Morning is Too Early...

Yesterday I awoke, much to my displeasure, at 4:30am.  Today my alarm went off and I could only hit snooze before I sank back into oblivion for five minutes.  It was not actually five minutes.  Of that I am certain, because a second later my adrenalin was pumping because the alarm had gotten past the snooze time of "five minutes" and was buzzing again.  I hit cancel and rolled back to sleep.  10 minutes later, with haze in my head and fog in my eyes, I meandered down the hallway, thankful that I had taken the time to premake coffee.  All I had to do was turn it on and it would do the rest!

I sat in a daze until the brew was sufficient to fill a cup.  I clumped in with one eye open and poured a cup.  Only now am I beginning to feel more human and less zombie.  Not that eating humans was at all a possibility, simply that I felt unclear and unfocused until the coffee kicked in.  How humans exist on TEA alone in the morning is beyond me.  I need that full flavor to creep into my flesh and make me whole after a too-short night of sleep.

Middle school today and a trip to Naches this afternoon over a potential long-term sub job.  Wish me luck.

On a different note, I think we are going to be staying home to clean the house.  To this point we have not had to clean except for company and what surpasses our ability to ignore mess.  I am proud to say our capacity to ignore mess has grown and might now make our mothers faint.  I think, also, I have, over the years, come to a conclusion:  Why fold the clothes and put them in a dresser if they are just going to come right back out again?  Saves time to just leave them in the pile.

  Another important development is the coming of "Steamfresh."  This nifty little ability of our dryer makes ironing certain clothes completely and utterly un-necessary!  In 21 minutes your clothes are unwrinkled and fresh and warm and I look like a hundred dollars (I not gonna lie, it'd take a good deal more than fresh clothing to make me look like a million dollars, and I set low goals, so I am often pleased!).

Well, maybe I'll take some photos this weekend.  Seems there is always something to take a picture of.  Yesterday, I saw two helicopters in formation.  I had my camera ready and snapped a few.  I'd show you, but the pictures were for identification purposes and not for the viewing of discerning people...which could also mean they helicopters appear as insignificant dots, but when enlarged will show enough detail for me to verify the aircraft type.  Usually, very boring for normal folks...but then, do I really have "normal" readers?

Well, time for another gallon of coffee and maybe I'll be ready to face the day.  Happy first day of October!  And happy Friday!!!!!

A Certain Time of Morning

It was that certain time of morning where you can get up refreshed or try to get back to sleep and be assured of a hard wake-up later.  I chose to getup.  I have had my coffee IV in since 4:15AM...some 45minutes before I even want to THINK about getting up. I have already been outside and noted that it is mild and summer-like.  I expect today to be a warm one.  I like this quiet time of the morning.  No one is stirring, not even me, since i like my coffee black.

I guess I could go for a walk, but that would require getting dressed and letting Cora know my whereabouts, and quite honestly, I think waking her at this time in the morning might be asking for trouble.  I will remain here, sipping my coffee, which is bold and strong and smells so nice.  All I hear is the babble from the fish tank filters and the gentle moan of my chair as I rock slowly to and fro.  Oh, and also the tap-tap-tap of my keyboard.

Once in awhile one of the dogs steps out into the cool night air and they can be tracked via their nails on the floor and the slap-slap of the dog door.  I could read a book, or take my camera outside and see what kind of morning shots I could get.  I noticed that Jupiter is not far from the moon this morning, probably something astronomers knew months ago, but it was a pleasant surprise to me when I stepped out this morning.

How many of you know which planet is Jupiter and which is Venus?  How many of you really give a damn at this time of morning...(crickets chirping) ...that's what I thought.

Well, it seems Friday is here again.  I will be secure in the knowledge that a strange charade will play out in the next week.  I have the singular position of senior maintenance sub.  I have been working as a maintenance sub for five years now.  I am familiar with every one of the maintenance staff and it seems, given yesterdays turn of events, I am in charge of making sure a ton of things gets done...why me?  Dunno.  Could be because of my charm and good looks.  Either way, I need to make sure a number of things get done and if they do that my "crew" stays busy.  Which would be great, but they don't all have those wonderful qualities that I do.

One of them does not know how to drive a stick (manual transmission).  A different one does not have his own car and apparently sees no need to (which is something the rest of us have discussed at length as being somewhat un-American) since he can have his mother or step-father drop him off where ever he wants to be (A. This would annoy me to have to wait for other people, B. I think you have to be crazy or insanely unconcerned with being in control of your life to do this).  And another can be trusted with certain things, but needs to have a certain amount of guidance (he will take over something I have started...leaving me to wonder why he could not have been doing it himself the whole time...).

Also, as if that isn't enough, I have to try and make sure Hose B is not left with Hose A or Hose C, as neither of them seem to like Hose B, and Hose B is of the opinion that everyone is beneath his lofty intellect and therefore unworthy of socialization.  JEEZ, dude!  Just a little conformity will go a long way toward fitting in and making others a little more comfortable with your presence.

Instead, Hose B insists on brushing his teeth for a lengthy period of time (up to ten minutes) AT THE LUNCH TABLE, often just whipping out the toothbrush in the midst of conversation.  He also prefers to use a 15 letter word when two 3 letter words will suffice.  He has been known to begin his phone greetings with "Greetings, Sir, am I to believe we are not to be meeting at X School, as I am unable to ascertain the presence of other employees."  (He could have said, "Are we meeting here?  Nobody else is here yet.")  He has a habit of placing his forehead on the table when the conversation being carried on by us low-lifes is not sufficiently intellectual for him...which is most of the time.  To say he is difficult would be to understate the discomfort he affords others.  I have been sending him off to do lonesome tasks since, when he is out of sight, he is...out of sight.

Well, I guess I could go get ready for work by thinking up a few more nasty projects for them that I want to avoid.  You see, there are perks to being at the top.  I lead by example, unless they can't see me.

Oh, as sort of an update, we are getting more and more coloring books ready.  I am going in to make more copies tomorrow.  Hopefully about five-hundred books will be enough.  Of course, if we sell out, I won't complain.  Cora has been working her tail off making crayon rolls and has finished a fair few!  Everyone is invited to come out to the Moxee Hop Festival!  We will have a table there and it is FREE!!  There is live music and lots of fun for the family!  AND a fireworks show!!    

Tired

So, I have been waking up at about 430am and I usually get up at 500am.  That extra little half hour is kicking my buttocks!  I went to bed early last night but still woke up early.  Rather than wait for the alarm i get up, since the alarm will just pull me from a great dream.

The heat has been nice.  I guess I may be part reptile. Still, even reptiles seek the shade.  I have done the same.  Especially at work.  We have been making progress at work.  Still have to poke Twinky with a stick to make him move.  Apparently that is why I am losing one of my better workers for two days to help someone else...because I have to be kept with Twinky poking him to make him work.

I bought a D90 book yesterday!  Hurrah!  I know I am going to love that camera...I'll most likely sleep next to it and it will go everywhere with me and I will name it George and I will hug him and squeeze him.  Oh, what a camera!!

Well, i have to get moving.  Another grueling day working in the hot sun.  Gotta love it!