I am punishing myself in the wee hours

The thing about finding oneself awake before an appropriate hour is that the television sometimes offers little besides infomercials and autopsy shows. At first I was fortunate to wake to an old Monk episode which is just fine for falling back to sleep. However, I didn't. As I listened to the clock chime, I lost track of the number of hours it struck so didn't really know what time it was. Since it's still quite dark, I figured it was too early to wake up for good. Yet, here I am.

*

Yesterday afternoon, when at Wal-Mart, the first order of business was to use the bathroom. Since the restroom at the booty shop opens directly into the shop itself, I decided to take my business elsewhere----'nuff said. I'd experienced some cramping on the right side and remembered thinking, "Well, it can't be my appendix because I had that removed already", but that is the feeling I had. This same "pain" was there when I awoke this morning, and helped me decide to get up to stay. I can't be sick now, not with all this nonsense to go through before tomorrow morning, I can't!!!!

*

Since I was up, it seemed like a good time to do some quiet things in my room and the house in general, because I don't want to wake my house mate prematurely. The dirty wash on my closet floor is sorted and ready to go once the sun comes up, and my emptied pieces of luggage are tucked away in the closet until the next time. Joanne teased me about having the purple suitcase lie across the foot of my bed since I got home, but I told her it doesn't bother me in the least, as my feet barely touch it when I'm in bed! Portions of my desk have re-appeared, and I am surprised to see my desk is white! Who knew? It's not easy to work on anything paperwork-wise until I have some natural light in here because the bedroom light simply doesn't throw enough this way to help. As I've said before, thanks to my typing teacher in high school, Miss Liese, I can touch type and don't have to wait for the sun to come up to work on the keyboard and screen!

*

A couple ladies from church met to have lunch yesterday even though we didn't have Bible study because Jackie was hungry for the fried chicken salad she always orders at Longhorn. Believe me, I get hungry for the chicken fingers, too, and didn't mind getting away from the desk to meet them. I had to go to Wal-Mart anyway to pick up the printout of prescriptions for the year, as I must itemize my monthly expenditures, including any over-the-counter things I take. While waiting for the printout, I went to the OTC counter and wrote down the prices of the pills I take so I could figure out how much per month those items cost me. Now that I think of it, I should have gone to the pet area to price litter and food for Lynx. I can't help but chuckle when I consider the fact that if I didn't feed her, I wouldn't have to clean the cat box. This was true for the babies as well----we usually bought formula and diapers at the same time, jokingly making our own trouble!!!

*

This early morning, I tortured myself by turning on a TV program called "Cold Case" with a lovely blond investigative officer who revisits supposedly closed murder cases or those suspicious in nature, like was this mornings' offering. Only this episode was about suspicious infant death, originally declared SIDS but re-opened by their office for some reason. I missed that part of the development, why someone felt it important to look again at this file. The couple had divorced shortly after the loss of the baby, and after much forth and back regarding who saw the baby last, who spent time with the baby, the little brother, etc., 24 years later it came to light that the mother had drown the baby due to post-partum depression. I never saw that coming, I was sure it was the father who didn't really want this bothersome premature infant in the first place. That's what happens when you wake up before you're supposed to---you end up punishing yourself by not changing the channel.

*

Because I have this crampy feeling in my side, I was motivated to print off my insurance cards, just in case, for this year. The insurance I have is quite "efficient", allowing me to download my policy and manually print off the claim cards to put in my wallet. No fancy laminated ID cards for me, no siree, just print 'em off all day long if I wish! I really should find a different company with more benefits but this one is less expensive on a monthly basis, although I do have a $2500 deductible for out-of-pocket expenses. Rarely do I meet that number but in 2007 when I had troubles with sciatica, I came dangerously close. It's no wonder folks give greater regard to health benefits from an employer than to the salary sometimes.

*

Today is Epiphany, the day in which we recognize the Wise Men from the East, the Magi, coming to find the king of the Jews, led by the star. Jesus was most likely about two years old by the time the Magi showed up, so it is historically inaccurate to have them kneeling at the manger next to the shepherds. That is the reason King Herod had the boys aged two and under killed, hoping to rid his kingdom of any "king of the Jews" that could threaten his reign. An angel warned Joseph to flee to Egypt to protect the Savior, which fulfilled a prophecy which told of the Savior coming up out of Egypt, which they did once Herod was out of the picture. Not only is it Epiphany, it is also my sister's birthday! Happy birthday, Kerry!!!!