I gots some sleep. Mmm. Sleep. And I even slept in 'late', considering I've been waking up at 4 freaking 30 every day for the past 3 weeks. I have to say that I am not a fan of the wildly alternating day-night cycle, even after living here 10 years. I can't sleep once the sun's been up a while. That means, in the winter? I'm asleep on my feet until the sun comes UP. Bleargh.

But this morning, I'm feeling pretty good. Sure. We're up a narrow creek with finances, stuff needs repairing, the dog's all gimpy, and DSO's health has been shaky at best this week.

But I still feel pretty good. Oddly, I've been in a mood to write rituals...and have two sitting here. They'll probably never see the light of day, but they feel good, and it's a good exercise, I suppose, in creative writing.

*pause*

Great. So. Just saw a news story about Portland, OR. I guess that during the Rose Festival Parade, people have traditionally gone down, used tape to mark off prime areas, and declared those spots 'there'. So now, a group of vigilante tape-removers, jealous that people have been marking spots for more than a week, have detaped the areas. Only the West Coast could have a RIOT come to fruition over a freaking parade. Gads. Definately an entry in the dumber than thou department.

*unpause*

I've been exercising more, with laps around my block when I get home in the evening. Hopefully, that will alleviate some of my inner stress, and I won't look like a beached whale come FoL. I'll still be pasty-white, but not so jiggly.

*pause*

Goodness Gracious. Hansa died. The elephant at WPZ. Oh man. That's awful. I remember seeing her when she was just a few hours old! I worked at WPZ as a ticket taker that summer, and the keepers were keeping everything hushhush. I mean, EVERYONE knew Chai was due to deliver, but it was quite the pleasure and surprise when she was born. The media hadn't even been alerted yet, when they let everyone who was on opening crew 'sneak' down and peek at her for a few seconds...

We were just at the zoo a month ago, and decided against going to see her...the kids weren't that interested in seeing the elephants. I feel sort of...well. I missed the opportunity.

I wonder what will become of the others; I know this is going to send the animal activists into a frothing frenzy.

*unpause*

Well, that last news story sort of took the wind right out of my sails.

Think I'll go have some hot cocoa and snuggle the dog.

CJ