Weekend ramblings

It's been a busy weekend!! Started out with a wedding for a co-worker Friday night. Not to be too judgemental but if an invite says Black Tie Optional....it means no jeans. I'd say it means a suit at a minimum but that's just me. I had a good time only thing that it was just outside G.ettysburg PA....and I had to drive back to Fairfax. And I went as the date of another co-worker. It was the first wedding I can remember that I didn't go to with Mr H.

Saturday I slept most of the afternoon, caught up on some TiVo. We met some friends for dinner and then went to see K.ingdom. WOW! It was intense. Much better than I thought it was going to be...gets you thinking.

Today we spent some quality time in Lowes getting ready to redo our kitchen and then headed off to the outlets. About $300 dollars and I have clothes that fit!! Is it bad that I'm secretly hoping it was all spent in vain and we'll bet pregnant on this IUI??

On that front I'm starting to have some PMS symptoms, mainly sore boobs. Since I didn't temp or use my CBEFM I'm not sure exactly when I O'd. Hopefully my period will start (HA! Haven't hoped for that in a few years!!) by next weekend and we can start!!!

What to watch??

Good TV is tonight (that is what I've called Thursday night TV since college) AND my Traveling DVD arrived in the mail yesterday...what's a girl to do?

TGI Tivo is all I can say

Ellis Paul/God's Promise-with interview

Song of the Week

More like Song of the Fortnight or something.

I've been thinking quite a bit about faith and my old views of religion and God. I promise this won't get too heavy. This is another E.llis Paul song. It is actually Woody G.uthrie's lyrics set to music by Ellis.


G.od's P.romise
from the album
I DIDN'T PROMISE YOU
SKIES PAINTED BLUE
ALL COLOR'D FLOWERS ALL Y'R DAYS THRU
I DIDN'T PROMISE YOU SUN WITH NO RAIN
JOYS WITHOUT SORROWS
PEACE WITHOUT PAIN

ALL TH'T I PROMISE
IS STRENGTH FOR THIS DAY
REST FOR MY WORKER AND LIGHT ON Y'R WAY
I GIVE YOU TRUTH WHEN YOU NEED IT
MY HELP FR'M ABOVE
MY UNDYING FRIENDSHIP
MY UNFAILING LOVE

I NEVER DID PROMISE YOU
CROWNS WITHOUT TRIALS
FOOD WITH NO HARD SWEAT Y'R TEARS WITHOUT SMILES
HOT SUNNY DAYS
WITHOUT COLD WINTRY SNOWS
NO VICT'RY WI'THOUT FIGHTIN
NO LAUGHS WITHOUT WOES

ALL TH'T I PROMISE
IS STRENGTH FOR THIS DAY
REST FOR MY WORKER MY LITE ON Y'R WAY
I GIVE YOU TRUTH WHEN YOU NEED IT
MY HELP FR'M ABOVE
UNDYING FRIENDSHIP
MY UNFAILING LOVE

I SURE DIDN'T SAY I'D GIVE YOU
HEAVEN ON EARTH
A LIFE WITH NO LABOR NO STRUGGLES NO DEARTHS
NO EARTHQUAKES NO DRYSPELLS
NO FIREFLAMES NO DROUGHTS
NO SLAVING NO HUNGERS NO BLIZZARDS NO BLIGHTS

ALL TH'T I PROMISE
IS STRENGTH FOR THIS DAY
REST FOR MY WORKER MY LITE ON Y'R WAY
I GIVE YOU TRUTH WHEN YOU NEED IT
MY HELP FR'M ABOVE
UNDYING FRIENDSHIP
MY UNFAILING LOVE

I PROMISE YOU POWER
THIS MINUTE THIS HOUR
THE POWER YOU NEED
WHEN YOU FALL DOWN TO BLEED
I GIVE YOU MY PEACE AND MY STRENGTH TA PULL HOME

MY LOVE FOR ALL RACES ALL CREEDS AND ALL KINDS
MY FLAVORS MY SAVOURES MY CREEDS OF ALL KINDS
MY L O V E FOR MY RACES ALL COLORS ALL KINDS
MY L O V E FOR MY RACES ALL CREEDERS ALL KINDS
MY SAVOURES MY FLAVOURES MY DANCERS ALL KINDS
MY DANCERS MY PRANCERS MY SINGERS ALL KINDS
MY FLAVOURES MY SAVOURES MY DANCERS ALL KINDS
Words by Woody G.uthrie, 1955 Copyright 2002 Woody G.uthrie Publications, BMI (This version edited by Ellis P.aul from a longer piece.)

