I haven’t always been the best sleeper, and Charlie’s snoring doesn’t help. Menopause, either. Though to be honest, I crossed that bridge a long time ago, so technically, I’m post-menopause, which sounds like I’m just this side of dead.
Anyhoo, that’s how I’ve been sleeping lately, like the dead, and it’s blissful. Why the improvement? I’d say it’s a combo platter of a few things.
First and foremost, Charlie started doing a couple hits of nasal spray before he goes to bed, and it’s made all the difference in the world. His snoring has ratcheted down to a soft purr. I know it’s the nasal spray because during the day when he’s dozing in the Barcalounger, he can get to sawing wood so loud, the curtains are flapping and the paint’s peeling. No exaggeration!
I’m also trying to not drink too much liquid after 7:00 or so and to stop looking at the computer after 8:00, 8:30 latest. No getting wound up on Facebook with political stuff or taking a quiz to see which Harry Potter house I belong to (Gryffindor) or what dog I am (a poodle, of course), as earth shattering as those things are. No answering emails either, even if that African prince needs help. He can wait until morning. I’ve been trying to stop watching the TV, and read a little before I turn in. That seems to help, too.
Then, there’s the white noise machine, otherwise known as a fan. It kind of lulls me to sleep. After the weather cools down, I’m thinking about ordering a white noise machine online to run year round. If it works, why not?
And last, but certainly not least, I don’t really have anything to worry about right now. (Knock on wood.) Sure, there’s outfit and meal planning, chores I need to remember to put on my list, micromanaging Charlie. But the world won’t come to an end if I wait until daylight to decide what I’m wearing to the Fourth of July BBQ or to explain to Charlie that “we” need to nail down a couple of boards that have popped up on the deck.
So for years, I’ve been waking up every two hours or so. I mean, I was lucky if I put three hours of sleep together. (I know because I look at the clock every time I wake up.) I usually go back to dozing pretty good, even after a trip to the john. But sometimes, my thoughts would rev up, and I’d lose an hour or so, maybe even have to get up read.
Miraculously, I’m only waking up a couple of times a night now. Seriously! The first time this happened, I went to bed at 10:30 and didn’t wake up until 4:30. I was so excited, I had a hard time getting back to sleep. I know! It doesn’t make sense, but life doesn’t always make sense. I thought it might have been a fluke, but it’s been happening pretty regularly.
Now, when Charlie asks, “How’d you sleep?”
I answer, “Great!” in an amazed sort of way. Hey, I’m not going to question it. I’m just going to lay back and enjoy. Life is good!
That’s it for now. Catch you on the flip side!
IDA’S PODCAST: Nighttime Shocker
Upcoming Shows and Book Events: Summer
July 8: Books in Boothbay: Maine’s Summer Book Fair, Boothbay Railway Village, 9:00am to 1:00pm, Boothbay, ME
July 15: The Best of Ida, Fundraiser for the Moose River Valley Historical Society, https://www.sites.google.com/site/jackmanmooserivermuseum/
7:00pm, Jackman, ME
July 18: Book Reading: The Sweet Life, Rangeley Public Library, http://rangeleylibrary.org/ 6:00pm, Rangeley, ME
August 5: Ida’s Havin’ a Yard Sale!, Deertrees Theatre, http://www.deertrees-theatre.org/ 7:30pm, Harrison, ME
Ida has a new show!
September 8 & 9: Makin’ Whoopie, ACT ONE Beyond Festival, http://actonenh.org/ Friday at 7:30pm and Saturday at 2:00pm & 7:30pm, Portsmouth, NH
September 15 & 16: Makin’ Whoopie, ACT ONE Beyond Festival, http://actonenh.org/ Friday at 7:30pm and Saturday at 2:00pm, Portsmouth, NH