I step out of that world and think to myself..."well that makes no sense".

Another reason my book club discourages other members is because I like to encourage people to read books despite the reviews.  Reading reviews should only be used to help you find other books that you will enjoy, as most reviewers have lists of books they enjoy and more often than not will follow some kind of pattern.  In most cases you can discern a persons personality by that list of books.  If you find yourself agreeing with someones general reviews on a number of books you may look to see what books you haven't read that they've also enjoyed, chances are you will enjoy those as well.  Enough chatter...on to the review.

Angelology by Danielle Trussoni

Angelology managed to catch my eye on various lists that have been generated (probably by a computer) as a 'reccommended' read in accordance with other books I have enjoyed, bought, or read.  A whole secret sect dedicated to studying and protecting the world from the secret offspring of angels and man? Intriguing. Add in some biblical references and ancient mythology and you got your story.  Maybe...

This Ms Trussoni's debut novel, and honestly I had a difficult time staying in the story.  My usual approach of letting myself become absorbed into the story has not worked in this case.  The premise of the story revolves around this secret organization of angelologists who not only study angels but have made it their mission to protect human kind from their hybrid children, the nephilim, who have endeavored to gain the power to rule over and enslave humans.  The concept is there, and it is quite brilliant, but the execution of the story is lacking.

The story begins in present time, 1999, and starts off following a young nun, Sister Evangeline, who as the convent's secretary comes across an intriguing letter from a researcher, Verlaine, who is inquiring about an unknown link between the convent and the late Mrs Abigail Rockefeller.  Upon confirming this link, the two are then unimaginatively thrust into a war decades in between this secret sect of angelologists and the nephilim. 

The story backtracks to pre-WW2; an angelologist, Gabrielle, who is Evangeline's maternal grandmother, becomes dangerously intertwined within the nephilim society infiltrating one of their prominent families, the Grigori. This leads to an expedition to the cave where the angels, who fathered the nephilim and cast down from heaven, were imprisoned until judgment day. And where a historical, mythical object of biblical lore was first collected by the angelologists who entrusted its safe keeping to Mrs Rockefeller who has taken its hidden location with her to the grave. Or, so they believed.

This story also follows Percival Grigori, the nephilim with whom Gabrielle had her dangerous affair.  He suffers from an unknown debilitating illness and is searching for the missing object to be used to heal him. (Here I'm confused, and see no reason why his story made any contributions to the main plot)

In present time, Evangeline and Verlaine continue to uncover truths about Evangeline's history, and in a weakly combined "Da Vinci Code" style series of puzzles, they quickly uncover keys to the possible location of the missing object.  Their discoveries lead to a race to collect this object, which the nephilim would kill to possess, that potentially has the power to create or destroy the world as it is known.  

The problem I had with this book is, nothing is explained.  Too many characters are introduced without the proper background information, you don't know why any of the characters act the way they do.  Why would Evangeline, with 11 years of service to the convent begin questioning their ways, lie to another nun? Too many questions are left unanswered, how did angelology become a profession for example, how did they recruit?  The entertainment value is there, the plot has many, many kinks. And whoever edited this book did a poor job as well.  Many minor mistakes were noted that caused a disruption in the flow of the story.  And the end! In my head, the words..."UGH...WHAT?!" appeared.  The end...violently piecemealed in such a fashion that explains nothing.  It left me severely disappointed.  The plot is left open ended, although the story seems to end, there are far too many questions at the end than my usual, "What's going to happen to this character"...

The story, when it flowed well, was entertaining and enrapturing. I enjoyed parts of the book, and disliked parts.  The forced love interest between Evangeline and Verlaine was childish, it was more like 2 teenagers, trying to figure out if the other liked them rather than the mature adults they were suppose to be. Overall, 2 stars. Sad, I hardly ever rate books less than 3 stars, but this book was a disappointment for as interesting the plot could have been.

Brain Farts and Lacking Smarts

 The last 2.5 days have been facial agony. One particular sinus cavity has decided it wanted to throw a temper tantrum.  It's childish antics suggest it's reluctance to accept the fact that summer is now over, and fall has begun.  The recent bouts of unseasonably warm weather has finally come to an end.  Gone are the days of short sleeves and skirts...remind me where I put my parka...  You would think my body would know that this happens every year, but of course not.  Another reason I always seem to be sick this time of year. Darn you pollen!  Why do they call it a sinus headache when its not my head that aches, but my face? Is it because the face is generally considered part of the head?