_________________________________________________________

Sorry for the all caps

I need this is a little spiritual reality check...I'm not promised anything, only the power to make it through this minute. 'The power I need when I fall down to bleed'...maybe it's the part about falling down (or more likely bleeding) but I listen to this song on repeat far too often. If this was back in the day of tapes or records it'd be worn thing but I gain such strength it. They'll be 'no victory without fighting'...but I will fight!

Here's a video of the song if anyone is interested. Starts with an interview, the song starts at 1:42.
Ok... so I can't figure out how to do the video in this post...it'll follow

the things we do for family

My poor mom had outpatient surgery on her foot yesterday and is so sick today. My dad had to go out of town this afternoon so she's stuck being sick into bowls and leaving them (she's has crutches but isn't supposed to be upright at all the first 3 days). So I left work around 10:30 and came over to help take care of her. Got some S.altines and G.atorade and she's a new woman (I think it was really the anti-nausea meds that did it).

In her drug induced state she kept saying what a great mom I'd be...I just want to cry...

good morning to me

Love waking up to this email from my cousin...

Hello Everyone!

As most of you know K & S had pictures taken at G.lamour Shots a while back. Those photos were entered into a contest & the grand prize is a $3000 savings bond, however Glamour Shots did not tell us that it was based on outside votes! If you get a chance to get on the website & give the gals a vote it would be greatly appreciated! J Go to www.g.lamourshots.com click on the “contests” tab, then click on Kids Portrait Contest/ browse & vote, then go to 0-1 & search by first name “S” & vote, & then go to 2-4 & search by first name “K” & vote! Pass this on to everyone you know! THANKS, Casie! J

Nothing I wanted to do more this morning then scan through hundreds of pages of adorable little babies. Being a good cousin, I did but it sucked.

**and I am SOOOO not sending this out so other people can vote...that's why I took their names out :-)

Meds arrived this morning

and it's put me in a really weird place. I've gone back and forth between being sad, scared, nervous, excited, anxious, impatient. Seriously, you pick the emotion and I've felt in the last 9 hours. Poor Mr H, he doesn't know what to make of me.

Looking forward to seeing the DC ladies tomorrow! I promise to be in a better mood by then

today's horoscope

I love it when I can pull something good out of my horoscope. For all the Geminis out there:

It's as if there is a something attaching your emotions to everything you encounter now and your regular lightheartedness isn't enough to shake it.

I am usually the most upbeat, positive person and I don't like who I've become lately. I'm bitter, I snap quickly, I pick fights with poor Mr H all the time for no reason, I'm moody and it just sucks. There is something attached to everything I do all day long and I can't get rid of it. It's the ultimate chip on the shoulder.

I'm not sure what to do about it. I used to think recognizing it is the first step. But I've recognized it before but it takes work to really shake it. Kinda like those 30 pounds I'm losing. I recognize I've gained it, and last week I was gung-ho about it, but now I've stopped putting in the work. I do the same thing with my attitude and mental health. I get on this "I'm going to be happy" kick but then stop putting in the work after a week or so. Maybe because being happy never used to be work....and I still think it shouldn't be.

All I know is that I don't want to be this way, feeling like crap and spewing my negative vibes all over the place. It's too damn exhausting.

why??

Greetings from Bitter-ville!

Why do so many women feel the need to bring their babies to work? Especially when one works in a germ-y school. Three people today brought their 12-18 month old in. I'm sure I'll do it too, but right now, I just don't get it.

And why, when these women bring their babies to work, does everyone else have to comment on how hard it must be to work and have a baby? No shit it's hard to juggle, but everyone has a life outside of their work they are trying to balance. Working moms don't have the market cornered on that one.

And tonight is back to school night and I know several of the parents are going to comment on my wine and Chubby Hubby belly and ask if I have any announcements for them...

Bit the proverbial bullet

3 posts in one day...that's a first for me!

I did it. She actually made it easy and said noticed I'm not myself and has been up at night driving herself crazy imagining the worse and that I didn't have to give her any info if I didn't want to, just to let her know if I was ok or not. So I told the whole story and managed not to break down sobbing in the middle of C.oastal Flats, just teared up a little. She said some of the things I wanted to hear and none of the things I didn't want to. So that was good. Asked some questions but didn't probe too much and then, thankfully dropped it and went back to discussing our soaps.

