An early sign of dementia must be when a person is unable to sleep in on the weekends. And I'm not just talking sleeping in until 10 a.m. or even 8 a.m. either. Oh no. This is something far more outrageous than just waking up when the sun starts to rise. Here it is 3:25 a.m. and I am wide awake.

My being away this early is odd, but not completely off the wall, as I do tend to wake up by 5:30 these days and this is really only a couple hours difference. Plus, I'm pretty sure it has something to do with the sinus issues my head is having and the fact that my backside is throbbing.

Let me explain.

In an effort to bring some organization and cleanliness into my life, I took i upon myself to try and carry the mountain of clothes from our hamper down into the laundry room. My foot slipped on the first step down. While I only fell maybe four steps on my bottom, do you think I dropped the laundry basket full of clothes (so high I couldn't see over them) oh no! No! I held on and braced my fall with a: my ass and b: my knuckles which were clutching the basket as they tried to hold themselves up against the wall. And so on my right hand, between my middle finger and ring finger, there is about an inch of skin which feels like it has been burned off. You know how you can get rug burn? Well this is wall burn for sure. And burns hurt.

Bah. Bah I say!

Well. These hours now are mine. Solitude for a little while. In all honesty, I very much enjoy this time to myself in the morning. I'm going to make some coffee and finish up the book I'm reading, Calendar Girl: In Which A Lady Of Rylstone Reveals All, which is a fab piece of chic lit. =o)

Labels: dementia, falling, life, reading

This is only an excerpt, but it's my favorite part of Robert Frost's poem "Birches."

So was I once myself a swinger of birches.
And so I dream of going back to be.
It's when I'm weary of considerations,
And life is too much like a pathless wood
Where your face burns and tickles with the cobwebs
Broken across it, and one eye is weeping
From a twig's having lashed across it open.
I'd like to get away from earth awhile
And then come back to it and begin over.
May no fate wilfully misunderstand me
And half grant what I wish and snatch me away
Not to return. Earth's the right place for love:
I don't know where it's likely to go better.
I'd like to go by climbing a birch tree,
And climb black branches up a snow-white trunk
Toward heaven, till the tree could bear no more,
But dipped its top and set me down again.
That would be good both going and coming back.
One could do worse than be a swinger of birches.
-- Robert Frost

I don't know if I have ever heard anything more beautifully written than those words. It is by far my most favorite poem. I'm not sure why it's in my head right now, but it very much is. And so I decided to do a podcast of me reading it. You don't get to see me, but for once you'll be hearing me. We'll see what you think of my fumbling.

Download: Birches [podcast, poem read by Christy Mannering]

Labels: Issue 1, Podcast, Robert Frost

Gracious! 26% evil, that's almost a third! I always knew I was a black sheep. I saw this quiz on Newt's blog and had to copy. She is 24% evil and so I feel even more corrupt. Hehe. Ah well, at least the outcome has a cute little winged thing cartoon in the results.

You Are 26% Evil

A bit of evil lurks in your heart, but you hide it well. In some ways, you are the most dangerous kind of evil.

Labels: newts muse, quiz

In case you were wondering.

Braeden is an artist. You heard me. An artist. And this time it's not just his oh-so proud momma saying so. When we went to the University of Delaware's Ag Day he entered a coloring contest. He had to color a "Tick Ranger" yep and he spent a good 30 minutes working on his masterpiece. He used every color crayon on the table and turned the ranger into a sort of kaleidoscope piece of art.

Yesterday I received a phone call informing me he won the contest. They are sending a prize in the mail and needed his address. How cool is that!? Four years old and already being recognized for his artistic talents! There were hundreds of entrants! I hope they send his finished artwork along with the prize, I want to frame it!

High five to my Brae boy, may he never lose his unique coloring abilities!

Labels: brae

This week's (week 275) unconcious muttering list can be found here. Be sure to play along!!!

Copy and write your responses first and then scroll down for mine.

1. State ::


2. Lively ::


3. Valet ::


4. Traction ::


5. Official ::


6. Red hot ::


7. Powder ::


8. Replies ::


9. Flagrant ::


10. Tweet ::

And now for the wicked wit of me, hehe.

State :: Your Name Please
Lively :: Little Critters
Valet :: Oh yes dahling
Traction :: Fine, but I'll still slip and fall
Official :: Load of crap
Red hot :: tamale
Powder :: Blue
Replies :: Yeah, about that
Flagrant :: I'll flag your ant!
Tweet :: Rockin' robin, tweet, tweetle lee dee

Labels: unconscious mutterings

The front flower bed is nearly complete. The only thing left to do is spread mulch. Everything has been covered with topsoil, plants are in the ground and Brian and I are happy with the outcome.

Yesterday Brian dug out the root ball from hell. Seriously, I think it was trying to reach Satan. The roots were long and extremely tough. It appeared an evergreen and a rose bush had some how become intertwined and even wrapped around a rather large pipe in the ground. Since the roots were located in the corner of the flower bed up against the concrete steps and landscape tiles it was a tight area to go digging. Fortunately man won over root and now a pretty little plant is in its place.

I also went to Joann's this weekend and spent my gift cards. It was so much fun. They were having a huge sale on garden pretties. Yes, like the rocks you can put in gardens which have words carved into them. Candle stakes and wind chimes all that type stuff. Fabulous! Plus I found some great fabric remnants for really cheap and am super psyched. I also decided I want to learn to make jewelry so I can sell it in my Etsy store along with what I sew.

Brian and I played Mario Kart last night. It was really fun to just goof off and hang out with him after working out in the flower bed. =o)

Labels: brian, gardening, home

Usually I get to work early; before everyone else. I unlock the admin suite and let myself in to begin the day. It's best this way. I get a lot done before the chaos begins.

This morning the head of Cooperative Extension, Jan, came in shortly after me. She just stopped by my office and told me she hears wonderful things about me. She said extension officers are constantly telling her how sweet and smart I am.

I have to tell you friends, this is a much better start to a morning than yesterday. And I feel so good about myself right now. Work has been quite strenuous and to hear someone say such kind things really has made my day. Passing along words of kindness is something people need to do more often. How blessed I am to work in an environment where even the higher ups will go out of their way to pass along kind words. =o)

Labels: work