These past few days, I have been seriously lacking proper brain functions.  The synapses are just not firing at the appropriate speeds.  I haven't been getting proper sleep, even though I give myself enough time to sleep.  Hello, I was in bed at 10 yesterday. Call me lame, but I should have gotten ample sleep.  I remember more of my dreams last night than I do of this entire morning.  Oh I hope I've been doing this grading plan right. 

My brain has been blank, I've not had one bloggable thought train in a few days.  And the ones I did have I had completely forgotten.  Classic brain fart syndrome.  I'm going to blame this one on hormones and my angsty maxillary sinus.  Forgive me if I don't post in the next couple days. 

Count on Me - Bruno Mars

If you ever find yourself stuck in the middle of the sea,
I'll sail the world, to find you
If you ever find yourself lost in the dark and you can't see,
I'll be the light, to guide you

Find out what we're made of
When we are called to help our friends in need

You can count on me like 1 2 3
I'll be there
And I know when I need it I can count on you like 4 3 2
And you'll be there
Cause that's what friends are supposed to do, oh yeah

Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh, Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Oooooh
Yeah Yeah

If you're tossin' and you're turnin' and you just can't fall asleep
I'll sing a song, beside you
And if you ever forget how much you really mean to me
Everyday I will, remind you

Ohh
Find out what we're made of
When we are called to help our friends in need

You can count on me like 1 2 3
I'll be there
And I know when I need it I can count on you like 4 3 2
And you'll be there
Cause that's what friends are supposed to do, oh yeah

Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooooh, Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Oooooh
Yeah Yeah

You'll always have my shoulder when you cry
I'll never let go, never say goodbye

You know you can count on me like 1 2 3
I'll be there
And I know when I need it I can count on you like 4 3 2
And you'll be there
Cause that's what friends are supposed to do, oh yeah

Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh, Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Oooooh
You can count on me 'cause I can count on you...

Easily one of my favorite songs...

Plain Grumpiness...

I am working on some serious sleep debt this week.  I haven't once gone to bed since Friday night before 11 pm.  It's getting to the point where I would probably scare people if I didn't put make-up on.  While it does have its perks in the month leading up to Halloween, looking like the living dead probably isn't acceptable at the work place unless it is actually Halloween (or you work for Hot Topic).  Last night was the latest night, finally shutting off the computer at quarter to 1...only to have to turn it back on to send a forgotten email.  

I know, you might think a bedtime of 9:30 or 10pm is pretty early, and something you'd only make your kids do, but considering I wake up at 5:30 am, I think that's just about right.    While I can seemingly function on 5 hours of sleep, it doesn't necessarily mean I am completely cognizant of my actions during those waking hours. It's a good thing I'm not doing any calculations today.  As I've learned early on, I'm the kind of person that needs a full 7-8 hrs of sleep.  If perhaps I've managed to accrue some sleep debt, I also become the crankiest old fart on earth.  This week I know I've been grumpy towards everyone, especially my husband, and this morning I want nothing to do with people in general.  Unfortunately, that's not the way the world works.  Although I may soon have to resort to stamping a big F*** OFF on the front of my shirt in hopes that it would deter the majority of the population away from my scowling face as I listlessly cling to my cooling coffee cup. 

I have to ask myself why do I put myself through these times of stress and severe lack of sleep, and the answer back to myself always seems to be along the lines of..."you do not know how to say no to your family".   Ah, the endless bombardment of "can you help me?" from my completely computer inept mother is one of the most irksome things that cause me stress.  Yesterday, I had to set up a place card template, which she promptly screwed up.  And as I was about to leave at 10:30pm, she drops a disk in my lap and asks why the movies won't work on her computer and if it will work with the projector the DJ is providing after telling me he can't use a laptop with the projector.  WHAT?!  She tried to relay what the DJ had told her over the phone, but as mentioned previously her lack of technological skills causes her to not understand a word of what he had said. 

This luncheon party for my lola's 80th birthday is becoming quite the event.  I'll never understand why we have to have a program for a birthday party.  But, my parents are performers.  They don't just throw a party...they HOST it. There are singing acts, and dancing acts, and slideshows, and speeches. I used to get into that sort of thing.  My cousins and my sisters and I used to perform also.  But that was when we were all still in school...when we had all summer to mess around, choreographing and practicing a dance number.  We were requested to do yet another dance performance, but finally we said we could not.  We have no time to do so.  My mom was disappointed, but I'm sitting there thinking, are you kidding me? normal people have birthday parties that don't involve hiring luau dancers or a mariachi band! 

