Like a Log

Sleep is an important and wonderful "thing". I am thankful for it. Ironically... as a child you can't wait until you are grown up so that you can stay up late. Late was around 9 PM in my childhood world.  Then when you are older... or old...  trying to stay awake until 9 PM may be a difficult goal to attain.  I rarely make it until then. Some say that "9 PM is the new midnight" or "the older I get, the earlier it gets late." Have you noticed that sleep is a popular topic?

"Hit the Hay."

"Catch some Z's."

Sleep tight; don't let the bed bugs bite."

"Sweet dreams."

"Call it a day."

"Slept like a log."

Do sleep phrases run in families?  There certainly are a lot of ways to talk about it.

Another thing I've noticed is that people sleep differently. Some are night owls. Others, not so much.  I usually crash early and fall asleep within minutes without even thinking about it.  It happens rarely, but ...  if I wake up in the middle of the night and fall back asleep, I have weird dreams that I often do not want to remember or even think about.  Mostly though, since I go to bed earlyish, I just get up when I wake up at 3 or 4.  The predawn hours are peaceful, quiet and, being an almost morning person, I often work on a blog or do desk work.  If, for some reason, I do sleep in to a "normal" time, I feel like half the day is gone and everything feels off. I am behind before I even begin. My son jokes that people of my generation can get an entire day's work done before 8 AM.  The thing is -- I am starting to see this wake up early tendency in both my kids and they are not even 50 yet. Is it hereditary?

Is it true that a person needs less sleep as they get older? Personally I think that is a myth.  Are naps a good thing? Why do "they" call some naps "power naps"? Personally I wish I could nap more.  Nothing quite like waking up from a rare nap and wondering what day it is. 

One last sleep related idea -- I personally think that sleep will always be an interesting topic to contemplate -- and to talk and write about.  Every single human being sleeps... every single one. 

Five February Thoughts for the day + 1 ...

 

1. February is, without a doubt, the longest month of the year. Ask anyone who lives in snow country.

2. "When you are dead, you don't know that you are dead. It is difficult only for others.    It is the same when you are stupid." (unknown, but it sounds like something Sen. John N. Kennedy of Louisiana would say.)

3. "Did I offend you with my common sense?" (imprinted on a mug)

4.Question from me:  Have you ever seen hand railings in any photos taken in Europe? I have seen lots and lots of steps in photos  – never any railings.  I simply do not know how people get around there.  Guess people died younger when everything was built in that part of the world.  Are there not any elderly or disabled people there now?  I mean – some of those breathtakingly beautiful ancient cities in Italy, Greece, and throughout Europe seem to be carved out of a mountain and the ups and downs are seriously insurmountable – in my opinion. If I lived there, I would have to live at the bottom and hope that people would bring me food or just roll it down the mountain in a slow moving basket with a tight lid. 

5. Personal favorite:  Words on a suicide prevention sweatshirt:

                             You are enough.... (front)

                 Dear person behind me,

                         the world is a better place with you in it.

                                                       Love,

                                       the person in front of you  (back)

Just one more -- Winter cannot last forever... it just seems that way.

Brrr... (again)

Ran across this blog from 12 years ago and could not resist reposting it. 

Wonder why?

 Thursday, December 18, 2014

Brrr...

I continue to live in NW Pennsylvania because I don’t enjoy hot weather.  The summers are relatively cool (usually) and the winters -- well -- they are a bit more than cool, but I tell myself that the cold preserves me better. Earlier this season, even before the calendar start of winter, when what the weather people called an Arctic Express blasted Buffalo, it seemed too cold to snow here, but today is different.  I woke up to snow, and it has not stopped all day.  Now early evening, there looks to be a least a foot of the white stuff on the ground, not to mention deeper drifts, and it is still coming down.  Natives of this area would say that we are paying our dues for the seventeen days of sun this past summer or for a lovely autumn – several nice days in a row – maybe even three.   If you are not from around here, you need to realize that snow people believe that we will “pay” for every nice weather day we have throughout the “non-winter” month(s).  We simply cannot comprehend that there are places in the world that enjoy nice weather most of the time and where people don't know what lake-effect snow means.  I mean -- we know that there are places like that; we just don’t really get it. We live by our experience with weather and have begun to take some level of pride in our ability to survive. We often mention things like we are of hardy stock and take pride in our ability to keep a sense of humor when surrounded by white and gray from sky to ground. We also know that a person needs more than one type of snow shovel.  Bless our hearts. 

