Friday, January 9, 2009

How Do You Sleep? Meme


Mimi Lenox, the originator of the Blogblast For Peace also reigns as the Queen of Memes. Here's one I thought looked enticing...perhaps because it's Friday and I'm SO-O-O tired after a full work week that followed 11 glorious days off between Christmas and New Year's.

This picture of me lounging on a luxurious bed was taken last August when my friend Lisa came for a visit. We stayed a few nights over at the Westin Nova Scotian Hotel. What total bliss that was.


1. How long do you sleep each night?

Ah...during my wonderful, precious vacation I immediately reverted to my night-owl schedule. Hit the sack at 3:00, 3:30 (am) - got up at 9:00, 9:30. So 6 hours did me wonders. I used to sleep for 7, if left to my own devices. That would probably be the case again if I were to be off work for longer than a week.

But I hate to admit that I stumble my way through the work week with an average of 4 and a half hours of sleep. I generally get off the computer by 11:30 or 12:00, then need wind-down time on the couch with the Pack (my husband and our dog.) Then I transfer into bed by 1:00 or 1:30.

It's not that I want 4 and a half hours of sleep. It's my job starting at 8:30 in the morning that totally screws things up.


2. Do you fall asleep easily?

I don't bother trying to go to sleep unless I'm sleepy. If I attempted to go to bed at 10:30, I'm quite certain I would lay there with 'insomnia'.

So once I do head for bed, I'm out like a light the minute my head hits the pillow.


3. Do you fall asleep at times not in your bed?

I snooze on the bus on the way into work and on the way home. And I definitely crash on the couch when I curl up with the Pack. It's so comfy on the couch with Xena curled up next to me, or with my legs draped over my husband's lap. It's heaven, really.


4. Do you listen to music or use white noise to sleep?






When I'm on the couch, my husband is watching TV, so I fall asleep to the sound of a movie or a TV show. But very, very low. He's become accustomed to turning on the English subtitles when I'm sinking into sleep so that he can follow the story.

I prefer quiet to white noise, but I can sleep either way. Just not loud. My supersonic hearing is not a bonus at times like that.


5. Do you sleep through the night or get up a couple of times?

I used to get up through the night once or twice, for years and years. I've been able to sleep through the night for over a year, now that I think of it. Who knows why? Haven't the slightest idea.


6. Do you have trouble sleeping away from your own bed?

When I was a kid, it took me about a half hour to an hour to drift off in an unfamiliar bed. I'd just lay there listening to all the different sounds, taking in the new atmosphere.


Now that I'm in my 40's, I'm so grateful for a little vacation or an overnight, I usually sink into the comfy guest bed and zzzz......

This picture was taken a few years ago at a Girls' Overnight in the Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia. The Girls are my high school choir friends. This was my comfy, comfy bed...


7. Do you need an alarm clock to get you up?

Absolutely yes on work days. I'm just not an early bird.


8. Do you ever take medication to help you sleep?

Not sleeping medication, but I generally take painkiller before bed. I've got chronic pain which will absolutely keep me from drifting to sleep if I don't take something. Believe me, I've tried.


9. Do you/have you slept with pets?


I love drifting off on the couch with Xena curled up beside me. It's a completely blissful feeling to have her little body tucked up against mine. But I don't have her in the bed with me because I am an allergic person, and it's important to have an oasis of relief where my exposures are at a minimum.




Now, a-tagging I will go, a-tagging I will go...

Bogsider
Dorothy
Jennifer
Kailana
Karina

12 comments:

Ire said...

Xena is oh-so-cute!

Akelamalu said...

That was fun to read Julia!

Louise said...

Hi Julia, thanks for tagging me, I was just looking for something to write about today, so this meme is a good thing :o) When I saw the first image, I immediately thought: "my, my, Julia's bedroom sure looks like a hotel room, but will it be too impolite to actually say so?" And then I read the text and see that it WAS a hotel room and not your own bedroom ;-)

Have a great weekend!

And yes, Xena is really a sweeeeeet looking little dog :o)

Unknown said...

Neat sleep answers! I'm an insomniac, so if I get 4 hours each night that is a good night for me! Of course, I get lots of reading and writing done in the middle of the night when my family's asleep.

Julia Phillips Smith said...

Nikki - I can't even capture how sweet she is, on film.

Akelamalu - Perhaps you'd like to give it a go...?

Bogsider - LOL! If you saw my actual bedroom you'd know why I love to go to a hotel.

Bobbi - You may just be a night owl. For me, no matter how exhausted I am, I get a surge of energy every day around 3:00, when the early birds are giving out. It's how you can tell whether you're meant to be up at night instead of during the day.

Travis Cody said...

This is a pretty cool meme.

We have zero luck keeping Mr Tucker out of the bed. Well, if we're "active" he'll usually leave us alone. LOL!

But if it's just sleepy time, he's right there snuggled up with us.

Dorothy said...

Thanks for the tag.

You, hubby and Xena look so comfy together. How nice you're husband respects your sleeping and uses sub-titles.

I also loved seeing your blizzard pictures. Wow. That's why I live in the temperate Northwest. Eventhough we've had our share of wintry weather and snow this year.

Krissi said...

I love sleeping I wish they would make it a sport.

HeatherK said...

Wow, a How do you sleepÉ Meme. Ask me between 3-4am when Sarah decides to start here day and I`d be calling it I wish I could sleep Meme.

Anonymous said...

Hurray for sleep! I'm a little envious that you sleep well... but I won't hold it against you! ;)

Susan said...

I love this meme too, even though I'm late to reading it. Lovely answers, and I really like the photo of you and your husband together, you look so happy! Plus Xena, who couldn't love a dog like that? Hope it's not too cold for you now, this weekend! I think we sent some your way from here in Ottawa.

Karina said...

OOOH, a tag a tag! I will do this meme in the very near future! Thanks for the tag. Oh, sleep, how I love to sleep, how did you know? ;-)