Piece #40 - Night Owls

For once, I really don't think this has to do with my disability, but as I've gotten older I've noticed I've become more of a night owl. I do remember growing up at first being an early bird, especially on Saturdays because I wouldn't dare miss my morning cartoons. When I became a teenager, things started to change in my sleeping habits. I found myself staying up later and when Jaimee and I first got together then we REALLY stayed up late! (That sounds kind of naughty.) As an adult, I've really had to be more of an early bird because of college and later teaching. I will admit that in my college life, there were days when I did stay up late to write term papers, but other than that I tried to get to bed at a good time.

I have often thought to myself why I do this? The only thing I can think of is routine...again. It seems if I get started late then it takes more time for me to go to bed. I just can't simply go to bed; I have to do all the little quirky things before I can call it a night. Now mind you that it would help if I took my nightly medication a little sooner as well, but it starts with the routine. I'll notice that if I have to do something later than normal, say going to the grocery store or take care of some task, it can set me back an hour or two on getting to bed at a decent time. I will sadly admit that there are times when I would drink a Starbucks or a Coke a little later than I should; that would jeopardize my bed time ritual as well. The only other thing I can think of are naps. I have to be really careful with naps because if I take too long of one then I'm doomed for the rest of the night!

This might sound little nuts, but the other factor that is involved here has a name and that name is Jaimee. She is just as much of a night owl as I am. I think if she would make it a point to go to bed earlier, then I might have found myself going to bed early as well. There has been a time when Jaimee was fighting insomnia and losing the battle. I knew I had to go to bed for work so Jaimee just couldn't go to sleep with me at the same time. As I've watched Jaimee, she doesn't really seem to have a full blown routine like I have when it comes to getting ready for bed. So I can't go off of her example or establish a bedtime ritual based on her motivations and decisions.

I realize the lack of sleep is not very good for my health and there are times like the summer that can make it even harder because we're out for three months. During that time, I can remember my sleep ritual would be from 2 am to 11 am; and that was on a regular bases! As I get older, I really need to work on getting into a better routine of sleep, but effectively following through is another story!

Song of Inspiration [Check it out on iTunes/Android!]:

Song: "Evil Never Sleeps"

Artist: Above Only

Album: Self-Titled

(By the way, I've finally joined the Smart Phone Allegiance...that's why I'll include Android now.)

Here's Jaimee and Lukas having a sleepy time...well, at least Jaimee is.

Piece #111 - First Impressions

"You already know that making a good first impression can go a long way. But forget all the advice you've received about dressing to impress or putting on a cheesy smile. Turns out, the true secret to building a lasting connection reaches much deeper than what you wear." "According to Amy Cuddy, a Harvard Business School professor who has researched first impressions for more than 15 years, everyone (consciously or subconsciously) asks two questions when they meeting someone new: Can I trust this person? And can I respect this person?" This quote comes from Reader's Digest and I actually found this rather compelling because I never really heard of this before. I've addressed this topic of first impressions in the past but, I have to admit that this idea is interesting. I guess since you hear a lot of things from a smile, the outfit or what you say make the difference; however these two questions have me a little perplexed. I think it depends on the ...

Piece #1 - The Beginning

I guess like embarking on any puzzle, it must always starts with the first piece. So to begin, I have Asperger's Syndrome, in other words I'm Autistic, and so this literature will be about my struggles with this disorder as an adult. I was first diagnosed back in the summer of 2004. If it wasn't for my twin daughters, I might not have ever known all the questions I have ever had in life; to them, I will always be in their debt. Growing up, you are never really aware of any differences until the judgment years...6th thru 12th grade of school. A time when one always tests their own humanity against others; meaning, how will I measure up against other students. In my eyes I seemed to be just like them; two arms and legs, ten fingers and toes, head and body...nothing unusual. Yet, for some reason, I was treated a little different than everyone else. That's one of those things that you can't quite put your finger on, but I observed on many occasions how kids would talk...

Broken Piece #2 - Susan Boyle

For those of you who are not sure who is Susan Boyle, she was the second place winner to the show "Britain's Got Talent" in 2009. She sang the famous song from Les Misérables "I Dreamed the Dream". Since the show, Susan had been making guest appearances on a variety of shows and recorded several albums. Susan's first album alone broke several chart-records and was very well received around the world. I believe why she had such incredible appeal was because she was a perfect representative of all the 'regular people' in the world. She didn't come in flashy or striking but, modest and humble. When a person like Susan is thrown into the whirlwind of concerts, parties, media, and money, it's very difficult to stay grounded and not having your own personal world torn apart. Sadly for Susan Boyle, her tiny universe is crumbling. First, she did have a health scare when she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes that prompted her to lose weight. Se...

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