February Chitchat

[Howie]

Sam was sitting across my shoulders until that big boom hit, then she jumped down on the bed, and I was trying to comfort her and keep her from running off and hiding. I think a big part of it is they, especially dogs, have that super hearing. It must sound really strange to them, and loud!.

[Virginia]

Yes, Howie, if my brothers know a storm is coming up neither of them will leave their dog alone. They don't like for them to be that scared. They say they just shake. You know, my dog wasn't that bad. She would look at us and we would tell her it was alright and she would seem to calm down.

[Virginia]

I placed an Instacart order today and I am waiting for it. I got enough things that when I go to the store it shouldn't be too hard on me. Oops I just remembered something. I'll see if I can add it.


Edited to add: That order was here within half an hour. It came just as I finished typing. So, I forgot to get two items that I will have to pick up along with meats that I want to pick out. This order was shopped by a man and it was the first man that I have had that I liked. He was nice and got the order correct. I must admit it couldn't have been done better by a woman.

[agate]

Once I had an Instacart order delivered by a couple--a man and a woman.

I've almost finished sorting and folding a load of laundry and am waiting for someone to come from the study I've been taking part in. They have to check their equipment from time to time, and today there will be an hour-long visit for that purpose. I'm not sure why they're bothering at this point since the study is scheduled to end in a couple of months. There is a software upgrade they need to do.

[stillstANNding]

I’m good and well. ;-)

My brother and sister-in-law drove up to Mom’s from Asheville on Tuesday. Today they had 5 inches of snow and their truck got stuck and they had to call AAA. I don’t know what the total snowfall was. Mom stayed home and called a plow service and just watched “the beauty.” Good plan, Mom.

ANN

[Howie]

Good morning all! I'm up before the sun, and it's cold. 29 degrees right now.

I went to bed yesterday at 7pm without even eating. I slept until 3am, then fixed me a meal. I'll make coffee in a little bit. Sam is where she always is, stretched out on my lap.

I really would like to get a more normal sleep schedule. But since I did sleep yesterday, then if I keep on the same "sleep one night, awake the next" then tonight should be a no sleep night. I hope not. It's starting to wear on me.

Well, everyone have a great day.

[Virginia]

Ann, glad you are well and happy. Nice your Mom could enjoy it. Hope your Brother and wife were not going to start back until it got a little better.

Howie, what you are going through is not fun. I hope you can get off this schedule very soon. Are you on any kind of sleep med?

[Howie]

Sorry not to answer right away, but I've been sleeping all day. I woke up a while ago expecting the sun to be showing in the hall. So I finally got up and looked at the time on my phone, and had to look several times for it to sink in.

So I guess I'll be up all night, but I did get sleep. Virginia, I do take an OTC sleep med, but it hasn't been working very well.

[Howie]

Well, it's time for bed. I have such a different life from everyone else, but I guess we all do. That's how life is. Everyone have a great day!

[Lazarus]

Sorry not to answer right away, but I've been sleeping all day. I woke up a while ago expecting the sun to be showing in the hall. So I finally got up and looked at the time on my phone, and had to look several times for it to sink in.

So I guess I'll be up all night, but I did get sleep. Virginia, I do take an OTC sleep med, but it hasn't been working very well.

Hi HOwie,
John and I both have disrupted sleep patterns. I think it may be common with aging. When I really want/need a night’s sleep I take a swig of NyQuil. It works great. In the summer when I spent time working outside it is not so bad. But I am on and off again awake and then asleep most nights. If I get 4-5 hours of what I call heavy sleep I wake up with loads of energy.

Another thing that helps....if I start listening to an audible book in bed I usually fall asleep within half an hour! The set up let’s you select how long you want it to play so By the time I drift off my iPad will stop soon after. Works for me.

I bet we all have sleep disruption stories.....maybe we should put our stories together and write a book!

[agate]

...

Another thing that helps....if I start listening to an audible book in bed I usually fall asleep within half an hour! The set up let’s you select how long you want it to play so By the time I drift off my iPad will stop soon after. Works for me.

I bet we all have sleep disruption stories.....maybe we should put our stories together and write a book!

That's what I do too though instead of the iPad I have a cartridge player from the library. It will run on its battery or can be plugged in.

This always works. If I'm too upset about something it might not work so well, and if the book is really REALLY interesting, I might keep listening to it for a while but I generally doze off pretty fast with a book running by my bedside. When it doesn't work so well, I'll take a longer nap or maybe a couple of naps the next day.

[Jeanie Z]

:) I bought a sleep mask at the grocery store. It makes you think it is dark and sleep is easier when your mind thinks it is night. I use it when I nap too. Jeanie :)

[Virginia]

Jeanie, I use to use sleep mask all the time. I found they helped, but then as with sleep meds they seem to stop. I have a couple laying around and will try it again.

Speaking of sleep. I was reading a book and I wanted to stay home yesterday and read it, but when family asked me to join them for dinner at a restaurant near me I felt I had better go. It was nice since I had not seen them since Christmas Eve. I had Veal Marsala with green beans and fried potatoes. Great meal.

So, when I got home and got comfortable in front of the fire I started reading my book. I intended to read about half of what was left and read the other half today. However, I read quite a bit and then thought well I'll read just a little more and when I did that I thought "well I might as well finish this book". So, now I am on Howie's schedule. I read until 2:45. I had already washed my face and put on my night clothes, but had to brush my teeth, turn out lights, and all the little things we do before bedtime. So got to bed about 3AM. If I had been listening to audible it would be the same. If I am interested in a book it is very hard for me to stop reading, no matter how much I tell myself I should. It was after noon before I got up today. I will loose most of the day.

[Howie]

You're my best student!

[Virginia]

Oh, thanks a lot Howie. That’s an honor I really wasn’t trying to get.😊