things preventing delicious sleep:

After the following night, I am starting to rethink my genius housesitting plans.

2:30 am: Eddie the dog stands outside my room whining. Not continuously...most are just loud exhales that only occasionally turn into whines. As if to say, "I'm not really trying to bother you". Get up to let Eddie out into yard.

6:45 am: Alarm goes off. Struggle to find off button on strange alarm.

7:00 am: Alarm goes off again. Realize I only managed to hit the sleep button. After turning on light and inspecting strange, cryptic alarm, get up to crawl under bed and unplug alarm.

7:15 am: Alarm goes off again. Consider consulting priest. Realize that it is one of those damn failsafe alarms. Turn on light, yank out batteries.

7:30 am: Awake to sound of cat, who wants to be fed, dropping things off bathroom counter into toilet. Sound is impossible to ignore. Was that splash my toothbrush? Get up to feed cat.

8:45 am: Eddie, whining again. Get up to feed dogs and let out into backyard.

9:15 am: Eddie and Joe, both whining. Repeated pleas of "shhhh" fail to invoke sympathy. Get up to take dogs on walk around neighboorhood in pyjamas. Realize sleep is beautiful, impossible dream.