The One with the Foot Injury

Posted by :David Manly On : December 18, 2008
1

Category: foot injury, Holidays, Sitcom

Ever do something and think that your life could be an episode of “Friends?”

My life is not always funny, but always entertaining. I have an identical twin brother who knows me so well, that we don’t even have to talk to know what each other are thinking. Don’t believe me?
It is 6:25 p.m. on a Thursday, so my brother is sad that there is no new CSI on, happy that dinner is soon and probably thinking about cheese.
My sister is great, but in the mornings has a tendency to de-evolve and communicate solely via a series of grunts.
My mom and dad are a set of characters that I will not even go into here. Suffice it to say, it is where I get my wacky sense of humour, my love for movies and my addiction to all things cheese. Seriously, I need to develop a 12 step thing.

Let me paint a scene of something that actually happened to me yesterday.

I was at home, sick … AGAIN. This flu is kicking my ass.

Anyway, I go into the kitchen to make myself some pasta, as it is the only thing my sore throat will let in. So, I am cooking and I walk towards the garbage to throw something out.

So, all I was thinking was, in a sort of sing-songy tune, “Hmmm, garbage, garbage … throwing out the garbage.” I take one step, two steps, 3 steps … and then I yell out, “OWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

I then proceeded to drop the garbage, limp over to the table and examine the pain on my right foot. Sticking out through my sock, is a tootpick, that has been bent in the middle, so one half is sticking through the sock and the other parallel to the sole of my foot. It almost appeared as if an ant had reached my foot and planted a FLAG POLE.

I yank out the toothpick … OW … followed by the sock. At first, I saw nothing, until little trickles of blood began to appear.

As skilled as an antelope, I hop down to the bathroom and wash of the foot. I pour Hydrogen Peroxide on it, and grit my teeth. With Hydrogen Peroxide, it doesn’t hurt initially, it takes a couple of seconds … ohhh, wait … here it comes … ahhhh.
The burning means that it is working!

Quickly, I grab a Band-Aid, put more Hydrogen Peroxide on the wound and place the bandage over the pierced foot.

I will have all you know, that I am perfectly fine now … but yesterday, yesterday I limped around a bit.

Now, here’s the kicker.

I DON’T USE TOOTHPICKS! The guy I live with does!

Sometimes I wonder, if I am at the epi-centre of a large cosmic joke.

“Let’s throw this at David today and see how he responds.
Ohh, he’s starting an apprenticeship? Let’s make it really snow, give him a transit strike AND give him a bad flu. That’ll be fin to watch!”

And before anyone posts angry comments, I KNOW I am not the epi-centre of the universe, and that the fates are not conspired against me. After all, you would have to believe in fate and destiny, right? 😉

One last thing, I am heading home for the holidays soon and I am greatly looking forward to it. Most of my friends from the program have already left, and I cannot wait to see my friends back in Toronto (you know who you are!)

‘Tis the Season

Posted by :David Manly On : December 16, 2008
2

Category: animal competition, kindness, snow, winner

First and foremost … a little housecleaning!

The winner of my Holiday contest is:
*drum roll please*

AMANDA!!!! With an amazing 15/15!!!!

She blew everyone else out of the water! And for those of you who didn’t participate and send in your answers … I know who you are. What couldn’t take a few minutes to answer 15 multiple choice questions? Honestly, I probably spend more time eating or yawning than it would have taken some of you to do it.

I can say, I am a little disappointed at some people for not participating.

Secondly, I have been at my apprenticeship for a WEEK. Here’s what has happened:
– Immediately started writing stories
– Got my own phone and a computer inside a cubical where no one can see me
– Get treated with slightly less disdain than a student
– SNOW
– Transit strike
– Work from home for 2 days
– Walk over an hour to apprenticeship
– Get sick
– Walk to apprenticeship
– Call doctor’s in the states and the Vatican about stem cells and invitro fertilization

Sounds like a hoot and a holler, eh?

Now, here is something I wrote during my apprenticeship, when I just couldn’t do any more work…. I hope you enjoy it.

