My niece and I have bonded over the Twilight saga.  Today we both finished reading the 12-chapter excerpt to the fifth book, "Midnight Sun" that's posted on the author's website.  I've got to admit, I really enjoyed hearing things from Edward's point of view.  I'd be surprised if she didn't go ahead and release the finished version after the movie comes out.  Although, having read the 12 chapters, I'm more excited about seeing the movie. 

Sister and nephew have been having some event-induced depression following the stress over the surgery.  Sister called me on Monday and was very sad, and after many suggestions to her of things she could do to feel better, she took my suggestion to read the books I sent my niece.  She started with the Hunger Games and has already worked her way through the Twilight books.  She's on the last one.  I'm shocked she liked them.  Every time I call her to see if she's feeling better, she just says, "I can't talk, I'm reading."  So I think she's feeling better.  Niece even did the dishes yesterday aso my sister didn't have to stop reading.  LOL. 

I can't seem to find anything that holds my interest the way those books did, so I bought "The Host" a few nights ago in an attempt to locate my "reader's passion."  So far, so good.  I was only a few chapters into it before deciding to jump into 264 pages of Edward's head. 

Clearly, I'm rebelling against working this weekend.  Earlier, I felt the pangs of drowsiness and allowed myself a nap!!  And I'm feeling mild abandonment issues because FG is leaving on Tuesday for Brussels and then Venice after that.  So I get to stay home and work and take care of the house and seven animals while he's off enjoying himself.  Ideally, I'd be going with him.  For him, this is a working trip (partially) that somebody else is footing the bill for.  BUT STILL.  I feel like I'm getting the short end of the stick.  I feel bad being stuck HERE when he gets to be THERE.  Grrr. 

I'm blaming PMS.  I'm irritable.  Usually when he's out of the country he's working 90% of the time.  From the way it sounds this time, he'll be working 10% of the time.  I should be happy for him that he gets to see his overseas buddies.  I guess I am happy about that.  I'm just unhappy because I'll miss him and be lonely.  He hasn't left the country in a long time, and I've forgotten what it's like when he's gone.  And I hate that I'm feeling left behind. 

If he knew how I was feeling, he'd cancel the trip.  At one point, he sensed it and said he'd rather not go if it's going to hurt my feelings.  So I have to try to stay upbeat.  I'm not feeling all that upbeat.  My sleep issues have been incredibly intrusive lately, and I feel a little zoned out and detached.  pms could be factoring into that.  Maybe I just need more sleep.

I ate like crap today, and it's doing nothing for my already-depressed mood. 

Oh wait --- before I forget --- change of subject!

Yesterday, at work, I spoke to a woman who goes to little college.  She just finished elementary algebra and english comp. (the classes I intend to take) and filled me in on her instructors and her feelings about going back to school after 20 years.  She loved her instructors and strongly encouraged me to register for their classes.  Not sure I will do that, but it did make me feel a little more at ease about returning to school while holding a job.  She didn't seem to think those two classes were all that consuming.

So I guess I'm really excited about school and a little impatient to just get things rolling. 

I'm so sorry to those of you who have made it this far in my blog.  My brain just isn't working well today, even after my super-long nap this afternoon.  I think it might be best to just go to bed, once and for all!  Although, a soak in the tub sounds better than bed.  Bed will feel better after a soak.

Crap.  I just realized I forgot to "soak" the dogs.  Looks like I'm up for a while.

Girl, you are really wrapped up in that reading, aren't you?  LOL!

I know you'll do fine while FG is out of town.  It sucks that you don't get to go, though. 

 B & I travel for work a lot (mostly me though), and I always feel sad that either I'm leaving him behind or vice-versa.  At the same time, I do find it really sweet that FG (what does that stand for btw?) would offer to stay back with you!  Still, I agree with the decision you made to be strong and hold down the fort (7 animals!?!) until he gets back.  Try doing all those things you'd been putting off doing because he was there and go hang out with some of your girl-friends.  Books are always of choice to me too.  Right now I'm reading My Year of Meats by Ruth Ozeki and I think it's pretty awesome :)  It's about a girl who works in Japan for the US Meat Industry to promote beef and whatnot in Japan.  LOL.  In any case, hope the time passes quickly until FG returns.  I know he will be thinking about you the whole time.

 Wait...theres a 5th book...online???????? What???:) Hmmmm, I did not know that! I've gotta go check that out. Ok, so. After I finished the Twilight series, I took a break from vampires and I read a book called "The Pretty One" by Cheryl Klam. Its another teen book, but ya know what? Its kind of refreshing! Now I've moved on to yet another vampire (teen) series called Blue Bloods. Book 2 is called Masquerade, book 3 is Blue Bloods, Revelations. Its sort of helping me with my Twilight withdrawal! I cannot wait to see the movie!!!!!!!!!! I'm probably going to end up inviting myself along with my daughter and her friends! Much to their dismay! LOL I love the guy they chose to play Edward, but they are all mad about it. They wanted someone else, I guess. I'm glad I knew the cast before I read the book so I had a "visual"...but I know how they feel. I've seen movies based on books and thought "what the heck?" on certain actors playing certain characters.

Get some sleep and feel better soon! Embrace your alone time while FG is gone! :)

 You should read The Host, too. It's Stephanie Meyer's first "adult"   book. I'm on chapter 4. Come to think of it, I'm on chapter 4 of Masquerade, too. I hate when I've got 2 books going on. Oh, wait. Three. I also started The Historian and just can't get into it....