Ah, the eternal question

Do we take a nap now, messing up the newly made bed, or do we stick it out even though our lids are heavy and we got almost no sleep last night?

[And yes, I know it's not really 'made'. I don't have my duvet on right now. I just tucked the wedge pillow into it's normal configuration, put it in the centre, straightened up the pillows, and put the blankets on those so they wouldn't interfere with the handrail.]


It's not like it's not easy to put back...

Very sleepy

But I'm waiting for the candles to burn down safely from Sabbath dinner...

So I'm trying to caffeinate

So I can do various things around the house, but having just returned from the cold, gloomy outside I just want to crawl into bed and sleep--and I've only been up for three hours. YKWIA has been watching 'The Vampire Diaries' (he's codifying the various people into charts, it's what he does, he's a Virgo, and for all I know it will somehow make it into the game). But now he's off in his bedroom either reading or considering a nap as well. I'm betting on reading, although I just heard a big yawn. I'm in the library, trying to wake up fully. Things I should (not need, but should) do today:

1. Water the plants.
2. Do laundry, mainly bed linens, dog blankets, and a small load of my clothes.
3. Clean the toilet and bathroom.
4. Do the cat boxes.
5. Sweep.
6. Take the recyclables out.
7. Clean plastic bottles out of the car, recycle them, and put the lids in a bag to take to a co-worker who is collecting them for charity.
8. Take a book back to the library.

It's not onerous, or awful, I just don't feel like doing any of it at the moment. Must. Wake. Up. (Drinks more caffeine.)

It is a dark and stormy night

The wind is hypnotic. I'm certainly not going to see any meteors tonight (the Leonid shower peaks, and it's dark of the moon, which means normally it would be great viewing). It's been quiet and restful today. We did a few errands this morning but I napped for a bit this afternoon. Tomorrow we're not having the game, as Brenda is under the weather with some sort of crud, so I'm going to put off the notes. But tomorrow I plan to be active, doing some laundry and other things around here. I'm looking forward to a busy but short week ahead. And then there's Thanksgiving and getting Friday off as well. Yay!

I haven't been on the computer much at all lately, so I need to at least blog on my phone. Or get on the laptop and actually write rather than just going on Facebook. It's so easy to share things there, I don't have to even write about it, and that's a pitfall. I want to write. I should write. I will write.

I've been having some trouble with my hip lately. It's very painful to get up from a sitting position, probably because I'm sitting too much at work. It seems to be muscular, as it improves with walking and stretching. I'm hoping I can stretch enough to get it to settle down, as I feel like a little old lady. Hell, worse than a little old lady.

It's just 9 pm. I'm resisting going to be early. Maybe I should read. If I listen to music I'll most likely just fall asleep. Besides, there is a black cat perched up on top of two pillows and two blankets on my bed right now who will be most wroth with me should I disturb him. :) The dogs are in the kitchen, having been out in the driving rain briefly after being fed. The kitchen floor is very muddy as a result.

I think I'm going to do some job searching. I like my job, and my workplace, but I'm not giving up being a librarian, either. UK has a government docs position open, and there may be some others. Good night.

I spent an hour in the middle of the night lying in bed awake

So I'm not quite awake this morning. On the other hand, I have:

1. Given YKWIA a wake-up call, as a workman is coming today.
2. Taken all of my medicine and checked my blood sugar, including updating my diabetes log program, which draws it off my meter through Bluetooth (I haven't been doing that, and I'm much more compliant when I do).
3. Eaten breakfast.
4. Fed the fish and turned on the aquarium light.
5. Added the last of the potting soil to the window boxes, now that the soil has settled a bit.
6. Watered the plant, inside and out.
7. Checked the job boards, the librarian job list, the unemployment office's website, and UK for jobs.
8. Checked my e-mail.
9. Gone through my Facebook feed.
10. Listened to the radio.
11. Tracked a package.

The package is out for delivery with UPS right now. I need to work on that entertainment centre, so that may be the big project of the day. I'd like to wash the dishes (there are only about five). Later, I'm going to take a friend to the doctor (which is probably when the package delivery will be attempted).

