Filler Post
I’m tired of looking at that week old post just like you, so I’m throwing in a filler. Maybe S.A.D.1 has come early for me this year. Right now, I would be quite content curling up in a dark cave and taking a long nap.
Of course, my sleep pattern is off. When I go to bed at 10:00 p.m., getting up the next morning is a struggle. When I go to bed after 12, I bounce out of bed at 5 a.m. with no problem. Weird right? I wasn’t always like this and according to my daughter the reason is because I’m from Mars. 2
For me, the onset of Winter is about warmth, cuddling, staying in bed, less light and a decrease in activity. Cramped areas are also very appealing, especially spaces like underneath my desk at work. I can’t do that now, my current employer would be mortified to find me crawling out from under my desk! However, during lunch at my previous job, I would often lounge underneath my desk, with a book or just my dreams, and take a nap.
Okay, maybe I am from Mars, but I saw a co-worker3 do this and decided to try it. I was just cautious enough not to get caught.
Do you have any seasonal behavioral changes you go through or are you much the same all year round?
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My name is Valerie aka Natural and I will be writing about whatever is on my mind. I love teaching, dialogue, sharing and making people laugh. I never know what I'll share here but this is me, Thinking Out Loud.
Hi Natural - Sleeping under your desk?
I find myself turning to my knitting hobby and cooking more comfort type foods like hearty soups in the winter months. I also stay home more, read more and dig out my flannel pajamas.
Barbara Swafford´s last blog post..It’s All About Me - An Interview
Hi Natural. I’m not a lover of fall and winter. Sometimes the short, dark and rainy days make me feel like I never really woke up. On those days I enjoy staying warm and cozy. Spring is my favourite season because summer is on the horizon and the blossoms and longer days bring me back to life. Aside from the weather, eating a wider variety of fresh fruits and vegetables is one thing I adore about the spring and summer.
Davina´s last blog post..Free Spirit My Ass!
Hi Natural - it’s spring here, so I’m stating to get more exercise outside. It has been a long, cold winter.
Winter is definitely for snuggling - don’t know about the desk!
Robin´s last blog post..Ice And Global Warming
I work overnights, so I haven’t had a great night of sleep in the last…forever.
I always feel like curling up in bed with a book or a computer screen. But I don’t think I’m sad…
Matthew Dryden´s last blog post..You Might Like Me (But Only As A Friend)
ROFL - i can’t believe you put me on blast like that… i was ROLF over here girl. You are way too much… But I gotta confess, i was under “there” this week… talk about cozy and warm, I just had to stop, scouch down, wiggle like a puppy trying to find a warm utter… and rested my eyes for about 5 mins…. that’s all it took and then the flipping phone rang, I put my hand out from underneath (looking like the ‘hand’ on Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte) and said, dang, dropped the receiver, so that blew my nap…thanks for the FILLER… you still a mess.!! - And you know who this is!! - Love ya… bye
Well now I know who the desk dipper is. I can’t believe you all really did it. Now that the season is turning cooler, I’m missing one thing that I was used to cuddling with. Oh well, I must get another filler.
Natural
hmmm, must be my problem lately, winter yuk! I had 10 hrs of sleep last nite and I am exhausted! how can that be? I am VERY busy in the summer so I somewhat look forward to the fall/winter but only for about two weeks, not the six months winter decides to camp here for. Can’t get used to it!
BloggerNewbie´s last blog post..My Three Essential Blogging Tools
That’s why I’ve been feeling so tired lately, SUMMER is OVER! I hear ya1
Chris´s last blog post..Jack Of All Trades
“Winter is about warmth, cuddling, staying in bed, less light and a decrease in activity. Cramped areas are also very appealing, especially spaces like underneath my desk at work. ”
LOL LOL LOL
I can totally imagine you snuggled up UNDER your desk at work!
meleah rebeccah´s last blog post..Wish Me Luck
Actually, I’m bitchy and I complain all year long. Not even my clothes change. I live in Louisiana, but it can get pretty cold here during the winter months, and you’ll always see me in flip flops. I’m originally from upstate New York, so I miss the snowy Christmas’.
