1, 2. Freddy's Coming For You

One, two. Freddy's coming for you.
Three, four. Better lock your door.
Five, six. Grab your crucifix.
Seven, eight. Gonna stay up late.
Nine, ten. Never sleep again.

The new A Nightmare on Elm Street comes out on Friday. I don't think it will hold a candle to the old one - but I will go see it for sure.

Look at the difference between the Freddys. Weird.

Old Freddy: [Image via]

New Freddy: [Image via]

Don't fall asleep!

Good night. Sleep tight. Don't let the bedbugs bite.

Good night. Sleep tight. Don't let the bedbugs bite.

We have all heard the nursery rhyme, but what are the origins (besides the obvious).

According to a staff reporter from The Straight Dope, the phrase "sleep tight" has two possible origins.

1. Beds used to have square frames and ropes were tied across the frame in a weave-like pattern and thus sleep tight - don't let the mattress sag. Mattresses also used to be made out of natural materials such as straw, and thus could potentially be a breeding ground for bugs, possibly bedbugs.
2. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, tightly in this sense refers to "soundly, properly, well, effectively"
   

(I like the first explanation better)

P.S. I would attach a photo of a real bedbug, but I find them disgusting and thus, I chose to include the following - a much happier thought. Click here if you want to see a photo of a real bedbug in a mattress.

[Image via]

Chronic Nightmares

Lately, I've been having a lot of nightmares and I'm exactly sure why so I started to do some research. I started to look reasons why, and those are pretty boring but I found an interesting article on ABC on how to combat nightmares and I was intrigued.

Scientifically there is a difference between a bad dream and a nightmare: a nightmare wakes up in all sweaty panicked in the middle of the night, while a bad dream you remember in the morning, but you sleep the whole night through.

Since dreams are "emotional thermostats" (so says the article), bad dreams can be a good thing - bringing things to your attention that may have been hidden, but nightmares can be a sign of too much stress.

According to Ross Levin, a psychologist, if you have a recurring nightmare, the patient needs to relive the dream while they are awakes so that they can rescript it and hopefully change it forever.

For information on changing dreams and controlling your dreams, check out my post on lucid dreams.

I find this all very fascinating - the idea that you are in control of your dreams and thus, your subconscious to some degree.

Lucid dreams

Lucid dreams. I think in one point or another we all have them, but some of us can make ourselves dream things every night. In an article titled Living in Dreamworld, researcher Stephen LaBerge teaches people how to lucid dream, or have control over your dreams at night.

[Image via.]

To do this is quite simple, according to LaBerge. All you have to do is make yourself aware that you are asleep, and thus, you can control your dreams. (Okay, I' believe him - LaBerge spent more than a decade researching lucid dreaming at Stanford University). He invented a special sleep mask called a NovaDreamer to help alert you in your sleep.

Dreams are important - you can live out all your fantasies if you have control over them. Apparently, according the the article, many people contact LaBerge to find out how to have vivid lucid sex dreams. Interesting.

What are your thoughts?

Also, there is a video accompanying the article with Dr. LaBerge teaching people how to take control of your dreams.

Cat naps

I started thinking of the phrase cat nap and how it came to be. According to dictionary.com, the term cat nap originated from around 1815–25 and is an American in origin.

So cutesy schmutesy time. (I couldn't help myself).

Here are some cute photos of cats, etc... sleeping.
ENJOY!

[Image via]

[Image via]

Homework means little sleep

As the semester draws to a close, all of the final projects and finals are piling up. I have a ten page paper to write and many final projects. On top of that - all of my finals are on the Tuesday of finals week. *blergh*

My Finals Schedule: Tuesday, May 11
8-10 - Online
10:30 - 12:30 - Holocaust
1 -3 - Anthropology

This means little sleep for Jen in the next few weeks.

Unfortunately, this also means fewer posts. I will have more interesting sleep deprivation stories (and I will try to share them), but I will be hardpressed for time. I am also considering finding a way to connect an IV of Starbucks directly in my vein to get through these weeks.

Wish me luck!

Sleeping Beauty - Part II

I wrote about Sleeping Beauty last week (I meant to include this in the last post) and when looking for images, I came across a documentary called Waking Sleeping Beauty.