Overall, I'm glad I did it....we'll see how it goes. She did say she wouldn't mention anything to the rest of the fam, but she does talk to her 2 sisters every day so we'll see.

thanks for all of the support today, I feel so lucky to have stumbled upon such an amazing group of women!

Did you know...

that for some people it doesn't cost anything to have a baby??

Someone we used to work with came by for a visit this morning sporting a big old pregnant belly. She sits down in my office to chat and catch up. Of course she asks the dreaded question, "So when are you going to get one of these?" and points to her stomach. I reply with my non-answer, "I'm still working those extra consult hours, trying to make some more money". All of us recognize that I did not answer the question and would probably stop there. But no, she says "it doesn't cost anything to make'em...that's the fun part!" Really....fun....I stopped having fun a LOOONNNGGGG time ago. And doesn't cost anything??? I don't even know what to say to that. I'm lucky enough to have some insurance coverage and I'm over a thousand dollars before even starting a treatment cycle. (I completely recognize that 1000 is pocket change compared to what some of you have spent but I'm just fired up)

I suppose this is one of the arguments for telling people....I could have done some education there but instead I didn't say anything and luckily my walkie went off calling me into a classroom.

sorry for the vent...I think I've got a short fuse this morning or something, everyone is pissing me off and she just sent me over the edge.

to tell or not to tell....

that is the question.



I'm having dinner with my mom tonight. I see her all the time but never get her alone. The last few times we've been away together she's noticed that I'm not myself and so far has been pretty respectful. She'll ask if I'm ok, mention that I don't seem happy and when I lie through my teeth and tell her that I'm fine, just tired, etc and then she doesn't bother me about it until the next family vacay in 6 months or so.



And I want to start telling people. I have a large, crazy, amazingly loving and supportive family and we always rally whenever one of us needs something. It really is amazing and I know I'm incredibly lucky. I'm just not sure how to start the ball rolling...or if I even want to. Part of me wants to keep this private because it hurts and I've always hated showing any weakness or pain in front of other people, even those that won't judge me and love me regardless (I know, that's an issue I need to deal with but that's a whole other post). And it's private, incredibly private. Mr H tries to compare it to any other medical issue but it's more than that to me.



And I just don't know how to get the words out. When I told my future sister in law, it was essentially verbal diarrhea. She asked me to be in their wedding and I just started spewing all this stuff about maybe being pregnant but not knowing. And I ended up telling her the whole story, mainly because she was excited we were trying...and it really wasn't something to be excited about.


I know that once I tell, I can't un-tell and I just have to cross my fingers and hope that people are supportive. I just know there is so much potential to get hurt.

So any advice, words of wisdom for this?

IUI prep complete

Earlier in the week I ordered my meds, did my blood work, got the dreaded pap but my prep was not done until today. I went to the dollar store and stocked up on tests! Now I'm ready for October!!

The good thing about being caffeine free

Took awhile to even think of a title for this post because it is so ridiculous. And I am beyond tired.

Little background, years ago I was mugged, which sparked an anxiety disorder. I couldn't be alone after dark. Needless to say, it was a little debilitating. After lots of therapy, it got better. I still have a hard time spending the night by myself, but nothing too bad. No more panic attacks, up all night, now I just don't sleep great, have to fall asleep with the tv on, and tell myself that I have a guard cat that will stop the psycho mass murderer. Nothing too crazy.

So Mr H has been traveling a ton lately for work. He hardly ever travels and in fact is known around his office as the travel killer. He's been staffed on jobs that have fantastic travel opportunities but once he joins the team, the travel doesn't get approved.

So he was out of town last night for the holiday. I went downstairs a little after 10 to feed the cat and realized I never locked the front door. So that starts the anxiety. I then had to go through the whole house, checking all the bathrooms and closets to make sure someone wasn't in there. (gosh, typing it out makes me sound crazy, but I swear, there is no way I could have even tried to go to bed without doing it). I make my rounds, get in bed, have S.crubs on and am ready to fall asleep when I start hearing stuff falling downstairs. I tell myself its the cat. Keeps happening. Go downstairs and yes it is the cat, stalking some imaginary (so I think) bug he's been trying to get all night.