The problem is, ever since they started doing this, they've raised the bar so high and now they feel like they have to meet that bar every time they host a party.  When in reality, none of it is really necessary.  And there is a difference between a luncheon and a dinner party.  But here I go getting involved in the theatrics of the party planning simply because my mother wants to hand make the table numbers and party favors and programs.  And even though there were months to plan it, somehow we managed to put off all the work until the last week.  To me that says, I don't want to put in this much work to plan a party.  So, why do it? I came up with the project to do a scrapbook, and that's my fault for not doing more of the work early on.  I add to my own stress apparently.  But the scrapbook is finally complete...mostly. I might have 1 more page to do, but I'll just throw it together.

On a completely different tangent, I seem to be the go-to person for random questions in my family.  My baby sister calls me and wants to know how to find out how to determine if a highway ramp in Iowa is closed and how to get around it.  Hm, well, you could pull out a map and just drive there.  If it's closed, use the map to find another exit.  My other sister tries to find out how to cook things...like lasagna.  It's called Google my dears...when you call and ask me, that's all I do.  Google is your friend.  What makes me the expert in all things random? Worse yet, why do I continue to keep answering their questions?

sleep deprived.

Things to note...

1. Always bring antihistamine to South Carolina. This is something I tend to forget because of how infrequently we visit Columbia, but every time we go there the allergens and all round mustiness of the south combined with Grandpa Ray's home wreaks havoc on my sinuses.  I'm still suffering from a stuffy runny nose. 

One good thing we discovered during this trip was that Kona is a good traveler.  It didn't take him long to realize we were going to be driving for a while, and quickly settled down.  He wasn't obnoxious for most of the 14 hour drive to and from Columbia.  Actually, he was very well behaved for the most part.  Especially considering he was not crated for the whole trip. 

2. Find a job where I can get Columbus Day off.  What is the deal? Why do some people get this holiday off and I don't?  It is a federal holiday is it not? Maybe I'd just be fine working if everybody else had to work as well.  But if the banks aren't open, why should some people, read: me, have to work? 


3. Make sure to sleep in past 7 am sometimes.  Minus the 48 hr stretch where I sustained a level of semi-consciousness as I recovered from a viral attack on my body, it's been about 5 months since I've been able to sleep in past 6 or 7 am.  Even on the weekends.  Pre-Kona, I routinely slept in on Saturdays until 9 am or later.  I find myself scoffing at anyone who says they woke up early at 7 am, or anyone who says an 8 am start time during the week is early.  You bastards, try having to BE AT WORK by 7 am.  See how much of a difference that extra hour of sleep makes every day and then come talk to me.   Then, I talk to my boss who gets up before 7 am on his own on the weekends and still manages to go out with his buddies at night and I can't help but wonder how in the world he survives off so little sleep.  


4. Save more money.  I want another lens for my toy! Too bad the lenses I'm interested in are upwards of $700+.  What a disastrously expensive hobby.  But something I may need before I even can buy another lens is a camera bag...hint hint.  I probably should not just be haphazardly shoving the $500 camera into my purse alongside my makeup, wallet, and keys...


So many things to remember, so many things I want to do...

Random Observations..

Why does 60°F in the fall feel much colder than 60°F in the spring? It's the same temperature! While part of me would like to bask in the brisk mornings and I must admit my childish glee at seeing my breath in the cold air, the other part of me is aching for the warm summer back.  I miss having summer vacation.  No, I miss having vacations period.  I'm not talking about just the weekend getaway, though those are nice for a short break.  No, I'm talking about a week long travel to somewhere different vacation.  I long to explore...

The past 3 days I had to puppy sit my best friend's dog, Cooper.  He really is a sweet loving dog, but not trained much...or more specifically, not potty trained.  Didn't I just go through this already with my puppy? When do puppies outgrow the excitement potty accidents? Cooper needs firm consistent training, and I'm not sure he's getting it at home.  I almost feel bad for him, because he does have the potential to be a very good companion.  But the energy...oh the puppy energy he has.  It makes me so thankful for how behaved my puppy is.  My puppy isn't the most well behaved of course, but he is still just about 8 months old. I do tend to forget his isn't even a year old yet though because he is over 60 lbs now! Such a massive dog. He makes the old man look small, and I never thought Hunter was a small dog. Still, using 2 rolls of paper towels in 3 days seems like a waste.  I think I will not be so easily convinced next time to take care of him...at least not until hes properly potty trained.