Here is a piece of the movie blurb: [Via Apple]

"Waking Sleeping Beauty is no fairytale. It is a story of clashing egos, out of control budgets, escalating tensions… and one of the most extraordinary creative periods in animation history. Director Don Hahn and producer Peter Schneider, key players at Walt Disney Studios Feature Animation department during the mid1980s, offer a behind—the—magic glimpse of the turbulent times the Animation Studio was going through and the staggering output of hits that followed over the next ten years. Artists polarized between the hungry young innovators and the old guard who refused to relinquish control, mounting tensions due to a string of box office flops, and warring studio heads create the backdrop for this fascinating story told with a unique and candid perspective from those that were there..."

Okay, so it may be a little off topic, but as a former Disney fanatic, I am interested.

In theaters: March 26, 2010

Must. have. sleep.

Story time -

So, last night, at about 3 a.m., my friend PLS calls and needs the spare key to his house because he misplaced his. I had to get out of bed and find the key and then remove it from the key chain. Then, I had to get dressed so that I can go meet him outside.

This awesomeness was followed by my lovely self not being able to go back to sleep for quite some time.

Exhaustion.

Dream Diary: Day 42

I haven't written about my dreams lately, because when I wake up in the morning I cannot remember many of the details, so here are some random tidbits that I do remember.

- In one dream, I dreamt I got a dog, only to wake up very disappointed in the morning that I was still pet free.

- In one dream, my family moved (we have lived in the same house for as long as I can remember). The new neighborhood is in my dreams a lot and is a combination between mine and an older neighborhood. It is a lot of chasing dreams where I am running from someone and need to hide. None of the houses have fences and you can run in the yards without trouble, but I somehow always get caught.

- In another dream - I should preface this by saying that I watched The Cove the night before, there were a lot of violent situations. I don't remember a lot of details, but I woke up mildly freaking out.

- One of the other nights, I got about one hour of sleep because I kept waking up with a stomach ache. Booo.

Until next time,

Jen

College Students and Lack of Sleep

I am tired. Exhausted even. I never get enough sleep and I know there are a couple thousand other people here who would agree with me.

So - I did a little research. According to the Journal of American College Health, college students typically miss at least the last two hours of REM sleep, which is "an important aspect of successful academic and personal life."

In this 2001 study conducted by Walter Buboltz, they found that 18% of men and 30% per cent of women reported insomnia in the past few months. I would put money on the fact that since the rise of smart phones, the Internet and other technologies that this statistic has gone up. I cannot count the number of times I stayed awake practically all night on my laptop or phone. Whoops.

Need a nap later. Preferably on the quad.

Sleepover!

For this post, I am going back to my childhood. If I were at home, and not at college, I would post some photos of me during childhood sleepovers (I'll have to find some of these and post them at a later date).

But for now, I will reminisce and use photos of strangers!

My favorite things about sleepovers

1. Girl talk - talk about girly things - clothes, shoes, life.
2. Beauty time - nails, hair, etc.....
3. Games - truth or dare.. etc...(I remember most of these involved boys!)
4. Talk about boys - You know the drill.
5. Foood! (Pizza, ice cream, etc..)

Birthday sleepovers are the best - there was usually bowling and goody bags and friends. What more could you want.

Now, I want to have one. Sad news. Hmmm.... Also - childish theme lately?

[Image via]

Alice In Wonderland

Wonderland. Dream land. I saw the Johnny Depp/Tim Burton version and loved it but it made me miss the old one. I guess I am on a Disney princess theme - although I guess she isn't a princess. Hmmm..

Also, while on my favorite blog today, I came across an awesome Alice for iPad video. Do want. Do want.

Dream Diary: Day 36

Haven't remembered any of my dreams lately. Except for one - I had one that I was preggers and when they took a sonogram, they saw vegetables inside me. I have no, zip, zilch, non, nicht idea what this dream means. Any thoughts? Any one?

Sleeping Beauty.

I was just planning on making this post about Sleeping Beauty, and I plan on doing a future post on this princess,... however, while perusing the web today, I found a case about "The Real Life Sleeping Beauty." In this article, I read about a disease called Kleine-Levin syndrome.

This is a condition where the affected person sleeps for excessively long periods. In the article, the girl slept for 13 days during her last sleep. This neurological disorder often brings depression with it. There are no known cures for the disease. Whoa.

[Image via]

[Image via]

I'm thinking that my mother can no longer yell at me for sleeping in.

Dreeeeeam. (Dream)

Out enjoying the beautiful weather, but I leave you with this.

