Remote Issues
I have a bad habit of staying up late. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been a bit of a night owl. Even as a child, I remember lying awake at night, deep beneath crispy line-dried sheets, watching tree shadows dance along my bedroom walls. In my twenties, I moved every 3-months as a traveling nurse, and spent my nights busy and wide-eyed, tending to patients in a hospital.
Now that I am a SAHM, I find myself struggling with my nighttime habits. My body continues to feel a second wind around midnight, and sometimes I even crave a lunchtime meal around 1am. All of which would be fine except I have a 3-year old alarm clock that rings every morning around 7am. And to make matters worse, I have the ultimate insomniac no-no in my bedroom- a laptop a TV.
I have every intention of falling asleep at a reasonable time. Around 11pm-ish, I am usually snuggled beneath my comforter beside Dadisodes with lights off. However, a flickering TV screen from the corner often pulls my attention aside.
It usually starts with an innocent click to The Weather Channel, checking out the next day’s forecast. With remote in hand, I immediately lose my train of thought and begin channel hopping. I’ll find an episode of Intervention and feel compelled to see if the person makes it to rehab. And when they do, another episode will air…and then another. By the time I realize my eyelids gained 10 pounds, it’s already 2am. So in a half-wake state, I aim the remote at the TV to turn it off, and immediately drift into slumber.
“Mommy! WAKE…UP!” Babisodes yells at my bedside around 7am.
My curled up body begs to stay beneath the thick, warm comforter.
“Ah-choo!” *wipes runny nose all over bedsheets*
“Ugh! Honey, please don’t wipe your nose on mommy’s bed. Go to the bathroom and get a tissue please.”
I peel myself off the mattress and begin stripping blankets and sheets from the bed to place into the wash.
*clink….clank….clink*
I run downstairs to follow the sounds coming from the basement.
*CLINK-CLANK-CLINK-CLANK-CLINK…*
The washing machine rocks gently in its final spin cycle. I immediately stop the wash, open the door, and remove all the sheets.
*clink…clink*
My sleep-deprived eyes find this left inside the washer…
p.s. I placed the remote control and batteries outside to dry, and it worked again!
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek
No way! It worked again?? Evie tossed our remote in the tub a few weeks ago and it’s dead, dead.
I am the same way at night. I have terrible, awful night time habits. I see 3 AM way too often.
Great PSF! Glad you joined us this week!
Cecily R’s last blog post..Photo Story Friday and Isaac’s Eyes
October 17th, 2008 at 12:48 am
That’s funny, and a nice shot too!
The things you find in the dryer…rocks…pens…remotes…rubber chickens…
Chris’s last blog post..Photostory Friday: Hands
October 17th, 2008 at 12:56 am
I have the same problems at night (clearly, because I am here at 1 am commenting). My little one likes to sleep in, but my four year old is always at my bedside bright and early.
Beth’s last blog post..ms. september
October 17th, 2008 at 1:07 am
Hahaha! Too funny! Be thankful it was just the remote and not crayons, or permanent markers, lipstick, or gum! And I really can’t believe it worked again! LOL!
Happy Friday!
Please VISIT My PSF. Thanks!
Alisha @ Izzy ‘N Emmy’s last blog post..PhotoStory Friday- I Need Your Help-Your Vote
October 17th, 2008 at 1:11 am
Gosh how lucky was THAT (the remote)!?!?! I have a similar alarm clock to yours, except my model is 5 years old. What really rots is her older brothers, who stay up later and/or have bouts of insomnia! *faint* *lol*
LuAnn’s last blog post..Thursday Thirteen #2 – Poverty
October 17th, 2008 at 1:15 am
You had me chortling at the snot-bedsheets commentary. I’m glad it still works! I’m totally with you on the night owl thing…
Siobhan’s last blog post..T13: Meriland or Scotica?
