DC changes people

DC changes people.  I swear.

Now I'm not talking about the sell-your-soul-for-power way it changes some people.  [in order to shield myself from becoming completely overtaken by cynicism, I have to remind myself that even though politicans are generally self serving more than they are public servants, they generally come into office with some goodwill - they don't want to ruin the country.  we just really disagree what the best way to help people is.]

No, I'm talking about sleep.

Now I remember hearing Col. Whatley talk about traffic when I came for my GW interview last March.  I vaguely remember him mentioning that if you weren't on the road by 6 it didn't pay to attempt to drive into DC until 10.   I didn't think much about it at the time, but that fact now has real implications for my everyday life. 

This picture was from July 2005. I was in CoSprings at FFI. Philip had just gotten back from field training. Crazy! [hey, we were following the "one person must always be vertical" physical boundary rule no judging!]

This year DC took over LA for the country's worst traffic.  It's estimated that people in this area spend 70+ hours in traffic each year.  That's three days.  THREE DAYS people!

I have had to change.  And to change Joy's sleeping habits requires nothing short of an act of GOD.  I like my sleep.  I have since I was a baby.  My parents would know exactly what time I would sleep to as a baby so that they could take care of am chores.  I would never be up before 8.  As an adult I have a crazy need for sleep.  Mind you, sometimes is depressive/defensive stuff going on.  But regardless, boy can I sleep.  Last Sat. I slept 14 hours and was still ready for a nap two hours after I got up.  No joke.  I kind of hard charge through a week (or month or semester) and then it clobers me.  It's how I've been my whole academic/working life.  Parenthood is going to kick. my. butt.  Bad.  I've been to the doctor to see what is wrong with me (well, lots of things are. . . but this in particular) - there's no rhyme or reason.  I'm just wired to sleep enough for about two humans.

Enter DC life. . .  Out of neccessity I have started doing something that I never thought I would.  My routine now consists of waking up at 5 and being on the road by 5:45 in order to beat traffic on the days I go into the hospital. For my parents or inlaws this is not impressive.  For me, it is earthshattering and unbelievable.  Like, I really think someone should throw me a parade. . .

I also just had a rare occurance that is a first in my life.  Today I "slept in" until 7 (never would I have EVER called that sleeping in - sleeping in is after 11am), went to the dentist and when I got home I couldn't go back to sleep.  I can ALWAYS go back to sleep.  Perhaps if I had a second bowl of soggy cereal in my stomach that would have been able to drift off (I have actually forced myself to wait to eat my bowl of cereal and milk until I get to the hospital and am checking my email at o'dark thirty in the morning because I know that if I eat it at home it will make me want to crawl back into bed for "just a few more minutes" --- I've loved going to bed after b'fast since elementary --- I can still remember in elementary school how I would set my cool purple alarm clock a bit earlier than I needed to so that I could craw back in bed after my bowl of soggy Wheaties)

Well, now it's time to actually get going for class. . .  hope you all have a spectacular day and a great night's rest (just for me ;)