Y’all, please pray for my stressed out soul.
It’s 6:23 a.m., and I am so tired I could have easily slept another four hours. I’m not feeling well, either. A little nausea, a lot of seasonal allergy/asthma symptoms. I woke up Saturday morning with swollen, froggy eyelids, and about two hours later I was calling the doctor-on-call to get my Advair prescription refilled. I’d taken the last dose the night before and didn’t think there’d be a problem waiting until Monday because I only took it at night. I’d paid no attention to the fact that I’d gone from using it perhaps once a week or less during the summer to every night this fall.
I’ve been logging between four and six hours of sleep per night for the past two weeks, and not only has that bad behavior caught up with me, it’s flattened me like roadkill. The body requires rest, and when deprived of same it will demand fuel. In my case, that translates into over-the-top cravings for the weirdest things. I’d chalked it up to Mother Nature’s monthly chocolate hissy fits, but still ended up with a bag of Reese’s miniatures. I took a few handfuls, gave the rest to the hubby to enjoy. And hide.
After work Friday, I shopped for several hours, looking for a few items for my new office as well as something to wear to the Carnivale-themed Drag Bingo Saturday. (As a member of the development team, my attendance is mandatory at all special events.) I’d hit six stores since 7 p.m. – Pier 1, Ross, TJ Maxx, Party City, Target and Kohl’s. I finished up at the hated Wal-Mart around midnight, which had everything I’d been looking for. (Stupid Wal-Mart.)
Sleep finally came around 4 a.m. My dreams that night were crazy-vivid and bizarre, of course.
I awoke four hours later with a lot of things to accomplish before heading to “work” in Durham. Black toenails and fingernails. Black lipstick. Jangly pumpkin earrings. At first, the double-takes embarrassed me. Then I became embarrassed when they stopped, **LOL**.
Setting up the tables and getting ready for the event energized me. The hubby – who was not in the least bit interested in attending – dropped off my daughter and her gay, male friend, who enjoyed every minute of bingo-playing and all the performances.
Let me pause for a minute to talk about how nutty my life has become of late: Some parents take their children on work-related outings such as family golf tournaments and company picnics at amusement parks. Me? Hey, kids! Come meet my co-workers at Drag Bingo! The woman in the witch costume is my boss. See the hostess in the pink dress? That’s Randy!
I. Love. It.
I got there around 4 p.m., got home after 1 a.m. With a box of powdered-sugar donettes. After five hours of sleep, the fam and I painted my office a beautiful, warm orange. Later, I desperately wanted a nap, but I just didn’t have time. I still have a huge project to finish, leftover from my business-owner days.
So yeah, send up a few for me today. I haven’t been to the gym in well over a week, the cravings are back because I’ve not been giving my body proper fuel, so I’m battling that, too.
I’m back to baby steps. My goal for today is to take all my vitamins and stay the healthy course. My goal for this week is to use my comp day on Wednesday, so I can stay at home, complete that outside project and put together a plan for getting to the gym and getting to work, despite limited transportation options.
OK, folks. Onward and upward.
Reality is the leading cause of stress among those in touch with it. ~ Lily Tomlin
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Leslie J. Ansley is an award-winning journalist and entrepreneur who blogs daily for TheRoot. She lives in Raleigh, NC.