Go back upstairs, it's now well after 11 and I'm a girl who needs to be asleep around 10. Turns out the bug isn't imaginary and now there is a fly buzzing around the room. No way I can sleep through that.

Almost 2 hours later, after destroying my walls trying to kill the fly with a magazine (I'm in some serious need of a magic eraser), it lands on my lamp. In my infinite wisdom I decide to spray it with some volumizing mousse (it was the only thing I had). I sprayed the shit out of the poor thing. Yes, it did bind the wings of the fly. However the heat from the lamp also caused some funky chemical reaction making the room STINK!!! But at least the fly is dead. I spray some perfume, set my tv to sleep, and try to fall asleep. I go back and forth between panic attacks and laughing fits imagining someone outside seeing me throw myself into walls, dancing and twirling in the air to kill the freaking fly. I finally doze off around 1:30. At 4:00 my darling little kitty decides he'd like to play and brings all of his favorite toys into bed. He never does that. Needless to say, he was unceremoniously kicked out of the room. 6:00 rolls around WAY early.

Now to the point of the post. I gave up caffeine back in June for my birthday. Only sip I had was a rum and coke on the beach in July. I decided I needed a 1/2 caf this morning to even be considered fit to operate a motor vehicle. And for once, I can actually feel the effects of the caffeine! I'm still tired, I've got this bouncy, restless energy, and my heart is racing (or is that leftover anxiety??)

If you read all this, bless you. And I apologize for all of the grammar mistakes. I already got an email from Mr H asking what I wanted to do tonight. Ummm....I'll be in bed by 9...how exciting

ummm....30???

You read it right-30. Earlier in the week I wrote about the 20 pounds I have gained since getting married. I guessed it was about 20. Well at my annual today I had to get on the scale and since they let me weigh myself, I stopped when I hit the 30 lb mark.

At least my dr's appt went better than I thought. She must have been having a bad day when we met with her to go over our initial testing. She asked how everything was going, seemed genuinely excited when I told her our RE thought IUI would work, and talked more about her own infertility. So I feel a little bad for bashing her, but not too bad, since how she did treat us pretty crappy.

Off to have that grilled chicken and veggies I should have had yesterday!

finding the balance

This has always been my biggest struggle. Whether it was the work/party balance in college, the real job/social life balance, the income/having everything I want balance, the managing IF/letting it take over my life balance, and then yesterday the calories in/calories out balance.

In putting my IF obsession (or lack of balance on hold), I've moved onto another balancing act. In a perfect world weight loss would be easy. Hell, if we're going for a perfect world I'd have a toddler and be pregnant with #2 right now. And we'd have a nice single family home with a kitchen that has been remodeled at least once since 1978.

But I digress. The weight balance. I know how an actual balance works and I know that if I want to drop my added poundage, I need to tip that scale. So I go to the gym again yesterday (yeah me) and I plan on finishing the left over grilled chicken with some veggies for dinner. Perfect right??

Instead...a good friend of ours texts Mr H and says he's on a flight to DC for a conference. Do we want to meet for dinner. We've got our other friend from Philly still staying with us so we say great, how fun to have all these people together that we never get to see. We end up at Pizza P.aradiso in Georgetown. For some reason I think that is a healthy choice since it is fancy pizza and expensive beer. Umm....NO. Pizza and beer is pizza and beer. Doesn't matter what you call it or how much it costs. So I basically flushed yesterday's workout down the toilet. Gotta work on those balancing skills.

As an aside for the DC ladies, we should definitely think about the Pizza P.aradiso basement for a get together. I love it down there. It's cozy with a wood fire place. And they have some delicious root beers for those of us that are currently abstaining.

Song of the Week 3

I'm back on track this week. This song isn't quiet as depressing as my last choice. It was actually written for September 11th by a folk singer I follow, Mark E.relli. So it's appropriate for the anniversary but I also love the chorus. It always helps me get back on track when I'm moping around on CD 2 or 3.
**disclaimer--this is an anti-war song. If that will offend you, I wouldn't even bother continuing.

