What is there to say?

It's seems to have been an interesting couple of months, but in retrospect, I'm not exactly sure why. Actually, I know of a few reasons...but I'm not likely to reveal on an internet-facing blog.

I have come to a few noteworthy realizations (that I am willing to share):
1. April Fools' Day is my favorite holiday.
2. The SF Giants are not (yet) mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.
3. I'm very likely to be matriculating at Leland Stanford Junior University in September 2008.

With that, I bid you adieu...

It sucks to be...

feeling more sleepy at 7pm or 2pm, than you are at 11pm.

I'm really hoping my sleep issues get straightened out. Life is too short to be tired all the time.

Sleep Restriction

(Yawn.) The latest approach to addressing my sleep fragmentation and fatigue problem? Restricting my sleep time (currently to 12:30am-7:00am). No naps allowed.

The results? After a couple of days, I REALLY want to take a nap (at 10:21am). (Yawn.) The prospect of staying awake for the next 14 hours and 8 minutes seems pretty daunting. And my bed is calling me. (Yet another yawn.)

But now I have time to do every one of those tasks I've been not doing. Or perhaps avoiding. (Yet another yawn.)

In addition to the sleep restriction, I'm supposed to go outside for 45 minutes immediately after awakening. (Yet another yawn. And even another yawn...I'm just a yawning machine!) The need to go outside does make it harder not to go for a walk. (Oh boy...another yawn!)

(Massive yawn.) I figure I better get away from the yawn-inducing computer.

Heath Ledger (RIP)

Maybe it's the new allergy medication, but I find myself surprisingly moved by the untimely death of Heath Ledger. As I mentioned to a friend, I wonder why the less talented famous people get to do something stupid & survive (albeit with an all-but-mandatory trip to rehab). Yes, I do know there are exceptions to that generalization in both directions. Obviously, I have no definitive idea of what happened in his case, but an accidental or intentional drug overdose would seem to be the likely outcome.

I was looking forward to the second installment of the new "Batman" series of movies. Heath Ledger plays "The Joker" in this one. Now I'm a lot less excited about the prospect. He certainly wasn't my favorite actor, but he created an impressive body of work in a short time. Most people would point to his role in "Brokeback Mountain", but I actually thought he was even more impressive in a smaller role (as the son in "Monster's Ball"). He did a wide variety of roles in a short time...which is fairly unusual for someone who has "made it big".

Well...as information comes out in the near future, I hope there's something to be learned from this. I'm sending good thoughts & well wishes to his 2 1/2 year old daughter.

I do not like going to bed early

However, it has been suggested that going to bed at, say 10pm (or even earlier) will help improve my rest. Personally, I figure it's more likely that I'll just start waking up in the middle of night at an earlier time.

That all said, this is something I really don't want to do. In case someone wasn't listening: I DO NOT WANT TO DO THIS!!! And yet, it's probably the right next thing to try. Desperately tired dudes will resort to desperate measures!

It's now 11:03pm. Officially NOT early. So I guess this new leaf doesn't get turned over tonight. Pleasant dreams!

another Sunday night

Laundry is done. Dishes are washing. Didn't get to my "to do" list much this weekend. Yet got to enjoy time with friends (and canine friends) last night & have dinner tonight with friends. So it was a good weekend.

Which certainly beats the alternative!

Happy 2008!

Due to my travels, I get to say "Happy New Year" while my left coast friends are still nearly 3 hours from 2008. 2007 ended nicely, as I had an enjoyable day in the Boston area (took a nice walk, had a nice Thai dinner & attended a fun party). All in all, a very good end to 2007 & start of 2008. Then again, I didn't get to visit with the resident dog "Champ" at Sarah's house today. "Champ" is now my favorite dog in New England.

The reality of 2008 is that I get to go back to California (something that many would virtually kill for) & my "life". This change of pace & perspective was very helpful. I'll be forever grateful to Shelley & Sarah (Shelley's girlfriend) for their hospitality. OK...I'll be grateful for at least a couple of days...which is pretty long for me!

The other day, some friends of Sarah's were coaxing her to come up with a slogan or catchphrase for 2008. It would definitely be the easy way out to do something with the word "great". I'm thinking: 2008: 0.274% longer than 2007!

Who knows what 2008 what will bring? Other than a new president-elect in the US, that is. There are infinite possibilities, including the SF Giants winning the world series & Cal qualifying to play in the 2009 Rose Bowl. Mind you, possibilities aren't required to be very likely...just possible.

So here's to all that's possible in 2008!