Ever get the feeling that the whole world is going to hell in a hand basket? That we are tumbling towards a dark abyss from which here is no return? The evilness and ill-will surrounds us at every turn? That people are inherently seeking to please themselves and not others?

I believe that we all get that way sometimes, and I was having one of those moments.

Sitting at my desk at my apprenticeship, feeling sick, cold and dreading the long walk home due to the transit strike, I began to surf the few internet sites that are permissible here.

I found the Toronto Star website.

During my search, I found something … a diamond in the rough.

Was it the fact that scientists achieved a partial face transplant?
Interesting, but no.
Was it the fact that a scientist believes Santa uses nanotechnology to travel all over the world, and to reverse-grow presents under the tree?
Weirdly no.
Or was it about Jennifer Aniston’s gorgeous body on the cover of this month’s GQ? Sadly not.

It is entitled: Acts of Kindness.

It is an absolute joy to read and a pleasure to right about. It consists of a collection of short stories about Canadians experiencing the phenomena of RAK (Random Acts of Kindness).

It put a smile on my face and warmed the dead are where my heart used to dwell, before Biology/Undergrad/Journalism sucked the life out of it leaving a dark and vacant hole where sadness, pity and loneliness dwell … and, I’m pretty sure, a family of raccoons and mice.

Thank you Toronto Star, for shining a light in the darkness and illuminating the goodness that some people show. Thank you.

Here is the link, read it and pass it on … after all, ‘spread some joy instead of hate. ‘Tis the season after all 🙂

http://www.thestar.com/kindness

Holiday Gift Competition!!!!

Posted by :David Manly On : December 10, 2008
2

Category: Animals, contest, prize

During my long, long bus ride home yesterday from my apprenticeship, I came up with an idea. I have decided to start a competition that is run via my blog. So, here it is:

Ladies and Gentleman, boys and girls, I would like to present to you the FIRST annual Musings of a Manly blog Competition! There will be 15 questions, which will get progressively harder. Lastly, you should send in an email to an account created specifically for this contest:

animal.competition@gmail.com

And there is a prize! Whoever wins it will receive a fabulous prize the next time I see them!!! The prize is a mystery, but, it’s still a gift 🙂

So, here we go!

1) Which of these is NOT a mammal?
a) A rat
b) A lion
c) A chuckwalla
d) A gazelle

2) What animal kills more people in Africa?
a) A lion
b) A hippo
c) A cheetah
d) A giraffe

3) What is NOT special about platypuses and echidna’s?
a) They both have poison
b) They are mammals
c) They lay eggs
d) The have hair

4) What is the world’s largest fish, pictured below?

a) Basking shark
b) Whale shark
c) Whale
d) Great white Shark

5) What is the most amount of legs a millipede has been found to have?
a) 150-350
b) 350-550
c) 550-750
d) 750+

6) What is this freaky animal?

a) Olm
b) Tiger Salamanda
c) Great crested Newt
d) Axolotyl

7) What is the only poisonous snake in Canada?
a) Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
b) Coral snake
c) Massassauga Rattlesnake
d) Pit Viper

8) What is the most intelligent bird?
a) Blue Jay’s
b) Crows
c) Pigeons
d) Parrots

9) What is unique about an Albatross?
a) Largest wings of any bird
b) Their colour
c) Almost never land
d) Lay many eggs

10) What is special about a black panther?
a) Has no claws
b) Has a pre-hensile tail used to climb trees
c) Is a leopard in disguise
d) Eats fish

11) Which animal has the greatest success of hunting in packs (pictured here)?

a) Striped hyena’s
b) Spotted hyena’s
c) Dingo’s
d) African wild dogs

12) What is a Narwhal?
a) A large wolf
b) Males have tusks
c) They attack sharks
d) Eat worms

13) What is the largest rodent in the world?
a) A Capybara
b) A Degu
c) A Mara
d) A Hutia

14) What is the only dog that cannot bark?
a) Dingo
b) Australian Wolf-Hound
c) Chucacabra
d) Dhole

15) What animal has the largest penis in the animal kingdom, relative to its body size?
a) Elephant
b) Sperm Whale
c) Barnacle
d) King Ant

BONUS!
What is THIS animal? (NO CLUES PROVIDED, AND WORTH 2 BONUS POINTS!)