So, its October now...and the cold weather is a reminder of the holiday season to come.  And yet, it's faux pas to listen to holiday music until after Thanksgiving.  Why is that? I love holiday music.  It's so cheery and reminds me of old times when we used to have large family parties.  Everyone would come and our house would be the loudest, most festive home on the block.  

Opera season has officially begun! I'm all culture-fied and swanky now.  Our seats are practically right down the middle on the first balcony.  Excellent viewing.  And since we bought a set, those are our seats for the entire season.  The couple next to us has opera glasses.  I have to say I got a little jealous...that would come in handy to see the performers a lot better. If I had those it would make the opera experience all the more complete.  But I suppose it's not necessary...I don't really need to see the faces of the performers. Friday was opening night, black tie recommended.  I did not show up in a ballgown, mostly because there's no way I'm walking around downtown in a ballgown, but I do have a formal skirt that I wore.  Always fun to play dress up! 

There's a good chance I may disappear for the next 2 weeks, as I need to work on the scrapbook for my lola's 80th birthday.  Hasta Luego!

The sun always rises.

One of the amazing things about this time of year, particularly since I must be awake before the butt crack of dawn, is just that...I get to see the sunrise.  This morning's sunrise was breathtaking.  I wish I had my camera and time to walk around the fields taking pictures.  On my drive in to work this morning it looked absolutely peaceful.  Everything was still, wisps of fog still lingered, caressing the tops of the tall prairie grass, kissing the surface of the man made ponds...the blue sky turning to shades of pink and orange, beams of light bursting through transparent clouds casting light shadows across the sky.  Through the stillness, a sense that everything was alive, the energy thrumming to the heartbeat of the earth.  I wish I had the opportunity to stop and take pictures...But, I had to get to work and I had to settle for warm rays stretching across my desk turning my cubicle that shade of orange only the sun can provide.  

At least I got to sit and luxuriate in it for all of 5 minutes as it passed over me onto the floor of my boss's office.  I have a view out of the window of my boss's office but the natural peacefulness is painfully marred by the construction equipment and giant fields of dirt right up to the neighborhood down the street.  Although it may have its own sense of peace with the lone fog wrapped dozer sitting quietly in the middle of the field, nothing can compare to the awe inspiring views of an 'untouched' grass field. I say 'untouched' but really it was a man made field and pond for the nature preserve. It's still pretty though!

Now the fog has dissipated, the clouds moved on, and the sun a bright awesome yellow that hurts to look at...but the image lives on in my head. 

Techy Time-Out?

Smart phones, e-readers, tablets....what's next? I sit here reading about the newest edition to the tech world...the upcoming BlackBerry PlayBook, and I can't help but think..."iWant".  I certainly don't need the shiny new tablet.  But in a world where technology rules, it's almost impossible to get away with not having some kind of tech toy.  I myself have an iPhone and e-reader.  I have been able to resist getting much more solely because of the costs associated with these new toys.  We're addicted to it, dependent on it.  Why learn how to read a map if someone else has come up with a way to triangulate your position and give you directions via computer voices, that can range from British hottie to Homer Simpson?  

It's all happened so fast, a blink of an eye in the lifetime of the Earth.  I remember the first mobile phone.  It had a battery pack bigger than my head.  I remember my first laptop that I played Wheel of Fortune on.  It was bigger than a standard size brief case.  I remember my dad's video camera.  Now I can take videos with something that fits in the palm of my hand, and there are smaller options too.  I'm not that old, so if you think about it...we've come a long way in a short amount of time. They said we'd have hover cars by now, and somewhere there exists a prototype I'm sure.  Now I'm waiting for the invention of teleportation, I can't wait to be able to be 'beamed' somewhere.


Even me using this computer to write this entry is using technology.  Can I survive without using it? Can I survive without my phone...my lifeline to the rest of the world?  Do I want to?

Falling off the anger wagon...

I know, I know, I said I am removing the phrase 'I hate it when..." from my vocabulary and every day speech but you know what...today, I need it.