The Only Way
Mark E.relli

I read the paper
I watch the news
It seems there's only pain and sufferin'
And there ain't much I can do
It's so senseless
I feel defenseless
So small

I could shut my windows
Bolt my doors
But if I don't feel safe enough
To speak my mind anymore
Then what's the use
I've nothing left to lose
And no farther to fall

So I'm gonna love
I'm gonna believe
I'm still gonna dream
I'm gonna roll up my sleeves
Give everything until I've nothing left to give
That's the only way that I know how to live

It was a nightmare
No tongue can tell
How the streets of New York city
Looked just like the gates of Hell
In a flash
The smoke and the ash
Came falling down like rain

But they circled wagons
They gathered round
As they bravely pulled their brothers
And their sisters from the ground
And I know
That I owe them more
Than to be afraid

So I'm gonna love
I'm gonna believe
I'm still gonna dream
I'm gonna roll up my sleeves
Give everything until I've nothing left to give
That's the only way that I know how to live

Why seek vengeance?
What comes of war?
I know freedom has a price
But it doesn't keep score
It's too much to swallow
It's left me hollow
After all this time

I won't tell you
What to believe
Cause I'm too young to be so cynical
And too old to be naïve
But if every action
Breeds a reaction
Let this be mine

So I'm gonna love
I'm gonna believe
I'm still gonna dream
I'm gonna roll up my sleeves
Give everything until I've nothing left to give
That's the only way that I know how to live
Copyright Mark Erelli/Kill The Messenger Music, ASCAP
______________________________________________________
I regularly get strength from this song. It helps me stay optimistic, hopeful and to keep dreaming...that's the only way I know how to live. The other line that speaks to my IF thoughts is that I'm too young to be this cynical about getting pregnant, but also too old and experienced to be naive about this anymore. I think he's (and I know I certainly) miss that naivety.

Again, if anyone wants the mp3, just let me know. The only version I have of it is actually a cover but it's still really good. And please, post any thoughts you might have. I'd love to get a little discussion going!

Isn't this a little redundant?

My gyno's office just called confirming my annual appointment for tomorrow that I had completely forgotten about. At first I was upset, how on earth did I forget about a dr's appt?? But then I realized I forgot because it is completely ridiculous appointment. How many different medical professionals have had the pleasure of sneaking a peek in the last 8 months? How many ultrasounds? How many pictures? Do I really need a freaking pap?? I was all set to cancel it but I remembered that the RE does need the results. What a pain in the ass. I'm fine taking time off for all my RE appts, those are important. But this is just stupid...although at least I won't be nervous/shy/or embarrassed any more. I'm long since over that!

Plus I'm still pissed at how she handled our referral to the RE. On the surface she seemed supportive. She told me how she needed Clomid for all of her pregnancies and she could just put me right on that. I wanted some testing first and that is when she became very dismissive. I showed her charts and she did the classic, you need to start having sex earlier...really....when I don't ovulate until CD 22-28?? Now my husband would have loved that but I liked the little break from the baby making. And she drew blood for my 7 dpo progesterone test on CD 21, just like the good books tell them to, when I was showing her that I hadn't O'd yet. So needless to say when we met for our results, she told me I didn't ovulate and my husbands morph was so low we'd be straight to IVF...and that wasn't looking good.

So that rocked us and then we were shocked when the RE contradicted everything she said. So I'm not really looking forward to seeing her. I know she'll ask how things are going and I'm really going to have to try hard to be polite and not snap at her....or maybe I'll just tell her that she needs to brush up on her fertility info before she talks to people.

arg....

1 day in

I actually managed to make it to the gym for a half hour (I know that's not enough) after a particularly hellacious day at work so I'm pretty proud of myself. And the bag is packed for tomorrow!

We have a friend staying with us tonight that we haven't seen since July so I'm pretty excited. Plus, he's our really handy friend and has 'helped' Mr H. get 3 things crossed off this to-do list. Thank goodness...it's starting to get dark earlier and we haven't had a hall light in about 5 months!!

the September project

It's so nice to know I'm not the only one whose put on a few (ok, more than a few...double digits...) pounds since this all started. And that I'm not the only one who enjoys a nice relaxing beverage at the end of the day.

After much reflection (and how better to reflect than with a nice glass of red zin) I've decided to keep the wine but cut the Ben and Jerrys down to when I get my period. All rules are off then anyway.

And I will be throwing myself head first into the gym thing. Since I want to be less psycho about getting pregnant this month, I'll need something else to obsess over. Might as well be getting healthy. For those of you that don't know me, I tend to have a very obsessive, addictive personality (another reason I never went the drug route, I'd never be able to stop). I'm going to try to put all that obsession to good use.

