Taking a look at family things first: G has his PSAT test today. He’s anxious to get it over. I’m anxious for him. Standardized tests are a bitch. I took the ACT 1,000 years ago, not the SAT and both have changed a lot since then. I don’t feel qualified to offer any help. I told him “Good luck” as he left this morning. His only reply was, “Ugh. I wish.”
Tipper’s in here showing me furry paws she wants for ComiCon. The kids are out of school that Friday and she’s over-the-moon excited about the three-day event. She’s been saving her money and making different costume-related items for weeks. She has the $ and the paws are cute, complete with little toe beans. I don’t understand the culture. I don’t need to. It makes her happy and she’s not hurting anyone. I’m going to support her all I can.
The best part of the day for me yesterday was that it was warm enough to sit outside and take in some sun. I’m low on vitamin D anyway, so it helps to be out in that regard. The dogs also like the extra time being outside and frightening people walking by. What tickles me is that people see Hamilton (black lab/pit mix) and think he’s the dangerous one. Nope. Toss Ham a hard roll and he’ll bury the thing until it softens up. Belvedere (English hound) is the one with the jaw strength. Sure, he looks cute, but toss him a hard roll and it’s crunch right into the thing and it’s gone in seconds.
Among the things to do yesterday was complete a health survey the insurance company sent because “we’ve not been able to reach you by phone.” Do you want to know why you can’t reach me by phone? Because when you call, nothing is identifying the call as coming from you. I don’t pick up for numbers I don’t know. I need to see something that tells me you’re not a telemarketer or someone else looking to waste my time. This is especially important if you call while I’m napping. I take a brief look at the number and if there’s not a name I recognize on there, I’m going back to sleep.
While most of the questions were about health history, as one might expect, the one that always makes me giggle is, “Are you safe at home?” I understand this question coming from my doctor, but what is the insurance company going to do about it if I’m not safe? Are they going to help find me a safer place to live? Is there an Old Person Protective Agency they can call for assistance? Or are they going to call the police to come over and shoot me?
You’re an insurance agency. I find your attempts at empathy and caring disingenuous. We both know that your primary purpose is to avoid paying for healthcare so that you can keep more of the premiums. There’s no sense in pretending otherwise. If you really cared, the copay to see my oncologist and other specialist wouldn’t be $35 per visit. I had to cancel an appointment this week because it’s a two-visit ordeal and I don’t have $70 for the copay. Don’t pretend to care when you’re still making sure I can’t afford healthcare.
HAPPY SLEEP AWARENESS WEEK!
Did you know that this is Sleep Awareness Week? I didn’t either until an app on my watch told my phone to remind me. [Yes, that’s how I get my critical information now.] I found it interesting that I got the notice on a day after I’d slept 11.3 hours straight, with another three hours added on in the afternoon. I’m still averaging between 13 and 16 hours of sleep per day. Some days those sleep periods are broken up, other days they’re more contiguous. The chemo gives me little choice in the scheduling.
I don’t think I know any intelligent adult who would deny the fact that sleep is important. It’s not only important that we get regular amounts of sleep, but that we have a sleep schedule that is steady and reliable. We understand the importance of having a comfortable place to sleep that supports our back and neck. There’s no problem with the basics.
However, there are a number of myths that linger around sleep and those are what do the most damage. We believe these tales that have been handed down over the generations and we find them difficult to give up. Here are a few examples.
Myth: Sleep is not a priority for health. One dangerous myth is the belief that diet and exercise are more important for overall health. In reality, sleep is crucial for physical health, emotional well-being, and cognitive performance. Lack of sleep can lead to a host of health problems, including obesity and heart disease, both of which are severe problems in the US.
Myth: Less sleep is needed as you age. If that were true, I’d be severely oversleeping. While sleep patterns do change as we age, the need for sleep does not drastically decrease. Adults typically require 7-9 hours of sleep per night.
Myth: Snoring is harmless. Hello? Sleep apnea, anyone? Although snoring is common and sometimes harmless, it can also be a sign of serious breathing and heart issues linked to all sorts of fun diseases including stroke. Here’s a hint: if it’s bothering someone, you might want to get that checked out.
Myth: You can catch up on lost sleep. Many believe that sleeping more on weekends can compensate for sleep lost during the week. Nope. While a little extra sleep can help relieve part of a sleep debt (great, another debt to worry about), it cannot completely make up for the lack of sleep and its effects on the body over a longer period. People who work the third shift tend to be especially ill-affected by this one.
Myth: It’s healthy to be able to fall asleep anywhere, anytime. There are a lot of people, especially those who’ve been in the military, who fall asleep as soon as their head hits the pillow or sleep in any situation. However, this can actually indicate sleep deprivation. Ideally, falling asleep should take 10-20 minutes. I have a lot of trouble falling asleep too quickly. I have to be careful.
Myth: Alcohol helps you sleep. Not really. While alcohol might help you fall asleep faster, or in places you didn’t intend to sleep, it disrupts your sleep cycle. Particularly interrupted is REM sleep which is important for memory and learning. This leads to poorer quality sleep and, yeah, you’re gonna have a hangover.
There are tons of websites with good advice on getting healthier sleep. If you have lingering questions, especially if you keep waking up during the night, please talk to your doctor. When we’re not getting enough sleep, it’s often because our bodies are trying to tell us something. Heed the call. Get help!
There are plenty of other things to talk about, like the US House of Representatives voting on a TikTok ban, the myth of noncitizens voting, and other silly things such as Kristen Stewart’s wardrobe. Maybe we’ll get to those, maybe we won’t. I already need a shower. I’m not sure I want to wallow in a mess that would have me wanting to take more than one. I do know that it’s supposed to be another beautiful day in the Midwest, so I’m hoping to get some more vitamin D. We’re going to do our best to make this a good day despite having to take on some difficult conversations.
I’m not good with difficult conversations. I’d rather just skip those. We’ll see.