October 17th, 2008 at 1:37 am
I’m a night owl, too! It’s a rare night I get to bed before 2am. Luckily, I can sleep in until 7:50 on school days (sometimes later if my husband lets me sleep) and as long as I want on weekends. It does get easier to be a late-to-bed, late-to-riser as your kids get older.
Sheri/Cookingmom’s last blog post..Someone likes me!
October 17th, 2008 at 1:37 am
it’s 11:03 p.m. and i’m in bed with the tv going, the laptop open … and the husband snoring softly beside me.
why? because i can? because beneath this calm get-up-early exterior beats the heart of a night owl.
sigh.
the planet of janet’s last blog post..Haiku Friday: the true confession edition
October 17th, 2008 at 2:04 am
I have the exact same issues, Sandy.
It’s now 11:30 here and it’s still early for me. I have to be up by 6:00am to make it to the train station on time. I regret it in the afternoon, but, like you, I get a shot of adrenaline in the late evening and end up staying up way to late.
What’s wrong with us? =)
Daddy Dan’s last blog post..Ideas for Your Blog: Suggestion #1
October 17th, 2008 at 2:32 am
Oh, I am glad it still works.. and well now, it is germ free.. right?
Becky’s last blog post..Popcorn Balls
October 17th, 2008 at 3:12 am
oh! haha! me also the night owl, never like waking up early in the morning and if i do, my brain still wont work for a while while the birds start chirping.
we shd msn n compare notes!!!
wen’s last blog post..Dangers of Lipstick
October 17th, 2008 at 3:30 am
Too funny… I could do a whole blog just on my dryer episodes- crayons, rocks, etc!!
I am a night person also, as I type this at 12:44 AM and my kids bus comes to the bus stop at approximately 6:58 am tomorrow
!!
laura@StorytellinMama’s last blog post..October Bliss…
October 17th, 2008 at 3:46 am
I am so thankful that remotes are so hardy. Otherwise ours would have died 100 times over by now.
Veronica’s last blog post..Mish Mash
October 17th, 2008 at 4:43 am
I feel for you! Here I am reading blogs and posting and playing silly word games on the computer and it’s nearly 3am. I do have one plus, my son is a bit of a night owl and thus gets up a bit later than your three year old! I love that the remote some how made it through the ordeal alive! Too funny!
Ryanne’s last blog post..Photo Story Friday: A Post About My Mum.
October 17th, 2008 at 5:42 am
If you are up at that time, why aren’t you talking to me woman!?
I am on the other side of the world remember.
Kelley’s last blog post..The sentence I never in my wildest dreams thought I would hear…
October 17th, 2008 at 6:08 am
Thank goodness it still works, late night tv watching is not worth it if I have to get up!
brittany’s last blog post..Blizzardy
October 17th, 2008 at 7:52 am
I often see you awake at night, on your laptop. I see comments you’ve just left on somebody’s blog, or other. Sometimes, the next morning. The timestamps on your comments give you away. I’m often tempted to email you and ask you what you’re still doing up – but now I know.
I get up at 4:30 every morning. I go to bed at 10. I rub Annie’s back – sometimes until midnight. Sometimes, just sometimes, mind you, it’s hard to get up in the morning.
Thank god for late night TV. Otherwise, I’d have my laptop in bed with me – and then I’d NEVER get any sleep.
lceel’s last blog post..Friday Haiku – Old Sunflower
October 17th, 2008 at 8:20 am
Too funny! And you washing machine looks just like mine!
October 17th, 2008 at 9:42 am
Oh my goodness that was hillarious!!
Alexandria’s last blog post..Photostory Friday : Farm of Horrors
October 17th, 2008 at 9:57 am
Well, they most of the time work again! LOL It happened to me twice already…
I have the same problem with you…the only thing is…I don’t put the TV in my bedroom…I mean not where I can see it from my bed…
Mariposa’s last blog post..Gardening Angels…
October 17th, 2008 at 10:01 am
great shot – great post – I don’t sleep either!!
