Grace Notes @ Snarkattack

I’ve just been catching up on my well-neglected Google Reader items and sifting through a design blog, I saw a beautiful, fashionable bedroom.

Under a small table, was a pair of shoes.

This rather ruined the image of the room for me. Just for me – not for others, I’m sure. Why? Because I have some unusual habits when it comes to the bedroom.

If you read this blog, or know me in real life, you most likely know that I have a lot of trouble sleeping. This has led me to develop a few silly habits, though, I feel they actually help me.

1. I try really hard not to walk into my bedroom with my shoes.

Shoes = outdoor activity for me. While my bedroom is not tidy, I try to dissociate it from the outside world, and outside activity. So, I try not to wear my shoes in my bedroom. I do break this rule sometimes – like when I have to dash in for keys, a book etc. before I’m out the door, but it’s one I largely keep.

2. No computer usage in or on bed.

Pretty simple. I don’t use my laptop in bed (unless unwell). I do a lot of reading and sometimes some writing, which are diurnal activities. Not activities for when the mind is winding down.

3. No bags on bed.

Again, outdoor/active items. This is a really anal one, and one my partner seems to struggle with! But I am adamant about it. The only outdoor ‘item’ allowed on my bed is my kitty *grin*.

4. No sleeping under bedclothes with non-night clothes.

Okay, so now I’m sounding nutty. And I am…but again, I try to wear only night clothes in my bed. If I want to take a nap, I’ll sleep on top of my bed and perhaps use an around-the-house blanket, but not my quilt or whatever.

It’s much easier to do this now that I’m back at my folks’ place as there is a lot more communal space whereas in sharehouses, the only place you can really put your crap in…is your bedroom. Perhaps this is one of the reasons I had really bad insomnia at my previous sharehouse? These are just thoughts, of course (I really did love the previous place I lived at).

I think there is merit in sleep hygiene – it seems to be working for me. I like to think of my bedroom as a place I can retire and as soon as I enter it for bed, I’m ready to relax and be vulnerable.

I have missed blogging immensely and am so sorry for neglecting my corner of the web that is only read by probably my closest friends!

My absence…

- sinus infection that turned into an ear infection. That carried on for five (still counting) months. My immune system for the lose like mega.
- my beloved near-4-year-old lappie is currently out of action. My genius (har har) is trapped within
- okay, I’ll admit it. I met this dude who is a crap spider-hunter-killer unit, but a general capital person and we spend time listening to music in my room, drinking cider and going for bike rides. It’s the teenage relationship I never had, giggle

Though I’ve not been blogging here much, I’ve been keeping a dream blog, as inspired by my mate Felix.

It’s been a really rewarding experience and helped me creatively. It’s also pretty confronting at times. Since I made an effort to record my dreams, my memory of them has increased dramatically. I’m also noticing that I go through cycles of themes – anger at particular persons, fear of failure, feeling monstrous, to name the main ones.

Not writing so much but have some good stuff (I mean for me, don’t know if it’s actually any good) on the boil. Today, I reedited a poem that was received favourably at a workshop an Australian poet ran as part of the Overload Poetry Festival in Melbourne.

It’s also looking like I’ll hit my target of reading fifty books this year.

I’ll try to get back into blogging – my mind is constantly wanting to write posts. I also miss catching up on LiveJournal – I don’t tend to use it on my folks’ computer because my time using it is limited. Le sigh.

Hope you are all well and don’t have a shitty immune system. I confess, I am dodging a blood test to see if my white blood cell count is okay.