The Zoo over Ambuscade Street

I slept last night. Not the half-way restless sleep where I toss and turn as my muscles twist and cramp all night that I usually get, but real, solid sleep.

I don't think most people can understand what it's like to never be able to get a good night's sleep, to always wake up feeling cramped and sore and worse than when you went to bed. It shades every aspect of your life, from your personality to your interpersonal dealings to your appetite. The world is a different place when you can't sleep.

Of course, the rested feeling didn't last more than about an hour, but it was wonderful while it lasted.

This makes my head hurt.

And now, I have a dilemma. I have a few choices about what to do with my day. I can stay at work, and pretend to get things accomplished. This ordinarily would be my default action, but I worked 11 hours yesterday and have to come in absurdly early later this week as a favor to my new boss, so I can play with my hours a little more.

The weather appears to be, other than the thick yellow haze of pollen, gorgeous. I could get in the Mini, zip on down to Lake Anna State Park, and hike for a couple of hours. This would also give me the option of checking out the Faire grounds.

Or - I could go home, clean the house a bit, perhaps nap, and watch Marmalade Boy 4, which arrived last night. (Aside: I have all of Marmalade Boy on R1 DVD! Yay!) This is the most appealing option, although it's probably not the best.

Thoughts? I'm lacking in decision-making ability today.

[EDIT] Screw this, I'm going home at noon. I've gotten sufficient amounts of work done that I can't feel guilty. No idea what I'll do after I leave, but hey!

So - I'm volunteering at the Faire all four weekends. And while the current job I'm going to be doing doesn't strictly require garb, I've been planning on buying a Faire dress for quite some time. Actually, I had intended to buy one this summer, for the PA Faire, so I just have to move my plans up a bit.

Now - I'm at a loss as to which to get. The one I had decided on I went with primarily because a) I liked it; and b) I could get it at about 30% off. I can't anymore, which means I can play a little more.

There's the Celtic dress, which was my original pick, and the cheapest of the three. I'd get it in hunter and kelly green.

There's the Flemish dress, with hat, which I would probably get in blue. My biggest concern with this one is that the style, in velvet no less, isn't the most forgiving, and may serve to emphasize the fact that I have not yet lost weight off my lower abs or hips (everywhere else, yes - just not there).

Third and finally, there's the Abita di Firenze Gown, possibly accompanied with the headband fall. No clue what color I'd go with, although green and gold sounds good, as does blue and silver. Or maybe green and silver. No chemise needed for this one, either, so it's actually cheaper than the Flemish dress. Also, while it's more formal, it's not too formal, and it's a very comfortable style.

I'll get to wear this for at least five weekends - four for the VA faire, and at least one at the PA faire. Chances are good that I'll buy a second dress next year. Thoughts, opinions?