The Ultimate Interview – Holiday Edition

Posted by :David Manly On : December 7, 2008
2

Category: fiction, Holidays, myself, Santa

It was a cold December night, just like any other,
The only ones left walking, were holding another.

There was a light dusting of snow left-over from the previous day,
As the weather was fairly mild in its own particular way.

Walking home in the dark night, David pondered the mystery that is his life,
‘Is this all there is?’ he thought, ‘Why is my life filled with such strife?’

The reasons David thought this were simple, as his school year ended with his freedom restored,
However my friends, David was bored.

David sighed with a breath, as his iPod sang,
When all of the sudden, he heard a very large *BANG*

‘What the hell was that?’ David thought, and looked for the source of the sound,
On his left, was a roofer, crawling around.

The roofer walked down the ladder, and approached David with a smile,
And he said, “I assure you my friend, I am not hostile.”

David was speechless, and for those who know him, this is quite a feat.
As he stared dumbfounded, into the middle of the street.

The man was of the elderly sort, yet full of joy.
He was dressed in grey slacks and a white shirt, for all to enjoy.

The shirt was adorned with red suspenders, which complimented his red and white poof-ball hat.
His smile was large, and encouraged a friendly chat.

His belly was fat and his face full of joy,
As he stroked his beard, he said, “How are you David, my boy?”

As David shook his hand, and said, “How do you know my name?”
The man replied, with a smile, “Sorry David, confusing you was not my aim.”

The man then said, without a pause,
“Nice to meet you David, I’m Santa Claus!”

As David examined the man, with his grin and his hat,
‘Holy shit,’ David thought, ‘I’m crazier than I thought.’

“I’m sorry sir, but you must have been misled,
I’m not who you are looking for, I must head to bed.”

“Nonsense,” he said, with a twinkle in his eye,
“I have some wisdom which I’d like to imply”

“You fear that your life is headed in the wrong direction,
That this entire career change warrants further inspection.
You worry that all your new friends will start to ignore you,
I’m telling you now, this is not true.
The friends you make now, in this very school,
Will remain yours for a long time, so don’t be a fool.
This part of your life serves its own special role,
and eventually you will reach your long-sought goal.
And what I say next, pass onto those you know:
Don’t be afraid of new experiences, they teach you to grow.
The choices you make, will affect you in ways unforeseen,
If life is a play, this is all one little scene!
Before I bid you adieu, one more thing I must impart,
Be happy and healthy, and always follow your heart.”

And with a flash of light, the man disappeared,
‘Wow,’ David thought, ‘Wasn’t that a bit weird?’

With the man’s words still echoing in his mind,
meanings of the words, he did struggle to find.

David took a deep breath, in which to say it out loud,
“My dreams I shall follow,” and with that, he vowed.

Such ends this story, which is fiction, I know,
But don’t be afraid of letting your life ebb and flow.

A lifetime of experiences begin, and more,
with that one little step, out the door.

Four Months later … and I’m still alive

Posted by :David Manly On : December 4, 2008
0

Category: finished, Journalism, portal, Sleep, Still Alive, thesis

Well, I finally did it.

I survived the first term as a Journalism Master’s student! It was tough, both mentally and physically, but I survived.

If you have been following my blog, you know that this term has been exceptionally hard for some of us in the Master’s program. You know the ones. We are the ones with no real experience, we possess degrees that give us unique knowledge, but don’t help us in journalism. We stare blankly when people talk about ethics or the law and we always need serious help thinking up story ideas.

I have enjoyed my first term here in Ottawa. But, things could be better.

For instance, I live in an area densely populated with young families and the elderly. Seriously. Not a single person in my program lives relatively close to me.

