There Have Been Good Moments.

Internet,

As I'm sure you noticed from yesterday's post, it's been a stressful few weeks. But I would be remiss to not mention at least a couple of the good moments from the past few weeks.

1. When I left work around 2am one day (I couldn't tell you which day - they all run together), I walked to my car and noticed this glorious scent. There are flowering trees everywhere, and their beautiful aroma was wafting around me as I left work. So, like a crazy person, I walked up to one of them, closed my eyes and deeply inhaled and enjoyed it for a couple of minutes before going home. (Crazy people around here is not an uncommon sight; even at 2 in the morning, I'm pretty sure I blended in just fine.) After spending weeks on end indoors, that was a nice moment.

2. I got to church on the last Sunday of session. I seriously don't think I've been able to do that for the previous five sessions when we were under Democrat control. The DFL loved to keep people here at all hours of the day and night, and Sunday was just another day of the week to them. And along with the time to go to church on Sunday, I did not do two back-to-back all-nighters this year. In fact, I may have worked over 100 hours in six days last week, but I only had one night that lasted until 4am. For that, I am grateful.

3. A co-worker graciously offered me a yoyo maple bacon long john. Let me tell you, Internet: I have eaten a few doughnuts in my day, but I had never experienced anything like this. Maple icing that wasn't too cloyingly sweet. One strip of perfectly crispy bacon. It was delicious, and I could probably eat one every single day if given the opportunity.

I'm probably forgetting a lot more of the good moments, Internet. But I'm glad that I remember those.

xoxo,

LinnEy

Maybe...

...the latte idea this morning was good, but the four shots of espresso in it? Not a good idea.

...when special session starts, I can make it through without killing anyone. (Hey! Made it through the regular session without mishap.) (Pray for me.)

...I won't feel guilty today when I'm not at work at 10 o'clock at night.

...I can put the survival kit (thermarest, blankets) currently in my office back in my car trunk where it belongs.

...when I get home tonight I'll know what to do with myself and this "free time" that will be thrust upon me.

...I won't have to wear a suit for a while now.

...I can get a facial tomorrow.

...I can make plans with friends and family again without fear of having to cancel because I work all hours of the day and night.

...my rowing friends won't mind that I'm out of shape right now.

...I won't dream of washing my hair in a Capitol bathroom sink any more. (What a nightmare.)

Odds and Ends. Well, no ends. Just odds.

Dear Internet,

Sometimes the end looms very, very far out of sight, even if the time until "the end" can be measured in days.

_____

I sent my mom a funny Mother's Day card. And accidentally got my dad in trouble (though the original intent was to poke fun at myself). Everyone had a good laugh over it.

_____

For reasons beyond me, I stayed up late last night ironing dress shirts. Apparently lack of sleep causes me to believe that, for the first time in years, I need to have crisp shirt collars at work. Or maybe friend Amanda has finally seeped into my subconscious, and I ironed in her honor.

_____

Also caused by the lack of sleep and insanity that is my job, I am reaching that stage where I can't relax. So instead, I annoy neighbors by moving furniture around at midnight on a Saturday evening.

_____

I cooked for my mom yesterday. And no one died. (So far.) As I was cooking, I kept thinking, "This is taking me a really long time. Does it usually take a normal person this long to cook bacon?" and "This is a simple dish...it really should not be taking me this long...I must be out of practice...or was I ever in practice?" Again, I killed no one, so that's what counts, right?

_____

Friend K asked me to send out a going-away party invitation to a bunch of people for friend Amanda (see the ironing shirts thing, above) and her husband. K provided the date and time and other details. I provided a re-wording of the Beverly Hillbillies song. Also done in the middle of the night. I can say that I think I got the idea while I was at work, but I really couldn't tell you that for sure. What I am pretty sure of? I'm pretty sure work is driving me a little crazy. Like, I haven't hallucinated yet, but I'm pretty close. (Although? How would I know? I might have really daydreamed that talking mouse in my apartment the other day. Or it could have been a really big bug that didn't actually talk. Or maybe it was a cartoon. Just saying. How would I know? But it was probably just a mouse or a really big bug. I think my roommate thought I was crazy, so...)

_____

I haven't worked out in weeks. I've heard that people have gotten out on some water in these things called boats and used some long stick-like objects to propel themselves around. I am forgetting that part of my life, and to be frank, I'm not sure if I really care.

xoxo,

Minny LinnEy

p.s. Internet, this is what my friends think my work is all about. But seriously? I don't think extending fall and spring by a mere 1 1/2 months each would actually eradicate winter. It'd have to be more like three months to each...

Waving the White Flag

It is May 2nd. Both yesterday and today have involved snow. Granted, there are not drifts piling up outside my window, but there has definitely been flurries and flakes swirling around out there.

I surrender. I am coming to terms with the fact that winter will never be over.