Why Don't Pets Get Insomnia?
I'm sorry guys, but I have to do a bit of whining today. I've never had much of a problem sleeping, but lately I think I have a full-blown case of insomnia. I usually get to bed between 2 and 3 a.m. and have my alarm set for 10. But I've been waking up at 7:30 or 8 and then can't go back to sleep.
To make matters worse, the last two nights I've had problems falling asleep, despite my early awakening. Fall asleep at 4, get up at 8. Not good. What happens then is that I waste my two days off sleeping during the day. Is it stress? Work is always a mad-dash rush every night, but lately a little more stressful, so maybe that's it. Also, The Boss is on a business trip, so our pet schedule is off kilter. Came home to some land mines last two nights. The first night I found the mines with bare feet. I'm not doig my usual yoga and exercise because of the sleep problems, which I'm sure makes things wores. Anyway, enough complaining from me. Tell us YOUR latest gripes--feel free to bitch and moan!
Pictures today are from Adrienne who says: "“This is Mattie and Oscar sleeping with Stella trying to stay warm in the winter. As you can see they had winter hair. I just shaved Mattie down for the summe,r so she is trying to sleep with Stella again, but Stinky thinks it is too hot for that. She tries to get up and move away from Mattie, but Mattie just follows her. I have been keeping Mattie under the covers with me at night and had to put out a blanket that is normally for winter use on the couch for her. Geeze, children!
"I mentioned to Brett the other day on the blog that we used to have a dog that looked just like his Charlie. So I thought I would share a photo with him of Copper. I think he's about a year old in the photo. He loved to sit in that old recliner. He died when he got into my moms chicken coop and killed her chickens. He bled internally and there wasn't anything they could do. This was my hubbie’s first real pet, so he took it very hard, especially since we were not there when it happened. That same summer hubby lost his dad to cancer too. His dad and Copper were best buds, so hubby always says they are together now. His dad loved to take Copper on walks through his vegetable garden, so that is the picture hubby keeps in his head. When he saw Charlie the first words out of his mouth were, 'That’s Copper.'"
posted by Sandy at 6/14/2007 11:42:00 AM
Pet People
33 Comments:
SANDY__try melatonin--you can get a bottle for around $2 at the Dollar General Market--its way expensive anywhere else. I t is non habit forming, but you build up a tolerance after a month or so
ADRIENNE--You have beautiful babies and your right about Copper being a Charlie look alike. I'm so glad that even though Copper has went to his reward, that you can keep a high thought of Dad and Copper taking wonderful walks on the clouds together. You know in your hearts that he's in good hands, and that can be such a comfort. My mom had a dog from the time she was 8 til she was married and 21 years old. His name was "Squirt", and he was in all the family photos thru his lifetime. My father ran over him by accident. My grandmother always claimed that he did it cuz he was jealous of the dog. Another reason I think my mom is hard hearted about pets now. But when she does talk about Squirt, I remind her that he's with my grandparents and uncle, and the two dogs we've had in our family who have passed , and he's with the family forever now. She's the last one standing, her family is all gone, including the dog. She just smiles, cuz I know that she's thinking of the day of her big reunion in heaven, when she'll have all her family and her Squirt back too.
As for the stress SANDY, try some breathing exercises thru your work night--take your melatonin about an hour before you get home. Just lie in bed and breath and relax--let everything leak out (wax on -wax off) and before you know it, you'll either be relaxed, or asleep
oH yeah -(i'm a room hog today) Jeremy was so excited that you mentioned him in the article--we have already reserved a copy of the papers we bought to send to his mother in North Dakota. Speaking of which, we're going there in JUly and I am meeting my in-laws for the first time. They are all so excited, and so i JEremy--but I'm kindda a wet blanket cuz its six days without my babies. Any advice on that subject ladies (and gentle men)?
Mattie and Oscar are some serious snuggle bunnies to Stella! I love this picture! Don’t we all just love a true Kodak moment… What a sad ending for Copper. Sniff sniff… But rest assured he is indeed walking around with dad in the wild blue yonder!
The girls had their summer clips this past weekend but not much snuggling, (well Cheetah has been snuggling with Gretchen bear) with the temps in the 90’s and can we say humidity? Whew, it is hot in the Deep South folks, hello summer!
