Now on ScienceBlogs: Surgical masks versus respirators for flu protection

Seed Media Group

See Jane Compute

The adventures of a woman in computing.

Profile

Jane is an assistant professor in a computing field, and a new mother. Join her as she navigates the tenure track, deals with gender issues, figures out how to be a parent, and tries to have some semblance of a life.

Search

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Archives

Blogroll

Other Information

« Motivation? What's that, exactly, again? | Main | Student group dynamics »

An open letter to my circadian rhythm and my brain

Category: miscellania
Posted on: February 20, 2009 7:15 AM, by Jane

Dear Circadian Rhythm and Brain,

Cut it out, both of you.

I don't know if this is your idea of a sick practical joke or what, Circadian Rhythm, but I really, really, really do not appreciate being jolted wide awake at 4am. The first time it was regrettable, but now that it's been happening for several days running....well, I am not amused. It's not like I'm going to bed super-early lately---no, bedtime has been our same old, normal time. So what gives? Are you bored? In a bad mood? Did I piss you off somehow? It's not funny. Stop it.

And you, Brain....you know, I expected better from you. I don't like this new bad influence that Circy has on you. Just because physically I'm awake at a certain hour doesn't mean that you can just start going full-tilt on me. Really, I'd rather not have you fill me in on all of those things I was worrying about yesterday, or about the zillions of unfinished items on my to-do list, or rehash all the regrettable things I've done in my life, the second that Circy wakes up.

Look, both of you, I understand that things come up: toddlers wake up momentarily, spouses steal the covers, body functions call, etc etc. But really, is it too much to ask that if you do have to wake me up at 4am, you then let me go immediately back to sleep? I don't think that's an unreasonable request.

So, if you two don't settle down and let me get my damn sleep, you leave me no choice....I will have to separate you, maybe even put you in time out, maybe start taking away privileges if those things don't work. Don't make me stop this car.

Love and warm milk,
Jane

TrackBacks

TrackBack URL for this entry: http://scienceblogs.com/mt/pings/100292

Comments

1

Hmm. I don't want to scare you but I woke up at exactly 4 in the morning and laid awake for 1-3 hours while I was pregnant. Just saying.

Posted by: Fia | February 21, 2009 3:29 PM

2

This may be your bodies way of getting you out of the bad funk you are in. I remember reading a study many years ago that showed if you wake up several times in the middle of the night, it somehow brings about changes in chemistry similar to an anti-depressant.

Posted by: Alice | February 22, 2009 8:12 AM

3

See our website for some eye-openers about malfunctioning biological clocks. And use our Synclecron in good health.

Regards, Yale

P.S. We could use some help with our J2SE and ActionScript programs.

Posted by: Yale S.Y. Landsberg | July 5, 2009 2:01 PM

Post a Comment

(Email is required for authentication purposes only. On some blogs, comments are moderated for spam, so your comment may not appear immediately.)





ScienceBlogs

Search ScienceBlogs:

Go to:

Advertisement
Follow ScienceBlogs on Twitter
Visit the Collective Imagination blog
Advertisement
Enter to win

© 2006-2009 Seed Media Group LLC. ScienceBlogs is a registered trademark of Seed Media Group. All rights reserved.

Sites by Seed Media Group: Seed Media Group | ScienceBlogs | SEEDMAGAZINE.COM