Sleep Envy!

There's a reason this blog has its title. I am by no means a prolific sleeper. Quite the opposite - I usually get very little sleep. Today, for instance, I needed to be up a few minutes after 8 on a Sunday since I had to pick up the uniforms for my daughter's soccer team. No problem, I went to bed around 1 or 1:30 - a good 6 1/2 to 7 hours of sleep. I try and plan one night a week to catch up and this seemed like it. What happens at about 6 am? The power goes out. You might not think that this is much of an issue but since most of the equipment in the house is hooked up to various UPS (Uninteerupible power supplies) they started beeping. Needless to say that was the end of my sleeping.

My father, on the other hand, seems to be able to take a nap anywhere, which I envy. It's sort of like a Dr Seuss rhyme.

I will take a nap on a bed, or on a a couch,

I can sleep anywhere I don't go ouch.

On a park bench,

or a lawn,

morning, afternoon

or even dawn.

Random thoughts on kids and video games

It's 1:15 in the morning and I am still up. I have always found sleep to be elusive. My wonderful mother always suggests that I should go to a sleep clinic, I am not sure they would ever let me out. Too much fun to study.

I think one of the reasons I have trouble sleeping is that I can't shut my brain off. It just keeps going. I was watching my girls tonight as they decided to play with the Wii before they went to bed. It's funny - my wife gave me Guitar Hero 3 as a present and the kids spend more time playing it than I do. Katie is fun to watch because she gets her face really screwed up as she concentrates on the notes. She doesn't hold it like a normal guitar - she lays it on the ground and uses it more like a game controller. Her hands are too small for it otherwise. Kimmy plays it like a real guitar and they have formed their own band. They made a team and they are now going through the section where you earn money by playing the songs well.

It is amazing how quickly they learn. The lesson I will impart tonight is that for those of you who are older than 30 and have children play the video games as soon as you get them. This will be the only time you can beat them. Your children will pick up the moves rather quickly and there goes your chance. They really like when they can beat their dad. I like the look on their face when they do. Of course, it makes me want to try harder - but rarely am I successful once they get good at a game.