Georgette´s last blog post..Que horror music.
Much the same… but you reminded me of the Seinfeld episode where George made a sleeping area under his work desk.
I do have a hibernation instinct during the winter months..there used to be a comfort of laying in the bunk of the truck at night with the privacy curtains closed just reading a book..now I just do it in a Lazy Boy…:))
robert bourne´s last blog post..The Middle Years Rolling and Thinking
I suffer BIG TIME from S.A.D. Last winter was horrendous. The snow and dark came in early November and didn’t leave until later March. And there was so much snow our downstairs windows were literally covered making it even darker. I missed quite a bit of work in January and February because I was so brain fogged it would have been unsafe for me to drive!
I have my own office (the only perk of being a manager) and I have shut the door and tried to nap on the floor at lunch, but even at that I was too self-conscious to relax. I do better napping on the john in the washrooms LOL
Urban Panther´s last blog post..
My sleep is the same way! The more sleep I get, the worst it is for me the next morning. I did 8 hours last night and ended up taking a 4 hour nap today. Very annoying.
Monique´s last blog post..Skip The Glasses. Just Hand Me The Bottle.
I come from a tropical island so I don’t get to experience fall and winter. Any disruption in sleep patterns is all my own doing. I am trying to stick to a regular schedule so that I don’t end up too cranky. Crankiness may just show up in my posts, I like to warn myself!
Evelyn Lim´s last blog post..Soul Revelations From Past Life Memories
I love the extra hours of darkness….curling up under a warm blanket….sipping hot cocoa…..watching the oldest black and white movie I can find. it’s my favorite time of year
Roschelle´s last blog post..The Ku Klux Klan: Unwelcome guests at Presidential Debate
I love this time of the year, although I don’t like it when it is too cold. I do like it when fall is just starting and you can curl up under a blanket and enjoy a book and then fall asleep. I also like it because this time of year is when I bring out my fuzzy socks…so cozy and warm.
Dori´s last blog post..Heroes Returns!!!!
My OH suffers a bit from SAD. I’d hate to see what it does to a real sufferer. My sympathies, friend!
Me, as soon as the chill hits the air and the nights start drawing in, I just want to EAT. Carbs, sugar, greasy stuff - all the wrong things. I guess that’s my primitive side getting ready for the cold, lean times, huh?
It’s a pain, though.
I had seasonal disorder of the worst kind under a quilt in Aug in Pa. 25 years ago- then I moved to Fl. and now I’m up with t he sun and stay up.. mailed you a card!!!l sandy
sandy k´s last blog post..
Barbara, yes, I’m too old and too big to be under my desk, but it’s so darn comfy. Flannel PJ’s and soup? Sounds divine.
Davina, I like Fall too, but that’s my limit as far as cold is concern. I will take hot any day. I hate being cold, makes me evil-er.
Robin, what are spring temps like in Australia? Hey under the desk is not bad at all. It looks crazy, but it’s a great escape.
Matthew, curling up in the bed with a book/computer, some hot chocolate or coffee. Geeze Louise, I’m grinning, turn off the lights.
Under the Desk, well good thing this is not Cheers where everybody knows your name. It is cozy down there, isn’t it? Take away how it looks and bam! It’s an exclusive club house on the ground floor. Of course, had my boss caught me….you still a mess too and I remain – Love ya…bye.
Max, now you know. You mean you haven’t heard the story of LAA waiting for her at her desk while she was under it! Scared him to death, he almost fell out of the chair! I would have faked amnesia talking about, Where am I? or I lost my contact WITH my glasses on. LOL Embarrassingly funny!
BloggerNewbie, 10 hours of sleep, wow! I used to need at least 8, but I seem to be more tired. I’m all mixed up. Soon, it’s going to be dark at 5 p.m….makes me wanna hibernate.
