Confessions of a Part-Time Insomniac

Here it is after midnight and I'm not sleeping. It's not that I don't want to, I just can't. It doesn't happen every night; no I'm a part-time insomniac. I don't have trouble sleeping most nights, but I have what I call spells where I just don't sleep well for days (make that nights). I hate tossing and turning all night, all that gets me is the opportunity to completely remake my bed.

I've tried medication, both over the counter and prescription - all legal I assure you. I've tried teas, herbs, and supplements and all I've gotten for my trouble is a really bad taste in my mouth. I've tried counting sheep, meditation, and willing myself to sleep. All I've gotten for my efforts is frustrated. I've tried staying in bed and thinking sleepy thoughts - I often wondered why I turned my biology textbook back in. That textbook used to make me nod off just thinking about studying for an exam. I've tried listening to the radio and found late night talk show host, Art Bell. Then he went and retired on me and just comes on the radio every once and a while. The other hosts on Coast-to-Coast are okay, but they just aren't Art Bell. I've tried watching TV and the shows that come on in the middle of the night are enough to put any one to sleep. Anyone and everyone, except me of course.

So, I've learned to deal with being a part time insomniac by:

Searching the web:
If you've been reading my posts you may have noticed several feature websites listings such as the two I wrote listing fun websites and another on personal finance websites. I'm going through another spell and you'll probably see another website listing from me soon.

Reading
Okay, I read a lot. I've started writing reviews on the books I have found to be outstanding and have posted them to AC with more to come. I also catch up on my reading of other CP producers, so if you see a comment posted at 3 a.m. it isn't a computer error.

Watching Movies
I've been watching a lot of documentaries lately and I've started to post reviews of the ones that I really liked to AC. Are you noticing a pattern here? Being a part time insomniac is really helping me come up with more articles to post. I don't watch feature films in the middle of the night because I get way too interested in the movie, which makes it even harder to fall asleep.

Writing
You saw this one coming didn't you? I don't just write articles, but I catch up on my emails to friends and I write letters for snail mail.

Playing with Photographs
When I can't function enough to write, I start looking at my digital photographs and thinking about how I can create a video to post on AC - another bonus for being a part time insomniac.

Organizing Garden Information
I use my photographs to create index cards of what is growing in my gardens. I usually put a small photo on the left side of the card and then put gardening information on the right. I write down stuff want to remember: gardening tips, plant stats such as height, width, whether it needs sun/shade, whether it is an annual or perennial, and how far apart to plant it. I'm way behind in this project.

Watching TV
I don't do a whole of TV watching in the middle of the night, for two reasons: one there isn't a whole of interesting programs in the middle of the night and two I don't want to wake anyone up. I did get a DVD player for my birthday last year and I watch old TV shows I have on DVD: Charmed, MacGyver, X-Files and Quantum Leap. I spent some time thinking about what these shows have in common. (Thinking is something else I do to occupy my time). I've come up with what three of the four have in common; I'm still thinking how the fourth one fits in.

Crocheting/Knitting
I've made more afghans, scarves and hats than I really need. I'm not smart enough to figure out how to make sweaters, yet. I started writing reviews of the yarn I've used. I have notes for many more than what I've posted on AC. I don't know why I've not written more of them.

While I'm confessing, I might as well tell you about my mornings. After spending most of the night awake, I usually fall asleep an hour or two before the first alarm rings. Did you catch that "first alarm" business? Yes, I have several alarms set to make sure I get up in the morning. Five alarms in all: two on the clock radio and three from my cell phone. All five have snooze buttons. Isn't that handy? I use them all, many times over. When I finally realize that I've only got 30-40 minutes to get up, eat breakfast and get dressed that's when I go into panic mode.

Here's how my morning is supposed to go, I hear the first alarm go off at 5:00 a.m. and I gently turn it off while smiling that it's another wonderful day. (If I'm going to dream a prefect day, I might as well dream it right). Then I go write for an hour before showering, dressing and eating breakfast. After breakfast it's time to walk around in my yard a bit to look at the flowers and enjoy the day.

Instead of having this wonderful morning, this part time insomnia doesn't even think about all the wonderful things she had planned to do. No my mind is on shutting that god-awful noise off. I only get to see my flowers as I run out the door to get into my car. I'm usually thinking something along the lines of "Crap, I could have been out here early enough to look around if I wasn't just a slug in the mornings." I'm usually running later than I need to be, because I couldn't find one of the following items: my purse, my keys, my glasses, or my shoes.

I really don't like being a part time insomniac. How do I go about resigning from this situation?