Therefore, it is a real pain in the butt for me to meet anyone anywhere. I must always take the bus for at least 30 to 40 minutes to get anywhere, not that I mind too much. It just that sometimes, I just wish I could walk for like five to ten minutes and be there. Sometimes, in battle in my head, my tiredness or impending workload overtakes my need to be with my new friends. But, I still go out, just not as much as I would if I could.

My apprenticeship, where I am working at a prestigious science and medical journal, begins on Tuesday. This will be the TRUE test of if I can mesh two things:
my love for science and my improved (?) journalistic skills.

But, I am DONE for the year!!! A special song will be low this post, and I suggest everyone listen to it. It is called, “Still Alive.” It is from the ending credits of a video game, and even if you don’t get all the references, it is still absurdly funny.

Now lastly, I will address a request of a friend of mine.
She asked me, “David, why don’t you blog about your thesis work last year? You totally should.”

First off, to properly blog about it, it would take me a LONG time. However, a brief overview of my intense thesis work can easily be provided.

WAY back in second year university, I took a course about animals and I became friendly with the professor. I would sit outside the lab and read what out labs were about before we did them, and the professor would always walk by and we’d chat for a few minutes. Quickly, I learned a lot about him, and how we shared many similar interests. This was good news for some of my female friends, as they had MASSIVE crushes on him, and would giggle and swoon for any new piece of information.

Through our conversations, I mentioned to him that I wanted to become a Herpetologist. That is NOT the biology of Herpes, ok? NOT ABOUT STD’S!
It means the study of reptiles and amphibians, because I absolutely love reptiles.

I would continually seem him throughout third year, and in fourth year I took his fourth year course during the fall.

Then, over the Christmas break, I received an email from him. He said that he knows I am taking a fifth year to do my thesis, and that he would really like me to work with him. HE roughly came up with experiment, and through further conversations, I flushed it out and here it is.

I would be working with a species of frog known as Xenopus, AKA the albino clawed-frog. They have little claws, no pigment, mouths that look like they belong to Muppet’s, and translucent skin. Yes, you did read that right, translucent skin!
That means that when I would feed them, I would see the food going into their bellies and stuff … it was kinda gross.

My experiment was based off of salt on the roads. During the winter months, Ontario over-salts the roads to reduce ice, but when the surrounding snow melts, the water (with a lot of salt) flows into our rivers and streams. We wanted to test how high the salt concentration would have to be before the frogs died. Because, frogs are an ‘indicator species,’ if they die, others die.

I would examine a few things: The ion content of various organs, their protein content, their blood and muscle moisture, as well as examining different cell properties under the fluorescent microscope.

I already have a picture of one of the slides I made up on a previous post. Here is the link:
http://davidmanlysblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/biological-lament-and-realization-of.html

And now, I am going to sleep in and NOT set my alarm. That will be the first time since I got here in September when I did NOT have something to do … pity it won’t last!

And without further ado, here is the song:

"I have a bad feeling about this"

Posted by :David Manly On : December 2, 2008
2

Category: Canada, coalition, overthrow, politics

Dark skies and cold weather. Sounds like a normal Canadian winter day, right?

Well, this day is special:

It is hailing … not snow, but FIRE.
The sky opens up, and from its darkness erupts four figures riding horses.
Pestilence, War, Famine and Death … the Four Horsemen.

The seals have been broken, and the apocalypse is upon us.

I am, of course, referring to the new development in Canadian politics. Apparently, an election held just a short time ago wasn’t enough for some people.

Let me paint the scene from what I know so far:
Everyone dislikes Harper. Dion and Layton want to overthrow Harper. The Bloc are happy that they are being included. Dion and Layton want, with Duceppe’s support, to form a coalition government and overthrow the Tory minority.

Honestly…. wtf?

Less than 50% of Canadians voted in the last election, that said, a Tory minority still resulted from the usage of the DEMOCRATIC PROCESS!!!!

It is honestly similar to children arguing about who gets to play with which toy during Kindergarten recess. Sometimes, the teacher gives one kid more turns than they should at a particular toy.

HOWEVER, just because you do not like the outcome of how something ended, does not give you the right to complain and attempt to usurp the process and change the decision!!!

