Dreams

I guess you can tell I've finally been getting some rest...now that all the stress and nonsense of working life has been put on hold for two weeks.  (YAY!!)

I had probably the most disturbing dream I think I've had in forever this morning.

Long story short there was a 'puppy' Kate and a 'now' Kate.

PS - This is Kate:

Anyway - long dream short - we were at this creek and 'now' Kate jumped in and was swimming and I was worried because it was really cold.  Then I looked up and 'puppy' Kate jumped in too but wasn't coming up.  All I could see was this little circle of yellow under the water.  So I ran to the water (taking my gloves off on the way - random right?) and jumped in to get her.

Apparently jumping into water in a dream does wake you up.   (I've heard that before - jumping/falling into water, crashing into something, any sudden impact - will wake you up.)  But I woke up so cold and scared.  It was so weird.  I'm still kind of troubled by it.  Partially because I was upset when I woke up b/c I was confused and didn't know if I got her out of the water.

Dreams... geez... I'd really like to be able to decode them.  I wish that was an accurate science.

Two things:

1.  So glad I get to see my favorite goofy, yellow dog niece soon.

2.  I guess even restful dreams (not stress induced ones) can be traumatic.

First Casualty of the Season

Thomas - 1
Christmas Decoration - 0

This Cat

This Fat Cat...

This Wild (look-at-me-I'm-outside) Cat...

This Clingy-as-soon-as-you-get-in-bed-I-get-in-bed Cat...

This Creeper  I-creepily-watch-you-when-I-think-you-don't-know-it Cat...

This I'll-plant-myself-on-your-chest-so-you-can't-read-but-HEY!-you-can-pet-me-instead Cat...  

I could Eat. Him. Up. I love him so.

YUM

Dear Dad,

Crab salad for lunch is ALMOST as tasty (yes...even the 3rd and 4th days) as fresh crab legs, baked potatoes and salad for dinner.

I know this from experience now.

Thank you Thank you Thank you!  :)

Love,

Me

Truths

LOL truths:  

"LOL" but srsly!!  SO TRUE!! 

Truth Truths:  

Land of the Free...Home of the Brave

I'm just trying to be a father,

Raise a daughter and a son,

Be a lover to their mother,

Everything to everyone.

Up and at 'em bright and early,

I'm all business in my suit,

Yeah, I'm dressed up for success

from my head down to my boots,

I don't do it for the money, there's bills that I can't pay,

I don't do it for the glory, I just do it anyway,

Providing for our futures, my responsibility,

Yeah I'm real good under pressure, being all that I can be,

And I can't call in sick on Mondays

when the weekend's been too strong,

I just work straight through the holidays,

And sometimes all night long.

You can bet that I stand ready when the wolf growls at the door,

Hey, I'm solid, hey I'm steady, hey I'm true down to the core,

And I will always do my duty,

no matter what the price,

I've counted up the cost,

I know the sacrifice,

Oh, and I don't want to die for you,

But if dying's asked of me,

I'll bear that cross with an honor,

'Cause freedom don't come free.

I'm an American Soldier, an American,

Beside my Brothers and my Sisters I will proudly take a stand.

When liberty's in jeopardy I'll always do what's right.

I'm out here on the front lines, sleep in peace tonight.

American Soldier,

I'm an American Soldier.

Happy Veteran's Day!!  To the best Dad in the world... and every other Veteran out there...   

Thanks Richard...this is awesome.  

God Gave Me You

I know I'm a little late to the party...but I LOVE this song.

For Nick...

I’ve been a walking heartache

I’ve made a mess of me

The person that I’ve been lately

Ain’t who I wanna be

But you stay here right beside me

And watch as the storm blows through

And I need you

Cause God gave me you for the ups and downs

God gave me you for the days of doubt

And for when I think I lost my way

There are no words here left to say, it’s true

God gave me you...

***

As always, I'm so thankful and grateful for all the wonderful people in my life.  I'm not going to do a repeat of last year with a "thing" or person I'm thankful for each day.  But it needs repeating... Sometimes we just have to stop thinking about all the mess we have surrounding us and look at who we have surrounding us.  Take a look around.  You might be surprised at what (who) you see.  

I love you all.  

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween...

and HELLO Winter!

Oh My Jesus!  Is it cold!

Not complaining.

I think this is how Halloween should feel.

But wow.  Just wow.  Had to break out a sweater AND coat this morning.  :)

*happy jen*

Happy Things

Cell phone picture overload...

The BEST part of this season.

Pumpkin decorations...  *LOVE*

Home cooked dinners...YUM!!  Stuffed peppers.  So good.  

Peanut butter M&M cookies...Even yummier! 

My boys.  What they do when I'm home sick during the day.
Apparently, how they spend their days.

Halloween Decoration candle holders.  Yay!

Murph.  The sweet (clean ) dog.  Just after a bath.  

Popcorn!  with HALLOWEEN M&Ms!
The only way to eat popcorn!

This!  YUM!  Red Velvet wine!
There is no going back.

FUZZY socks!!  and jammies!
B/c it's that chilly on a Saturday!

A tech savy husband who I can send random pictures to that say:
"The TV isn't working...HELP!"

