Okay, THAT'S just humiliating.

I didn't get to bed until after one last night, and didn't get to sleep until some time after that, because when my symptoms are at their worst, my body is very unforgiving of stunts like staying upright one MINUTE past what said body has decided is bed-, or at least lying down, time.

I leapt out of bed at a little after seven this morning with the distinct impression that my husband, who usually leaves for work at a little after seven, wasn't conscious yet. I got him up, made his bag lunch, looked wistfully at my bed, woke up my son, and started really moving.

Not quite in my usual morning sense. I glanced at my workout togs, still lovely and sweaty from yesterday, and had a very distinct thought that rhymes with "duck exercise." But I did get right to work: putting everything together to bring to the printer, making breakfast, figuring out what materials I'll need for the kids' French class this morning. Caffeine does nothing for me, so I'm resigned to just plain feeling tired for the rest of the day.

At nine-thirty, when I was still in my nightclothes (well, excuse ME), my son pulled the headphones off my ears and interrupted Rob Zombie to tell me that someone was at the door.

Peachy.

I threw on a sweatshirt and some jeans, figuring it was the lady who does the laundry for the family downstairs. They never give her enough quarters to get the job done right, so Monday morning often finds her frantically looking for change.

Nope. I opened the door to an extremely startled-looking UPS carrier.

Now, look. I was dressed. I'd been up for a couple of hours by now.

And the look on his face said, "Oh dear God."

I dared a glance in the mirror after he'd left and yes, I had those horrible shrunken red serial-killer eyes that say I need either a few more hours' sleep or a few more zombies for my basement collection. And that extra-pale skin that looks so interestingly eerie on goth-girls and so wishy-washy pathetic on me.

Thank Shiva this was before I'd put any makeup on.

I'm going to the printers now. With lots of cosmetics. Possibly some surgery.

Giveaway announcement when I get back.