I hate annoying sales calls. I like to think I make things pretty damn clear when I say "I'm not interested".  Sometimes, I'll be nice and let them go through their entire spiels before letting them down easy.  But how many times does a person have to say NO THANK YOU before getting pissed off?  You can say all you want but I'm totally not listening.  Eventually, I will hang up on you.  It depends on my mood on whether or not I warn you before doing so.  Sometimes I will use misdirection especially if the call is not directed for me in the first place.   It's my nice way of saying SHUT UP AND LEAVE ME ALONE.   Please do not think you can get to me, because you will invariably lose.  One call I remember telling the infuriating woman that I will hang up on her if she does not shut up...3 times, then because I could I tapped the receiver on the counter several times to make a loud annoying noise and hung up on her.   I do not feel any kind of remorse for that.  I would tell any other person that was inappropriate behavior but I very kindly told her multiple times and still she kept at it.  Ok, so I have a bit of a temper.  Who doesn't?


So what brings on this rant of my hatred of telemarketers? Oh, the fact that I had to field yet another one at work.  My department at work has our own phone number, which I never give out because I never want to answer the phones, my boss never gives out because its not my job to answer the phones, and no one else here even knows it.  Every once in a while a call will come in to our engineering phone line, and I have to answer it...99.9% of the phone calls I've taken are unwanted.  The only time it ever was someone 'important' was the most random thing.  

Anyway, this guy originally dialed the correct number for the main office and asked to speak to one of my 'engineering' co-workers who promptly asked for it to be sent to voicemail seeing as the name was totally unrecognizable and he didn't want to deal with it at the time.   But because the telemarketer got his voicemail, he hit 0 expecting to be bounced back to the receptionist.  But to my horror, it turns out that when someone does that in the engineering department, it gets bounced back to ME.  FML.  So I'm stuck listening to his spiel because I mistakenly confirmed I was in the same department...well not mistakenly, since he sits 3 feet away, but unfortunately for sure.  So since I'm not sure if this was something my co-worker was looking for at any time, I play nice and misdirect.  "You can email John all the information" I say, but this dude will not shut up.  I don't care about some project management program, we already have one...that barely gets used.  Why would they want to spend money on another one?  I'm getting visibly agitated listening to this guy.  I mean, after I got off the call, my boss was laughing because he watched me hold the receiver away from my ear as I sneered at it hoping the man on the other end would mentally feel the ice from my glare.  


But in some way, I'm less mad about the telemarketer than the fact that what PROBABLY happened was the receptionist up front after being told to put the caller into John's voicemail didn't tell the guy that John was unavailable and if he'd like to be put into his voicemail.  Instead she probably just threw him into the voicemail system without warning the guy who expected to talk to a person.  Which brings me to yet another thing I hate....

I hate when the receptionist answers the phone and while transferring the call to me will occasionally just throw it over to me without warning.  MOST of the time she will say who is calling before transferring the call...so I will pick up the phone seeing it's her extension calling me and greet her fairly casually.  This morning was one of those times she threw the call without saying a word.   Which resulted in me embarrassing myself with a bright cheery 'Heeeyyy' on the phone as a greeting.  Luckily, the person calling was a woman I have frequently spoken to in a casual manner.  Even luckier I didn't answer with "Hey biatch"... I mean, what if it's someone I don't want to talk to at the moment? What if I wanted this person to be put in my voicemail instead because I'm busy with something? 


Agh...TESSA SMASH...........



OK, much better.  Breathe in, Breathe out.  Back to the zen state I was in previously.

Happy Autumnal Equinox!

Happy 1st day of Fall! Hooray for the season of changing leaves, pumpkins, and Thanksgiving. Boo for shorter days, colder nights, and Halloween.  Which I only dislike because it seems just an excuse for some girls to be dressed like an unsuccessful prostitute distastefully, and its a "holiday" surrounded by horror...That and I really hate haunted houses.

Fall Equinox.  Tomorrow begins the lengthening of the dark hours until the longest night of the year on the Winter Solstice, December 21.   Here's a little clip I saw on Yahoo about it...

Well, summer quite literally went out with a bang this year...it hit about 90°F and then it thunderstormed.  I had to turn the A/C back on for a few hours because the house was at a sticky 80°.  But that's how the weather is around the Equinox times in spring and fall, and while today might only reach the mid 70's, tomorrow's forecast is predicting another 90° day. As the husband says, "welcome to the Midwest".  What I wish, but cannot count on based on the weekly forecast, is to have that random beautifully balmy day this coming Saturday.  Not only will I be outside, I will be in the city.  I could only hope for a nice day, free of rain for the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure.

