Crickets

Well, frogs actually.

I have the bedroom window wide open and I can hear them. I love it. I loved hearing coyotes more as I went to sleep but there has been too much development around us since we've moved in and the coyotes have found other houses to howl at.

So now it's frogs. I feel like I'm camping or that my wildest fantasy has come true and I now own a lakefront cabin. Either way, I'm feeling pretty content in my alternate reality. 

Content enough to ignore my neighbor two doors down who keeps mooing like a cow. He has a fire pit, the smoke from which is being sucked into my bedroom adding to my camping virtual experience. I'm not sure why he's mooing though. Must be a country boy missing his home.

As for me, if I don't turn off this phone right away I'm going to miss my chance to fall asleep reading as I do each night and that would be a damn shame.

Goodnight loyal but tiny following. Goodnight stars, goodnight air... Goodnight noises everywhere.

2 am

2am thoughts can be skewed.

When my son was a newborn I hated 2 am. He wasn't big on sleeping (and still isn't 8 years later) and I often found myself up with him at that time. I'd sit rocking him in a chair by his bedroom window thinking longingly of my warm bed. I know some people love those middle of the night moments but I've always preferred them during the day after a full night's rest. :) 

I'd sit in that chair gazing out the window at the blackness of night and darkened windows, firmly believing that I was the only one awake in the universe at that time. 

2 am thoughts can be skewed.

8 years later - not much has changed. I still hate 2am. I *am* the only one awake in the universe. :)  This time I don't have a newborn to fuel my irrational night thoughts. This time I have only an over active brain that thinks too much for 2am...

2am thoughts can be skewed.

Nothing rational can come of 2am thoughts. 2am thoughts are usually overly dramatic or sentimental with only a gossamer thread of reality woven through. At least I'm clever? enough to keep my thoughts to myself tonight instead of typing them and feeling silly in the morning when reality shines its harsh light on my fanciful thoughts leaving me feeling somewhat foolish and remorseful...

Because 2am thoughts can be skewed.

Pink13 - ITSM Conference

Had a wonderful time at the conference.  Attended a session in almost every timeslot which meant from 7:15am until 5pm and then the nightly reception from 5-7pm.  I won't talk about what I learned in the sessions here as I'm guessing my whole 10 readers are not into ITIL so instead I'll post some pictures of the food and drinks from the receptions:

This was one of the welcome treats upon registration.  Yum!

One night the evening reception served mashed potato martini's.  There were 3 different kinds to choose from.  They were delicious and now I want some glasses like this so I can make them at home!

Another night there we had mac and cheese martinis.  Again - there was a choice of which one to take. This one was the homestyle one and it was great.

These pink drinks were served each night and were really good...and free.  :)

The highlight of the trip was when our team won the ITSM Project of the year!!  We are on their website here:

http://www.pinkelephant.com/Pink14/ConferenceOverview/IT-Excellence-Awards/

Bellagio

Back in February I was sent to a conference called Pink13 - An IT Service Management conference.

We got to stay in the Bellagio!

Here are some room pics!

and the view from my window

I tried the $20 trick but it failed.  She said the hotel was totally full for the conference.  She looked disappointed as she handed back my $40 (i figured I had to up it for the Bellagio!).  The room was very clean and quiet.  I thought the wallpaper was terrible, but the dresser/closet nice.  The bathtub was deep and the shower spacious.  I ended up with a double queen so switched beds each night.  LOL

Night Musings

3:15am...sent out an email.  LOL

In haiku...

Late night couch is cold
Fireplace cravings ensue
I go back in time

Or

Wool blanket warms
Will bake bread in morning
Winter can bite my ass now

Bamboo gone wild...

I was just cleaning up from supper and caught a glimpse of my bamboo from the corner of my eye. Apparently I don't pay attention often because I think its doubled in size. I eagerly await it becoming bean stock size so I can climb up and have a look around.

Random thoughts - Direct from the source

It's 2:02am... The furnace is on and I'm awake.

I like to Imagine that I'm one of those people who can pack for vacation and use the tiny suitcase. You know the one. It's almost carry on size and its cute.

In reality I own the biggest suitcase known to man and pack everything but the kitchen sink making that suitcase weigh more than my overflowing laundry basket.

I think this work trip will be worse than usual because I need to bring my work wardrobe and personal life wardrobe . You think I was indecisive before? This has the potential to reach epic proportions.

With the blogger app working somewhat reliably I'm considering documenting the piles of laundry here because its bound to help someone. Perhaps someone will say " hey - that's how I pack" and feel like we are kindred packing spirits. Or maybe they will look at my packing pile, shake their head sadly and consider passing on a therapists name. In which case it will help them feel better about themselves not having such a sad affliction. Still other people will see that I am actually posting photos of packing a suitcase and decide that this is the post that makes them realize they should be reading better quality blogs. All the power to you bored readers. I have my 1 fan and they'll either forgive me or love me more. Lol

It's 2:17am and I was going to start telling you about my very first facial experience but I think I might be better off going to sleep and talking about that later. :)

Night Musings...

Sent to Seth at 3am:

Mix of work and not work....

Lesson 1: the 80% factor i mentioned fri morning may need to be
reevaluated to an 85%.

 Lesson 2:  once over the age of 35, even vitamin water drank in the
evening  can warrant a 3am trip for Zantec. Zantec is my friend but
not a fan of needing to sit up for 30 min waiting for it to kick in.

Lesson 3: when woken up by lessons 1 and 2, I learned lesson 3...
Middle of the night musings are like Mogwi... Don't feed them after
midnight or they breed nasty little gremlin friends.

Lesson 4:  (snipped for work content)

Lesson 5: not everyone should be teased

Lesson 6: just because I think a cold is leaving doesn't mean it is
so. Send new lungs stat.

Lesson 7:  sitting up and being awake at this time gives me unpleasant
flashbacks of holding a colicky baby boy and wondering if I'd ever
sleep again.  Lesson learned : not all memories are as fun to relive
as junior high school dances and old diaries.

Lesson 8: sitting cross legged on a couch covered in blankets at 3am
causes my left foot to go numb. Lesson: don't sit like that

Lesson 9: winter sucks. Retire somewhere warm.

Lesson 10: naps should be taken whenever possible - ideally 15-20
minutes long. I think 1pm sounds like a good time for this... And
maybe another if I can squeeze it in.

To wrap it up are two errant thoughts... 1. If I lose 5 more pounds in
2 weeks - I will drop a jean size and can buy new ones at Macy's. this
appeals to me. :)
2. 4 nights in Vegas. Will I wake up thinking stuff or sleep like a
baby ( not the colicky one but the sleepy second one)? Hmm... Shall
see...

Sent from my iPhone

Cleaning Combs

That's right - I cleaned combs today.

I had my shower this morning, reached for my comb and stopped - ewwww! Product build up!

Years ago this would have resulted in me calling my Mom and being frustrated because it's curling season and she wouldn't have been home.  Today I used my iPhone and asked Siri how to clean combs.  20 min later my comb was sitting in a measuring cup of baking soda and water.  A couple hours later - it was completely clean.  I love the internet.  :)

I thought up a much more interesting post this morning but then I had a nap and it drifted away...

Vegas Baby!

I found out from work last week that they are sending me to a conference in Las Vegas!! Woohoo!!

I'm very excited!  The conference is at the Bellagio - so fancy!

Husband isn't able to come - but I am going with my boss and his boss.

I love conferences.  I always leave them feeling all motivated and full of ideas.  Combine that with escaping everyday life for a while and I come back feeling even more refreshed!!

The next few weeks better fly by - I'm so excited already!!