To make matters worse this time of year -- what I am finding now is that I don't enjoy winter as much as I did when I was younger.  Duh....  There are a few reasons. Snowshoes are no longer as much fun.  Ice has taken on new meaning now that my age group no longer jokes about broken hips... and... my eye balls sometimes seem to freeze during the time it takes to walk to my mailbox and back.  Yep -- new meanings. Winter no longer means ice-skating on Alice Lake at Mead Park, sledding on Piccadilly Hill, or spontaneous snowball fights. Then again it no longer means wool coats that when wet weigh twice your body weight. (Remember that wet wool smell of mittens and socks drying by the fire at Nichols lodge?  Actually -- I seriously don't miss that smell.)   

Then or now, winter weather is winter weather. As time passes, it takes longer and longer to get psychologically prepared for it even if we do have access to better winter clothing and to boots that do not require bread wrappers over our socks. Winter in NW Pennsylvania can be especially challenging, but then again -- there is a certain beauty to the change of the seasons here as well -- even if you start in early October to count the days until spring... even if you wonder if it will snow the night of the prom in May.  I think I will stay here for a while longer -- I am a snow person.

  Stay warm... 

Change of Plans

A Tribute to the people of David Corry ... As my son said more than once when I was telling him about this experience -- you rarely find that kind of service in today's world.)

 A few days ago, in a moment of extreme laziness, a lot of surface ice on a long driveway, and an impressive wind chill factor, I decided to drive my Wrangler down the driveway to get my mail instead of walking.  Alas, when I pushed the start button,  the battery was dead... dead... dead....  Time for a change of plans.

I called my Jeep Dealer (David Corry) thinking that the service department probably would be closing early since it was Saturday after all and the weather was terrible. I was just thinking that they could put my Wrangler on the list for Monday morning.  Surprise, surprise.  Within minutes the Service Department had arranged for two gentlemen to come to my home, jump my vehicle and take it off to the dealership to see what was what. Communication by text worked well from that point on.  Easy Peasy.

I think it was in less than three hours - maybe less than two, the Jeep was returned with a new battery and all ready to go.  The thing is -- I never even had to put shoes on to take care of this. It was wonderful.  Plus --  after checking with me, they even did the state inspection that I had been meaning to schedule, but hadn't gotten around to.  

What started out as an "Oh, No!" turned into a "This is wonderful!"

How often does that happen?

How many times can a person say thank you!  The people of David Corry get an A+... excellent service all the way around ... above and beyond.  Thank you again ... and ...  Happy 10th Anniversary!

The Hug Seen Around the World?

 

I saw an ICE agent hug a protester in Minneapolis and for a brief moment, the insanity stopped. I am surprised that there was not more made of it. Well actually -- I am not surprised.  The mainstream media doesn't like to cover positive moments in time or present the full story. 

Picture this.  You have seen it a lot lately. Two lines.  Protesters screaming into the faces of ICE agents. It is a common scene these days.  Yet -- this time, it evolved into a nice moment. It was a positive in a boiling sea of negative. Hope many people saw it - caught this brief pause.  This leftist anger needs to be assuaged.  Too much hatred flowing in one direction.  It has been my experience that hatred is never productive and it doesn't  ever accomplish anything good.  

In the middle of air horns and screaming hysteria, an ICE agent spoke quietly to a protester. It was a genuine and calm moment.  He asked if she needed a hug ... said she looked like she needed a hug. She admitted that she did.  He hugged her.   It was a moment of kindness in time...perhaps unrecognized, but important.  I, for one, won't forget it.  Ever.

Human reaching out to human. Maybe there is hope after all. 