October 17th, 2008 at 10:26 am
Wow … I’m the opposite of you when it comes to sleep habits because I’m up by 4am most mornings … so staying awake after 10pm is just about impossible. I do understand the ‘lure’ of the TV when I happen to awaken in the middle of the night … and that’s why having a television in the bedroom isn’t the best idea for me. I’m glad the remote worked after it’s ‘mishap’ …
Hugs and blessings,
storyteller’s last blog post..Haiku Friday (#81) Week-end Wrap-up
October 17th, 2008 at 10:37 am
Very nicely written story! I was doing really well with the early to bed scenario until I started blogging. I really have to bargain with myself to only post certain times and only read certain times, otherwise I would not get sleep. I heard that the brain does get a spurt of energy after 11 if you don’t go to bed before. That must be the case with you and me. I swear if I stay up to 11 it will be 1 or 2 before I am asleep!
October 17th, 2008 at 10:52 am
That is hilarious!!
October 17th, 2008 at 11:01 am
That is too funny, can’t believe it still worked. I keep thinking my toddler is going to break the remote with all his shenanigans but after seeing yours go through the dryer, eh I think it’ll be ok.
skiplovey’s last blog post..A lady never tells
October 17th, 2008 at 11:43 am
No way! It still worked??? I heard that if you spill pop in your keyboard, you can take it apart and stick it in the dishwasher and it will work just fine!! I’ve never EVER Dared to try out that theory though!!!
I love Intervention!!
Hannah
THAT girl’s last blog post..PSF– Love in the Afternoon
October 17th, 2008 at 11:55 am
LOL!!! So awesome that it still worked!
Kmommy’s last blog post..Caught in a Quiet Moment
October 17th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
btw: my remotes seem to find a home in the 1-year old mouth on a daily basis… and through all that slobber they still work too
hearty things those remotes!
Kmommy’s last blog post..Caught in a Quiet Moment
October 17th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
No way! It worked again??
I could tell you stay up late when I saw this post appear past MY west coast bed time!!
CC’s last blog post..Heaven is a tricycling adventure
October 17th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
lol I’m still giggling. I’m somewhat of a night owl too, but unfortunately with school age children, sleeping in isn’t an option.
October 17th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
LOL!!
Better than drying crayons, though.
Undercover Princess’s last blog post..Haiku Friday
October 17th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
I have the late night habit too!
That is hilarious about the remote! Really is works?! Impressive!
Carrie Keiser’s last blog post..SkyWatch Friday-reflection
October 17th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
I totally feel ya sister. Why is it we all start out on the weather channel? And hey, at least it was there and not in the oven. :O
MamaGeek’s last blog post..The Furst Born.
October 17th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
*LOL* Well I’m glad that it worked again! That’s a bonus.
I’m a night owl as well. My husband is about as far as you can get from one. I’ll be happy when my kids both like to sleep in as well. Little ones just wake too early.
Kelli@GohnCrazy’s last blog post..Barbie is a Hottie
October 17th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
That’s funny! I have sleep trouble, too. Another good alarm clock is having a dog sneeze in your face when it’s time to get up.
Dot’s last blog post..Perelandra in Virginia
October 17th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
God!!! At least it still works!!
I’ve washed wrist watches and money and lots and lots of pens before, but never a remote control! But I don’t watch television in my bedroom either!
Jientje’s last blog post..Number 326
October 17th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Hahaha! Glad it still worked.
I’m a night owl too. I think my body has adjusted to not needing as much sleep as I used to pre-baby….
October 17th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
I like to stay up until about 11-11:30 then I’m usually done, kapoot, finished, wiped out, ready for sleep. There is the occasional night that I can’t sleep however and then it is 3ish before the head hits the pillow. The nice thing about those nights is that I’m usually up at the regular time (5:30) and feel fine all day. I just never know when on of those insomnia nights will come round. I try to make good use of them doing quite things, usually computer stuff, so as not to wake hubby. He is very grumpy if awaken.
Glad the remote was still funtioning after being washed.
