I really need to lay off the juice.

Seriously, caffeine is my mortal enemy. It should be anyway, but I can't seem to resist treating to myself an ice cold Diet Coca Cola every now and again. I usually pay the price, though, even after just one at lunch time. Sleep usually takes a bit longer to come my way when I have just one, but I really did myself a doozy today. I had two of them, one at lunch and one at dinner, which translates into me currently not being able to sleep.

If only our desktop computer was in the family room instead of our bedroom, I might be able to finally get some projects worked on I've been unable to do, what with needy kids and the siren call of the television. But as it is, I'm stuck using our antiquated laptop that runs like a dinosaur stuck in a tar pit so nothing gets done and I usually end up staring at my home page on Facebook for 45 minutes hoping something exciting will pop up, which it rarely does.

Tonight, however, I thought I'd jump back on the blog train because as I was laying there, trying to convince the caffeine running through my veins to let me sleep, I started hearing bumps in the night. Now, that's really nothing new since we live on the middle level of our apartment building and these here apartments were built back in the 70's, which means we hear a lot of what goes on in our neighbors homes. But, tonight I heard a door open and it sounded like it was the kids' door so I thought I'd hear Aidan pitter pat his way down to our room (walking past the bathroom on his way, mind you) to inform me that he needed to go. When that didn't happen my mind ran a little while and I half expected some ghoulie to jump up, grab my ankles and drag me under the bed. It didn't, in case you were wondering.

Are you like that? Please tell me someone else out there is like that too! I've always been that way. When "E.T." came out I remember lying terrified in my bed thinking that E.T.'s misshapen head was going to pop up and I'd be a goner, never mind that E.T. was as gentle as they come. That glowing finger still freaks me out.

And sharks. On occasion, as I was trying to fall asleep, I'd end up thinking about the inky black vastness of the ocean and sharks appearing out of nowhere to nibble my toes off, and I'd end up with my eyes shut tight and the covers pulled over my head. I blame "Jaws" for that one.

And then there was "Fire in the Sky", that movie about alien abductions supposedly based on true stories. I remember watching that in my parents' room when they were out of town, with all the lights off and pillows piled on top of me as if that was going to protect me from aliens intent on using my body for their scientific experiments. I didn't sleep well that night.

I need to shut up now. I'm never going to get to sleep if I keep freaking myself out.

Lesson learned: Never drink two Diet Cokes in a day and don't blog about things that freak you out at 11:30 pm.

I'm off to Facebook now. Maybe I can forget about the creepy.