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!

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:

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]

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.

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]

Airplane Sleep

A pondering: Surely the airlines could find something better. There are other options, I'm aware, such as first class, but I am not wealthy (unfortunately). I have heard rumor on VH1 of airplanes that have a sleep 'pod' for you with a bed and they simulate the daylight hours of where you are going so that you don't experience jet lag. (ingenious!) O I wish. As I ponder this pondering, I am about to fly to San Francisco - via coach. Wish me luck and hope I don't get the back unreclining row.

My birthday is Sunday - so I am in San Francisco and Napa for a few days celebrating the big 2-1. I will post when I can, but it may not be regularly. Never fear - I shall return.

Poems

I have already spoke about some sleep and dream poetry, but here are a few more classics.

1. Edgar Allan Poe: "A Dream Within A Dream"
   O God! can I not save
   One from the pitiless wave?
   Is all that we see or seem
   But a dream within a dream?


2. Paul Celan: "O Little Root of a Dream"
   O little root of a dream
   you hold me here
   undermined by blood,
   no longer visible to anyone,
   property of death.
   
   Curve a face
   that there may be speech, of earth,
   of ardor, of
   things with eyes, even
   here, where you read me blind,
   
   even
   here,
   where you
   refute me,
   to the letter.
   


3. Robert Louis Stevenson: "The Land of Nod"
   From Breakfast on through all the day
   At home among my friends I stay,
   But every night I go abroad
   Afar into the land of Nod.
   
   All by myself I have to go,
   With none to tell me what to do--
   All alone beside the streams
   And up the mountain-sides of dreams.
   
   The strangest things are there for me,
   Both things to eat and things to see,
   And many frightening sights abroad
   Till morning in the land of Nod.
   
   Try as I like to find the way,
   I never can get back by day,
   Nor can remember plain and clear
   The curious music that I hear

Enjoy your poetry-cation.

Found on Poets.org

An attempted all-nighter

This weekend was Relay For Life. It was quite successful - there were over 1,500 participants and over $100K was raised. Many participants were able to stay up all night, but some had to get a little shut eye. Here are some photos by Matthew Hibbard:

Snoring. (Part one of many)

I snore. I am not ashamed to admit it. Okay, I am a little. But, I can't help it, so it is someone else's problem. :) I have been known to make boat noises, snake noises, typical snoring noises, a loud breather, etc... The list goes on.

Today, I will look at the causes of snoring. I think we all know, but how about a recap.

Most typical reasons for snoring (according to the Mayo Clinic)

• Mouth anatomy: a soft palate or enlarged tonsils increases snoring behaviors
• Nasal problems: a crooked nasal partition or nasal blockage leads to snoring
• Alcohol consumption: alcohol relaxes throat muscles and leads to snoring
• Sleep apnea: a condition in which your throat tissues obstruct your airway; characterized by loud snoring and then a period of silence that can last 10 seconds or more (Very serious!)

Or a combination of any of the above.

On the next snoring blog, I will cover solutions to snoring. In the meantime, enjoy this video in which a baby sleeping next to a man gets scared due to the loud snores.

Sleep. Or lack there of.

Last night was Relay For Life. That means that I have been up since about noon Saturday until about 7 a.m. Sunday morning. Caffeine is the sole reason I stayed awake last night. I am so thankful that Relay For Life is indoors this year - with my pollen allergies as severe as they are, I would be miserable outside.

Lack of sleep. Delirious. When I was researching future posts, I came across the deadly side of sleep deprivation, according to U.S. News and World Report.

"...New data about sleep’s benefits suggest that losing sleep might speed up death’s arrival. Recent research also shows that people who don’t snooze enough face a higher risk of losing their health than those who regularly get a good night’s sleep."

Uh oh. Maybe I should catch some z's.

Cute Things Falling Asleep

I have come across this site many times before but I thought I would share it. http://www.cutethingsfallingasleep.org/ has the cutest videos. As you spend a few minutes on the site, you think "Wow. I just wasted my time watching a gerbil go to sleep." But hey, that is what procrastination is all about.

Here is my favorite video from the web site:

journalism geek + pillows = awesome

Equation:

(1) journalist and therefore a social media geek

+

(2) a love of sleep, naps and the like

=

Awesome social media pillows!

Found on Craftsquatch's etsy page.

Sleep Songs

I was perusing the Internet for some blog ideas and I thought about songs that mention sleep. I came across a great article from Associated Content, by Doug Poe. His recommendations don't necessarily gel with mine but I do like The Romantics "Talking in Your Sleep." So 80s. So wonderful.

A sampling of the lyrics:
When you close your eyes and go to sleep
And it's down to the sound of a heartbeat
I can hear the things that you're dreaming about
When you open up your heart and the truth comes out
....
I hear the secrets that you keep
When you're talking in your sleep

My sleep/bed/dream/nap song recommendations are:

**links are two YouTube videos of the songs

(1) Your New Twin Sized Bed - Death Cab For Cutie

(2) Dream On - Aerosmith

(3) Trouble Sleeping - The Perishers

(4) Oversleeping - I'm From Barcelona

(5) Sleep - Dandy Warhols

(6) No Sleep 2Nite - Molly McQueen

(7) Where Did You Sleep Last Night - Nirvana

(8) You Make My Dreams - Hall & Oates

(9) Sleeping In - The Postal Service

(10) I Sing I Swim - Seabear

Musical Education 2200 with Prof. Elston complete.

Enjoy.

So cute it'll make you vom.

I was checking my daily blogs and on LeLoveImage, I came across the cutest thing ever. Two people lying in bed whispering sweet nothings. O, the romance.

Ch-ch-check it out!

"I want that night"

Images found on weheartit/tumblr

Everyone loves babies.

Babies are universally loved, so I figured, hey, why not start out my blog with some pictures of babies? Not just any babies - some of my friends from high school recently became mothers so I decided to post some photos of their s new children sleeping.

Kristopher Ryan Barker

Braylon Scott McKinnie

Aiden Scott Roscoe