Sandy I take Tylenol PM (generic at Dollar General or Wal-Mart) to help me sleep throughout the night. But those don’t help much when you have the Queen of Sheba to deal with. That little snot head woke me up at 4:00 in the morning playing with her dang mouse while in the bed! She was tossing it up in the air and then catching it as she jumped, shook and rattled the bed. That bed has not seen that much movement in a long time! LOL. I could have killed her and not thought any regrets at 4 in the morning. Tonight’s plan is to keep her from taking her pre-bedtime nap by playing with the laser light and maybe she will sleep longer and play less… Little toot!
Brett, did you say that you and Jeremy have been together for 10 years or something like that? You just now, meeting the folks! Wow did it take you that long to get a passport North??? LOL… I am sure you will be a welcome sight to their eyes. Why not take the babies with you? We take the girls with us when we go home for any longer then 3 nights. They are a pain in the butt to travel with at times but we sure are relaxed knowing how they are doing when they are with us. I worry about them when left home alone but once we return, they are just fine and everything is normal the next day! It is so nice to have a trusting neighbor to keep an eye on them for us…
Thanks for the tips guys!
Brett, where are your pets going to stay? Are you having someone come there to care for them or are you boarding them or having a pet sitter? A pet sitting service is great. Cumberland Pet sitting service (the owner has been long with the Humane Society)is good. Stacy uses her.
If you are boarding them, you should take with them shirts that you guys have worn that they can sleep with so they have your scent, and of course, all their favorite toys.
If YOU are the one that needs comforting, you can call them. Seriously! When I am in PA and call home, I have the boss put the phone by their ear. Or I talk to them over the answering machine. When we were on a cruise, I sent them a postcard, to be read to them by the pet sitter! LOL.
Important to remember: A dog's sense of time isn't at all like ours. They react to our return THE SAME whether we are gone 5 hours or 5 days. So, when I come back from PA, they greet me very happily, but no more so than when I'm gone just for the day. It us who MISS THEM and that's hard!
oh come on! you know i'm the train wreck in this rail disaster. OUr vet will board them for us--they have company all day and a radio at night--they get a visit about 7pm for a potty break. I know they will take great care of them--they always have, but we've never left them before but over night. They have their own little routine, and when they are taken out of it, it's RAINMAN city. We only left them over night last time, and it took two days to get them back to their schedule. Everytime I went to potty, Charlie would claw the door and cry cuz he thought I was leaving him (he finally leanred that if he threw all of his weight into it, the door opened. He and Lucy BOTH tried to sit down in my underpants while I was on the pot--it was funny, but it upset me that they were so afraid we were going to leave them again. They both love to ride in the car, but they both don't neccesarily like where they end up. Oh and we can't take them with us. Jermey said it cost a small fortunes, and it cost 700 for us to fly out there.
ok everybody--I have arrived at step one-Jeremy has agreed to have a "play date" with Hines. I have emailed the foster mother requesting next weekend --can't do this one cuz of Fathers day---but we are on the move--if it goes well, we'll have, as Desi Arnaz used to sing "A Brand New Baby At Our House!"
Brett, if boarding the babies is such an issue with their routine and taking them out of their environment is so upsetting to them, you seriously may want to consider pet sitters. The pets get to stay at home, in their own place surrounded by their own things. The sitter will keep to your usual routine as much as they can. We can talk about it more tomorrow. I'll give you more details. It is much easier on the babies than ripping them out of their homes, esp for that length of time. We need to talk!
OH!!! I am so happy I got Amy to put you in touch with Hines' foster mommy!! I hope Jeremy doesn't hate me for sticking my big nose in...
no-Jeremy doesn't like for me to use his own past against him---When he gave me that final powerful NO that we could not handle three dogs, I said "Need I remind you that YOU were the one who grabbed Charlie and headed for the door with me yelling, We can't handle TWO dogs!" I reminded him that their is always enough love at our house for one more--but I had to swear on my Mother that this was it until someone leaves us. I figure thats a deal. We will have many years more with our babies.
When you meet Charlie and Lucy, you tell me if I'm being a worrysome ole poot or if you see that they are "special". They are EXTREMELY spoiled. That might be the part that makes htem freak out.
Did I miss something? What is this about a Hines? I know I've been a bit foggy lately, but what the heck is going on?
Pearl will be miffed that she doesn't get to have a feline companion. I will have to have a talk with her about this. Two humans, three dogs, one cat. UNFAIR TO PEARL!
I agree! One can never have too many cats! I got yer back, Pearl! hang in there, baby!
