How come snow is so... bright?

The traffic tonight was foul, but the trip home became fun the moment I stepped out of my car and into the magical, snowy world.

The Christmas lights are beautiful, glowing under the powdery whiteness. All is well (except that I can't sleep because it's bright as day outside!)

I hope you, wherever you are, enjoy being tucked in bed and warm. As for me? Another round of computer games seems to be in order.

In the tank

Math time.

6 weeks

840 hours worked

The occasional stop to sleep

Homeschooling

Dog walking

2 major illnesses

Rescue of 2 family members from impending doom

A move across the city

A $350 water bill

Way too much wine sipped alone

THEN

Sudden "all-stop"

I find myself wandering the house aimlessly

Uninspired to do anything.

Sleep, football and baking cookies are the most taxing things I can fathom.

An hour with my son, uninterrupted, is bliss.

Giggling with my daughter over bad tv.

I missed sending Christmas cards, gifts, emails, psychic messages to so many people

And yet, here I am, sitting here wondering where THEY went

those who complain loudly about my absence

as this 6 weeks of hell progressed.

*wake, bathe, eat, work, eat, sleep, repeat*

I was here all along, after all

Just not here the way they expected, I guess.

So, for the moment, I'm in my decompression chamber, alone,

trying to make sure the blood doesn't boil.

Tomorrow? Maybe I'll actually go to work for an hour.

Then a 6 hour lunch seems in order.

Followed by some serious goofing off.

Nitrogen Narcosis AND the bends avoided.

This time at least.

When I was little...

...my mom used to say I was fond of being random. She's look at my father, roll her eyes and say, simply, "azure." As in the color blue. It would tell him that I was driving her nuts again.

So often, as I am now a little older than 9, I listen for azure. Things that inspire me.

I'm listening.