Sleeping

I would say I am a short sleeper, which is a relatively rare thing. I spent most of my career on 4.5 to 6 hours of sleep and a power nap (17 minutes) or two during the day and evening hours. Even in retirement, I still feel pretty good after 6 hours of sleep.
However, I don't fit the highly driven, energetic, Type A personality characteristics of a typical short sleeper, so maybe not.

I typically wake up once (after 1 sleep cycle) to go to the bathroom and then sleep through the remaining sleep cycles of the night. Last night I decided to not fight the yawns and went to bed a little earlier than usual and slept 6 consecutive hours. I feel good this morning. I am well rested and ready to take on the day.
As a retired guy, I generally say that I get up when I'm finished sleeping. 
This morning that just happened to be at 5:30. 

I've been sleeping out on the deck this past week as it has been really nice weather for that. One night I woke up and saw the constellation of the Scorpion directly in front of me. The back deck faces about 10-15 degrees east of due south and I thought -- Hmmm, must be about 3 o'clock.
I looked at my phone to check the time and it was 2:59!
When I woke up in the morning, the sky was getting light with the rising sun and I thought -- 7 o'clock. It was 6:56.
I was so impressed with myself that I decided to share that here!

I think that sleep is a bigger deal that most people make it out to be. Most people do well on around 8 hours per night, but just as some of us can function well on considerably less there are those that need more. And honestly, most people (at least in the US) don't get enough.
Healthy diets and exercise get most of the dialogue time and good sleep gets very little. 

There are plenty of studies and much has been written about how to get better sleep, but most people pay little attention to that and assume that out bodies will just figure it out. Unfortunately, not all sleep is good sleep. I consider myself fortunate that I am generally a good sleeper as well as a short sleeper. Maybe those two things go together -- I don't know.

How well do you sleep?
Do you get enough sleep?
What can you do to improve your sleep quality and/or quantity?
Do you prioritize getting enough good sleep?

Sleeping well is a very passive part of good health, but it is also a very important part. We should definitely give it more attention than we do.

John

Fun Facts

Most of us are aware that some words began as acronyms that made their way in the English language as common words.
For example: 
laser - light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation
scuba - self contained underwater breathing apparatus
radar - radio detection and ranging

Here's one that I just learned -- taser, named for its inventor, Thomas A. Swift's electric rifle! 

John

State of Mind

When I look at the state of the United States of America I become disheartened by the politics, the division, and the overall lack of regard for the well-being of the country and the global community. I am truly embarrassed by the bullshit coming from our nation's capital.
When I look at the state of religion I am equally disheartened. Radical, nationalized Christianity is no different than radical Islam and in no way resembles the beliefs and practices of its origins.

People suck.

I'd like to say that I am encouraged by the good acts of people that stand up for each other and are kind to one another. But in truth, the good deeds of good people barely make a dent in the evil deeds of the powerful.

I will spend another day away from people. 
I will work in the yard and listen to music from the past (classic rock).
I will celebrate the seeds going in the ground and the flowers that are emerging.
I will wait patiently for the return of the hummingbirds and migrating butterflies.
I will connect to the Creator through creation.
Today is a day of self preservation.

Yeah, it is sad when one's personal religion means staying away from people and from the news that impacts the world. Unfortunately, this is my current state of mind.
My new religion of Be Kind and Do Good from earlier this week will have to wait while I bulk up for the exposure to the world outside of my small 5 acre plot in Highlandville MO.

Maybe Fr Rohr's words are more hopeful and less discouraging than my own. Even so, they do convey a frustration with religion and religious people.

Be well, my friends.
Take care of yourselves.

John

Wednesday Wisdom

 

John

My New Religion

 At 47,000+ Christian denominations it is obvious that we have many differing opinions of how we are supposed to believe, behave, or just be. This doesn't even count the other 4,000 to 10,000 distinct religions in the world. While it might be obvious that they all can't be right, it is possible that they are all wrong.

I can understand how we have so many different ideas about just what following Jesus looks like. In talking to others about their religious (Christian) deconstruction, I am finding that their journeys and mine are also very different from one another. 
Many hold fast to some core beliefs while dismissing behaviors and traditional practices, while others completely abandon what they have been taught. 
Sometimes there is a type of reconstruction or new faith that is obtained. Oftentimes there is not.

Personally, I struggle more with the reconstruction part. 
Having dismissed the controlling bullshit part of religion -- What am I left with? and What do I do now?
I don't know if -- Be a good person and do the right thing -- is a religion, but I think it should be.

I am no longer burdened by the threat of hell, nor enticed by the hope of heaven. I will let God and eternity deal with those things. I am just going to work on what I can do ... today.
I'm going to meet someone for a quick lunch, run some errands (buy coffee), and do a few things around the house. It isn't much.

Maybe I will find a way to be an encouragement to somebody.
I don't know. 
I often say that I am a non-productive member of society. It goes with the territory of staying the f**k away from people. But I am also a non-destructive member of society. At least I try to be.

Recycle, reduce, reuse -- right?
Do no harm.
Plant flowers for the birds, bees, and butterflies.
Mind my own business.
Making the world a better place by staying away from people.

It's not very religious.
I might make it my new religion anyway.

Just some thoughts in my head this morning.
John

Summer(like) weather

The first two days of spring have made it to 90 (32c) degrees, and today will be similarly warm. Tomorrow will cool down to a high of 60 (15c), but that will only last for a couple of days before the unseasonably warmer temperatures return for a few more days. Our relatively mild winter and early warm spring has me wondering what kind of summer awaits us.

