I have a sleep window, the time when I’m so tired I need to either nap in the afternoon… or go to bed for the night. (Depending on what time of the day my sleepiness presents itself). When the need for sleep hits me, there’s a short period where I either use it or lose it. If I wait too long I lose my sleep mojo.
This happened to me countless times on weekend afternoons when I pulled a late nighter (that’s a lie…I had one wine too many) and I’d peter out in the early afternoon. Knowing I have a ton of errands to run, I’ll fight through my exhaustion (wine haze) because I know if I take a nap, I’ll have no desire to go out when I wake up. So, my husband and I dash around town, doing the Costco, Home Depot, Target, Shoprite runs—or as we affectionately call it- A Hot Date.
Yup, life in the Land of Netzel is nothing but thrilling.
Once our errands are completed and we’re home, I groggily traipse upstairs to our bedroom to indulge in my well deserved (and very much needed) nap. Snuggling in my warm and cozy bed, I close my eyes and drift off to a peaceful sleep. Three minutes later, my eyes are wide open. I lost my window…my sleep mojo is gone. Poof! Disappeared. I’m still tired (exhausted, wine-hazy and now cranky as hell) …but the moment is lost.
This phenomenon does not apply to naps only; it also applies to my nighttime sleep. You know, the eight hours we’re supposed to get each and every night to start our day bright eyed, bushy tailed and all that jazz.
This brings me to last night. At around ten o’clock my head was in the throws of some serious bobbing, as I dozed off on the couch. Several times, Mr. Netzel nudged me, telling me I should go upstairs to bed. I refused. It was Sunday and I didn’t want the weekend to end. I forced myself to stay awake, although I was crappy company, constantly yawning and dozing off again.
By 11:30 I finally gave in.
By 11:45 Mr. Netzel was comatose and I was wide awake. I missed my window.
It’s funny the things that go through your mind when you can’t sleep. The number one thing that goes through your mind…Why can’t I sleep?
Aggravating as hell.
After the initial berating myself for not going to bed an hour and a half earlier, I start to overthink. Overthinking when you’re frustrated, exhausted, and something I like to refer to as “sleepy-stupid” is a bad combination. All sorts of random thoughts pop into your head. There’s no rhyme or reason…. over-tired brain babble.
Here’s one of my thoughts…this one went on for a while.
Knowing that filming for the Fifty Shades of Grey movie just wrapped, it was on my mind. I know why, it’s pretty much every other topic on my facebook newsfeed.
This got me thinking about actors and movie sex. Now, I realized they simulate sex, but still. There’s nakedness, lots if they do it right. Then my brain takes it to the next level. How would I feel if my husband was an actor and part his work was to get naked and simulate sex with a pretty, young, flexible actress he just met? Could I be cool about it and convince myself that it’s part of his job? Would I be secure enough in our relationship to allow it? Could I look him in the eye when he came home after a long day at “work”? Or would I give him the side eye?
It didn’t take long to know my answer… although the paycheck is nice and the possibility that his career could flourish is incentive… I’d be totally selfish and put the kibosh on it. I’m not that cool. I’m not that secure.
Even if they had him wearing one of those cock socks. You know, the garment actors wear over their manhood to protect their modesty. Not a freaking chance in hell. There’s still uglies bumping…and that particular ugly belongs to me.
On filming days for sex scenes, my husband’s hands will be cupping the perfect young and perky tits of a woman who is most definitely not his wife. The very girl he just met a few weeks prior. His tongue gliding down her stomach, trailing featherlike kisses back up to her neck. (Excuse me for a moment…I need to find a photo of my husband and burn it). Her perfectly manicured nails will be raking down his back, while she lay naked under him, her legs wrapped around his waist.
All the while I’m home, watching reruns of The Nanny, sticking pins in the groin of the Voodoo doll I named affectionately after my husband, while yelling at it “Simulate this- You Bastard!” (Don’t worry, she gets one too.)
Next, I imagined going to the wrap party with my husband, a festive get together of cast and crew after three months of filming. Everyone is smiling and laughing. Drinks are flowing. The lead actress comes up to me to exchange niceties. She may be the sweetest person in the world, but to me she’s the bitch who got naked with my man. I try to act cool, but inside I want to scratch her eyes out. I know my husband probably had his mouth wrapped around her nipples three days earlier, while he pounded his sock into her ugly. I’d wonder if he had a sock slip…or if anything else slipped. Too much wondering.
Like I said, I’m not cool.
I had to get my mind off of that scenario because it was making me angry at my husband who was doing nothing but peacefully sleep beside me, oblivious to my irrational fury and jealousy over something that never happened.
I start thinking about the book I’m writing. Sometimes I hear the conversations between the characters in my head. It’s like I’m eavesdropping on a private discussion. I hear the words go back and forth …over and over. This time a phrase was used and I wanted to remember it. But it’s three am and pitch black in my bedroom. On my nightstand is a pad and pen I keep for these moments of clarity. I didn’t want to wake my husband, but I knew I’d lose the words if I didn’t write it down. So in the darkness, I scribble something.
Two words scribbled in handwriting I don’t recognize. Fortunately for me, I remembered what I was referring to and added it in the chapter (I’m guessing it’ll be in chapter 16 when all is said and done).
By now it’s close to four a.m. I’m still awake and the hubs is snoring.
In a desperate attempt to bore myself to sleep, I grab my cell phone and connect to the internet. After about an hour. I’m bored enough to call it a night. I close my eyes and finally drift off.
Buzz, Buzz, Buzz…. Stupid alarm clock. Six a.m came around fast. Time to get up and start the day.
So here’s my lesson learned. Don’t ignore the sleep window. It messes with your head.
~o0o~
Some quick notes: I’ve received a few questions regarding my Different Way story. I’d like to thank everyone who took the time to read it and inquire about it. I have not abandoned the story and will continue it. I’m back in my writing groove, so hopefully soon. Thank you again for your patience.
I’ve been thinking about moving my fanfics over to this blog. I haven’t decided yet. This way, everything is in one place…and it’ll give me the opportunity to rewrite some of the chapters I’ve always wanted to retackle. I’ll get back to you on that.
About my book. I’m very close to the end of it before it goes into the first round of real editing. Please let me know if you’d like to see some snippets here and I’ll see what I can do.
And lastly, I’d like to thank all of you who take some time out of your day to read this blog. It’s been fun to write. Please be sure to subscribe to it and follow me if you like what you see.
That’s all for today. Make it a good one.
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AC Netzel 