I would so love to write a profound, informative or entertaining post today, but that's just not going to happen.

Sorry 'bout that.

My brain has been stuffed and roasted and is no good for nuttin' this morning, and it's not going to get any better any time soon.

First, I have the cold to end all colds ... okay, not, but that's how it feels. My sinuses have been inhabited by a fleet of Volkswagons and my face weighs thousands of pounds. (On the upside, I can make a snorting sound that Sam says is just what a Triceratops would sound like, if they weren't extinct.)

Second on my Top 10 Kvetch list: we had SUCH a storm last night!

I'm well accustomed to tropical downpours and such, but last night's tempest went above and beyond. Bolts of lightning struck so close that we could smell them and feel the CRACK in the air. The thunder, booming at exactly the same time as the lightning hit, shook and rattled the whole house and rolled for minutes at a time.

The bolt that struck the big rock across the valley, the same place Mark and the kids had their picnic the other day, was just too close for comfort.

I'd just yesterday read about a friend's experience of having her house hit ... in a different part of the world, it's true, but so what? ... so was a bit spooked on any account. Her TV imploded and everything else that was plugged in fritzed and melted! This storm, I think, would have scared me no matter what, though.

Normally, I hunker down under the sheet and enjoy the coziness of safe and warm in the midst of all hell breaking loose, but last night I was up unplugging all my appliances, disconnecting phones (Unfortunately, I forgot about my printer/fax and it appears the modem is fried. Great.), and worrying where the next flash would land.

As the storm moved away, Sam woke up from a nightmare and could not settle. He was convinced a "bad man covered in red" had jumped down from the bed. (He told me this morning that he was trying to call for me and Dad, but his mouth wouldn't work. I HATE it when that happens in a dream! Poor kid.) We were up with him for ages.

Thankfully, Cj slept like a log through it all.

Me, though? Going back to sleep was not an option.

I have this cold, you see ...