I have to admit, though, between my allergies and sleepiness, I just want to take a nap, but then they'll certainly come with the package. If they knock, I won't hear them, most likely. If they ring the doorbell (yes, I live in an apartment, but have an actual doorbell), I probably won't get to the door in time. It's absolutely maddening.

Okay, I've been on the computer way too much today already. Time to do something useful.

I am really moving slowly this morning

I don't know if it's the cloudiness outside, or the fact I was so productive yesterday, or what, but I got up at 7:50 am, had breakfast, loaded the dishwasher, ran it, took my medicine, then went back to sleep for a little while, got up, did a few things around here, went back to bed, got a call from YKWIA to make plans for today, went to sleep, got a call from A, went back to sleep, got up, washed all the plastic and other dishes, including two big vases, and out of desperation made coffee, which I do not normally drink but thought that with enough half-and-half I'd try to cultivate since it's better than soda, since I do have other things to do today and just am not with it, apparently. Now I'm hot and sweaty from doing the dishes and I think I got more water on me than them, but they're all done. I still have to take out the trash and recyclables, as they're full, which I'll do before I go over to YKWIA's at 2 pm, and then I'll apply for that job this evening. Although I did go to bed at a decent hour, I didn't sleep well, accidentally set our four o'clock appointment today for AM, so woke up at 4 am, and then couldn't get back to sleep for a good long while. I don't know. But I'm going to try to keep on track. Next on my agenda, after I cool down under the little fan on my desk, will be to get a shower and get ready to go, then take out the trash, etc. I've got about an hour, so that should take up most of it. :)

Second night in a row that

I've gotten home about 11:30 pm. Going to see if I can have a quiet night at home tomorrow, as we have no appointments and no one's mentioned needing a ride. We'll see. Going to bed now, though. Good night.

What a day!

I left for work at 7 am this morning and got home just a little before 1 am tonight. I"m pooped. Here's what I've been up to, today, in somewhat correct order:

• Worked on a project in the library, did my data entry, referrals, and did the OR reconciliation.
• Had a phone interview for a job in the deli at Kroger, which would help getting some extra money coming in, and they're going to get back at me for an in-store interview once they check the hiring manager's available hours.
• Printed off a possible job at a nearby county public library that is an actual librarian position, not assistant, also part-time, and while it pays less than my data entry position (really), it pays more than Kroger's would.
• Went by the Kroger I'd applied at and discovered that blackberries were still 3 for $5 for some reason, and salmon was on sale, too, so the salmon with blackberry-ginger sauce is back on--yay!
• Bought a newspaper to read about Lexington history.
• Went over to YKWIA's, and took him to and from an evening appointment.
• Did a lot of dishes.
• Helped him bake four old-fashioned Derby pies (I'm better at using a hand mixer than he is, as it's not really made well for left-handed folks.) The pies are for A's annual picnic/fundraiser for a group he's in.
• Watched an episode of 'Cybill' while we were waiting for pies to bake. I love the dog, which is some sort of giant mastiff.
• Did more dishes.
• Took the cooled pies to A and took him to get some soft drinks for tomorrow.
• Dropped YKWIA off and came home.

Tomorrow the only thing I have to do is pick up A from the picnic and take him to work, about mid-afternoon. So I'm thinking cooking may be in the plan for tomorrow. I also will probably make a run to the Good Foods Co-op, as they have lecithin, which is part of the dough conditioner for honey wheat bread I have a recipe for, and it should work nicely in the bread machine, as the author has the same brand and type of machine. I also need to know whether I bought mushrooms the other day. I can't remember if I got the ingredients for the rice pilaf.

I can barely keep my eyes open. I'm heading to bed; good night!

I seldom wake up hungry

But I did, several times throughout the night, so apparently last night's crackers didn't stay with me. This morning my blood sugar was 78, which is on the low end of normal, and almost unheard of for me, and it's probably just as well I got up early (5 am) and checked it. So now I'm having more crackers, but with some peanut butter this time. At least it is actually Wednesday, so I'll get paid late tonight, around midnight.

