Four. More. Days.

This has been the week from hell. Well, is being... it's not over yet. I don't ever remember this pre-Pennsic week being this hard. I suppose it always has been, but ... for some reason I don't remember it to this degree.

I'm talking, of course, about the fact that everyone I know who is going to Pennsic (with one exception) is already there, there for the whole two weeks. And my anxiety to get this week over and just get there and start my Pennsic is really at an all-time high.

Since Friday night I've just been bouncing off the walls. It seems like time has stopped, and I'm doing everything I can think of to do just to keep myself busy, and from going crazy (er). There's one big advantage to that - I've gotten more done around this house in the last three days then I did in the last 6 or 8 months. Not just Pennsic stuff - I am well-organized enough this year (! don't know how that happened !) that I don't really have all that much to do.

So I've been busying myself with other things, like insane cleaning. I scrubbed most of the kitchen, including the fridge and the microwave. I sorted and where needed washed all the blankets in the house, then stacked them neatly in the spare room. I sorted all the varied, mis-matched sheets in the house (good thing, no wonder I was so confused - I had 8 or 9 flat sheets and only two fitted sheets). I mowed the front yard, and moved a shrub that needed replanted. I cleaned the truck inside and washed the windows in it, then finally put my Emerald Isle stickers on it that I bought two years ago.

Well ... there's more, I could go on, but you get the picture.

I don't know what'll happen with another three days to go ... either I'll have trimmed the trees into topiaries, washed the siding, shampooed all the carpets, and alphabetized the spice rack and canned goods cupboard ... or I'll crash at some point. I just hope the crash doesn't hit Friday night - we're scheduled to play last at the Chalkman Music Competition (not competing, just putting on a little show with - of all things - "Purple" ... Friday night, after I have Tyler to the groomer's by 8:00 a.m., finish loading the truck, run some errands, get to Pennsic, unload the truck, park it, and trek from the parking lot ... yeah, I hope this crack phase carries me through at least Saturday morning).

By the way, Rhys, thanks for the suggestion - (painting the 55 gallon drums rather than buying store-bought rain barrels). I did consider it. Now I kind of wish I'd have considered it a little more seriously. And when are you going to come to Pennsic again? Or anything else for that matter? Miss you lots! You'll have to pull a Cian "Pennsic In A Bottle" one of these years: 24 hours at Pennsic - one bottle of rum - the Red Hand and the Sea Chameleon ... life may never be the same. ;o)