All I Have to Do is Dream - Everly Brothers (video)

Dream, dream dream dream, dream, dream dream dream

When I want you in my arms,
When I want you and all your charms
Whenever I want you, all I have to do, is
Dream, dream dream dream

When I feel blue in the night,
And I need you to hold me tight
Whenever I want you, all I have to do, is
Dream, dream dream dream

I can make you mine, taste your lips of wine,
Any time, night or day
Only trouble is, gee wiz,
I’m dreamin’ my life away

I need you so that I could die,
I love you so, and that is why
Whenever I want you, all I have to do, is
Dream, dream dream dream, dream

I can make you mine, taste your lips of wine,
Any time, night or day
Only trouble is, gee wiz, i
’m dreamin’ my life away

I need you so that I could die,
I love you so, and that is why
Whenever I want you, all I have to do, is
Dream, dream dream dream

Lyrics via PoemHunter.

Journal Sleep

I was running low on ideas today, so I googled sleep in the news, and I came across an interesting piece called "Regional Fat Distribution and Sleep Apnea: Sex Makes a Difference" by Renata L. Riha from Journal Sleep. Riha, from the department of sleep medicine in Edinburgh, Scotland talks about morbid obesity and sleep apnea. Morbid obesity is present in 60-90% of people with obstructive sleep apnea. What Riha found was that it was in females, rather than males, that "neck fat distribution was the most significant contributor" to sleep apnea. She also found that reliance on BMI (body mass index) is completely oversimplified and that doctors need to consider many other possibilities and each person's anatomy when discussing sleep-disorder related breathing.

There's some science for you. I learned something. Did you?

"Pillow Fighting Around The World"

I was wondering around on my favorite blog today, my modern met, and I came across an article from Time magazine titled "Pillow Fighting Around The World." Check out their photo gallery here in which "flash mobs gather around the world to fight it out with cushy weapons."

Edinburgh, Scotland [Image via PA/Landov]

Paris, France [Image via Benoit Tessier/Reuters]
Looks like so much fun! Count me in next time.

Water and sleep. Sleep and water.

Lyrics time!

Here is the first half of Water and Sleep, by Mirah.

Water come up from the ocean
Water come right up the street
Water come up to the edge of my bed
Water come up while i sleep

I'll wait for sleep
Leave salt on my sheets
Salt on my sheets

By stars navigate
Dreams anticipate
By night it's too late
To try and not think about it

I'm visible
I'm invisible
The moon it is full
It pulls back and forth

I'll wait for sleep
To take me again
Take me again

Hear it here, but personally my favorite Mirah song is The Garden - check it out:

The dream I had

Found this today while I was perusing the usual blogs. A-dor-able. What a nice thought for such a lovely day. That is all.

Image taken by Kimberly Gillett

Found on Le Love Image

What people are saying

Today in my participatory journalism class, we discussed social media. With all the talk of hash tags and whatnots, I decided to do a quick #sleep search and here were the results in the early afternoon on April 7.Note: I had paused the feed and went back to it - the minutes are not accurate indicators. People talk about sleep a lot on twitter.

Alarm Clocks

Alarm clocks... I hate them. Today, RSE's alarm clock was set to go off at 7:30 a.m. Correction- there were two alarm clocks going off from 7:30 to 10:00 this morning, alternating every five minutes. I was about to throw them out the window - and I would have if he didn't have to get up for school today. Grrr. I hate alarm clocks.

Here is one online: http://onlineclock.net/

I need to get one that gradually wakes you up with light or something that will not make me so angry.

[Image via]

Snoring Anonymous

With all of these allergens in the air, I seem to snore a bit more than usual. I think we need to form a snoring anonymous group. Any takers?

Here are some tips in the meantime:

1. Earplugs
2. Nose strips
3. Avoid dairy and sleeping on your back
4. Buy this some mouthpiece contraption
5. Tell people it is their problem!! lol

Sleeping nooks!

Do want. I came across these today, while stumbling of course, and I was instantly planning out my dream home. Click here for the link to You Are My Fave's post where I saw these beauties.

My two favorites:

(1) [Image via]

(2) [Image via]

Fab-u-lous!