Patsy’s last blog post..Haiku Friday — With Autumn Comes Parades
October 17th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
I have such a hard time getting myself to go to bed too. I’ve always been that way. And I am NOT a morning person either.
Kat’s last blog post..PSF- A Secret Wisconsin Sport
October 17th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
LOL! You are too fun! I needed this as I am also a night owl and feeling it right now – so glad the remote is back to norm —-again.
kathy’s last blog post..Happy 11th Birthday, Alex!!!
October 17th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
OMG, this had me cracking right up!!!
I am a major night owl too…hubs is always yelling at me to get to bed.
I’m not nearly as ambitious as you though… laundry at that hour? Never
Karen MEG’s last blog post..Thursday Thirteen – What a f?????
October 17th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
This was hilarious!
Genny’s last blog post..A Day to Give
October 17th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
That’s awesome – I can’t believe it still works. Of course, if it had died I wonder if you’d have gotten more sleep.
Karen’s last blog post..Humane Societies Annoy Me
October 17th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
hahaha… cute little girl… she will be laugh a lot when she read this blog later… may be… in the next coming 15 years
trinity’s last blog post..Happy 3rd Birthday Clifford!
October 17th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Oh gosh… boy do I ever understand about being a night owl. I could easily go to bed at 5-6am every day… but just like you, I have a little wee alarm clock that ‘rings’ every morning around 7-8am and I have to drive my husband to work for 8:30 am most mornings. It sucks because I find I am at my best late at night.
Chelsea’s last blog post..Meet Mrs. B
October 17th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Hee! I’m just like you–just can’t go to bed at a decent hour despite knowing how much I’m going to regret it in the morning.
October 17th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
awesome!
so grateful to be mormon’s last blog post..meet my sweet doggies (luka, kinley, and xena)
October 17th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
I have never worked the night shift… but while tending bar I would work late into the night and early morning hours and it was at a restaurant not even a bar or club. But anyway… I find that I love to stay up and watch late night tv. My hubby will NOT let me watch tv in bed… if he wants to fall asleep and/or stay asleep having the tv on will NOT work for him. :S bummer. I would love to lay in bed and watch tv. BUT anyway… the reason I think that I love to be up at night and watch tv on the couch is because it the ONLY time ALL day long that I get any time what-so-ever to myself. The entire day I am hearing someone or doing something and I never have any time to myself. not even bathroom time. When the girls nap, Trevor is already home from school and when they all go to bed, then Bryan is here, and so on… so I think that is is my peace and serenity time… although not that peaceful or serene watching late night tv. lol but it is all I’ve got. Maybe for you it is a little bit of that too… some time to unwind and be just by yourself without anything else going on.
I have washed a few things lately too… just been so busy and constantly in a hurry to do things around here… the other day in the girls’ bedding I found a Weeble and a slipper… not that big of a deal but in Trevor’s bedding I found his Leapster game, thankfully it still worked when we tried it out in the Leapster!
Since my kids are in bed already, thankfully, and Bryan won’t be home tonight, I’m off to the couch with my blanket and pillow to watch some NOT-so-quality late night tv and enjoy some quiet time to myself. I will also sleep there all night to be closer to the kids while it is just us at home tonight… I will also have the steel baseball bat right by my side… I don’t mess around… lol
have a great night and hope you get some ZZZZ’s. My 5 and 3 yr old alarm clocks go off pretty early too… but tomorrow it should be a little bit later, they had a late night tonight and no nap today. (at least I hope it will be later, like 8 or so)
xoxoxo HUGS!!
Jenn’s last blog post..You’ve got to be shitting me…
October 17th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
I’m glad the remote ended up being okay! This must be why Chris STILL does the laundry!
SarahHub @ Oakbriar Farm’s last blog post..Penny for Your Thoughts
October 17th, 2008 at 11:26 pm
Ah man, the same thing happened to me…only it wasn’t the remote…it was my car and I didn’t leave it in the washing machine…I ran it into a lake. Oh, and I didn’t stay up late…I drank WAAAAY too much.