I've scaled back the new dishes I want to try (yes, I've been somewhat obsessed with food and the recipes I've found, probably because I haven't seen fruits or vegetables in days, except for some papaya and pineapple a co-worker gave me yesterday). Side note: Tropical fruit cups (I think it was by Dole) have red and yellow papaya and pineapple--not mango, which is great, as I am allergic to mango. I think I had a banana one day at work. But I've had almost no vegetables, and the things I've planned are heavy on fresh vegetables. But, one author advised trying no more than three recipes a week when you're beginning to cook to avoid being overwhelmed, and also fresh produce adds up and I can only spend so much. So I'm definitely going to try the blackberry-ginger salmon (the most expensive dish, but blackberries are on sale right now), the eggplant pasta, and the potato leek soup this week, along with the Mexican orange-avocado salad, (Yes, I know, that's actually four.) And I'd like to try the recipe I have for honey wheat bread, as I'm quite comfortable making bread, and it's designed specifically for my machine.

Wow, now that my stomach is satisfied, I'm trying to go back to sleep, even though I had several hours' worth. I may go back to sleep for a little bit--I did get up awfully early. The sun's not even up yet, although it is twilight outside. Maybe till 6:30 am? Then I can still go into work early to make up for the time at the appointment yesterday,

After work

I went over to YKWIA's, helped him with some things as he cooked and afterwards, and then came home. I spent a couple of hours looking at the numbers of getting a second job to help pay the bills, catch up on things, and maybe even put an emergency fund and some savings together (I applied for a Kroger position in addition to the library assistant one from last week). I also looked at how the finances would change in terms of when my full-time job ends next April. After that, I called a friend who had texted me earlier and she and I were on the phone for a good hour and a half. I was getting really hungry, so I put a chickpea patty on a heel of bread along with some salad dressing (as in Miracle Whip, not the stuff you put on salad). Now I have to admit I'm sleepy and perhaps it's time to head on to bed, as I have to be over to YKWIA's about 9 am.

So it's been a productive day--I sent in the Kroger application, looked at finances and was really thinking about ways to deal with the impending loss of job, spent time with friends in person and on the phone, and I also called and complained about a gas station where the manager took my loyalty card, signed in as me, and then took the customer survey without letting on that was what he did, all so they could cheat on their bonus. Since I used to work for the same company, and since I caught him at the kiosk right before he gave my keys back and realised what was going on (although really, they were pretty blatant about it), and I know that this is not how things should work, I reported them. Here's an idea, let the customer complete the customer survey, okay? Anyway, I think I've done enough for one day. Good night.

It's amazing

just how great pinto beans, onion, garlic, Italian herbs, and a bay leaf can smell while slow-cooking in a crock pot. I brought a friend over to my house to kill some time (he's staying at a house that's for sale, and they were doing a showing), so he made coffee, I boiled water, chopped an onion, rinsed the beans, minced garlic, and put that and the herbs into a crock pot and started that cooking. It should be ready by 7:30 pm. Since I was doing that, I went ahead and put the ingredients for my outrageously oatmeal bread recipe into the bread machine and started that. It should be ready about 6 pm. I then took him and dropped him off, came back home, and the apartment smells great. I'm figuring my beans may take the longer cooking time because while they've been kept dry in a tightly sealed container (I have several with those metal 'locks' and o-rings to seal in the freshness), the actual beans are years old. I mostly keep them because they're decorative (I have a 15-bean mix, the pinto beans, some butter beans, garbanzos, and Anasazi beans, plus brown and white rice in these large locking containers.) But I am very poor, so I'm getting into my stash. The recipe called for a pound of some sort of bean, one onion, four cloves of garlic, thyme (I substituted Italian seasoning, which has thyme in it, plus some others I thought would be good), and a bay leaf. I took the $5 I still had in cash and got the head of garlic, reasoning that it would be better than garlic powder, and some bay leaves, because while I could have 'borrowed' one from YKWIA, I have lots of beans, quite a bit of garlic, lots of seasoning, and have one more onion, and probably can get more. So I may subsist on beans for awhile. Look out world; despite not eating red meat or pork for 25 years, and only breaking down one year in that time to eat poultry before I decided that no, I can't kill a chicken myself, I never have particularly processed beans well. But they smell great, and I'm hoping they get tender and taste great, too.

