Good night/morning, Blogdom! It is currently 2:51 in the AM, and sleep hasn't been anywhere near me tonight. Well, tonight or any night this past week or so. I've been going through a hardcore insomnia battle at which I am tragically losing. Since I'm lying in bed but wide awake, I decided to make a quick post about a couple observations.

Insomnia is a devil, but it does have some minor redeeming qualities...

-It gives me plenty of time to think and ponder. Ponder what? Nothing in particular, just ponder.

-I've had time to finish a book.

-I've had time to build up a good data base of random trivia. (Did you know that blonde hair and blue eyes are actually a result of a genetic mutation?)

-I learned that my dog knows the difference between "do you want a bath", "go for a ride", "go for a walk", and "BREAD!" She knows that the bath is down the hall. She knows that going for a ride means to get in my car (and to move my backpack out of the passenger seat, which she does). She knows which shoes are mine, and brings at least one to me if I'm taking too long to get ready for the walk (she will also grab her collar and harness for the walk if she doesn't find me shoes). And she knows the difference between the bread bag and a zip-lock bag when it comes to bread.

-I've learned how to do really good shadow puppets on the ceiling using my cell phone screen for a light!

Now, insomnia isn't the only thing I was going to rant about tonight/this morning. No. No, no, no. I need to talk about sleep walking!

The other night I had a dream that I was really hungry (I actually WAS hungry in real life, so it makes sense). I wanted Cafe Rio, but I knew I couldn't just go into the restaurant in my jammies, so I had to get dressed. Well, I got out of bed and proceeded to try on EVERY SINGLE ARTICLE OF CLOTHING IN MY CLOSET before deciding that I was better off just going through a drive-thru instead, because getting dressed would take too long. What happened to my clothes? 90% ended up in a pile all over my floor. I remember waking up enough to see the clothes, freak out a bit over what happened, then finally pass out again for the night.

Now, my room is more or less put back together, but I still have some clothes on my floor. I was amazed at some of the clothes I threw our of my closet: I had no idea I still owned some of them!

Just a word of precaution about insomnia though. If you're prone to bouts of insomnia, I highly recommend trying to relax or meditate before going to bed.

Here's a great link to a fantastic blog. This blogger obviously cares a great deal about the mind, relaxation and meditation. I fing it quite helpful, and I want to share it with you! Here's the link to his site:

www.relaxation.podbean.com/

Blog Challenge: Day 13

Challenge Day 13: Things I want to do before I die.

If you can't tell from the picture, it's the Great Barrier Reef. I REALLY want to go diving there before I die, and before the reef itself dies.

Stonehenge. Definitely!

Hadrian's Wall.

There are many more things I want to do before I die, but these are the main three. Will they happen? Probably not, but I can still hope and wish!

Blog Challenge: Day 12

Challenge Day 12: A YouTube video.

This has to be one of my favorite YouTube videos I've seen. It always makes me laugh! Enjoy!

Blog Challenge: Day 11

Challenge Day 11: Something I crave often.

What a friggin' letdown! I searched online for about an hour trying to find a good picture of Siegfried's, and I couldn't find a single picture for the restaurant! I had to look through my own photos instead. Seriously, why isn't a picture like this up online somewhere? Beats me...

Anyway, I almost always crave Siegfried's. Always. Almost always. Never in a million years did I think I would ever be saying this, but here it goes... I LOVE their sauerkraut!  I hate sauerkraut in general, I really do. I don't know what Siegfried's does that makes theirs different, but whatever it is it's working. At least once a week I get this undying craving for wienerschnitzel with fried potatoes and either spaetzle or sauerkraut. Hole Ish, my mouth is watering right now!

Do yourselves a huge favor and go to Siegfried's like, TOMORROW! Located at 20 W 200 S in Salt Lake City. Downtown, covered and validated parking available. Just do it.

Getting back up to speed here...

I need to catch up from the last three days, so it's going to be another three-post-day/night for me. Bear with me; I'll make it as painless as possible!


Challenge Day 10:  Something that makes me very happy.

My dogs ALWAYS make/made me happy! Even after Bear died (the black one), I still had Karma (the Boxer). She had a rough couple months after Bear went, but she made it through just fine. I just have to say "bread", "walk", "food", "bath", or "ride in the car" and she goes crazy! It just makes my day.

Bear was kinda like Eeyore in "Winnie the Pooh". He loved attention, but never really wanted to play hard. He loved being pet, getting love, having his tummy rubbed, and he LOVED going on walks! He was our Gentle Giant, the big teddy bear. He lived a great life! Unfortunately he died sooner than we expected him to. He got really sick and it progressed too fast. He left us last October, right before Halloween.

Okay, I know that was getting depressing, so let me save it... My dogs always made me happy! When I was upset or had too much on my mind, I could go talk to the dogs. Why? Because they always listened. They were there when I needed them to be. They didn't care what was going on in my life, as long as I was there to give them company. Bear was the best companion anyone could ever have asked for! Karma was his awkward, ADHD little sister. Freaking odd pairing, but they were the best dogs anyone could ever ask for, and that makes me happy!

Challenge Day 9

Day 9: Pictures that make you laugh.


Are you all ready for the awesomeness which is the pictures that make me laugh?

I could go on and on, but then it isn't funny anymore. Anyway, these pictures never fail to make me laugh for one reason or another. My personal favorite though is the "ROR" one. It's too brilliant!

Challenge Day 8

I realized I missed a day, so I'll make up for it here. Again...

Day 8: Favorite book.


So, the thing says that I have to pick ONE book that's my favorite. Really, just one?! Can I just pick an author instead? Well, you all know I have a crush on C.S. Lewis, so that's no surprise. I guess I'll have to go with...

The "Narnia" books! They're my favorite, by far! Ever since I was a little kid, I've been in love with the idea of a parallel-ish world that you can access from odd places in our own. Being sucked into it through a wardrobe while running away from the housekeeper, while waiting for the train to school, while looking at a painting, putting on magic rings... I just love it! I find it relaxing to just escape into my mind for a while if I'm too stressed or just need a break, and Mr. Lewis did a great job at that! ("The Screwtape Letters" are also great!)