And we're the two best friends that anyone could have...And an "i just swallowed a basketball/pumpkin," cat.  

My 3 boys.  On a lazy Saturday.  :)

Creative Genius.  Drafting the jack-o-lantern  

In progress...

Spoooooooky!!!  Our pumpkin!  The Vampire.  *love*

A truth.

 Grey's style:

The ties that bind us are sometimes impossible to explain. They connect us even after it seems like the ties should be broken. Some bonds defy distance and time and logic; Because some ties are simply... meant to be.

Ok two. 

We have a hundred lessons that teach us how to fight off death, and not one lesson on how to go on living.

Some things are learned best under fire.  Some things are only learned under fire.  Luckily, we're not alone.  

Tumblr Truths

Long but worth the read.

For V  :)

I'll be seeing you...

Dear Grandpa,

You died on a Saturday morning.  Saturday was a beautiful day.  Beautiful weather.  Sunshine.  Blue skies.  Perfect breeze.  I think you had something to do with the breeze though.  Your spinner was spinning like crazy.  I liked that.  It let me know that you're ok.  You made it home.  And you were tired of that dang thing never working.  I'm sure there were some choice words about that stubborn spinner always refusing to spin too.  But that's ok.  You probably have a better view of it now anyway.

They say (I have no idea who "they" is...so don't ask) that the only the only true success in life is to leave the world a little better than you found it.  So I'd say you were pretty successful.  Sitting around the room talking about good times and good memories, there wasn't a person in the room who wasn't here because of you or their life greatly altered because of you.  Friends who are better for knowing you.   Children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and the lives we'll all lead ... had your hand in it.  That's a life to be proud of.

We'll be ok.  And we'll take care of Grandma, don't worry.  Heaven knows she deserves a break.  Taking care of (and putting up with) you all those years.  :)

I'm sure you'll meet me at the table.  Fork and knife in hand.  Ready for dinner. I bet it will be spaghetti, too.  And we can twirl it up on a big spoon. Just like you taught me.  And it will end up all over us (but mostly your white beard).  Hey! Maybe we can even play a few rounds of Catchphrase when we're done.  You know how we get such a kick out of you reading the words wrong b/c you can't see that tiny print!!  And I'll share my crazy stories. And you can tell us about all the crazy stuff (and ignoramuses) you encountered while you were waiting.   I think that will be nice.  Don't you?

I'll be seeing you, Grandpa.  But I'll be talking to you sooner.

Love,

Me

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You've been waiting here all this time?" Eddie whispered.

"Time," the Captain said, "is not what you think.  Dying?  Not the end of everything.  We think it is.  But what happens on earth is only the beginning."

-From the five people you meet in heaven

Day number 54,238,763,629 of being sick...Ok I might be exaggerating...slightly

Dear Immune System,

WHERE ARE YOU?!?!!  Srsly!!  Now is not the time for a vacation.  GET BACK TO WORK!

No Love,

Me

*****

In related news... 

Things I've learned:

1.  If it says Non-Drowsy.  Don't believe it.  It may not make you sleepy...but there is a 99.999% chance it's going to make you woozy or air-headed or cracked out.

2.  Coughing up green stuff is actually better (on the throat) than dry coughing.  How do I know it is green?  B/c Nick made me RAKE it out of my mouth to see what color it was.  TMI?  So sorry.  Doing it is actually worse than hearing about it. Trust.  And anyway If you're reading this..I'm sure you've heard me say worse.

3.  Sleep is NOT your friend when you have to sleep sitting up in order to keep your throat from closing up.

4.  It is possible to sleep ALL DAY (with perhaps 15 minute intervals of woozy awake time) and then proceed to sleep through the night...

5.  ... BUT THE DREAMS! OH THE DREAMS!  Are incredible.  Incredibly realistic.  Incredibly crazy.  Incredibly long.  The past 3 days have felt like at least two months.  I go to sleep for an hour and wake up feeling like it's been 2 days.  (now mind you, this isn't a rested feeling...just a worn out from the crazy, cold med and fever induced dreams.)

6.  I still maintain.  I will take the severe head cold/sinus infection over the stomach bug I had two weeks ago (that lasted TWO WEEKS!).  But at least I could think and maintain a relatively normal routine then.  It's hard to think when your head is all fogged up.

7.  I don't think I've ever consistently had a temperature over 99.4 this long.  Ever.  Am I killing brain cells?  No really.  Am I?  Because I feel like I've lost a few days somewhere along the way...

8.  Berry scented Lysol (it's the purple one) is quite nice.  Doesn't even smell like Lysol.  You should get some.

9.  These:

Are the most heavenly things in the world.  Perhaps it could be that this devil is on its way out of my system so I'm feeling a little better...but these little cough drop pieces of Heaven... are.  the.  best.  I will never underestimate the power of a cough drop again in my life.  Never.  The immediate cooling of the sore/raw throat.  The soothing vapors to the raw, dried out nasal cavity (even though the nose continues to run....), the calming relief to the sore/heavy lungs that don't have to cough every 5 seconds.  *sighs*  Heaven.

10.  I have finally crossed over into crazy germaphobe territory.  I think we all knew it was coming.  But after being sick (in a couple different ways) for the last 3 weeks...it's time.