Sunday Morning

cork from Mad Housewife Wine bottle

I had a rough night. Perhaps I was still jazzed from the work-day event on Saturday, though I did allow myself a long hot soak in a scented bubble bath, along with candles, wine, chocolate and special music... But still sleep was late in coming. Then...around 2am I woke up itching.

I have one finger that seems to love to do a little hives-break out every now and again, usually after exposure to any chemicals. (Probably the bubble bath). The itching didn't subside so up I got to put some anti-itch cream on it. Nestled back down under the covers and was just about back to la-la land when my cell phone started buzzing and ringing.

What the heck? It's that new smart phone that I still have not figured all out yet and apparently it has some alarms set to alert me to danger! This was an Amber Alert for the Montana area and while I was irritated by the alarms waking me up even more, I said a prayer for rescue and safety and disarmed my phone. And once the adrenaline had stopped pumping tried again to find sleep.

lurking cat plotting evil

Then the unmistakable sounds of my cat alerted me to the fact that he had something to show me. Toddy makes this low-throated rumbly noise when he wants attention. This was an ongoing rumbly noise and I knew he was up to something. flicked on the light and saw the 'toy' he'd caught lying there beside him. I tried at first to ignore it all but as soon as I laid down and closed my eyes some very raucous playing ensued. I realized my only hope was to catch the 'toy'.

sister reacts to sight of giant spider on ceiling

Oh, husband, where art thou? I muttered, thinking of the engine light that came on the night I dropped him off at the shuttle bus and the giant moth the cat brought in and released that first night.Thinking of the ginormous spider that terrorized my sister and I one morning as we sat in the living room and the hair-rising rescue that took place in ensuring our safety. Thinking, husband, you so owe me, I set about to capture the mouse... and I will admit it was a teeny tiny mouse, but a rodent nonetheless and one I wanted G.O.N.E.

Without any help from Toddy, I caught the 'toy' using an empty nut container and it's lid, moved quickly and efficiently to the front door where it had a little flying lesson out into the night. Toddy was of course right at my heels wondering what Momma was doing with HIS Toy.... I scooped Toddy up and deposited him in the garage, locking his pet-door into the house. Oh what a mean momma I am but in the middle of the night this momma don't mess around.

This morning, all is calm and quiet. I have had a sweet email from my hubby, followed by my coffee and watched the morning unfurl before me as I sipped it. I have listened to an amazing choir of birds greet the day and also enjoyed the song "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord O My Soul) by Matt Redmond on YouTube. Soon I will mosey up the mountain to join my amazing brothers and sisters in Christ as we worship together. I know my beloved is likely doing the same in Honduras and I pray for his safety and blessings. May you all have a blessed Sunday.

More Coffee Please!

She rises while it is still night and provides food for her household.... Proverbs 31.15

"Getting up early is for the birds" was a saying near and dear to my heart, until I realize I was named after one. Such irony! 

Seriously, getting back into the groove of rising early to prepare breakfast, pack his lunch and make sure he has all his 'stuff' before he heads out the door, isn't a hardship but a joy after the long break we've had. It's only day two so we're still kinda giddy about the whole thing. 

He came home yesterday smiling despite being wet, tired and... limping??? Um, yah.... While reaching for a nail gun, by the air hose to which it is attached, the nail gun discharged and lodged a nail into his knee!

Fortunately, he was wearing double knee pants, the nail didn't go deep and he was able to attend to it right away with first aid. The defective gun was immediately retired and an incident report was filed. This morning he is moving slowly and stiffly in that leg so am praying for fast healing and no lasting impairment!

Aside from the nail gun incident, he enjoyed the first day and is looking forward to absorbing more of the work environment and finding his place there. 

Meanwhile, we woke to a blanket of white on the ground which was a little confusing at first glance considering how much rain I listened to last night as I was waiting for sleep to claim me. The Lion of March is letting out his final roar. I'd say this weather is for the birds but that would be more irony than I can stand this early in the morning.

it backfired

i struggle often with insomnia. i can't make my brain shut off so i will lay awake and think and think and think. this isn't a big deal when sleeping in the next day to compensate is allowed to happen. i'm  really more of a night person than anything.

however, there are times when life necessitates getting up early. and those are the times where going to sleep at a 'decent' hour is important. those are the nights i can almost guarantee the dreaded insomnia will strike.

so i try to prepare for that. i'll take a benadryl or some other sleepy-time aid and head to bed at 10pm and it almost always works.   not this time.

i was fast asleep by 10 and barely registered when my husband joined me under the covers. i remember mumbling something unintelligible as he kissed me good night. slumberland was mine and i was hanging on for dear life. ah~~ bliss.

until 2:21 am.

waking up to go to the bathroom is one thing. that happens a lot and i take care of my business and find my way back to bed and am soon snoozing again as if nothing ever happened to interrupt my dreams. but when i woke up this morning i knew immediately i was in an AWAKE state that wasn't going to let me nod back off....