We have wanted to take an overnight trip or two in the future but I get SO worried about boarding the babies. The pet-sitter sounds great! But our three mutts do NOT like strangers! Charlie will attack legs! We're not sure how it happened but his teeth are all flat, like they have been ground down, so he doesn't puncture the skin, but he can raise a good bruise. So I have decided that we can't go anywhere because I don't like the idea of boarding the babies someplace where there is no overnight people and I am afraid a pet-sitter will be gummed to death by Charlie. Hubby really wants to see Dollywood, I'd like to go to Nashville for a show and an overnight stay. I'd like to find a Japanese market to do some shopping.
My mother was Japanese and I grew up eating Japanese home cooking. In California, you could get Japanese food in the grocery store. I have had some stuff shipped here by friends in California and I have ordered online. But I don't know what some stuff is called but I recognize it when I see it. That's why I'd like to go to Nashville. I looked online and there seems to be a couple of grocery stores there.
I saw Scootie (the black cat) grooming Herbie (aka Thumper) tonight. I think they are bonding well. Herbie is a voracious eater. I keep telling myself it's because he's a kitten still and is growing. I feel him carefully when he is in my lap cuddling and he is not getting fat. So, I just keep letting him eat. He doesn't get extra, but he has regular meals. he does finish up what Larry (senior cat) doesn't eat. Scootie likes dry kibble more than wet food.
Sandy, we keep the same hours! Hubby gets home from work at about 9:30pm or 10 and does his second job as History professor for Troy State for a few hours and then we play World of Warcraft together online. It's usually about 2am that we hit the sack.
I just got a new phone that has a Do Not Disturb button that turns off the ringer so it doesn't wake us up when someone calls at 8am. It is great! Wish I had that for the door. Someone knocked this morning at 8:15am wanting to mow our lawn. It doesn't look THAT bad!
I have sleep issues too, so I know how bad it is. Luckily, I can nap during the day when I need to. I find that my sleep patterns cycle. I can go a few weeks falling asleep right away and then a few weeks where I toss and turn for hours. Wish I had a miracle cure... sorry.
I love that picture of my babies. I have it framed and sitting on the side board with all my family photos. They sleep together like that all the time. Copper's picture is in a frame that says, "The more people I know, The more I love my dog." That is a very true statement!
We don't travel anywhere that we can not take the dogs with us. It's really not that much more to fly with them. Last time we spent $150 for stella and $100 combined for Mattie and Oscar. Since they are smaller they can be in the cabin with us. Stella had to be in her kennel in the cargo area. All we had to do was get documentation from the vet that they were up to date on their shots and healthy to fly. We made sure that we has a non-stop flight so there was no chance that something would happen if we changed planes. Stella is getting to old to fly now so if we can't drive there than we don't go. They are part of our family and our children and I would not leave a 2 legged child at home while I went on vacation, so I do not leave my other children either. Everyone who knows us expects to see the dogs when we visit now. The Foreman's family who used to think dogs belonged outside only now get very excited about having them for company. His Aunt in GA even bought them christmas presents this last year.
Don't give Brett a hard time about visiting the in-laws. Last thanksgiving and christmas was the first time since we have been together that we spent the holidays with The Foremans family. That's 15 years! I met people that I had never met before too. I will say this, after that visit, we decided that it had been a good thing we never went for the holidays. This year if they want to spend the holidays with us they will have to come here. Besides, we want to spend them in our new house.
Brett, what fun is melatonin if it isn't habit forming??? And about the expense of the melatonin, don't worry about that. For Sandy, money is no object. Just ask the Boss. His checkbook begins to bleed when she gets too close to it.
Sandy, all you have to do is get out there and build that deck. Forget the damn yoga crap. Geez. Just thinking about that would keep me from sleeping. I realize you do work, but let's face it--you sit at a desk! Do some physical labor and you'll sleep much better.
Brett, going to North Dakota?? Isn't that the place that has all those crazy gun toting militia wackos??? Not to be confused with us southerners. We just aren't wackos. You'd better be careful up there. Take your passport. They might not let you leave without it.
Sandy, don't give Brett a hard time about not going to see Jeremy's family sooner. They live up north, who in their right mind would want to go up there? Oh, yeah, you do. I rest my case.
Adrienne, you have cute little furry things. I think they're dogs. I know the big one is a dog. I have cats bigger than the other two in the picture.
Okay, Sandy, I guess you jinxed me. All this talk about insomnia..... So, now I just laid in bed for a solid hour and could not sleep. Decided to get up and do some piddling on the computer and try again after while.
