Waking up at 5 am...

It has to be said, I used to enjoy getting up at 5 am. But that was when it wasn't a requirement. Today, after waking up at 5 am every week since September 4, 2007, well, let's just say the novelty has worn off. I know that because it took three snooze button attempts before I actually climbed out of the bed to wake up my daughter - who is also ready for a long 6 weeks of NOT waking up at 5 am.

The routine continues to be the same.

I wake up, find the coffee pot - still dirty from the day before. After emptying the sink of the dishes which have procreated mysteriously overnight, I wash it, trying not to drop it in my pre-coffee state.

The dog gets let out the back door. The coffee is ready by the time I let him back in to feed him his long awaited breakfast. By the time the dog licks the last bastion of Baker's chicken-flavoured nugget smell from the bowl, I am sitting in front of my laptop, trying not to burn my tongue. I check the emails that have flowed in from around the world at odd times.

My brother has arrived home safely from his drive up the eastern seaboard of America. Someone is looking for a lift from London to Dover. I'm being looked at by someone on Meet New People. Another ex-Loti has accepted my friendship on FaceBook.

I read my horoscope - LOL - today it says I am a great communicator. I quote -

"Be more expressive about your emotions than you typically are, today. Be vulnerable. You're a natural when it comes to communication and today brings the chance to put those skills to work. The people in your life are all waiting for information -- or permission -- before they can get to work."

I can't bear for it to be wrong - and therefore, I have decided to start this blog. Consider yourself on my waiting list - it did say you were all waiting....

By the time I am on my second cup of coffee, I can hear the shower door open and close. My daughter is now on her horse, getting ready for school. I relax into my work emails - scanning for any crisis that might have erupted on Friday evening after I logged out. A surprisingly slow weekend for the stateside workaholics. Brilliant. Delete, delete, delete (just the spammy bits, not the work emails!).

Hmm. My heart leaps into my throat. I read the name in the 'From' field again. I haven't imagined it. I look to the subject - FWD:... - Ok - so it's not personal, it is safe. I can open this email and still have a good day.

After reading the joke, sent to me by BCC - I reread his name - about 10 times actually. It is then that I realize how much I miss the 'good morning' kisses received around this time- in an email, or a few hours earlier- in person. I miss the text messages sent to me while he drove home at 5:30 am.

So once again, I really dread when my horoscope is eerily accurate. I admit it - I am VERY vulnerable. I hope the astrologist is extremely happy that this weakness is now exposed.

So, having just finished my second cup of coffee, I can now think a bit more deeply. And that is when I start to wonder - How long does it take to forget? Apparently - for me, it takes more than 3192 hours, which equals approximately 133 days.

I really should stop reading my horoscope.