Sheep Imitates Zombie

I didn't sleep very well last night.  I suppose it's my own fault.  I probably shouldn't have taken that nap late yesterday afternoon.  And I was maybe just a little bit sick to my stomach from all those Cinderella waffles I ate.  Of course, that isn't entirely my fault as I had to test the waffle maker, didn't I?  It would have been nothing short of irresponsible to not do a series of painstaking experiments with waffling.  It was all in the interest of science and a sacrifice I made willingly.

But, I have to admit, at least some of the responsibility here must be borne by Stephen King and "Duma Key."  I picked the book up up on Thursday afternoon on the way home from work.  And, much like several of his latest offerings, it is a bit formulaic.  But, dang it all, that boy can develop a character with the best of 'em.  Even when you know what is coming (if not just exactly how it's going to happen), you still spend a great deal of time worrying about the whole thing and hoping for the best.  

I worried a great deal about several of those characters last night, I fear.  And I had to keep getting up to read just "one more chapter" to make sure that everyone was doing OK.  They weren't.  So then I worried some more...and had to read some more.  It was a nasty sort of cycle and one that resulted in little sleep.

But, the work day was going to happen whether I was ready for it or not.  I stumbled through it as if I were doing my finest of zombie impressions and you have to know how much that bothered me.  I do not care for zombies.  The very idea that my pale complexion, empty eyes and shambling gait emulated my mortal enemies was simply horrifying.  But, there was nothing I could do about it.  It was a King-induced, sleep deprived, zombie kind of day.

I survived the it, though.  This was most likely due to the fact that my students were fearful of their zombie teacher and opted to lie low lest they attract my brain-eating attention.  I even managed to remain awake for the drive home and remember to pick up the mail that I'd left sitting in the box for the weekend.  I tend to forget the mail on the weekends.  The bills are all the more flavorful for having marinated for a few days, I find.

But, Mommy Sheep had indicated that there might be a little something waiting for me in there if I happened to take a peek and that it might just be something along the lines of an early Valentine's Day gift.  Sure enough, a key to the package box awaited!  In fact...there were two keys.  That meant that there were two packages, each nestled safely in their respective receptacles so thoughtfully provided by the US Postal Service!

In keeping with my new rules around packages, I left them in the kitchen while I completed the first workout of the week.  The little bike was pedaled, the weights were lifted and the sits were upped from the weird-shaped inflatable balance ball.  The hour and fifteen minutes were then dutifully logged on my insurance company's reward site in order that points might be awarded and later exchanged for prizes.  I was a good, little Sheepie!

And then I ripped into my packages like a zombie into a hapless victim.  Mommy and Daddy Sheep, true Valentine's Day celebrants, did the holiday proud by sending me goodies from The Popcorn Factory.  We love goodies from The Popcorn Factory!

Especially when they come in a big, ol' tin chock full of the yummy goodness!!!!

Thanks Mom and Dad!  You're the best!!!

The second package was something of a mystery.  I didn't recognize the sender's last name right away, nor did the address ring a bell.  There was a time in my life when the side of my brain I like to call Hysterical Mind might have called in the bomb squad or Homeland Security over such a thing.  But, I now have a great love of things that come in boxes with stamps.  I have learned that good things arrive in such a fashion and that the sender is probably someone nice.  This was a happy lesson and one that was proven true yet again this afternoon.

The sender was none other than Ronni!  And just look at what she thought to ship off in the interest of making a Sheepie smile:

Merino..candy...magnet...dpns...soap...and the book we all want!!!!!

And, best of all, a t-shirt.  I am a fan of t-shirts.  A huge fan, actually.  As one who doesn't work during much of the summer, I wear them a great deal.  In fact, as one who does work during the rest of the year, I still wear them a great deal.  I have quite the collection, if you want the truth.  But none so cool as this one.

I almost laughed myself into a compromising situation...

I'm thinking of wearing it tomorrow.  I have a meeting so it won't be visible or anything...maybe under the sweater like a responsible sort of teacher who is stuck in a rather stupid sort of meeting.   It will give me a little perspective on the whole thing.

Ronni, you are a treasure.  An honest to goodness treasure!  You surely know how to brighten a day and then some!  Thank you so very, very much and from the bottom of my sleepy, not-a-zombie heart!  There may be sock-reading tonight instead of angst-filled reading that keeps me awake.

I do sort of need the sleep.  Tomorrow promises to be a tricky commute as we should have enough sleet to make it yucky driving, but not enough to result in a snow day.  I'd hate to end up rolled over on the side of the road due to driver fatigue.

But, you can bet that the nice paramedics will get a kick out of the t-shirt!

SA