TO SLEEP

A flock of sheep that leisurely pass by
One after one; the sound of rain, and bees
Murmuring; the fall of rivers, winds and seas,
Smooth fields, white sheets of water, and pure sky;
I've thought of all by turns, and still I lie
Sleepless; and soon the small birds' melodies
Must hear, first uttered from my orchard trees,
And the first cuckoo's melancholy cry.
Even thus last night, and two nights more I lay,
And could not win thee, Sleep! by any stealth:
So do not let me wear tonight away:
Without Thee what is all the morning's wealth?
Come, blessed barrier between day and day,
Dear mother of fresh thoughts and joyous health!
TO SLEEP
BY WILLIAM WORDSWORTH 

I had about 3 hours of sleep to make my way through yesterday and it wasn't easy.  I went to bed around 11:30 on Monday night, falling asleep with the TV on.  Around 1:30 a.m., I woke up to Craig Ferguson and laid there for a couple of hours trying to shut down my brain.  I was thinking about Christmas parties, shopping, work, vacations, wine, weight, new clothes .... I just couldn't turn off the rumblings in my head.  I tried counting stuff ... sheep, snowflakes, calories.  I rolled to my right, I rolled to my left, I laid on my back.  I once heard don't let your tongue hit the roof of your mouth and you'll be asleep in an instant.  My tongue got tired and wanted to be left alone but my mind didn't.  I finally got up, sent a couple of emails, paid some bills, played some games and then it was about 90 minutes before the alarm was to go off, so I went back upstairs and after about 20 minutes I was asleep.  I don't do well with naps and that's what I had but I should be grateful I got another hour of sleep.

I guess my body thought not sleeping should be compensating with eating because that's all I wanted to do yesterday ... snack.  I got through most of the day okay with an extra snack of pretzels and cashews in of all places ... bed when I went upstairs after dinner and shopping around 9:00 p.m. and found I couldn't keep my eyes open.  It was a better night's sleep for me but my sleeping sounds (I don't snore) must have sent Gary off to the spare room.