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...

The cat tree was precariously perched on the side of the step yet we didn't quite move it. The next thing I knew, their Dad was calling me to say the cat tree had fallen down and go check out the pond to see, CSI-style, what had happened.

Water was scattered everywhere and a smatter of pawprints were on the deck. Kaku peered at me from under the table and initially I thought she was the one who had climbed onto the cat tree and fell into the water. But she looked dry and scurried away.

While in the bathroom, I saw a little orange cat peer at me as he trotted by. His underside was wet like stalactites. I asked him, "Mu, did you fall into the pond?" He looked sheepish and went on his way.

You Are 52% Abnormal

You are at medium risk for being a psychopath. It is somewhat likely that you have no soul. You are at medium risk for having a borderline personality. It is somewhat likely that you are a chaotic mess. You are at medium risk for having a narcissistic personality. It is somewhat likely that you are in love with your own reflection. You are at medium risk for having a social phobia. It is somewhat likely that you feel most comfortable in your mom's basement. You are at high risk for obsessive compulsive disorder. It is very likely that you are addicted to hand sanitizer.

The difference between Cats and Dogs.

(Source: xenogere)

While browsing some cat books today in Borders, I read that filtered water is better for cats. When I got home, I replaced all the water in their bowls with fresh filtered water (from my Hexagon filter I've been too lazy to use). Perhaps it was simply that the water is fresh, but after supper, Boy drank for the longest time. :) I must remember to refill it more often.

Unable to sleep tonight again, I logged online. Boy came to me and meowed to be carried. Kaku hung out in the hallway, meowed and came into the study to be petted. So with one hand carrying Boy, I petted Kaku with the other. Kaku sped off after a few pets and Boy got my full attention. I took this opportunity to trim 3 of his claws. Surprisingly, there was minimal fuss. Kaku darted to the living room but was chased off by Buffy, who later sat on her Dad's computer table and watched me type IMs to Aunty Mitch.

Later, Kaku meowed and followed me to the kitchen to get some pets. My hand was full of prickly heat powder so I begged off to wash my hands first as Kaku rolled over in greeting. I petted her for no longer than a minute when Buffy came to intervene. Sam appeared not long after, suspecting food was underway.

Sighing, I decided to give them all a bit of a treat. They all ate hungrily, even Kaku who ate from the dish of one of the Three Naughties. Hmm... maybe all the attention seeking was a lure for more food. Anyway it was awfully cute. :) She returned to her bowl after a while and I petted her some more.

Tux and Boy appeared not long after and began eating too. After the meal, Buffy chased Sam into the living room while Boy returned to his couch to nap contentedly.

Today he yawned twice and used his hand to cover his mouth both times. I'm so proud he is well-mannered even in the womb. His legs were tightly clamped together but the radiographer instructed me to lie on my right, then left to try to ease his legs open for a better view and his gender was finally confirmed. I have a son!

On Thursday night we bought Boy's meds and I ground the pills into powder for easy sprinkling into his food. I still can't figure how the vet got him to take a pill but I reckon it's less stressful for both Boy and I to have his meds ground.

The other kids must have been harrassing Boy because he seemed very keen to hang out with me over the past few days. Imagine a 65-70 year-old man living in a home with teens and adults in their early 20s. Same thing here.

Early Wednesday morning, he invited himself into the bedroom just as his Dad was leaving for work and slept by my feet; Wednesday night, sat outside our bedroom door and his Dad let him in when he noticed him there while he brought in his phone; and Thursday night, his Dad brought him in to hang with me to help me sleep (so I wouldn't bother him!).

He got a lot of hugs and pets from a sleepless me (and even I slept better with him around). The first morning was funny. He came in and meowed a lot. I grunted a shh... petted him, and finally he settled down by my feet and slept. I dozed off too and woke again when my alarm rang. He got up, walked over to my face, sat and watched me as I struggled to wake up for work. I stretched out my hand and petted him, inducing a string of purrs. Then I realised the tension headache I had the day before, right up to the point when his Dad let him into the room, was gone! Talk about pet therapy. :)

Wednesday I didn't feel too well so I worked from home. Boy hung out with me at the feet of my bed while I napped in the afternoon. I took my pillow and lay beside him just to pet him and show my appreciation. He turned right around to face me and gaze lovingly at his old mom's face as I petted and blinked at him. He blinked back. When I got up, he followed me around. It was a lovely restful afternoon.

The last two nights we noticed he seemed to have gotten his groove back. I caught him swatting Tux with his paw from his living room chair. Endured some chasing by Buffy and Sam on two separate occasions. He seemed quite happy and confident to sleep by himself last night and tonight (Saturday) he is back on his own couch stretched out and napping. He was glad to have both parents home over the weekend and spent happy evenings blinking at me while I reciprocated in between watching TV. :D

Get the Better Humans collection today.

This collection of essays by leading scientists and commentators explores the implications of human enhancement technologies and asks how citizens and policy-makers should respond.

After 3 nights of half-sleep, I finally crashed today, working from home and taking a much-needed rest late afternoon. I'd thawed a large slab of salmon for dinner and decided to cook part of it for the kids.

Since it was still half-frozen (a lot of halves in this post... hm...), I chopped it up into sashimi portions and boiled them with a small blob of olive oil butter.

The cats meowed excitedly when they realised I was about to dish them their dinner! Boy took to his first, eating a few pieces before he decided he didn't like it.

Kaku ate up her portion and ate most of Tuxie's too. Buffy surprisingly ate all of hers, while Sam took a few bites and decided he didn't like it as did Tux.

Sigh... now there are 2.5 dishes of salmon that no one is eating. I am surprised the kids are sated with just a few bites each. Ah well... time to get my dinner from the oven.