Not Being Able to Sleep is Terrible. You Have the Misery of Having Partied All Night...Without the Satisfaction

Welcome to Insomnicon 2008. Yes, that's right ladies and gentlemen, I've spent roughly the last week or so operating on 2 or 3 hours of sleep per evening. And I've also discovered that I'm not as good at the whole insomnia thing as I used to be. Another reason age sucks.

I've been prone to insomnia for years. I'm not sure why it happened or when it started, but for as long as I can remember, I've had several weeks per year that were sleep optional. Usually, they occur near the Daylight Savings Time changes, and I've always written them off to that. This time, however, it started when we returned from the Great Southwest. Now, I'm starting to think it has something to do with sunlight, and SAD. Being the difficult girl that I am, I won't take any medication for sleep, but I surely will try anything else. That being said, I've ordered a light box and I'm hoping that 10 or 15 minutes a day will correct the problem.

I used to be productive during these episodes. If you were a crazy peeper, it wouldn't be surprising to see every light on in my house and me cleaning like a madwoman. Now, not so much. Now, I go from flat surface to flat surface, clicking through television channels, sighing deeply and rolling my eyes each time. I seem to be preoccupied with the idea that I'm not sleeping rather than trying to see the extra waking hours as bonus time that I can use. This only seems to raise the frustration factor and make me crazier than I already am.

The other downside, the stupid factor the next day. By morning, I'm an absolute idiot. Can't accomplish anything, can't concentrate, can't even nap. Raise the frustration flag higher fellas, Nyt's about to lose her mind.

Hopefully, today will be better. I've actually had close to a full night's sleep, so maybe I'll be able to actually accomplish something as the day wears on. I have a list, I'm not sure it makes any sense, and I'm not sure I can accomplish everything on it, but my frustration level is about to boil over and I've got to try...

Travel Is Only Glamorous In Retrospect

Well, the eagle has landed or Skylab has fallen or something like that. We returned from the great Southwest several days ago, and I've been playing catch-up ever since...

Departure is always an exercise in "teh crazy" around here and this time was no different. We chose to leave on the Thursday before Christmas which meant that I was a party of one the day before departure. It also meant that "Vanbo" was mine for the day. Lesson one, the Spinner must be caged on the way to the kennel so that the Spastic Lab cannot chase him through 40 cubic feet of storage space whilst I'm zipping down the road at breakneck speed. My shoulder is still sore from whacking the air behind me like some sort of one armed windmill on crack. At least with the two of them in the Nytmobile, I can actually connect with something when I swing.

The next problem arises out of my own neurosis. The house must be absolutely, positively, scrupulously clean before we leave. Laundry done, floors washed, bathrooms clean, everything. Heaven forbid that the neighbor feeding the cat and the fish sees anything out of place. Never mind that he's seen me making coffee at the grill in a t-shirt and under-roos, (there is a story, trust me) the house must be absolutely perfect. I have this thing about anyone seeing my house out of order, and I can't stand coming home to a dirty house. Chant with me now "embrace the OCD".

The drive down was fairly uneventful. Vanbo is quite nice to travel in, I even made it into the back to watch a movie. The week before we left, every state we were due to travel through was under a severe weather watch or a state of emergency, but by the time we left, we were able to sail through relatively unscathed. There was some pesky rain in Missouri, (only when I'm driving) but that's about it.

Flipper was glad to see us, and he and Himself adjourned to the golf course immediately. I was left with a mile long list of errands and virtually impossible tasks. Ever the competitor, all errands and the impossible were accomplished. There was only one obvious loss of impulse control, and no one was injured.

The holidaze passed pleasantly, with parties, friends, and football. I'm only in for two out of three and I'll let you guess which ones.

While reading the paper on Christmas day, Himself found a fabulous, one day only sale, on a huge television at the local electronics store. Flipper has been in the market for a new TV and after much discussion and debate, Himself and I found ourselves in line at 5 in the morning the day after Christmas. I figured that there was no way we'd end up with this great deal, usually there's only one or two of the advertised item in the store and we were fifth in line. Silly me, there were 40 or 50 in the store and we scored the coveted deal. Did I forget to mention that Flipper wanted the massive television for his NORTHERN abode? Um, yeah. So, add some more errands to the list (Vanbo needed crossbars for the roof rack and a bag for our clothes) and convert Vanbo to a two-seater, without reclining seats. Ooooh yeah, and drive 1800 miles or so....

Needless to say, we made it. And there was only that one unfortunate incident that had me covering my face with my hands, stomping on the imaginary brake, and squealing like a panicked child, causing Himself to abandon the wheel outside St.Louis while grumbling that after this many years, I should be all finished with the neurosis about his driving. I countered by explaining that after this many years he should be over with his neurosis over my neurosis.......brilliant, don't you think?

For today, there are volumes of mail to go through and we could potentially starve to death if I don't get my behind to the grocery stores. And the utility companies might like to be paid, and I did finish all the laundry, but I still have ironing.......