Oh, the timing

My neighbors just got a yap dog. The thing has been going constantly since about 2 this afternoon. I mean constantly. It can't have taken so much as a small break for eating.

My guess is they either just went out an bought this bundle of joy, or they've had it for a while, and it just occurred to them that the torture of small creatures was a fun and enlightening pastime. If it's the first, I estimate the second will come shortly if this furry little bastard doesn't stop by about midnight.

Thankfully, the only walls I share utterly with them are the kitchen and bathroom, where I don't plan to spend an incredible amount of time during my days or nights. Don't get me wrong, I can hear their darling from here (in the living room), but music can drown it out. And in the bedroom tonight, the SoundScreen (or bomb, if you're an airport security officer) will keep a tight lid on Yippy the Spastic Toy Poodle.

Still, if I were planning to be here longer than a month at the outside, I'd be a tad bit upset by the development. Hey, you know, they're probably just pet sitting for the dear thing. Only time will tell. I'll be on the lookout for suspicious stains on the sidewalk if there's a prolonged silence of any kind.

Packing hasn't gone as well today as it went yesterday. And I succumbed once again to the cool side of the force, turning my A/C on for most of the day. I'm going to keep it on tonight and see if I sleep any better than I have been. Even with the ceiling fan on full blast and my noise machine purring away blocking out Yippy and others, I toss and turn far too much for a restful night.

And that's about it. I'm working on my desk area, the last of the kitchen shelving, and the last of the entry closet. Then it's to bed. And in the morning, more work with the computers. I've a whole week to work my ass off before Frankenthesis is returned and I get to ... work my ass off. It's looking like the third week in June is the defense. I don't want to wait until the last week, because there's some paperwork to do right after the defense and I don't want it to be last minute. But since I only get the thing back to work on some more next Monday, I don't want to cut my time down to the second week of June.

I'm trying to think of something sufficiently celebratory for the defense that doesn't involve eating (trying to move away from the celebratory eating because it's expensive and unhealthy) or sitting quietly in a dark room (because movies are expensive and I can't keep myself from working an analysis on them). I'm leaning toward a facial or a massage or something. If I were rolling in money, I'd get my pits zapped and save a ton of time shaving every morning. These are the kinds of things that are relaxing or beautifying and have more long-term potential than dinner and/or a movie. They're also buttloads more expensive, and that last one is probably TMI.

Am taking suggestions for celebratory events which do not include unhealthy habits or theaters. Clicky on the comment area and let me know if there's an idea that's burning its way out of your mind.

Love and Peace (and cough drops for little Yippy, whose throat must be sore!)