Awake and Alert

Song Lyric of the Day:

Gal nobody can’t tell you nuttin’ / Can you done know your destiny

Sean Paul / “Get Busy”

7:51PM.
My work week is already half over. Today was a really good day in that I was actually the most awake I’ve been so far. Maybe I’m starting to adjust to the early-to-bed-early-to-rise routine. Which is a relief.

I’m still waiting for my clearance. There’s only one area where I can walk around unescorted, an area which is surrounded by chain link fence. Inside is safe, outside is bad. Terrible things will happen to me should I step outside the fence. It’s all very Land of the Dead-ish.

As of right now, I’m looking forward to my weekend plans with Rich–we’re planning on working on home improvement projects that have been forced into purgatory the last couple of weeks. My first Friday off at the end of my first week of work was fun. I slept in (duh) and did some light shopping. By light shopping I mean gift card shopping; I still had balances on my Bath & Body Works gift card and a couple of Best Buy gift cards. My crowning shopping achievement of the day was at Best Buy, where I got them to price match the season 1 box set of 24 to Target’s sale price of $19.99. After I used my gift cards, I ended up only paying $4 and change for the box set. Rich high-fived me when I told him–the hubby is very supportive of my bargain-hunting and shopping prowess. And it didn’t hurt matters that I bought him the new Depeche Mode CD, Playing the Angel, as a tangible birthday gift. His actual gift having been the Coldplay concert.

I’m still dealing with internet withdrawal while at work. If they would even just let me peek at CNN.com or another news site during lunch, I’d be a happy little camper. I’m dealing, but it really sucks. Not to mention, I can’t update my blog like I used to. Now, instead, I’m earning money. But I can still bitch and moan about not having internet access during my very long work days.

Tonight I was extra motivated to hop on the computer since I had a good day at work and, as I mentioned before, I’m actually pretty awake, so I had energy for the first time in days. I checked my email (sorry, everyone–I’ll be behind for a while) and saw a headline that stunned me: “Dana Reeve Dies of Lung Cancer at 44.” I can’t believe she died. She was too young, and the fact that as a non-smoker she died of lung cancer is too cruel a twist of fate. My heart goes out to her entire family, especially her and Christopher Reeve‘s son, Will, who at age 13 has had to endure more than anyone should have to endure in an entire lifetime, much less by such a young age. If Christopher and Dana‘s story taught us anything, it’s that love is what sees you through the darkest of days, when your heart can bear no more, when your spirit is hurt beyond all imagining. I only wish Dana had outlived her husband by more than a mere 17 months; she had so much more to do. She and her husband left not only an amazing legacy of love to comfort Will, Matthew, and Alexandra, but something truly tangible in the Christopher Reeve Foundation–a legacy of hope. The Reeve and Morosini families have my deepest sympathy. I’m sure they know they’re not alone in grieving the loss of a truly amazing, selfless, inspirational woman.

8:38PM.
Time to give the poochies treats. While out and about Friday, I finally popped into River Dog Bakery on Northshore Drive. I’d noticed it during the dozens of occasions driving home after taking one of the kids to the vet and couldn’t stop in until now. Let me just say that Snoops and Caleb are thrilled that I did. I bought them the large dog sampler (a baker’s dozen, $8.99 + tax), and they have loved every treat they’ve tried. I can’t tell what they like the most–the brownies, the cookies, the peanut butter pups (all made with dog-friendly ingredients). And, like the bakery owner told me so many other dogs have, Snoops and Caleb quickly came to recognize the simple brown box that holds their new favorite treats. I’m definitely planning a return visit to stock up on more treats. Maybe Rich and I can even take the dogs in for a visit soon.