Haven't Watched TV For Months

It's a bit weird for me to admit that I haven't watched TV for months. As a kid, I watched tons of TV. As an adult, I curbed my watching to just some favorite shows. But lately, I've been going cold turkey without the boob tube.

Between work and parenting, these days I don't have much personal time available. Guess it's part of finally being a responsible adult. I try to catch up on sleep sometimes.

No TV has meant not seeing what many other people do see. Lately, that's meant not seeing any World Cup soccer games, not that I ever was interested in soccer. I totally missed the Lebron James announcement special, although I was plenty aware of it before and after from radio news while driving and news on the web.

25 Random Thoughts

Originally posted on my Facebook profile around the time many others were posting lists of personal desires, childhood injuries, personality quirks, and the like. After initially resisting to participate, I decided my list would be somewhat different, reflecting more thoughts than milestones.

Rules:

Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

1. I believe it's totally OK to say you don't know, but usually not OK to sound like you don't know.

2. My favorite beers mostly come from Oregon.

Sleep In Late

It is quite nice to just sleep in late in the middle of a long holiday weekend. It has been a while since I have been able to do so.

I also think being able to wake up slowly, meaning lay in bed half awake for a while, adds to the experience.  I remember waking up slowly often when I was much younger.

Interrupted Sleep Cycle

It's almost 4 A.M. and I seem to have badly interrupted my sleep cycle.  I took a much needed nap yesterday from around 5 P.M. to around 7 P.M. and I've been up ever since.  I tackled a work related report and finished it close to 3 A.M.  I feel almost wide awake, although there are some sleep cycle physical sensations, probably related to the circadian cycle. Fortunately, it's now Friday, so the weekend is just around the corner to hopefully get myself back on a regular sleep cycle.

A Good Long Nap

Today reminded me how much a good long nap can be so beneficial.  Earlier today, I wasn't thinking I was all that tired and I had no intentions of taking a nap.  After a short morning walk, a slightly late lunch and some afternoon web surfing, I put my head down on the pillow for just a moment and then found myself sleeping for a good five-plus hours.

The mid-afternoon temperature outside was slightly warm and I had the bedroom door to the outside open and the fan gently blowing in the fresh air.  As the evening approached, the temperature nicely dipped to a cooler range and the crickets on the nearby hillside began their chorus of chirping in unison.

I probably would have slept longer except for my wife waking me up, pointing out how I was drooling all over my pillow.  Yeah, the sign of a good long nap.

I feel refreshed, at a lowered state of stress, and calm.  This overall physical and psychological sensation reminded me of when I used to take long naps in college.  Between intense study sessions and occasional socializing and partying, I often would take long naps to mitigate the pressures of college life.  Come to think of it, I also took naps when I used to ride my mountain bike a lot.

It's hard to believe I started college 20 years ago.  Where has all the time gone?  I've certainly  accomplished a lot in those 20 years, lived in many places, lived with many great people, and traveled to fascinating destinations around the world.  Yet, for right now, for this moment, I'm most proud and most comfortable with my good long nap today.