I'm a known insomniac and the problem has gotten worse this third trimester. Part of it is feeling unaccomplished for the day. Being exhausted most of the day and evening renders one feeling rather useless post-work hours and lately I haven't had much energy to do anything else but watch CSI. I resolved to change that today.

Lunch time we went to Bras Brasah to get some stuff printed for one of our vendors. Bras Brasah always means a trip to Art Friend. This time it was to investigate why my membership card never arrived. The cashier informed me that my membership was the new batch, which authenticates via IC. Gleefully I bought some Daler and Rowney paints and 4 canvases that were on sale, and also the 4 small brushes I wanted to get the last time. Tonight, I paint.

The hub was late to fetch me and I was wheezing in exhaustion, expending my last vestiges of strength to shower myself. He returned with Hokkien Mee and I was rejuvenated by the fairly healthy dinner, although not full. BB kicked in protest. His father fetched him freshly squeezed OJ to placate him from kicking a hole in my stomach. He complied.

I worked on the backdrop of Cat in the Window II and am thrilled with the outcome. I wanted a starry starry night sort of background but the mysterious moon that appeared instead (I am not so skilled yet, I realised, to reconstruct the stars) pleased and delighted me. Will work on the cat again in a couple of weeks and finish the frame.

Accomplished! I thought while I scrubbed my brushes clean. Hub was playing DOTA so I logged on too. Then I realised the danged sound card had not be installed in my computer and I spent a harried one hour finding the right CD and finally uncovered it in the motherboard CD. Finally I can play HOMM IV in peace. None tonight though... it is kind of late and I am vaguely tired.

Strange how last night I crashed like a train wreck. Hub was playing DOTA AGAIN and so I decided to feed the cats. They had gone one week without wet food (ok, one can of Merrick's but that's it) and I was concerned about the state of Boy's kidneys. I'd bought some chicken fillet earlier and agreed that now was a good time to cook for them.

Kaku tore into her chicken bits eagerly while Boy relished the one prawn I peeled for him and then the chicken. Sam didn't hold back this time and neither did Buffy after he started eating. Tux took a few bites but preferred the biscuits I added to their dishes. It all ended far too quickly, even after Kaku snuck forth and pinched some of Buffy's chicken pieces. They looked at me, picking at the biscuits, and I relented.

I took out the second batch, a smaller portion I'd stored for the day after, and cooked it. The four sniffed at them while I chopped them into smaller bits and blew at the bits to cool them. Kaku and Boy didn't wait after that and tore into them with relish. Sam and Buffy grabbed the rest. Tux lay on the ground, watching the rest eat, pondering what was so nice about the stringy white meat.

Boy followed me into the bedroom licking his chops. He leapt onto the bed and slept by our feet all night. :) To show his appreciation, he followed me around even today when I got home. I best go buy more chicken tomorrow.

At the end of the day, I think the feeling of accomplishment that helps alleviate the insomnia comes more from the joy of bringing happiness to others than to myself. Let's see how I sleep tonight...