Tuesday, August 26, 2008

One Seep, Two Sheep, Three Sheep, No Sleep...

The other night I had insomnia. Actually I get insomnia a lot. I have no problem falling asleep; usually around ten o’clock. But between 2:00 and 3:00 a.m. my bladder wakes me up. I trudge to the bathroom, pee and go back to bed. Half of the time I fall right back asleep; the other half, my brain decides it’s time to have a chat.

“Did you remember to mail that credit card bill on time? Don’t want to pay a late fee and lose that fixed rate of 2.99%. What furniture store is going to have a table that will fit into that tiny space we call an eat-in kitchen. A pedicure is really in order, because it’s still sandal season you know.” On and on it goes until I just start to drift off. It’s at this point that My Better Half will begin to snore. A jab to the ribs ends that noise, but now I’m wide awake again.

“Make that hair appointment at the salon. Crap, forgot to get that birthday card in the mail! The car needs an oil change.” With no sign of ending, I retaliate with, “Stop, stop, stop! Its four friggin’ forty five in the morning! The alarm will be going off in less than two hours.

The dialog falls off. My body relaxes. Sleep seems somewhat attainable.

Starting to drift…ahh…

Snoring again. A vigorous shake to his shoulder…

“Do you remember that comment you left before bed after a couple of beers? Wha..? No. Uh, yeah, sort of. Whoa, I hope I didn’t come across as an idiot. What blog did I comment on? What did I type? Shit, I’m lame…I need a post for Thursday. I need to get those recipe pictures formatted for Friday.”…

Sshhh.

“Need to pick up dog food after work.”

Sshhh.


Sleep.



BEEP. BEEP. BEEEEP!

13 comments:

RiverPoet said...

I've had insomnia for years. As a result I have to take something to help me sleep, every night. Maybe when I'm working on my own time and my own terms I'll finally be able to stop taking something, but if I want to get 8 hours and get up on time? Gotta take something.

I hope it doesn't get that bad for you!

Peace - D

Badass Geek said...

I do the same thing. I barely sleep and think too much and then POOF, its time to get up.

Mental P Mama said...

You should call me. That sounds exactly like my nights.

Unknown said...

More sex. Definitely gets that sleep thing goin'. At least, it does for me.

Anonymous said...

I can't really claim to have ever had that problem... I usually fall asleep around 10pm on the couch while watching my favorite TV show... the wife will go into bed and leave me there... where I'll wake up at like 3am. Then I trudge into bed and crash until 5:30 when my alarm goes off...

You know I just realized you were complaining about something and I totally just said how I didn't have that problem... Hmmm... sorry I couldn't be of help... Although I'd second LCEEL's advice... usually like 30 seconds after we start our post-sex snuggling the wife is snoring away... seems to help her fall asleep...

Whitney said...

Geeze - sounds like a nightmare! Good luck in the future. Try some benadryl - knocks me out.

Lisa said...

I hate it when I wake up and can not get back to sleep. Now that I am RETIRED, I don't mind getting up and just go get on the sofa. The dogs come lay down by me, one at my feet, one on the floor and the other on her dog bed by the fireplace. Then I get some pretty good sleep for a couple hours. But I could not do that if I had to punch a clock and go to work. Good luck to you, wish you knew when it was going to happen and then you could take something, but the problem is not knowing what night it will happen. Sorry about that....no solution here!

Anonymous said...

Don't mean to make you jealous but I get up to take a piss just about every night and rarely have trouble falling back asleep. I do have some issues with insomnia, but once the initial drift off comes, it usually lasts. Having a couple of kids running around and yelling first thing every morning has helped me tremendously.

CK said...

You need a Sleep Number bed. Just ask Lindsay.

Anonymous said...

The wheels in our head go round and round, round and round.

Oh I go through THAT all the time. It is awful! We think way too much!

Michele said...

I'm with ya on that...I usually end up turning on the TV, or putting my iPod on and then dozing until the beep beep goes off!!!

Hugz,
Michele

Coal Miner's Granddaughter said...

When my brain pulls that shit on me I introduce Mr. Sean Connery to the mix. Ahhhhh, bliss. He can usually shut up the talky parts! :)

Anonymous said...

I am a chronic insomniac too. Now I get up and write. I am in a constant state of fatigue but what can I do? Sleeping pills don't work. Neither does vigorous exercise. Truth is, I'm a terrible worrier. I really do sympathise.