The zoo, a flood, and new stuff.. Oh my!

I can't believe I haven't posted here since Friday. Wow! I don't think I've gone that long since I got going with this blog. I am sorry to have neglected you, my Animals. Surprisingly enough, it started with our trip to the zoo with my family Saturday. We had a blast, and I'll have to share some pictures with you. I got some great ones of the animals with my new camera. Let me know what you think.

I loved the way it picked up so many colors so vividly!

It wouldn't be a zoo trip without... Lions..

Tigers...



and bears, oh my!



For some reason, this gorilla keyed in on my niece A and spotting her was the only reason he came down out of the bushes. Then he ended up charging the glass right after this photo was taken, and he slammed his hand onto the glass right in front of her face! All of the adults jumped and she ran to my sister, but she was right back there staring him down in no time. That girl has zero fear level really, although if you knew her brother and her dad you'd probably understand why. They are tough guys through and through.

As I told you last week, I had friends come in from out of town Saturday night, and they stayed for several days. We really are getting old because we didn't go do much, but I have to say that we had so much to catch up on we were simply enjoying each other's company. If I had more warning they were coming, I would have planned for us to go to the beach or something. Oh, well. We had fun at least.

After they left, I changed the sheets because I let the two of them have my bed and I slept on the couch. Aren't I a nice host? I thought so! Good thing I had the new couch, but still you can only sleep on a couch for so long, ya know? When I was putting the clean sheets on the bed, I was so tickled I would have my bed back. Then I felt it...

The bottom of the mattress and the top of the boxspring were wet! Just so you know, my bed has water tubes in it. Not really like a water bed, but these water tubes fit into a mattress and you can't find those tubes anywhere anymore. So of course, I realized the bed was leaking. Just freaking great! I had to call my neighbor across the street who frequently comes to the rescue to come help me carry these heavy-ass tubes outside to drain them. This also meant Krissy was going to be sleeping on the couch again. I was not a happy camper, but I was more worried about keeping the carpet dry than anything at this point.

Once the crisis was averted, I called Mom who told me to run the ceiling fan to dry out the boxspring because there isn't a thing wrong with it. I went yesterday and bought a new mattress, and let me tell you... I had the BEST night of sleep last night. Granted, before going to bed I was so tired that my eyes were watering, but still. I had been sleeping on the couch since Friday for God's sake!

I figured I had needed a new mattress for a while because I was always waking up sore with aches especially in my shoulders and hips. Last night I even slept on my back for part of the night, which I haven't done in FOREVER without having trouble walking the next day. I felt thoroughly FANTABULOUS this morning. I honestly cannot remember the last time I felt that good in the morning. I even woke up before my alarm and I wasn't mad. Since I was used to sleeping on water that kinda sinks in, I did wake myself up a couple of times because I almost rolled off of the fluffy mattress. But that just made me laugh and realize that I'm a good bit higher off of the ground than I was with the old one.

I was in the furniture store so long that I ended up falling in love with this bedroom suite that goes on sale today. So I am heading back after work to buy it! She said she is going to throw in some lamps because she wasn't able to give me a bigger discount on the mattress, but I was desperate to leave with a mattress last night. I'm so glad I did it now. Oh, by the way, it's a Serenity pillow-top mattress that has lower lumbar support and individually foam wrapped super coils (or some such craziness) that helps those who like to sleep in different positions get support without the pain. I'm feeling it so far!

I'll take some pics of the new furniture with my phone for ya since they probably won't be delivered until next week. I am so excited! I really didn't want to spend the extra money, but I finally found a set where the drawers aren't so shallow that they only hold two shirts, ya know? I HATE that! Why don't they make them all bigger now?

Well, I better go for now. Sleep well, everyone! I know I sure plan to for the first time in years. Bailey will probably never get me out of bed Saturday morning.