Up Front by Emma Hart

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Up Front: The Innocent Sleep

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  • Kerry Weston,

    Hmmm, I wonder if night owls and other variations were simply accepted "as is" and made use of accordingly? Certain temperaments and quirks would have suited particualr tasks, as you say with the long-distance watchmen. Navigators by the stars would have been night owls. Loners & early risers would have made good scouts.

    By my reckoning you had less than 5 hours sleep last night, steven, is that usual for you?

    Manawatu • Since Jan 2008 • 494 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    This is all fascinating. I am the world's most sound and boring sleeper. I fall asleep within minutes between 10-11 and without the usual weekday 6am alarm, I wake up at about 7 or 8. I don't wake up during the night at all, even if there's a loud noise like an ambulance siren. In fact, stress or illness makes me sleep *more*, rather than keeping me awake. Perhaps I have narcoleptic tendencies...?

    The only way I can stay up all hours is with, erm, chemical enhancement.

    (For some reason I can accept very small dogs in strange little outfits far more easily than medium-sized or large dogs. Have I been brainwashed by years of anthropomorphised toy poodles/chihuahuas in popular culture?)

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    For some reason I can accept very small dogs in strange little outfits far more easily than medium-sized or large dog

    To me, it's a wonder we accept very small dogs at all. Is that what we did to the noble wolf? Shit. Might as well stick some clothes on them I guess, they've been stripped of their dignity a loooong time ago.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    To me, it's a wonder we accept very small dogs at all.

    I see where you're coming from. I have two big behemoth dogs myself. But there's something to be said for a little dog in certain circumstances. I imagine once I get to a certain age I won't want to deal with a big hairy 30 kilo stalker/pet sleeping on my lap. A little poodle that fits in a handbag might be just the ticket.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Kerry Weston,

    Oh, and just think of the outfits, Danielle...something spesh for lunch dates, matching jackets and hats for a walk in the park, matching painted toenails. ..

    I've tried to convince our cat to wear a balaclava when he's out on his raiding missions, but he's not buying into it.

    You could just clip the big dogs - patterns, a few streaks - a tattoo??

    Manawatu • Since Jan 2008 • 494 posts Report Reply

  • Just Milly,

    I did a few months of night shift. At times I was unable to sleep during the day, so I would have a couple of hours in the morning, get up and get a couple of hours (if I was lucky) in the evening. I became very tired, so tired that at times I would literally feel the energy drain from me as if I was sitting in a bath and had pulled the plug. My brain was marshmallow.

    Shortly after I finished doing night shifts full time I became absolutely convinced that I had lead paint poisoning and would spend hours pouring over the internet and books about this condition and the symptoms. Then I would pace for hours worrying about the poisoning and my death and nothing could shift this thought from my head. Obsessed. I went to my GP and insisted that he test my blood for lead levels, which to his credit he agreed to.

    After about 6 weeks my body adjusted back to normal rhythms I began sleeping and suddenly realised that the lead paint poisoning rubbish was just that utter rubbish.

    Since Jul 2008 • 17 posts Report Reply

  • Ingrid Harrison,

    Morning is a dirty word. Morning and productive is a joke.

    The meter reader must think I’m a freak, she turned up at 1pm and I opened the door in my PJs grunting morning. Sentences don’t happen until after 12pm AND coffee. My neighbour knows this now. I don’t do chatty when woken from deep sleep, especially when I’m lucky enough to get it.

    As a child I was fortunate enough to live within sprinting distance of school, I used to get up when I heard the bell ring. By the time I got to 7th Form my best friend used to come around at lunch time make me coffee and ask me if I was going to get up today. Now as an arts student I stretch myself to the occasional 10am lecture.

    Getting up early usually results in nausea and safety issues, which concerns me because I want to breed at some point. I’ve tried melatonin, lightboxes etc, but the only thing that works for me are drugs, triazolam (of which I’m a fully blown addict) and for those hateful days when I am forced to engage with the world before lunch time (breakfast time) modavigil. The trialozam spares me the restless torment of waiting hours to fall asleep, which without drugs is just before the sun starts to rise.

    When I was working in London I had to get up at 6am for an 8.30 start, I never adjusted to it. I’d fall asleep just before the alarm went off after many hours of ceiling gazing and sheep shooting. I lived in hope that by the end of the week my body would submit and crash but it didn’t and I’d get some kind of rebound insomnia type effect. I knew it was out of control when I peaked at 13 cups of coffee in one day. Weekends were heaven, no more annoying happy morning type people and sleep marathons.

    Sleeping is a useful savings strategy btw.

    Waitakere • Since Aug 2008 • 1 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    *All* my neighbours know NEVER to knock on my door before noon...all my family are nightowls so obviously they're never a problem.

    Ancient history: I have/had 5 siblings: we lived one section along from NNB school. We were almost always late-

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

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