What’s going to happen? No one knows

What will the Governor General do? It’s a tough decision … but it’s about time she did something other than dress nice, jet around the world and wave.

Sadly, the only way to know is to wait until next week when the attempted coalition (Layton, Dion and Duceppe) meet with the Governor General.

I’ll be keeping an ear to the ground and a weathered eye on the horizon for the coming signs of the end of days.

Would make for a VERY interesting Christmas break though, eh?

And hey, this just occurred to me:
Four Horsemen … For primary party leaders.

I’ll let you decide who’s who 😉

J-J-J-JENGA!!!!

Posted by :David Manly On : December 1, 2008
1

Category: collapse, de-stress, Jenga, Stress, Watchmen, wobble

Ok, I have officially had enough of this stuff. Well, almost.

So, let me set the record straight about my current situation here in Ottawa.

The work here never ends, it just keeps on building and building. Imagine blocks of Jenga. You remember Jenga? It’s a game where you have a bunch of sall rectangular blocks that you make a tower of (see picture). And, you take a block from the bottom and you put it on top. The goal is to NOT tip the tower, while still successfully taking blocks from the bottom and building the tower upwards.

My life is akin to a Jenga tower.

Every damn time I finish an assignment, another one immediately pops up. For example, I finish an assignment for Bootcamp, something for my optional course pops up. I finish that, I have a history piece to write. When that is finally done, another Bootcamp assignment is assigned. It’s like a never-ending loop, a feedback loop that never ends. Just like Jenga, you removed one assignment, another one appears up top. And the only way to survive is to prevent the tower from falling.

I know a few people, along with myself, you has experienced a temporary mental breakdown due to the workload. Or, as I shall begin to refer to it now: a “Jenga collapse.”

I live in fear of experiencing yet another Jenga collapse.

The first one occurred after just over a week into the term, when I was so unbelievably stressed about all the work and not knowing a single thing about Journalism. I panicked and experienced a Jenga collapse. Luckily, a talk with my dad calmed me down, and I re-built my tower.

It has not happened again, but, there have been a few close calls … or, “Jenga wobbles.”

With the term coming to a close, I finally finished two out of three of my end-of-the-term assignments. Just ONE more assignment stands between me and freedom!!

That is, until, my apprenticeship. I will be working for about two weeks at a scientific magazine here in Ottawa. I finish there on December 23rd, and then I hitch a ride back to Toronto early the following morning, so that I can be home in time for Christmas.

I can just feel the Jenga tower beginning to tilt and sway in the wind. But, like all good buildings, I have taken some preventative measures to prevent it.

– I watch TV, it relaxes me
– I watch movies, as it removes me from my current predicaments
– I read, to temporarily escape my reality
– I talk to my new J-school friends, as they are in the same predicament
– I talk to my family
– I sleep (well, at least try to)

Here is a video that makes me happy every time I watch it. It is the trailer for the Watchmen movie, coming out early 2009, which I am very excited for.

A Day in the Life

Posted by :David Manly On : November 28, 2008
1

Category: day-in-the-life, Journalism, time-wasting

The first term of my new school in my new city in my new life is coming to a close. I have three more essays left to finish before I am free. However, there is no real break for me, as I begin a two week apprenticeship immediately after my last assignment is handed in.

So, before this term is done, let me describe for you a day in the life of a first year Journalism school Master’s student.

