Sleep, how I crave you....

It's been rough here. I am talking a serious lack of sleep. Real serious.

And it has nothing to do with wood ticks I might add.

#1 has been working the 4 - 12 shift. Which means, he gets his butt in the house sometime between 12:30 and, oh, well, whenever. Which, in turn means, the dogs go off. Yes, the two big dogs bark their asses off in fear that someone, anyone! may be compromising the homestead. I do consider myself fortunate that he's getting a ride home from the kitchen, but seriously, these cars need to get rid of their noisy-ness (is that spelled right?).

And then, whomever has driven him home (there's only 2 people he closes with) are absolutely in love with the pups, so along with the ride comes the obligatory "I want to see the pups" routine, which manages to disrupt the house (or at least my sleep) for at least another 1/2 hour. And, after they leave, there's the mandatory "gotta have a swim"...frick!

And while I do appreciate the dark of the night wake-up to make sure my 1st born is home, safe and sound, I absolutely need to get some sleep. It doesn't matter if I'm in bed at 8:30 or 10:30 or whenever. Getting woken up anytime after midnight manages to screw me up royally. It wakes me up. I get up. I look out at the sky to see the moon waxing (or waning, or full, whatever!), I check out all the fireflies that I thought would no longer exist do to all the pesticiding. Hell, I even go out and have the occassional smoke.

But last night, well it kinda killed me. And it wasn't even #1's fault. He was home at 9:30. We had a lovely little bonding session. "So, how's it going? I've missed you. Why didn't you do your chores today? That's no excuse, you need to take responsiblity." You know, the basic parent lecturing gig that all of us go through. And if you're not, you will be.

Here's where the killing me part comes into play, just in case you were wondering.

The coyotes woke me up. There I was, knowing that all was safe and sound and everybody was where they were and accounted for. I could sleep. No late night wakings. Just sweet and dreamful sleep. Until about 1:02 am. I know this. Because I looked at the clock. And then I said "F*#k! Yes, I did. I said a bad word. Out loud.

There was nothing out there that the eye could see. But yet, I was awake! And then I heard them. Coyotes. Barking and yipping and screaming! And there I found myself worrying about the pups! They're outside, in a kennel, in a locked building, in a locked kennel. And all I could hear was coyotes! STALKING MY LITTER. I just KNEW it!!!

Rumour has it that they send a couple out to see what is going on with wherever...and then the rest of the bastards come in for the attack. And, while this may be just rumour, I was taking it to heart. And I couldn't sleep.

And this went on until 3:50. Who knows, it may have gone on longer. I passed out from sheer exhaustion. But you have to know who didn't get a whole lot of sleep?...

Seriously, I am tired.