Night Owl

I like being a night owl. It seems that I'm genetically programmed to do my best work at night, especially from 11PM to 2AM. I don't always stay up as late as the latter time in that three hour span. Some nights I crash really early, like last night when I fell asleep at 9:30!

I have been in this habit of staying up late most of my adult life. I have tried to go to bed early, get myself on a schedule...blah, blah, blah. Early to bed, early to rise my butt. The only time I felt it necessary to be on a schedule was when I HAD to be at work. Over at the Well-Trained Mind boards there was a discussion about getting up early. Well, that just isn't happening here. I am in the ranks of other folks such as Amy of The Foil Hat, who like to have a long stretch of quite, productive time in the wee hours of the night. It just feels unnatural to get up at the crack of dawn for those hours of uninterrupted fun. I've tried it and all it results in is a kid who decides to get up, too! So much for peace and quiet! Plus, I just feel so groggy before the sun rises.

Tom, in a past life (one that ended at the beginning of 2007!) was a night owl, too. He worked late and would come home to find me online having an adult beverage and join me. We would watch late night TV; you know, stupid infomercials and reruns of our favorite shows. Sometimes we would pop in a movie and just veg. Other nights, we would spend hours talking about anything and everything. Now, I am a lone night owl once again. Tom hit the hay over an hour ago and here I am blogging about nothing important. I am actually contemplating going to bed now, because I am a bit bored...but maybe something good is on HGTV???

Nighty night,
Amanda

We have arrived!

Well, Mackenzie and I have safely arrived in Raleigh. I've basically relaxed and slept for the first two days here, so not much happening in the unpacking department! Thankfully I have the worlds best husband who decided to unpack and set up a big portion of our apartment. Speaking of the apartment, it is quite nice and the location is really great. The complex is nestled in a wooded area and we can see nature all around us, especially out on our large deck.

I'm impressed with the quality and quantity of stuff to do in the area. I am thrilled to have a Trader Joe's nearby, where I have already spent a considerable amount of money on groceries (as did Tom before we got here!) We went to the North Carolina Museum of Art last evening to see the (free!) opening of Temples and Tombs, which showcases treasures and art from Egypt. They also had belly dancing and crafts for the kids; Mackenzie made a really cool necklace at one of those stands.

This morning, we went to a farmers market near Chapel Hill and bought a GIANT basket of strawberries, bacon, sausage and soap! Quite a combo of items, huh? I want to go back next weekend to get some herbs so we can start a little garden on our patio. We will spend the rest of the afternoon chillin', arranging stuff, doing laundry and just enjoying being together again.

Monday is back to school for Mackenzie, although I am not quite sure if I will find all our stuff by then. It may be what some of us homeschoolers call "school lite" for the next week! Anyway, we are all doing well and getting settled.

Amanda

Spring Reading Challenge Update

As promised, I quickly finished my library books (mostly because they had to be returned before I moved!) I discovered that I know quite a bit about etiquette upon completing Excuse Me, But I Was Next! and I happily give credit to my mother-in-law for that knowledge.

I decided to wait until getting settled in my new home in Raleigh before I start Atlas Shrugged and the H.G. Wells choices. To avoid feeling guilty for not reading those, I had the movers pack them! Out of sight, out of mind I guess. I did bring Brave New World along on our trip and have read about one hundred pages thus far. Not very impressive, I know, but after reading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince aloud each evening (for a least an hour!) I don't get too far in my leisure reading before I get sleepy. But, boy have my dreams been bizarre lately with that combination of fictional characters swimming around my brain whilst I sleep!

As I finish books on my list, I'll cross them out on the original post below. At this rate, it may turn into the Summer Reading Challenge! All is not lost, though. I have been reading almost daily and that is truly my main goal!

Amanda