I'm getting sleepy. I've done quite a bit of driving today, cleaned out my friend's litter boxes, been terrified by a beetle, and I am generally feeling lazy while sitting near a sunny window on a warm day. I also have a slight headache. I think I'll lie down until the bread machine goes off; that's in less than an hour. I've cleaned the tub and toilet today; I still need to do the bathroom sink. And I think I'll pick up some things out in the dining and living areas. I don't have to go anywhere till 11 am tomorrow, so I have some time to just hang out and work on the house some. I may do some more reading, too, and I think I'll listen to some Pandora later and maybe watch something on Netflix.

Alright. Here's hoping no bugs come and terrorrise me during my nap. I'll probably write later. :)

That took way too long to recover

I fell asleep while propping my ankle up, and slept for about an hour and a half. It was good rest, mind you, but not what I planned for my day. I got up at 11:30 am, took a shower, and headed over to Kroger for some soda so I could get some caffeine in my system. I know, coffee would be better, and I actually have some coffee and those little Land O'the Lakes Mini-Moos, but I only imbibe coffee occasionally, to be honest. I'm just not into it.

I managed to find a parking spot that may have been a 10-minute spot (it wasn't marked as such, but there were several in that lane that were, so they may have meant it to be). I just ran in, got three items, and was out in probably 6-8 minutes, so it was okay. Driving back actually took longer, since I went the back way to avoid the traffic and got caught just as a light turned red.

I'm eating lunch at the computer, which I probably shouldn't do, as I'm still finding an occasional ant on the computer desk (or even me). But I'm being careful of not getting anything into the laptop keyboard. When I go back to the store with A, I need to make a list, including snacks for tomorrow's game and ant bait, because they're just not going away. Don't get me wrong, I like ants and insects, but not when they're invading my home and food. There's a whole line of them along the window sill right now.

I'm not sure when we're going to the store. They were going to spend some time together and do errands out on the bus (which is good, but it's raining, so they probably are getting wet). The rain is still making me sleepy, and I've feeling a little overwhelmed by the house. Maybe I need to break down what needs to be done on a pad of paper and go from there. And I need to remind myself that it doesn't all have to be done today. I can spend some time reading or listening to music or watching DVDs and that's fine, too.

I got home from the game while it was still light outside

which is almost unheard of. I enjoyed the game--downtime this time, but with getting so little sleep last night, I'm ready to get some rest. I've been researching pregnancy a bit for the game, as I have a character who is pregnant with twins. She's fifteen weeks along (I thought it was thirteen, but gestation is dated from the last period, not from the date of conception, I found out.) One of them is female, the other is male (it's too early to tell by mundane means, but magic is a totally different thing, and after all, this is a horror/sci-fi/fantasy sort of game. And apparently there is active magic going on with the babies already, even though they haven't been born, so it looks like we'll have a couple more special kids in the game, to join the ranks of fairy princesses and shapeshifters.)

Before we played, as I was doing my normal game preparations, I also did my laundry, which had piled up for two weeks rather than the regular one, so that's good. I'd taken the sheers over there to be evaluated, and he liked them. so I washed those, too. I think one rod will work, but the other window will need a different one, as my bigger window rod doesn't collapse down far enough. So today was productive over there. I'd like to do a bit around here--I still need to take out the trash and recyclables, for example, and tomorrow isn't good because I'll probably be there late due to an appointment. But I'm already in my sleep shirt, and I'm pretty comfy and don't want to put regular clothes back on to take that out. But I've got my alarm already set for 6 am, so I might be able to take care of it in the morning.

I've been home almost an hour, listening to Pandora again (this time it's the OneRepublic channel, so stuff like them, Imagine Dragons, The Fray, and Maroon V). I've got the windows up, the fan going in the living room, and I have one small light on. With it getting dark outside, there's not much light in here, and I'm getting pretty sleepy. I really don't want to go to bed yet--I'd like to make it to 10 pm. I also need to go looking for one of my medicines--I accidentally put it in a bag of meds rather than my bookbag, and put another one in there instead. So I didn't have it today. I also need to go ahead and take my Lantus so I can keep on track with my injectible medication schedule as well. I just checked my Habitica tasks--I apparently forgot to mark my dailies off yesterday, even though I did them, which is unfortunate, as I lost hit points for my avatar. But I've marked things off for tonight, anyway. I was also sure to wish a co-worker happy birthday today on Facebook. She and her family went to the Louisville Zoo today. :)

Okay, I think I'm going to go in-between and instead of going to bed, which would necessitate closing the windows, I'll prop myself back on the couch recliner. But I'll sign off for now. Good night.