This year is the first time I'm team captain and I'm a little unsure if I need to do more than get my team together and walk around.  It will be a learning experience, and one event I hope to be able to continue to participate in the coming years.  I've been blessed with numerous amounts of supporters and sponsors and my goal of $1000 raised (which, at the time I thought, is quite a high goal since I've never raised more than $200 before) is nearly met with 3 days left to go.  At this very moment I only have $49 left to raise, which I'm hoping to have met by race day.   If you're out there, and if anyone other than my husband is reading this...please show your support for me here.  And always remember...a little can go a long way.  God Bless.


Oh and while I'm at it....Happy Oktoberfest!!! (Even though it's nearly over)  I missed National Talk Like a Pirate Day...maybe next year.

Reverting from Zombie

Oh, how nice it feels to be alive again...mostly.  I have come back from a state that is in a way worse than dead.  I was a zombie for the duration of Thursday night/Friday.  I think I was awake for maybe 5 hours total between 8 pm Thursday and10 am Saturday.  I have minimal recollection of anything that happened on Friday with exception to going to the first Chick-Fil-A in all Chicagoland.  And that's because I took a picture of the Chick-Fil-A.  But, I have no qualms about how much I slept in a 36 hour period...considering how quickly I have been able to bounce back.  I expect to be fully functional by tomorrow.  Last night was kind of a set back since I had a whole pot of tea at dinner and couldn't get to sleep until far after midnight.  It wasn't very restful either. 

Time to get back into the daily routines...and to catch up and get photos uploaded to finish that entry on The Things I Eat...

The Battle Continues...

I'm not sure if I can call myself sick if I've been feeling up and down.  It's almost as if the virus is toying with me...allowing me to think I've been able to fight it off, but not quite giving me the satisfaction of beating it back to the trenches.  I can envision a war field with my antibodies on one side, a massive band of knights ready for battle, and evil spindly looking virus creatures on the other. My antibodies are suffering extensive damage as the virus tentacles out and picks off the weakest of the army waiting to make a deadly strike. Triumphant roars bring fear and insecurity to the masses.  This is a critical moment in which I as mistress of my body need to instill a burning fury against the evil hoard before they take me down.

Seriously though, I'm starting to feel like crap. My head is pounding, my nose is a faucet, and my body aches.  This is one battle I am losing.  Good thing it's nearly the weekend.  I look forward to sleeping.  

Office sweaters, coffee, and cough drops

Not knowing what time I actually entered the dreamworld last night, based on how I'm lethargic and mostly incognizant this morning, only leads me to assume one of two things.  Either I didn't fall asleep until after 11pm or somehow I managed to suspend myself in a limbo like state between my two conscious minds for 7 hrs.  Considering I was actually in bed at 9:30, lights out at 10, I cannot be sure which situation is true.  All I currently am aware of is that I would very much like a nap already.  

One of the annoying things about work is how the indoor temperature always seems to hover around 72°F.  Which, for me, is perfect for bedtime in the summer.  Give me a nice big fluffy comforter and I'm down for the count.  Alas, this is not the place for sleeping.  But neither is it the place to freeze while I sit at my station working.  So I have a permanent sweater designated for my cubicle. It's not the nicest sweater, a knit light brown, but it works.  Sometimes too well, especially on days like today when I just really need some more sleep, since it induces the hibernation instinct to curl up and pass out.    Most days I try not to wear it, and when the bosses are out of town we, as in..the women..., sneak around and raise the temperature to 74-75°F.  If  you want to know how 2 degrees makes a difference, try sitting under the vent for a whole day and see how much less the cooled air hits you on the back.


One of the nice things about work is free coffee.  And sodas but the coffee is what I'm lookin' at now.  It's not a high quality coffee, but it's pretty good.  I never used to like coffee, but ever since I started having to wake up at 6am and now 5:30 or earlier because of the dogs, it's grown on me.  I've been trying to avoid drinking coffee every day.  A cup of coffee might be healthy for you but the cream and sugar I add to combat the bitterness is probably not.  Stick to tea and honey. 


The case of the sleepies could also be caused by an impending illness.  I've had my cup of coffee for the day and still I feel like sleeping.  Usually by now, caffeine's effects have already started to affect me.  I seriously hope it's not because I'm getting sick.  I've been fighting off my husbands germs for a week now...and whatever germs my father in law brought with him from Lexington.  My efforts seem futile it seems, as I find myself coughing and holding back sniffles.  Well, hopefully it at least holds off until after my dinner party tonight...wouldn't want to be feeding my guests germs.  And when I say "party" I mean my 2 best friends coming over so at least it's not a crowd.   But look for The Things I Eat Chapter 2, which in editing will be changed from Pork Chops and Guac to whatever I end up cooking tonight.