So I've got the gym bag packed for tomorrow, my healthy breakfast of fruit all chopped up and ready. Here's to my favorite jeans fitting by the end of the month...and my wedding band but I'm more upset about the jeans. hmmm...does that make me a bad wife??? Good thing my husband doesn't read this ;)

Why I'm not a drug addict...among other things

I do NOT like needles!! And I suppose there are other reasons too, but right now the anti-needle thing is ranking pretty high.

We had our injections class yesterday. I thought I'd feel so much better about shooting up after it but no, that needle looks quiet sharp and pointy. It didn't help that the nurse leading the class was pregnant. Now I know she's still allowed to work and everything, but couldn't she take a behind the scenes job or something like that?!?!

Also our nurse ordered all my meds for next month. I think I need to do a little research on the pharmacies and everything. We're paying out of pocket for all the injectibles and from what I've read, some places are cheaper than others.

Had a busy, short week. Actually made it to the gym twice so I'm pretty proud of myself. I'm going to try to use this month off to focus all my getting pregnant energy into getting healthy. I've gained 20 pounds since I got on this ride and am so disgusted with myself. I've got a friend who puts on her wedding dress every 6 months to make sure it still fits. And while I agree that is pretty damn neurotic and probably a sign of some body image disorder or something (this same friend has a pair of jeans from high school that she also puts on every 6 months), I know there is no way I could get mine over my new found ass and the 2007 edition of my hips. And forget about something from high school, I was a full 50 pounds lighter then....although those were my maniac cross country running days and I looked like a boy...but still. I'd be happy if I could drop 5 pounds before the IUI. And then I wouldn't need to go out an buy new pants either.

I think the biggest culprit is my nightly glass(es) of wine. But they really save my mental health, which leaves me with a bit of a decision. Mental health vs. physical health. Sanity vs. fitting into my pants. hmmm.....I'm afraid this makes me sound like I have some sort of a problem. Which I don't...I swear (this also makes it sound like I have a problem). But really, I greatly decrease my wine to maybe once a week during the 2ww...just happens I go on a 3-4 week long binge leading up to it!

Time to get off my ass and get it to the gym. Maybe if I had a fancy gym like Cece wrote about the other day it'd be easier to get myself there...but knowing me probably not.

Wake me up when September ends....

No, this isn't the Song of the Week post, I'm a little behind this week.

This is all about me trying to get through the next 30 days or so before we can start our IUI. And the worst part is...I picked this! We could have started right now, but we decided to sit out a cycle. It made complete sense at the time. It would give us time to figure out all of our insurance stuff, I was feeling really rushed way back when we had to make the decision, and my brother is getting married May 24th and I thought I'd have a better chance of making it to the wedding if we started treatment cycles in October instead of September.

All of those reasons still make sense. And they're all pretty much still true (our insurance is still a pain in the ass, I'll probably always be scared when we start this, and my brother is still engaged).

Problem is I'm stuck waiting. And waiting is not a strength of mine. And I'm putting a crazy amount of pressure on myself this cycle. This is our last chance naturally, our last chance before requiring a team of people with a whole lot of letters after their name, our last chance to have the fairy tale. Now there is no reason to think that this cycle will be any different. But I know that I'm going to be extra neurotic and extra hopeful...and I'm just not sure what I'm going to do about it. It just sucks to knowingly set yourself up for a fall.

back to reality

We had such a wonderful time away. This time we actually felt like we got away and were able to unwind and relax. We got there just in time for lunch and the international wine festival (yum). They also were having an arts and crafts fair and while I'm not crafty and usually don't ever find anything to buy, we both really fell in love with this one photographer's work. So much that we spent over $300! But I'm glad we did it, we've been in our house almost 3 years and haven't really done any decorating. I did cave and buy 1 picture that just screams nursery to me. It's the first time I've even thought about buying something for a nursery...I hope it doesn't come back to bite me.

My massage was everything I thought it would be and more. The hot stones and the wrap were perfect for my cramps. If AF had to come, the spa made it at least bearable.

Had a typical re-entry back into the real world. Slept through the alarm, rushed through the morning, got to work and had completely forgot that we had a new hire starting that day that needed training. I much prefer waking up looking at a mountain and deciding between the pool or the lake ;)