Heaven help me, I fell asleep doing the notes

at the climax, no less, when one of Brenda's characters had shot an Elder Thing that was opening a time portal to our time from the Jurassic era and when we went to retrieve the tools that were creating the portal, the sight of six shoggoths barrelling down upon us caused her other character (who'd had previous experience with the horrors) to go mad. He was knocked out, thrown over a shoulder, the objects were retrieved, and we ran like mad back to our time machine.

I love the Cthulhu game. But I did fall asleep in my chair for just about three minutes, and had to go back and listen again. Now the notes are finished. I think it took about three hours, and we only played for about four. I'm going to go take a nap, then get up and get some stuff done around here. The late afternoon sun is streaming in the windows and making me sleepy, I think. :)

Back to normal--

or at least, back to normal for me. The medication kicked in and I got some rest. I had a little trouble getting up this morning, but I felt better than I have in days and got a lot accomplished. Today and tomorrow are my catch up day for the library and all those little tasks I have for the revenue cycle aspect of my job.

Earlier I took a friend to our family doctor and went to the allergist myself (which was, fortunately, across the street from his appointment). I got a good report from the allergist and was able to start my allergy shots back up, only having to take a few steps down to a lower phial. But I'll build my way back up fairly quickly, she said. I'm going to try to go tomorrow and get another shot, as there's no harm in doing them one day after the other, but I have to go to the pharmacy, too, so we'll see if I have time for both. I think I will, anyway. Afterwards we got some food at Taco Bell (a much better experience than last time), went over to his house, and we watched an episode of 'Scream Queens' on Hulu and ate. Later, we watched 'Heroes Reborn'. Then I came home right before the UK-Auburn football game let out, yay, and got home just in time to see the final score (a close game overall, but Auburn won). UK has not had a Thursday night game since 1939, and they had much to do to make it run smoothly as far as traffic is involved, especially after the Luke Bryan Farm Tour concert that left Tates Creek road a virtual parking lot for hours on end, just a bit ago.

Okay, I'm sleepy, and it's time for bed--my phone application has told me so. I'm going to sign off. Good night.

Ah, I knew that thunderstorm was coming!

It's raining, but not terribly, but the there's thunder and I'm glad I'm inside and away from the pool. It's very dark in here, even with the lights on. Instead of doing anything particularly useful, I've been on Facebook and joined Nextdoor (it's a community where you can post things to your neighbours and keep in contact). Caffeine or no caffeine, the rain is making me sleepy. Must. Resist.

We watched the last two episodes of 'Hart of Dixie' that were on Netflix today

That's it for for now, until they get the rest on the streaming service. My understanding is that the show may not be returning next year, and if so I will be sad to see the camera turn away from the town of Bluebell. It's not my normal sort of show at all [I tend to go for ones with a supernatural element to them], but I must admit that it's the only one in a long time that I wake up, take a shower, and while the water's falling on me, I wonder how the crazy people and their relationships are doing.

By the time we'd gotten around to maybe watching 'Grimm', though, I was winding down for the evening and not really up to watching anything else tonight. About two or three hours of video will do it for me; I can't really binge watch well. Plus, I have game notes to do. I feel a nap coming on first, though, after I get something to eat. I've been sleepy most of the day, and a little achy with the cooler weather brought on by so much rain lately. It was sunny today, at least, though,

I started out this morning feeling pretty rested and well

although I've been sitting outside in the sun (albeit in cooler weather) watching A expand a flower bed with a spade to even up the two in the front yeard on either side of the porch. Sitting in the sun made me a little sleepy, though, and it was relaxing sitting there and talking with him about various things. Once he started the cleanup process, I took the spade and transplanted a solitary crocus from the lawn to the flower bed with the other ones. It always gets mown down and then you can't find it again to move it, and they haven't had to mow yet this year, so it seemed a plan.

