Thoughts of spring

The sun is shining. My daughter absconded with my gloves, and it doesn't matter because I'm not going to need them. This is the first morning there's been no frost on the ground.

On the south side of the houses on the cross street half a block from us, nestled in the protected area between the foundation and the fence, there are crocuses. They aren't blooming yet, but they're close; it's possible to tell what colour the flowers will be by looking at the buds.

Even if it snows again (and that's not at all unlikely) spring has officially sprung when the crocuses are up. I walked to the bus stop with a smile on my face.

I've got extensions to the Duchesses' Ball scene running through my head. It's going to be the second scene in the book, because it's the perfect spot to introduce the main characters and some of the other politics in the book. But I don't dare start putting it on paper or bytes just now, because once I start I won't be able to stop, and I have to teach in fifteen minutes.

The last day of school is three months from today. I can hardly wait.

Have a nice day, friends list!

Side effect of spring breaks

I came in this morning with a slight headache already developing. I couldn't figure out why. I had enough sleep last night. I had a good breakfast. There are no weather changes in the air, and this didn't feel like a pressure headache. It got neither worse nor better throughout the day, until all of a sudden about an hour ago I figured it out.

Caffeine.

For the last two weeks, I've been drinking at least three, usually four or five cups of tea every day. I've been drinking pop, too, and eating chocolate. My caffeine intake has been huge, and much, much more than usual.

This morning, I didn't even have a cup of tea. Why should I? I was well-rested, no toothpicks needed, and therefore no chemical toothpicks, either.

The headache is about caffeine withdrawal.

To test this theory, I went to the staff room and broke every single rule of tea-making. I squeezed the teabag until the tea was nearly opaque. I put cream in it, because there was no milk. I sweetened it enough to give me two cavities all on its own. Then I downed it. Fast.

The headache is mostly gone. WHat's left could easily be the result of Klepto's latest acquisition during gym class - a gold bracelet that we suspect is in his coat pocket.

I'm going to have to watch my caffeine intake as I gradually bring it down to more reasonable levels. Maybe a can of pop on the way home would get rid of the rest of the headache. Tomorrow - tea in the morning, pop with dinner. Thursday - tea in the morning, no pop. At least, that's the plan.

Painless taxes!

We just went to see the accountant down the street.

Every year about this time he hangs out a shingle about doing tax returns. This is the third year we've gone to him. In the space of fifteen minutes, he enters everything into his program, prints stuff, has us sign it, and has us out the door with the assurance that our returns will soon be in the mail from Revenue Canada - all for fifty bucks for both of us.

Even better, we're getting enough of a return to pay most of the hotel room for Anthrocon. Yay, found money!

Now to actually find enough money to put some into an RRSP. It hasn't been a priority lately, because a) I have a great pension, b) I have tons of debt, and c) we're putting money into Elizabeth's RESP. But I need to start putting stuff into an RRSP for myself, since Piet's now paying into one for himself through work.

Anyway.

Welcome to the new people on my friends list. Let me know if you want on the writing filter, and i'll add you.