Well…maybe it’s not he same after all.
CS Perry’s last blog post..The Blind Leading the Pantsless
October 17th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
Amazing that it still worked.
On a separate note, we must have the same body clock. I’m right there with you.
Kim’s last blog post..Thanks!
October 18th, 2008 at 12:16 am
HAHAHA!!! Let’s do a post on the funniest things found in the wash! That would be up there high on the list.
Grandy’s last blog post..Don’t Threaten My Dogs
October 18th, 2008 at 1:27 am
A few weeks ago, the remote was LOST in our house. I thought we’d all have a meltdown. Yes, we even checked the dryer. I went to get a new one at the cable provider office. Found the old one a week ago, behind a pillow.
Walking In My Sleep’s last blog post..Welcome to My Website
October 18th, 2008 at 9:28 am
I’m a bit like you at night, except that I still have to get up and go to work. I envy my wife. She owns her time because she runs her own business, but I can’t do what she does, marketing…
Your nightly habits are maybe a testament to your artistic inclinations.
chris’s last blog post..How Much Do You Love Me?
October 18th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
LOL! Great post (as usual)! Your photos are fantastic!
Christie’s last blog post..Blog Love
October 18th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
Amazing what a toddler is capable of! Hahaha! I wrote about I memory this woke in my brain over at my blog and linked people over to this story. I am sure they will enjoy it as much as I did. Hahaha!
Christine’s last blog post..Lazy day…Lazy Lady
October 19th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
I am the same way. I can stay up late with the best of them! All my kids are in school though so I can always take a morning nap after I get them off. The only problem with that is that then I am awake again the next night. It would probably be better to skip the nap and let myself get exhausted. Surely then I would sleep regular hours!
heartache heartburn’s last blog post..PollDaddy!
October 19th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
For some reason my last post is showing up as PollDaddy! WTF? I have no idea what that even means. It did this one time before. Anyway…that isn’t me!
heartache heartburn’s last blog post..PollDaddy!
October 19th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Ok…I think I fixed it. Sorry to keep leaving comments on here! I was frustrated!
October 19th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
i think you’re channeling your inner teenager. When your littles reach that age, you’ll be glad you can stay up with them!
Daisy’s last blog post..‘Tis the season to think globally, act locally, and vote!
October 19th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Gee I hope it worked. Sometimes drying out solves the problem sometimes not. However that sounds like something a little one would do. Mine likes to try and climb in the washing machine or dryer. Although I think his 15 year old sister started that. For some reason she did it and he saw. Kids I tell ya! LOL
killlashandra’s last blog post..BSM – Big Smile
October 20th, 2008 at 10:36 am
I should call you at 2am, because I am still up as well. Partly because I am a night owl (always have been) and partly because my 19 months old thinks he’s a newborn LOL
MamaWise’s last blog post..My Monday Moan
October 20th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
I was there last year – I finally decided to not turn on the tv after 10pm unless it was to watch a movie and NEVER turn it on in bed.
October 20th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
The joys of motherhood. You are so lucky that it still worked. That seems to be another benefit of the front loader, they spin like nobody’s business!
Weaselmomma’s last blog post..Sunday Slush Pile
October 21st, 2008 at 7:35 am
Hi, my name is Amy and I’m TV-addict…
I’m such a night owl too. You are lucky that your remote still works. I don’t know what I will do if my Tivo remote die. I can use it even in the dark or blindfolded.
Ironically, my hubby got me a Tivo several years ago thinking that it will help me to go to sleep earlier since now I can watch it later rather than stay up late to watch my late night shows.. Oh… How wrong he was. Now I have to stay up late to catch up with all my shows on my ‘Now Playing’ list.
Amy @ The Q Family’s last blog post..Six Flags Over Georgia
October 21st, 2008 at 9:38 am
Oh, nooooo!
Nola’s last blog post..Dearly Departed
October 21st, 2008 at 10:51 pm