Scientists tell us that an El Niño shift is likely and it may even be a shift to an unusually warm Pacific event, making a super El Niño event. That will mean a hot, humid summer with lots of rain for the Midwest. On the plus side, it might mean a calmer hurricane season for the Atlantic side of the US.

I think I'm going to need a pool.
If you think I have been a non-productive, isolated, introverted recluse in the past, a pool and a super El Niño may make for a super El Viejo!
I may have to stock up on cigars and tequila!

Trust me.I am not complaining. I am merely looking at ways to adapt to living in an extremely hot and muggy SWMO summer.

I did plant some stuff yesterday and will work on starting some seeds indoors for early May transplanting. My tomato and pepper starts should be ready to transplant to pots in a couple of weeks. 
I need to start some annual flowers for a few decorative pots and hanging baskets. In another week or so I will bring the deck plants up from the basement and put them back on the deck.
I'm thinking I may find a place to plant some more moonflowers in the back of the house this year. Most people won't get to see them, but since I spend nearly every evening back here I will get to enjoy them more than I do the ones in the front.

The birds seem to be enjoying spring as much as I do. They are quite noisy and active this morning. The rising sun and loud birds woke me up from my deck bed at just past 7am. Listening to the morning sounds while sipping my coffee is such a wonderful way to begin the day. I really do love beginning and ending days listening to the sounds of nature.
I am thankful for this privilege.

John

Slow Starter

I am terrible about getting work done.
I am a slow starter in the morning -- mostly because I really like to enjoy my coffee and quiet time. 
I am going to have to get back to making the effort to start work earlier. Movement is motivation, right?

I managed a little bit of work each of the past two days, but really need to accomplish more on a regular basis. My boss (me) is too generous with late start times, frequent breaks, and early shoves. It's almost like I spent my career as an air traffic controller. 
It is a grand thing to be able to stop what I am doing and run an errand with Chris and then go out for an unexpected meal. Truly -- retirement does not suck.

I can't even say just how happy these warm, sunny days make me feel.
Beginning and ending yesterday sitting on the deck was glorious.
Having the doors and windows open throughout the day is wonderful. 
Sleeping on the deck is peaceful and restorative.

There are still a few 40 (4-5c) degree nights in the two week forecast, but I am hoping we won't have any more frosty nights. 
Life in the Ozarks is looking like spring and John is a happy boy!

John

IT"S SPRING!!!

I am enjoying my morning coffee while sitting on the deck today. It is just a few minutes past the moment when the earth has crossed that point in its annual journey that marks the beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere.

One of the added tasks of the transition to spring is to prepare for the arrival of the hummingbirds. I need to get the feeders cleaned and ready for them. I figure I still have a week or so, but they will make good use of an alternate food source while waiting on the flowers to come into full bloom.

I've made the decision to get back on the motorcycle this year. I haven't done much riding in the past couple of years--none at all last year. I have a new battery, but I still need to get it ready, inspected and licensed. 
This seemed to be an appropriate mug for this morning's coffee.

I am looking forward to riding again, but I don't know if I'll be putting in many 500 mile days like I have in the past.
 
You've got to admit, she's a pretty bike.

I'll always remember parking it at a grocery store and an older couple was walking to their car. The woman said to me, "I don't know a thing about motorcycles, but I know about pretty and that's a pretty bike!"
It still makes me smile.

Happy spring to my northern hemisphere friends!

John

Back to Work -- the good kind of work!

Tomorrow will be the first of four days with temperatures forecast to be in the low to mid 80s (27+ c)!
I am going to try to get an early start and get some garden work done. 
I need to get my cole crops (broccoli, cabbage, and kale) planted, and I may plant onions and potatoes even though they are a few weeks late. 

I have an area that I need to re-till. That will have pumpkins, popcorn, and some sunflowers. And I need to till a new area for more sunflowers because Chris wants some on the west side of the house as well. I am excited to be working outside. 
I also need to get some annuals started for the hanging baskets and porch plants.
And I think it is time to take down the winter plastic panels from the screened in deck.

Also, if you are in the area and interested -- I have hostas that need to be thinned out. Just let me know when you'd like to come and get some. 

I know that there is still the possibility of another frost. The early plants will do fine with a bit of cold weather and I will wait a few weeks to put my indoor starts outside. 
But I am getting the spring fever! 

And I have a thought on starting my native grasses/native wildflower meadow. I think I'll start small and try to add to it each year. It may take a number of years to convert just one acre, but I think it will be a good way to make the change. 

Have I mentioned that I am looking forward to spring?

John

Signs of Summer

I know -- winter isn't over yet, but it is always summer in my head.

I am a left-side sleeper and the window next to the bed faces primarily to the south. 
A couple of nights ago, I woke up around 3 AM. I opened my eyes and saw the clock on the nightstand and noted the time. Then my gaze shifted to look out the window and I thought -- "Hey, that's the constellation Scorpio!"
It made me smile and then I went back to sleep.

The Scorpion is a summer constellation.

It is still a few days until spring begins.
If you live in the northern hemisphere and have a sunny day:
Stand outside at noon (local STANDARD time) and your shadow will point to true north.
As summer ends in the southern hemisphere, your shadows will point due south.
It's just one of those equinox things.

As we look forward to longer days in the northern hemisphere, it dawns on me (yes, that's an astronomical pun) that people living near the equator never get to experience the joy of longer periods of sunlight. They pretty much get 12 and 12 all year long.
It's weird that I haven't really thought about that before.

John