7 a.m. – Alarm goes off, turn it off
7:10 a.m. – Second alarm goes off, and get up
7:13 a.m. – Bleary-eyed, begin the morning ritual (shave, shower, etc…)
7:15 a.m. – Make breakfast
7:17 a.m. – Read the paper
7:30 a.m. – Brush teeth and get changed
7:45 a.m. – Leave the house and walk to the O-Train in the snow, whilst listening to my iPod
8:03 a.m. – Catch the O-Train straight to Carleton
8:18 a.m. – Arrive in class, read another newspaper and prepare for the onslaught of the day
8:30 a.m. – MORNING CLASSES BEGIN
8:35 a.m. – BORED
8:42 a.m. – Start falling asleep
8:53 a.m. – Begin doodling to stay awake
9:07 a.m. – Actually pay attention
9:47 a.m. – Buy a drink for something to do to stay awake
10:10 a.m. – Class resumes, and am bored again
10:22 a.m. – Begin reciting lines from TV shows in my head to stave off boredom
10:36 a.m. – Daydream
11:01 a.m. – Daydream
11:06 a.m. – Pay attention
11:08 a.m. – Ask an insightful question to give the illusion that I’m paying attention
11:10 a.m. – Bored again
11:25 a.m. – CLASS ENDS
11:26 a.m. – Talk to class mates about life
Noon-ish – LUNCH, followed by work
2:00 p.m. – Make way to afternoon class
2:15 p.m. – Arrive at afternoon class, talk to people
2:30 p.m. – CLASS BEGINS
2:33 p.m. – Contemplate life
2:36 p.m. – Think about science
2:44 p.m. – Contemplate next blog entry
2:47 p.m. – Doodle
2:53 p.m. – Look across the room and marvel that everyone appears just as bored as I am
3:00 p.m. – Daydream
3:04 p.m. – Daydream
3:12 p.m. – Feel the world crashing in upon myself
3:16 p.m. – Mini-heart attack
3:19 p.m. – Brain crashes……..re-boot…………re-boot…….re-boot…..
re-boot…………re-boot…….re-boot…. system restore….
4:05 p.m. – Eat a snack to keep brain on life-support
4:07 p.m. – Ponder the mysteries of the universe
4:08 p.m. – Ponder the greatness of cheese
4:11 p.m. – Solve the world’s energy crisis, but cannot find a pad of paper … vow to remember
4:12 p.m. – Forget
4:15 p.m. – Think about girls
4:18 p.m. – Think of random movie quotes
4:19 p.m. – “With meditation, there’s no limit to what you can … imagine”
4:20 p.m. – “Do or do not, there is no try”
4:21 p.m. – “My. What a clever girl”
4:22 p.m. – “I am a leaf on the wind, watch how I soar”
4:23 p.m. – “Ray, if someone asks if you are a God, you say YES!”
4:24 p.m. – “The lord tells me he can get me out of this mess, but he’s pretty sure, you’re fucked”
4:25 p.m. – “Are you telling me, you made a time-machine … out a DeLorean?”
4:26 p.m. – “The dude abides”
4:27 p.m. – “60 per cent of the time, it works all the time”
4:28 p.m. – “Don’t touch that please, your primitive intellect wouldn’t understand things with alloys and compositions and things with… molecular structures.”
4:29 p.m. – “I’ll give you a winter prediction: It’s gonna be cold, it’s gonna be gray, and it’s gonna last you for the rest of your life”
**BONUS POINTS FOR ANYONE WHO CAN NAME THEM All!!! NOT INCLUDING DANIEL 😉
4:30 p.m. – Sleep
5:25 p.m. – Class ends
5:33 p.m. – Dash to the O-Train
5:36 p.m. – Walk home
5:57 p.m. – Arrive home
6:02 p.m. – Turn on laptop and do work
7:45 p.m. – Make dinner
7:53 p.m. – Eat dinner and watch some TV, followed by work
9-12 a.m. – WORK MORE
12-2 a.m. – Work and doze off a little
2-2:30 a.m. – Do some readings
2:30 a.m. – Get ready for bed
3:00 a.m. – Read for pleasure
3:30 a.m. – Try to sleep
3:30-4:15 a.m. – Dreading the next day
4:15-4:30 a.m. – Plan the work to do for the next day
4:30 – 7 a.m. – Sleep

Well, there you have it, an average day in the life of me, a lowly Journalism student. Keep in mind, I did not include:
– Deadline assignments
– TA duties
– Various internet activities
– Interviews
– Shopping, haircuts, cleaning, etc…
– Actual FUN activities

As you can see, I do not have a lot of free time on my hands, but I make the most out of it. And now, I need to do some work before the whole process starts anew. Ain’t a Master’s of Journalism program GRAND?

