The most common symptoms of obstructive sleep aponea (OSA) in adults are: loud snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness

Braaaaaaaains! (or, How Did You Survive Sleep Deprivation?)

Posted by John J. O'Sullivan Aug 19, 2008 at 11:02 AM in baby, Dads, death, parent hack, sleep

Let's face it: Uninterrupted sleep is a luxury that most new parents don't get. At least, that's what I always heard. I never thought much of it while my wife was pregnant. I always assumed this truth statement and moved on with life, not comprehending what was to come.

After all, I survived college! For example, when I was the managing editor of my college's student newspaper, there were production nights that lasted 30+ hours. Sure, I was delirious and there not a few times when I started losing it and/or hallucinating. During one famous "episode" brought on by sleepless hysteria and stress, I took a black magic marker and labeled everything in my office. Including the walls. Seriously.

But, the one thing that always followed said production night-mare was a long coma-like stretch of sweet, sweet, delicious sleep. After I woke up (occasionally at 5-6 p.m.), all was well with the world. Suffice it to say, that ain't an option anymore. Not only is it hard for me to sleep past 8 a.m. nowadays, I do have a few more responsibilities. That, and I think my job security at America's Leading Magazine for Parents would be in severe jeopardy.

Don't get me wrong. I love my daughter. She is the CUTEST BABY EVAR. I love when she coos and smiles and does cute things with the little hanging toys on her bouncer. I even love calming her down when she's being a bit cranky. But...not having a large chunk of uninterrupted sleep is killing my wife and I. By three o'clock in the afternoon...I'm done for. I long for one of those gourmet sleep sessions that's available up the road a bit.

So, I ask you gals and guys: How did you survive these first few months, and what advice can you offer a sleep-deprived dad who feels as if he should be an extra for Night of the Living Dead?

_____________________________________________
Sorry Old Friend:
Your sleeping days are over. Father of six and the last one is 12 now... it only gets worse. The advice I can give you is simply "overstating the obvious."

Without sleep, you are angrier because you have not completed the several cycles needed to be refreshed. So you will experience the zombiosis's effects as your body goes through the cycles anyway when you are "awake."

Have you ever waken a buddy in of the middle of the night, and he starts yelling, without inhibition, obscenities at you? He doesn't mean it, and may not even know who you are... that is what the little cherub in the crib is doing to you and wifey every two hours. It has nothing to do with global warming, your relationship with your wife, or your boss. It is the baby's way of telling you the obvious: "I'm hungry, I'm wet,,,"

Thus, it is imperative you both keep watch as a support system, and not try to pull all nighters for outside the family causes for a while. You have to be there for each other as well as for the baby.

Recent studies have proven the perfect amount of uninterrupted sleep for adults is 8.2 hours. Ask your family MD's, they will know as they were deprived of sleep when they were interns. In 8.2 hours the adult goes through the necessary cycles to resurrect the body the next morning.

Do like the Swedes and spend six months home together, so the wee one can learn all the habits you have. She already knows her mother's habits since she was a submariner for those nine months. You may notice your baby gets busy when Mommy gets busy... no?

Asceticism, Aerobic Exercise, .. outdoor family activity for half a year: essentials if you want long term relief.

Why am I so sure? I long suffered from sleep deprivation. I have been diagnosed and told that if I don't do something about it I might be very dead in the next ten years. I have no regrets for trying all the crazy double shift schemes, but I made many boo-boos along the way.

I am still here, and want friends and acquaintanceships to be happy, happy, happy in enjoying their baby's infancy. The only real advice for Dad is "to do less in occupation, and play house as much as possible with your precious little family."

Bless you all, with warmest regards,
Pat Darnell, your fezbook friend..

Mystery Topic Challenge Number 15

Dave and Pat Say: We're out fishing and we still are entering the contest!! Because we are winners!

MTC #15 Topic by Stella!

Ohhh, this is truly a good one, folks. Here it is:

It’s five years from now. You’ve taken action, and you’ve succeeded! Someone is describing what you did; how you persevered. They are congratulating you on the outcome. Cameras are flashing, taking your picture to record the magic moment.

So tell me: what is it that you’ve done? How did you do it?

If you want your readers to join this meme, just copy the topic and post it on your blog. Be sure to link back HERE.

Now, git writing!

Posted by MooPig_Wisdom at 8/19/2008 0

Whats It? by Bob Parker

Whats It?
by Bob Parker

Krogar and Klaus, and the House Mouse Mystery
Hunkered down, very un-calm,
Side by side, just before dawn,
Cat by Cat, confide, but stir little

“Where’s that.. WHAT’S IT?”
Growl tooth’ed jaws with spittle

Whiskers a’ twitch, ‘n tails a’ switch,
Two cats, grouse, protest, and grit

“How shall we get at that.. WHAT’S IT?”

Upon the fireplace screen, out come claws,
Topsy-turvy cats crash into brick walls
Topple andirons, ashes, and kindling--
Crazed cats, Krogar and Klaus, go a’ spindling
Leap from hearth askew and a’ yaw,

“There, ..No there!!!!!” confused Cats babble.

