Strange nightmare

I can't remember the last time I had a nightmare, let alone one that had me jolting awake with sweat pouring down my back.

I smacked him in the chest. "Look at me!" I demanded, voice pleading laced with anger.
Vin turned his angry, empty gaze at me and I almost regretted my demands.
"You have to let me in. You're traveling down a path that no one can follow." I yelled, voice cracking with emotions I hid from him. "I know he was your brother, but there are still people here, alive, that love you. Don't do this."
He stared at me, his mouth turned into his now typical frown. For just a second I thought I glimpsed a sparkle of the old Vin, the mischievous man I loved. He placed his palm on my cheek.
"I have to do this. I can't explain it. I'll be home later." He leaned down, kissing my forehead.
I grabbed his tight, white tee. "No you don't. You don't have anything to prove to anyone. We all miss him; if you do this, you'll just join him in death. Please!" I couldn't stop them. Twin tears slipped down my cheeks as he got into the car. "Vincent, no!"
My screams fell on deaf ears as he revved the engine, intent on completing this race. I knew it wouldn't end well, I'd had a bad feeling all day about it. I couldn't watch. Turning, I bolted out of there, running as fast as I could away from what I knew was going to happen. I could feel his eyes on me as I left. I always watched his races. Maybe this would change his mind, but I doubted it.

I'm not certain how it happened, but I ended up in my old stomping grounds. Most of the houses here were deserted, including my childhood home. I walked in, following my old path to my bedroom and out the window to the small grove of trees I knew were still there, without seeing or thinking of anything. A noise stopped my movements in the window.
A small girl was laying, curled up on a tattered old bed. I walked over to her. She had long, stringy hair, with straight bangs. Beneath the bangs was a thick strand of what looked like dried blood, but it was such a bright red I couldn't believe it was actually blood.
"What happened to you?" I asked gently.
"I spilled paint," she replied softly, her voice cracking. "Do you have anything to eat? I'm so hungry."
"No, I don't, but let's see if there's anything left in the cupboards, okay?"
I took her hand and led her into the kitchen. As we entered the tiny space, I registered the sight of a man and woman. My gaze went to the man first, as it always does. He was large, stomach overfilled, his white shirt straining to contain him. I saw the face and screamed the most blood curdling, horror-filled scream I'd ever uttered or heard before bolting, shoving the little girl out of my way.

I jolted awake, my heart pounding, sweat pouring in rivers down my back. I could barely catch my breath I was so afraid. Why, I couldn't say. There was something about that man that had me absolutely beyond terrified.

Recycled Retaining Wall

So, we've lived in our house for almost 5 years now and have yet to do much of anything to the backyard. It's been a frustrating battle with Bry to get things done. I have a vision that I try to explain/show him, but he just sees cost, time, and cost involved with all of it and so we haven't done anything.
Rewind a few months to when one of my friends posted a video about a recycled water bottle schoolhouse.

After watching this video, I was motivated to try it on my backyard retaining wall, subtracting approximately $1.50 per brick in expenses to the retaining wall I've been trying to do for the past 5 years. I have a feeling it's going to take me another 5 years just to get all the bottles for the wall.

Start by drinking a crapload of 20-oz water.

Place the empties in a container that
won't blow away.

Fill with dirt from yard and place in an area that's out of the
way.

This is the wall I started when we moved in. The dirt that filled
the bottles in the previous picture is what's cleared below this
small portion of wall. Not much.

This is the length of yard that needs a wall.  o.O A Daunting Task.

Crazy life

Life sure likes to throw curveballs, doesn't it?
I've been very anxious and excited the past few weeks in preparation of seeing my Gram for the first time in 14 years. Minus the normal frustrations I expected for the weekend, we ended up having a wonderful time getting to know the new versions of each other.
Now that my life is back to it's normal chaos, I should be able to get on here more often. The goal is to pop by at least 3 times a week.
While my family was visiting, the cats had to change their routine. They enjoy change about as well as someone likes walking on legos. Now that things are back to normal, I get to deal with the 3 a.m. catterwalling as they remind me of how difficult their lives were over the weekend. Cats. Sigh.
In writing news, I only have 2.5 books to finish going through for the glossary/timeline to help me with Convergence. I've also read over the 50 pages I have written, and they're not as horrible as I'd originally thought them to be. I think I'm going to write it a bit differently than I'd originally thought, and am finally starting to get excited about this book. If things keep going this well, hopefully I'll have 2 books out this year. That'd be amazing. I'm also looking into how to make all the books audiobooks, so for those of you who would rather listen to them, keep checking on me. We'll get there. :)