Let There be Snow!

Posted by :David Manly On : November 26, 2008
1

Category: Sleep, snow, unique, winter

First off, I’ll let everyone know that my sleep schedule is ALMOST back to normal. It was touch and go there for a few days, but it is pretty well back to normal after sleeping for 11 hours last night 🙂

Today in Ottawa, it snowed. I know that I should not be surprised, as it IS winter after all. During my walk in the snow, I almost tripped, my right pant leg got soaked and I have a nagging feeling that I am getting sick.

Truly, this is a Winter Wonder-Hell.

During my contemplation of the wicked white weather that was being thrust upon Ottawa, I began to think about snow.

We have all heard the saying that, “You are unique like a snowflake.”

And that is partly true, as snow is formed by the random assortment of water molecules up in the atmosphere when they freeze.

But, think about a snow storm. The are trillions upon trillions of little snowflakes in a snow storm. Yet, probability states that no two snowflakes will be similar in that one storm.

But, with every snowflake that has EVER been created in every storm, the odds of two snowflakes actually being similar is highly likely.

Therefore, there is a good chance that there have been two snowflakes that are exactly identical to one another. That’s right, two snowflakes that are the exact same. Doesn’t that just blow your mind?

And even if you don’t believe me, that’s fine.

Just consider this if every believe that single snowflake is special:
“You are unique like a snowflake … just like everybody else.”

Doesn’t that just make you feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside?

No Rest for the Wicked

Posted by :David Manly On : November 22, 2008
0

Category: lack-thereof, library, nap, Sleep

Friday night. Ottawa. My place. No plans.

The first Friday night in any number of weeks where I have not had plans, which is a good thing. I had a lot of stuff that I had wanted to get done, not work, but stuff that needed to be done.

I had an early dinner, while watching some TV. TV watching is relaxing … sometimes too much.

I began to doze off, and was forced to rewind the show probably about half-a-dozen times, so that I could catch the ending.

“SLEEP! I NEED SLEEP!!!” shouted my brain. “I’m tired from a long day of class, as well as a stressful week. Why won’t you let me sleep?” it said.

After a short amount of time, I had to give in. I have been fighting sleep for months, and just needed to give in.

I walked to my room, set my alarm for an hour from then and napped.

SILENCE. Dead calm.

Wind howling outside my window, a tree scraping against a fence, a dog barking in the distance. None of those mattered, as I slowly closed my eyes and lapsed into unconsciousness.

My eyes open, bleary from sleep. I look at my clock, 11:55 p.m.

My mind slowly starts working again. Slowly at fist.

“What day is it?”
Check watch
“Friday, almost Saturday. Ok… what happened?”
I pause and breathe, getting oxygen to my brain
I do not recall going to bed, but I remember that I napped.
I check my watch again.. 11:56 p.m.
“Did I…. no… no way,” I say to myself.
“Ohh……SHIT.”

I napped for almost 5 hours. What does one do in that situation?

I sat on my bed, and contemplated my options:
1) Go back to bed, and wake up early in the morning
2) Go back to bed and try to sleep as long as possible
3) Get up, do some stuff and go to bed later

I chose option #3.

So, here I am at three in the morning updating my blog. My head hurts, my eyes hurt a little and I’m kinda hungry.

I wanted to go to the school library tomorrow morning to do research for a couple of hours before coming back home and doing a bunch of work. I am not too sure I am going to, as my entire day’s schedule is now going to be messed up because of my nap need.

I am officially done with naps. The divorce papers are signed, bags are packed and I asked for my CDs to be mailed to me.

I will stay up for a bit longer, before heading off to bed. My PLAN is to wake up and still go to the library tomorrow to start the work I need to get done in this home-stretch of the term.

I pray I have the mental faculties to commit to this plan and actually end up getting work done, as I haven’t gotten anything done today.

Or, maybe I’ll just stay up ALL night and sleep during the day to slowly become a vampire … or a nocturnal mole-person.

Any preferences?