Agile kitties flip, twist then scrabble,
In the dark hall, brave kitties fall,
Land gracefully upon padded paws.

That's the fastest house mouse either ever saw.

WHAT’S IT jumps from mantle
circles the whole room,
Finds a dark shadow just behind a broom
Waits there while cats’ re-group

"WHAT'S IT?" Krogar stopping to groom--
he leaps on the table, and knocks off the fruit;
Banana, pear, apple, orange meteors fall

So, WHAT’S IT under couch crawls
the chase, Cats resume, into guest bedroom
In a flash the guest bed is disheveled
when zoom, as two cats assault is made --

WHAT’S IT flies up to safety of a dark lampshade

WHAT’S IT hangs upside down, unabash’ed,
Pausing to see kitties’ looks of bad luck that day
Licking their paws, their last trick is played

“WHAT’S IT can fly,” Krogar to Klaus, says in dismay
And with the dawn, the light inter-plays.

Up to the shadowy attic, in a graceful jet,
Flies WHAT’S IT easier
without even a silent shiver
Through the eaves, spies the Cats now so upset,
...can’t even digest their liver

Today, though, there are no regrets:
Krogar and Klaus tell their neighboring pets,
“You may visit our house, with behavior best;
“Pleeze, Do not disturb our house mouse guest:

“He is a “‘WHAT’S IT’,

"The most unusual, honored, flying house guest”
edited by Pat Darnell

A poem written for me and first daughter Panther Paws circa 1983; by Robert “Bob” Parker, of Halifax, Massachusetts, Unfortunately, he has passed away. He lived his retirement years on Monpossett Pond in a little converted boathouse, that he shared with several animals, pets and otherwise. Bob would wake up early before his wife, stoke the wood burning stove, in the morning before dawn, and type on his Corona manual, and this is one he chronicled pre-dawn. PD

Is anyone willing to become a Martyr for Atheism?

I didn't think so!!

A United States Marine was attending some college courses between assignments. He had completed missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. One of the courses had a professor who was an avowed atheist and a member of the ACLU.

One day the professor shocked the class when he came in. He looked to the ceiling and flatly stated, 'God, if you are real, then I wants you to knock me off this platform. I'll give you exactly 15 minutes.'

The lecture room fell silent. You could hear a pin drop. Ten minutes went by and the professor proclaimed, 'Here I am God. I'm still waiting.'

It got down to the last couple of minutes when the Marine got out of his chair, went up to the professor, and cold-cocked him; knocking him off the platform. The professor was out cold. The Marine went back to his seat and sat there, silently. The other students were shocked and stunned and sat there looking on in silence.

The professor eventually came to, noticeably shaken, looked at the Marine and asked, 'What the heck is the matter with you? Why did you do that?'

The Marine calmly replied, 'God was too busy today protecting America's soldiers who are protecting your right to say stupid stuff and act like an idiot. So, He sent me....'



Atheist Professor who talks to God.
Grade? _______


Winner! Irony Award Q4.08

Who Walked the Water?

by Dave Darnell

"that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each others faith, both yours and mine." Rom 1:12

A restful sleep may be out of reach,
I once was fitful in the dark.
Or not to be calm in repose.

I watched a sailor grab at the elusive shut-eye, rough seas, no relief. His eyes did close.

As we reached the fishing grounds,
Others, on wobbly legs worked.
That fisherman became energy.

Fellows looked on him with envy, he slept as we bucked. I went close to thread bait with him.

Our team fought the sea, he joined it. We must take our rest as it is provided by God. He loves our need.

Providence and grace are blips on our screen. How blessed are the seafarers, the shepherds?

Our psyches yearn for solitude.
Is it attainable? Our matrix demands attention. Stressfully.

Beat it back, or engulf the stress.
God listens. We have choice. We have a blip to home in on, Beloved.

When Jesus ascended he gave us Two Valuable Commands:

by Pat Darnell
Sometimes attending Business school, a professor will go ahead and move outside the box. That is, she will say something not usually said in class. One time Professor X PhD/ Mrs, said: "Always Value Added first."

We were discussing Vision, Mission, Value Added statements of businesses. Most businesses do have those kinds of headers, that are descriptions of core competency. It is usually an overstatement of the obvious, but still very necessary for the company employees, agents and all the customers.

That said; Professor X PhD/ Mrs., was determined we all get this message... "1 -- 2 -- 3: Value Added Statement, Vision Statement, then Mission Statement." Most of us had in our minds that Vision is first. [VA--What it is; V--Why we got Here; M--This is our action]


After her HR course is long over, and I look around with new eyes, and this new professorial mandate, most all headers are visionary statements. It leads to this conclusion: the last is first, and if it isn't it should be, as il' Professore says.

It turns out one morning I'm reading a critical article in HR Magazine while waiting for the dentist. One editor explains that in a lunch meeting with his Mentor one day, this subject of Value Added came up.