I came in to wash my hands, and decided to stay in for awhile. The dogs are whining because A is still out there and they like it when their daddy is inside. One of the cats is running back and forth and meowing, begging the other one to play with him. YKWIA apparently came to bed awfully late, so even though it's noon, I haven't tried to wake him. I should be working on the game notes, and I will, but for now I thought I'd come online and do a little writing.

Today I paid my rent, came over here and visited, and I've eaten breakfast and lunch and have taken my meds. I brought the birthday cake a co-worker made for me to share with A and YKWIA. A had a piece for breakfast. :) It's a yummy chocolate cake with chocolate chips in it and chocolate frosting, with those little ball-like sprinkles. It's very chocolate-y. Today's plans are going to the grocery store, watching two episodes of 'Grimm' and maybe 'iZombie', and just hanging out and spending some time together. A is going to watch the Final Four games tonight, especially Kentucky vs. Wisconsin. I'll hopefully be back home by then and working on the notes if I haven't gotten them done by then.

Okay, I think I"ll go sit in a chair and rest my eyes for a bit. I won't go to sleep, but maybe it will help me be less sleepy. I shouldn't feel tired (I wasn't the one using the spade to dig, for example), but I am for some reason. Granted, I didn't go to bed until later than normal last night, but I did sleep well. So I don't get it. (And no, I haven't had any cake yet today to mess with my blood sugar.)

It's rumbling outside and very dark for a summer morning

as the rain comes down gently. We really needed the rain, and I wasn't really going anywhere, so I can't complain. The window boxes made it through the night without falling off the ledges (yes, if I were in a house, I'd have them on brackets, but I'm in an apartment, so it is what it is.) I slept over nine hours and it was lovely to sleep in on a Sunday for a change. I've taken all my medication (including the potassium, which dissolved in my mouth, but I drank so quickly it went down before I tasted it). I've had just a little hazelnut spread on bread and I'm full already. I'm switching to just plain acetaminophen today. I'm charging my glucometer. I've been up doing some things, but I'm already feeling sleepy again, which probably isn't surprising given how dark things are outside, even though I've been up for only about an hour. It looks like it's starting to lighten up out there, though. Maybe it's clearing off a bit. The birds are singing, anyway. Maybe I'll try some reading....

In some ways

I felt better on the day of surgery than today. Maybe it was a combination of the fluids and anaesthetic. You can tell every time I've been up by when I posted today (well, and yesterday, too), usually at a half an hour a time. But I think I've actually slept more today. Since A left, I've pretty much just gotten up to eat and then went right back to bed, for longer and longer periods at a time. For example, He left around 11:45 am. I woke up about 1:30, then 3:30, then 7:30, and now 11:30. The last time I went to bed I listened to music for awhile and put my phone on to charge, because we're supposed to have storms tonight (in fact, a warning just popped up on my phone). Because I'd gone over 6 hours without my pain medicine, I was in quite a bit of pain around 7:30 (I'd taken it when A left). Even elevating the leg hurt some, so I finally just went on my side with a pillow between my legs, and that was more comfortable. I'm going to take some more in just a bit so that I can get back to sleep comfortably, even though it will be just over four-and-a-half hours this time.

I am beginning to regret the decision not to get any soda for my time off from driving. Water is better, and I'm drinking quite a bit, but going cold turkey from caffeine maybe wasn't such a good plan. That and the pain medicine combines to make me very sleepy every time I do try to get up and maybe surf the net or do something not strenuous but engaging the mind, like read. I know I should get some rest, but it's a little frustrating. Maybe tomorrow I can do a little more. I'm going to try to cut back on the medicine to half starting tomorrow afternoon if I can, so by Monday I can switch to regular acetaminophen.

The wind is really starting to pick up outside. I hope my window boxes don't get blown off. I managed to water all the plants earlier, including the ones outside, and thought about putting them down on the ground, but decided that was too much bending.

Okay, I'm sleepy already (and I haven't even taken the medicine yet.) I'm going to go take that and head back to the bedroom. Sorry I'm not good company. But all in all, the surgery went well and the recovery is progressing well so far. Hopefully it will continue to do so.