Oh, and Hines is the cute Humane Society puppy sleeping in the blanket on the "From Unwanted to Secure" topic. Brett fell in love with his precious face. I put him in contact with Amy and she hooked him up with the foster mommy.
Pearl can be a Goddess with another male in the house to worship her. So there.
Well, I know I am slow about meeting the inlaws--but I have to admit, I'm not a good flyer. I've only flown on one trip in 91--to Michigan and back--it was like flying in a toilet paper tube with seats! And the fact that I have been flip flopped to his mothers good side to her bad side over the last 10 years. I finally was like "LOOK! If your son is tht precious and can do nothing wrong,evidently he needs to be back in the frozen tundra to reactivate that "perfect"gene, cuz it AINT WORKING HERE.YOU CAN HAVE HIM BACK!" So , I've been on the good side ever since that little foot to a** conversation. And I wish I wish I wish we could fly the babies, but this one is on JEremy's dime and he says no. I would do it myself, but I've already got the hospital screamin for money (or blood-which ever comes first.)
We've been married 13 years now and I have never met my in-laws. I have never met my human step-son either. (it's a long, horrible nasty story) Anyway, hubby is fine with it and there have been no desires or overtures on either side. Angain, this is what works for us, results are not typical.
I'm with you, B, about flying. My dad flew one of the largest planes in the Air Force, the C-141, Starlifter. I understand areodynamics, lift and thrust and such... but it still boggles my mind that such huge things can go fast, leave the ground and stay suspended in the air for any length of time. No, thanks! Terra Firma is just fine with me!
Well nobody ever fell 30,000 feet out of a Pontiac --ya know? Give me something that doesn't eject poop into the sky like a nuclear war head! I mean--Good lord--I know that flying saves lives all the time and that it's a wonderful acheivement, BLAH BLAH BLAH--but it's hard to get on and off the plane after they've charged you tow arms and a leg to pay for the fare! I agree Peace, green acres is the place to be!
If I could fly all the time I would! I love the rush of take off, when you get sucked back into your seat and you feel all that power under you. WOOO HOOO! LETS GO FLYING!!!
(Besides, your more likely to die in a car accident than in a plain.)
Once again I repeat, no one has ever fallen 30,000 out of a pontiac
I don’t mind the flying part; it is the hurry up and wait part that I hate plus the suspense of wondering if that crying baby being dragged onto the plane is going to be sitting next to or behind me! Argg… All you can see out the window of the plane is clouds or the darkness. I have done my share of flying and I will take scenic roads any day over the hassles of flying. However, I will fly to Hawaii if the Saint would take me! Hint hint…
I've wanted to see Hollywood all my life, and I havn't made it yet. SO where do I get to go that Jeremy decides to blow the big buck--to meet his parents??????? I want to stand in front of graumans chinese theatre and stand in John Waynes footprints.
California is so, like, really, kewl, man! You see a lot of places while sitting in your car in grid lock, the air is to die for, the people will leave you alone or get up close and personal and take your wallet.
Tennessee is a wonderful place! Afer 30+ years in California, even with whine country, Hollow-wood and Dizzyland, I prefer Clarksville, where the living is easy and the lawn grows HIGH!
oh I have NO desire to live there--I just wanna be a tourist---see the sights, drop a tear or two at Bela Lugosi's grave and come home
Well if you were military you could have fallen 30,000 feet in a hum-V. HA! Any thing is possible. Did I mention that Laura Croft is my idal?
California is a very fun place to visit. I have been many times and love all there is to do. I have family there, but I would never want to live there. Living near DC has changed my mind about that.
Overstressed Sandy, two days in a row we have been looking at these same cute, adorable pictures. Nothing new! What's up with that? We know that you are overstressed. Believe me, we know. Are you suffering from writer's block?? Come on, girl. Are you ready to throw in the towel? Can you handle it? Or do you need a vacation from the blog like you took a vacation from work?
Here it is almost 2:00 in the afternoon, and you have made no mention of meeting Brett and Jeremy and all the kids!! I really expected to see a whole new article about our adventure in "B" land. Me and Wifey Poo stayed way longer than I thought we would after you went back to work. It was like listening to three hens talking. I just nodded my head at the proper moments and none of them ever missed a word. Thank God Pam wasn't there. There would not have been enough oxygen in the room to sustain us all.
I heard more new sayings last night than I've heard in a long time. This was my favorite from Brett: Shove a stick up his a$$, wrap his face in cellophane, and call him a sucker. Damn, I love that one.
And from now on, if anyone ever says to meet them at the train wreck, I know where it is.