The HRM Editor like all others had put it last in the triumvirate of boiler plate core competency statements. His Mentor had things to say about his Value Added statement that is two paragraphs long, also a no-no.

Mentor: "HRM Ed, you have it wrong."

HRM Ed: "Haaarummmph, what?"

Mentor: "You have misused the substance of your great company and made it weak."

HRM Ed: "Bu... bu... but,"

Mentor: "Value added is like this triple meat cheese bacon DQ Burger sitting here sizzling on the plate in front of us filling this whole area with aroma."

"Soon after I have a bite," biting, "now you have removed something of its value... the juiciness, the flavor, that is the vision part."

"Don't interrupt me; now I sip this blizzard, and have this salty fry... that is the mission of value added. And I get a hankering to come here once a month and indulge."

HRM Ed: "Uh... well... imagery, urgency, uh expectancy??"

Mentor: "You're confused. Understandably; look at it from the customer eye. This is ambiance, nostalgia, pre-meal humor, locale and color, ones little getaway, Ted Kennedy in a Speedo on his yacht. Yes?"

HRM Ed: Unable to eat, or respond: "Errr..."

[I hate it when he does this, like my dentist when he has my mouth all numb and held open while I gag on suction tubes, asks me: 'So, have you been flossing? Have you been going to Church? Did you now Jesus Loves You?']

So I nod, and stare like the sacrificial lamb.

Mentor: "Like the 99 cent store we passed on the way here: 'Everything 99 cents,' right out on the front sign. Value Added -- nothing is over 99 cents. You go in with 49 dollars and exit with about 41 things, tax is added of course. But if you have a tax number you can get all 49 things... no?"

HRM Ed: "Okay, I'm catching up now... so I have to put our Value added up front, or get a new job. I get it."

Mentor: "That's right; but that's not all. I want you to write on this napkin your Value Added Statement. I'd say about twelve words is all you need. If you cannot, then you might want to rethink your existence."

HRM Ed: "Twelve words? on this napkin..."

Mentor: "Yes, before we leave; before I finish my Blizzard."

Another Prayer by [Guess]... Thanks to Dr J!!

J has left a new comment on your post "Prayer of....":

Do you know this one?

"Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.

Lord, you now have set your servant free
to go in peace as you have promised;

For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior,
whom you have prepared for all the world to see:

A Light to enlighten the nations,
and the glory of your people Israel.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace. "

What Measures a Church?

St. Oswald's, Paddlesworth is located next to the Cat and Custard Pot, at one of the highest points on the North Downs.

PHOTO: St. Oswald's Paddlesworth "The highest church in Kent."

Church services at St. Oswalds are every 2nd Sunday in the month, 11.00 a.m. Holy Communion, every 3rd Sunday in the month, 6.30 p.m. Evensong plus every 5th Sunday there is evensong at 6.30 p.m.

Paddlesworth services can be particularly noted when they are celebrating harvest festival or Christmas, as the church is always beautifully decorated.

In the cemetery around the church, the gravestones are a strong reminder of the farming communities in the area with family names such as the Claysons, Vincents and Goddens adourning the majority of the headstones.

Should you wish to view Paddlesworth church you can obtain the key from the Cat and Custard pot during opening hours. The key was originally kept on the board pictured ...and although the board can still be seen, the key itself has been moved to more secure lodgings.

The Cat and Custard Pot is situated in the Hamlet of Paddlesworth, near Hawkinge, nestled in the picturesque countryside of the North Downs. It is within 15 minutes drive from the seaside town of Folkestone and was the main public house used by pilots and other personnel who were stationed at the nearby Hawkinge Battle of Britain airfield. The pub itself contains a varied collection of aviation memorabilia and photographs that represent the history of the area during the last 100 years.
(Retrieved HERE for this review...)

The Nativity tells me this

Jesus wants us to be

Exceptional and giving like Kings

Protectors of the faith like shepherds

Humble like stepfathers

Fervent like John the Baptist

Interesting Things Going on...

WWJD (Hair Band Edition)

by Jack Pribek

Posted on 01 Aug 2008 in Category: Hunh?, Music, Spiritual

So, reality show star and Poison Guitarist, C.C. Deville, has found Jesus. Will this epiphany affect his rockin’? From Blabbermouth.

As previously reported, Pete Wilson, the pastor at Cross Point Church in Nashville, Tennessee recently got a call from C.C. DeVille asking for advice and inviting him to POISON’s July 8 concert at the Sommet Center in Nashville. According to Pete, “C.C. has just become a Christian and was wondering if I would be willing to bring him some messages he could listen to on the road, as well as just encourage him, and answer a few questions.”…

…”After the concert we had a creative team meeting with him where we suggested a few different ways he could interweave the story of what God is doing in his life through his music.”

Hunh? Creative team meeting? Interweave?

Possible suggestions….

“Unskinny Praise”

“Look What God Dragged In”

“Talk Jesus To Me”

[Retrieved HERE Today by MooPig for review, without anyone's consent, of course]