One more thing....  I implore women (and men as well) not to allow themselves to be used and taken advantage of. Don't take on the manufactured anger of others. You don't need that to be worthy ... of value. Think.  You know yourself. Do not allow manipulation of your energy. You are master of the world you create for yourself. You are not a puppet.  No one can tie strings on you unless you allow it. Think of where you want to be tomorrow.

 

 

Angel On The Porch

 A week into the new year now.  It sort of feels the same as last year, but I am trying to sense a difference. 2026 is young.  I don't know about you, but I, personally, am going to try to make it a good year for myself and for those whose lives I may have an opportunity to touch. This is sort of my goal every year.  Not sure how successful I am, but I do think that trying counts. Hope so anyway....

What really made me stop and think about this is the angel who appeared on my porch the morning after the most recent ice storm -- it was still mega icy out and yet -- there she stood ... a lovely angel with a lovely smile and cleats on her boots.  She brought me a book -- because it reminded her of me as far as sense of humor goes and, in some ways because of the sort of things I write about in this blog -- or maybe more about how I write about them. That she would even think of me touched my heart. The book is a bonus. Huge.  She mentioned that she had ended up using the positive messages of this book as a daily devotion.  I can see why.  I could never come close to that in my writing.  Wish I could.

So .. I recommend this book to you. My hope is to share the blessing that was passed on to me.  It is entitled When Life Gives You Pears.  The writer is Jeannie Gaffigan. These words are also on the cover -- "The Healing Power of Family, Faith, and Funny People."  That gives you a hint about the nature of this writing.  Warning... If you choose to read it, you will occasionally find yourself smiling/laughing through tears.  Have Kleenex at the ready. 😊 

So thankful for the kindness of others.  I believe in angels.  I think I always have.  May 2026 bless you and yours.... 

I wish you an angel on your porch.

Hold On

 It's the New Year and for some reason I am looking back instead of forward -- at least temporarily.  I am also thinking of things that I sort of miss from the past.  Plus ... I am wondering about things I used to find interesting when much younger.

Does the PA turnpike still have those ramps for run-away trucks? In all my growing up years of traveling that road, only one time did I ever see a truck stuck at the top of one of those ramps. What a thrill that must have been for that unfortunate truck driver.

Will I ever forget the hair and voice of Roseanne Roseannadanna or the sway and voice of Mamma Cass singing Monday, Monday with the "Mamas and the Papas"? (Where and Why in the world did they come up with that name for their group?) And... what about Simon and Garfunkel's The Sound of Silence?  Have you heard Disturbed's  rendition of it?  Amazing!  If you haven't, I suggest you Google or YouTube it. I suggest you close your eyes while you listen.

I have some vivid childhood memories ... and ... at the same time, I can still see my grown-up kids as children and wonder if I am actually remembering moments or revisiting photos caught in my head somewhere.

One other question running through my mind.  How is it that I have lived 76 years about 45 minutes from a Great Lake without ever knowing of weather that includes episodes of massive waves and seiche?   Seriously --  I swear I do not remember ever seeing or hearing the word seiche or the seeing photos of the  phenomenon of seiche and now recently seiche talk and photos have appeared twice within a few weeks.  Think about it - one side of a Great Lake recedes because of winds and causes twenty-five foot waves at another location????  This is nuts! I sort of wish I never heard of seiche.  I don't even like the way the word catches behind my front teeth when I say it,  and I am not sure that I am even pronouncing it correctly. Does it rhyme with quiche? Am I alone in this? Had you ever heard of this phenomenon? Please tell me no. 

Anyway -- years come and go.  Everything changes.  It's hard keeping up sometimes. No wonder we occasionally look back to things familiar... and cherish them.

Even holidays.   "... Times they are a-changin'" (Remember Bob Dylan?).   Once in awhile I speculate about this  change phenomenon.  I think it is what Time does to Living ... or.. is it what Living does to Time?

Hold on for the ride. Personally I am hopeful for 2026. It will be amazing to look back on this one.  I also think that you can look backward and forward almost at the same time.  I am doing that right now. Enough on that.  

Happy New Year!