Come on Sandy, pick up the pace. Let's get something new going here. Oh, by the way, did you get the picture I sent of me and my red thong?? I expect to see it on the blog soon.
Yes, I got the thong picture and why I was unable to post. I was too traumatized. I can't post it on the blog because it might take up the entire screen and my editors wouldn't like that. :)
I went to Hollywood years go when I was stationed in California. It was a big disappointment, because you have all thise grand images of the place and for the most part, the place was pretty trashy in my opinion. I don't know how it is today, but I wouldn't go there again. The theater and walk of stars are OK, but really, so much "smaller" that you imagine.
In fact, I wasn't thrilled with LA AT ALL. Sure, some nice beaches, but I preferred San Diego and San Francisco. In general, I would never want to live in California--visit, yes, live, no. Pacific Coast Highway is gorgeous, if you drive all the way from South to North. In my opinion, Northern California is prettier than Southern.
Hey blog family,
I'm back and exzausted from the last two weeks. first we had the two older grand kids for a week, then my sister-in-law came for the next week, then on Friday night before she left my Mom and sister came till Sunday morning. We'll talk about that weekend later. You'd think with no mre rest than I've had in two weeks I'd be able to sleep for a week but Sandy, I have problems sleeping too. For years I've dealt with it. I won't take drugs for it but relaxation method works well sometimes. I can teach that to you. I've taught it to a lot of people. Even if it doesn't put you to sleep you get a rest from doing it. It's the same with taking the melatonin, it works for some people all of the time and some never at all, everyone is different.
So, Sandy, Brett, Dragon, when did you guys all get together? I bet you had a great time in spite of Dragon making his smart a$$ comments. Of course I know the reason he said what he said about the hens talking and it would have been even worse with me there. It was just be cause he missed me so much! I bet he was almost down in the dumps because I wasn't there to perk things up even more.
Hey guys on the flying thing, I would like flying if it didn't hurt me so much. My ears stop up and hurt terribly from take off to landing, it is misserable! I've tried everything to help it and nothing has worked. Yawning, blowing my nose, chewing gum, meds but mothing helps. I could never have been a pilot. Speaking of pilots, today is the day we hope to get the ok for Fly Boy to go back to work. His appointment with the doctor is this afternoon. He had part of his flight physical last week and the flight surgeon said he is ready to get back up. He just has to get the ok from his Neurologist so here's hoping! It is time for this man to get out of the house!I am a patient woman but even I ahve my limits and he can be a Dragon, pun intended.
Pam, we went to Brett and Jeremy's place for pizza and to meet the kids. Sandy had to go back to work after her dinner break was over, but we stayed long into the night. I brought pictures with me, so B and Jeremy and I were looking at pictures and talking alot! They are officially a hoot! And of course, B and I had to break into the bottle of Jim Beam he had in the cupboard. It was fun.
And Pam, I'VE MISSED YOU!!!! Glad you're back. We must all go to dinner again soon.
Thanks, Stacey,
It's good to be back, I've missed you too. Feels like I've been gone a long time. Sounds like you guys had a great time at Brett's and Jeremy's. Glad it was fun but sorry I couldn't have joined you. As Dragon said, it would have been even worse if I had been there as I do tend to talk a lot too. It would have been fun to be there talking with you guys and driving Dragon batty.
And Stacey, you are right, we need to get together for dinner again soon!
PAM! When you get Flyboy back to 100% -we will have a Friday night jamboree on Madison street. The whole crew of Pet People can swing by and life a glass-maybe even Skeeter will be able to life a glass with us if we plan it right. And you tell Flyboy to hang in there! My mother always says "Everything in the Lord's time, not in the time you want it in." I'll keep you guys in my prayers, but I know its all going to work out.
Speaking of prayers, please everyone remember my babies-Charlie has a stye in his right eye lid, Pearl has started sneezing all over, and Lucy has a bladder infection again. Whenit rains, it pours.
This all started on Sunday. Pearl is the one that worrys me--Vet told us if she ever showed any signs of an illness that we needed to let her be checked out. Lucy has had many bladder infections, its always pills and water change. We had bought a filter for the kitchen that was supposed to make the water where she could drink it--evidently it didn't work.So theres another 30 bucks up in smoke for nothing. BUt if it was 300, we'd scrape it up to keep our babies. SO , everybody remeber the three musketeers (soon to be four)when you say your prayers today--We would appreciate it very much.
Brett, I am reading in threes today.... ha ha...
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