and i kinda panicked inside.
which doesn't ever help.

i tossed and turned for the first 20 minutes... and then tossed and turned for another 20 minutes. i tried praying the alphabet... (Lord, please bless Amber, heal Brittany, bless Corrie... etc) and I was still awake. in fact i was more awake. I looked at the clock. i knew getting up at 4 am was going to make for a long day as it was but getting up at 3 was nuts.

i have to work today to cover for a sick co-worker again. i have to leave the house at 5:15am to be ready to open the club at 6. it's now 4:12 and i heard the abandoned alarm go off 12 minutes ago from my cozy easy chair downstairs after i gave up and left my warm bed. i heard hubby shut the durn thing off and i know it is time for me to get in the shower and make coffee and start this day.

but i really hate this loss of sleep and i know it is going to catch up with me later today. i already feel the wave of sleepies coming back at me... if i didn't have to go to work this would be a great time to crawl back into bed and sleep.

durn it all.

Crash and ... ZzzZzzzzzzzzzzz

foggy head, sleepy eyes, fuzzy brain... heavy limbs, achy limbs, am I coming down with something?

the whole day yesterday felt weird! I had ZERO patience for a day with my mom who had a Dr's appt or I might have been tempted to re-schedule time with her. I was sleepy, tired, achy and grumpy. I couldn't think clearly.

I forced myself to make a quick trip through the grocery store because otherwise there would be an even longer list of things to do today-- and the list is long enough already-- and when I got home I came in the house and asked Bruce to unload the car for me. I stayed up long enough to put away the food that needed refrigerating and then I crawled under the blankets of my bed and was out!

because I often have insomnia I eventually then have a day where it will catch up with me. but I was so achy all over that I questioned what was really going on. it did feel like a flu- attack... and though I hated to miss out on school last night, I also knew I would be worthless as a table leader... and if I was coming down with something, no one would want my company anyway. So, I snuggled deeper under the covers and snoozed on.

From 4pm yesterday until 9 am this morning... with a couple of nature calls in between-- now that is what I call a NAP!

The list for today is long, really long as both Bruce and I have a ton of stuff to do as part of getting him ready to leave on Monday! So am I sure glad I woke up feeling good.

Because this is the month of November and my favorite holiday is coming up, I created a little homemade decoration to help me count my blessings this year.

Each morning, Bruce and I will write down something we are thankful for on this poster. I am pretty sure 'coffee' will make the list. and SLEEP.

Blissfully Blissful

sleeping in, side by side
sunshine streaming, pierces eyes
snuggling deeper under the quilt
if we linger there is no guilt


tangled sheets, tousled hair
still we manage debonair
sleepy eyes, hint of teasing
morning kisses, oh how pleasing


whiff of coffee, tantalizing
padding barefoot, hand out reaching
quiet house, a little chilly
back in bed, blissful tranquility

 

Ah, Saturday, How I Love Thee!

I usually sleep in on Saturdays. Bruce goes to a mens breakfast/bible study most every Saturday morning, kissing me good bye on my cheek... if he can find me under the blankets. I will stumble down the stairs a couple of hours later, blindly feeling my way to the bathroom, then coffee station, and do numerous things by rote as I slowly find consciousness. Coffee mug in hand, I will sit in my chair in the living room and s-l-o-w-l-y wake up.

Sleeping in is wonderful but I've made a sad discovery of late. It makes for a whole day of low productivity. Something goes awry with my inner clock when I doze into the next sleep cycle. I will feel groggy and lazy for several hours after I finally get up, where as on the mornings I defy logic by getting up when the alarm clock says, once the coffee has peculated inside my brain, I'm on the train full-steam ahead! Crazy huh?

This morning I got up shortly after my husband did. He was in the shower and I acted like it was a regular work day morning!! GASP!! I made the coffee, fed the cat, let the cat out, started --GASP-- a load of laundry and --another GASP!!-- made the bed!  All before 7:30. Um, am I feeling alright?

Yes, yes, no fever, I'm fine really. I just woke up and decided to get up and stay up. I don't know why. I watched Bruce leave; he was humming and smiling. He loves his mens group and I love that he loves it. I contemplated my choices and going back to bed was not one of them. I just feel awake and leaning towards productive and I am glad to be alive and enjoying this beautiful morning!

I had a date with my husband last night-- that's two Fridays in a row-- and we have something fun planned for this afternoon. All which makes me feel relaxed, happy and cherished.

I visited the Weekend Link Up page and read some new blogs. I checked Facebook and I felt the sun on my face. And you know what? This mornings activities have been just as cozy and comforting as hitting the snooze button and snuggling under the blankets.

I think this is going to be a really great day! Hope yours is too.

The Reason I Can't Make My Bed

because, really, who want's to disturb such a sweet baby like this?

although often his face says 'go ahead--- I dare you!'