Here are my thoughts... work. work. work. Oh, a nap. :)

Dream Diary: Day 27

Last night, right before I was about to go to sleep I was talking about snakes and I had a dream, err, nightmare about them. I was at my house and there was torrential rain pour for three days. All of a sudden there were hundreds of snakes swimming in my flooded yard. Then, a man who was traveling with an anaconda lost it and it turned up on my deck. It was as long as the entire bannister. I went around terrified clutching a hammer of sorts trying to protect myself. Terrifying. Glad I woke up before a dream snake tried to attack me.

Weird and oddly shaped beds

When I was stumbling earlier, I came across some oddly shaped beds and I decided to google and find out what I could come up with.

Here are the top five:

1. Fetal position bed

[Image via.]

2. Floating magnetic bed

[Image via.]

3. Sleep Pod - simulates light to help wake you up

[Image via.]

4. Toothbrush Bed
[Image via.]

5. Float

[Image via.]

Pillow placement and sleep

My knees still hurt from the intense hills in San Francisco, and thus sleeping is a problem so I did a little light research on what doctors say. Doctor approved "proper" placement for sleeping varies for different sleeping positions. You are probably comfortable sleeping one way. Try these suggestions from hubpages. It may feel weird at first but your spine and knees will thank you in the long run.

If you are a stomach sleeper: place pillow under hips/lower stomach. This will take the stress off of your lower back.

If you are a side sleeper: place pillow under the head and one between the knees. This is recommended by most all chiropractors and will help snoring. (trying this one tonight!)

If you are a back sleeper: place pillow under head and one under the knees. This leads to terrible snoring, but will greatly relieve pressure on your back.

Again, this isn't new information - I was just curious.

Dream Diary: Day 26

Last night I couldn't sleep for the life of me. I had a stressful day full of driving through rain and winds upwards of 60 mph back to Columbia, and yet I still couldn't sleep. However, I did dream a little.

Lately, I have been having a lot of dreams about my former best friend. (It ended badly for a stupid girly reason) I guess I miss her. Anyways, she was trying to attract RSE, and I was really worried for some reason. Insecurity maybe? I don't remember a lot of the dream, but in other dreams about her lately we weren't in a race for a boy, but instead we were close again. In the dream before that we decided to move in together with about 12 other people in a house that used to be a sorority house a long time ago. It was dilapiated and awful but fun at the same time. Hmmmmm..

Speaking of sleeping positions. Partners and their sleeping positions.

Just because you and your partner do not cuddle throughout the night, doesn't mean you need to seek relationship therapy. In searching around for my own purposes, I came across an article on partners and sleeping positions. Enjoy:

Here are the most common (I think I like lists lately):

• Sailing away: one or both people are sleeping on the farthest corner of the bed. This could mean that you are subconsciously pulling apart, but your partner could just be hot. Don't think about it too much unless it is a constant problem.
• The Hug: A face-to-face hug, or with arms around each other, but it is not the most comfortable. However, this is the most common for people who just met or are recently married.
• The Spoon: When one partner lies on their side and the other snuggles up behind them on their side, with their arm around you. It is both sexy and makes you safe. (My personal favorite).
• Loosely tight: Similar to the spoon, or "making spoons" - Any Pulp Fiction fans out there? - but with more distance apart. This is the most common position for people who have been together for a while and are confident in their relationship.

These are the most common. According to the article, about 20% of the couples even sleep in different beds, so don't worry about your relationship unless it bothers you. Just be comfortable and do what is right for you. Now, off to coupley naptime! :)

Personality and Sleep Patterns

I was perusing BBC News (my favorite) and I found an article that I have come across before so I though that I would share it with you now... Scientists now believe they can tell a person's true self, or their personality, from what sleeping position they use most.

Professor Chris Idzikowski, director of the Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service, defines the six main types: (as shown, in order, above)

• Foetus: People who use this position are tough outwardly, but truly sensitive. This is the most common sleeping position, with 2x as many women as men utilizing this.
• Log: Usually easy-going people who are very trusting. Approximately 15 % of people utilize this position.
• The yearner: These people are open, but cynical. Approximately 13% of people.
• Soldier: These people are often soft and reserved. Approximately 8 %.
• Freefall: Cheeky, but don't like or cannot take criticism. Approximately 7% of sleepers.
• Starfish: Great friend types who don't like the spotlight on themselves. Approximately 5% of people.

Some positions may affect your health such as breathing, digestion, etc... Positions such as starfish and soldier may lead to increased snoring.

He also found that people usually keep their sleeping position, with just 5% reporting that they change nightly.

[Image via]