3:00 AM

I thought that I finally had my insomnia under control; it has been a couple weeks since I have had consecutive late nights. But, again it has reared its ugly head, sleeplessness; and oh do I mean ugly head. After having suffered from this for some time I am a firm believer in beauty sleep; and let me tell you without sleep I am no beauty. OF course this outbreak has some backing. My roommate's father just had a tumor removed from behind his left eye...I just started MY BUSINESS...my friend is coming up to alaska to visit for week...and the list goes on.
It is crazy how some people can sleep entire days away while some of us wish to sleep an hour away. Of course I don't help myself go to bed. I avoided doing any of my chores until late this evening...after having done everything in my power to avoid them. I took the dogs with me to dinner, lost them in the neighborhood, drove around the neighborhood, watched Viva La Bam -ya , I was desperate to avoid the looming dishes and laundry and vaccuuming and so on. SO, finally after finding myself sifting through the men on Yahoo personnals, uh hu, I was desperate for any distraction, I slipped in some blues, poured a glass of wine and went to town.
If only I had done that this afternoon...I could have already taken my tylenol Pm and passed out. BUT instead it is 3:09AM.
CA

Pressure's Off

RING:" Hello"
Caller:"Hey, what are you doin'?"
One thought ran through my head "WHAT?"
I was sitting on the couch when the phone rang; expecting a call from someone else I was stunned into silence by the sound of his voice; his familiar southern drawl. Yes, this is the cowboy that I went to visit in Texas. But he is an ex now. We split about three weeks after my trip. We ended amiacably, still friends and talking; thinking that if I were closer we would be together.
So, how is it that he always found some excuse for not calling me when we were together but now he calls like it is nothing. I mean twice this week; yes twice this week I have answered the phone to hear that voice that I used to wait for. Sitting idly by waiting for my phone to show his name on caller id and now, I am blown away, twice in one week. It seems like when there was a title on the relationship there was too much pressure for him.
But then when we were together I could hardly use endearing terms like honey. He used to ask why and I would force them out akwardly. And now I catch myself using them; they just slide out in the middle of our conversations. "Ah, honey"; I mean where is that coming from?
I guess that when you lose the titles the Pressure's Off.
ca aka cmt

Alaska or Bust

It's hard to believe how long it takes vacation to arrive and how quickly it goes. My week in Alaska was the shortest of the year. It was a great time...an opportunity for Les Trois Soeurs to spend time together, exploring more of Cmt's backyard. She and her roommate were gracious hosts and took us all over the state, literally. Five women and three large dogs crammed into a Dodge Durango with camping gear and groceries was quite a sight. We encountered just one burly, now-Alaskan man on our travels (let us not forget the firefighters - thanks T) and drooled all the while. I did see moose this year - my first spotting was on the way into Palmer, fighting long blinks after our flight...I looked up and hollered, "MOOSE!" just in time for Cmt to avoid more than sightseeing. We saw a lot...took a mini road trip to Portage (where Portage Glacier sits), Girdwood, and saw Hatcher's Pass (once a mining town - my favorite). We went to Denali National Park and camped outside the park, a beautiful place. We enjoyed a nice hike and a bit of wildlife....on the way back to the car I mis-stepped and saw my life flash before my eyes. Not quite sure what happened, but remember thinking, "Dear Jesus..." "I don't want to die, or break anything, or eww bugs..." I think I did a full somersault and the brush stopped me. Cat and T said it didn't sound good. <My ankle is still sore and I'm trying to remember if it is the same ankle I fractured in the 8th grade - note to self: do not dance to La bamba while going down the stairs...dangerous.>
We went up to Fairbanks and camped on the Chenu River. Camping is a blast and I have decided I want to do more of it. It is not a past time to feel pretty or like a girl, or even good for one's complexion- but it is great to get away and sit around the fire. After discussion the next morning, we decided a moose had come very close to our tent, there was snorting and breathing and, yes, fresh moose poo the next morning. We went to Matanuska Glacier - after signing a waiver explaining we may DIE, we went out and walked on the glacier, I think I could've stayed out there for hours, but the rain game and a moving land form didn't seem like the place to be standing.
Hours before leaving we ate a good meal at the Glacier Brewhouse. I went all out again this year and had crab legs!
It was great to see Cmt and T and meet T's friend. They were great hostesses and really went out of their way to show us around. You should be proud of your home and backyard... it is a great place and was a terrific trip.
-J
This trip sponsored by mom and dad - thank you very much, wouldn't have happened without your generosity.