Chris, summer is over. Going to have to turn on the heat soon. I like Fall, but that’s it.
Meleah, sometimes when I ‘accidentally’ drop stuff under my desk, I linger. Give me a blanket, it’s cold in here too.
Georgette, ooh, I know upstate is cold, I won’t even go there. I will never miss Winter, maybe the beginning of Fall. I like hot days and cooler nights for getting warm. I do like wearing fall clothes, sweaters, but not coats.
Vered, LOL. George had the right idea and a pillow, right?
Robert, LOL @ in a Lazy Boy. We are bears at heart, need a place to go hide during the winter. When the sun goes down, so do I.
Urbane Panther, I do run on solar power. I get a lot of sunlight in the house and I love it, and when it’s gone, I miss it. Even now, I have to stop doing work and look out the window. Well if I had my own office, I would have an air mattress under my desk for sure, (drooling). Sleeping on the john! Well I do love the bathroom because it’s cozy, but I can’t nap there.
Monique, it is annoying. You would think we’d be well rested instead of feeling like mowed down.
Evelyn, tropical island? Well when you want to experience winter, or if, we can switch places. I always want to experience warm and hot. That’s the thing when I don’t get enough sleep, I am cranky, but lately I’ve been able to get up…not too cranky.
Roschelle, warm blanket? Yes. Hot cocoa. Uuummm. I feel dreamy. I only drink cocoa during the cooler months, but coffee all year round. Work hours should be from 7 to 3 during fall and winter.
Dori, I agree, the beginning of fall is great. Blankets, books, fuzzy socks. Makes me feel like a cat right before they curl up into a ball and get comfy.
Jay, I love the sunlight and the warmth, puts me in a happy mood. I think I will go sit in my car later today for a nap and get warm. I have a blanket too…left the house w/o a book! Sometimes I think I’m going to wake up from a lunch time snooze and the parking lot will be empty. Lol. I wanna eat too, hot soups and warm cookies.
Sandy, if I was in Florida I would be the same way. When I get home from work and it’s dark, I don’t want to do anything but get in the bed, first. I’m getting a post card, yippie!
Natural´s last blog post..Filler Post
I no longer suffer from SAD now that I’m in S. Louisiana. Something about NOT having to deal with 7 dark, cold months of solitary confinement is very liberating! Hope you’re feeling better. Northern winters truly suck.
Lana´s last blog post..New Painting & Submissions
You sound more and more like George Costanza when he lived under his desk for several days. Not enough vitamin D, due to not enough exposure to sunlight, can cause a lot of these S.A.D. feelings…good luck!
peace,
mike
livelife365
Mike Foster´s last blog post..Streeeeeetch Your Life
NaTuRal,
I remember those “good old working days.” From November until March, my department had to create materials for the company. I’d get there at 7am and often work until 10pm. My boss enforced “nap time” from 2-4 pm every single day! He got us a large office, we brought in sleeping bags, AND WE SLEPT. At first, it didn’t make sense to me - why not just send us home at 8pm? Then I realized the logic. Without “nap time” none of us would make it til 6pm! We got our best work done from 5pm - 10pm. No distractions, no calls, and a LOT of pizza parties! If you need that nap - set the alarm on your cell phone for an hour and take it! You’ll feel more productive, and it’s a win-win situation!
Rita
I am just like you, Natural. I don’t cope well with winter at all, and even though we don’t get snow or anything in Sydney, I get very depressed being so cold and tend to hibernate and slow right down. This year I stopped exercising almost completely and have lived on a diet of chocolate biscuits, coffee, wine and fattening comfort food. Carbs are my friend for dealing with my plummeting winter moods, but my expanding ass has me feeling very down on myself now that Spring is here.
Luckily the heat brings back my natural optimism and enthusiasm and I’m back doing long beach walks and enjoying the feel of hot sand on my back as I lie like a lizard sunning myself. Of course I’m causing wrinkles, but I have a hard time caring when the sun makes me feel so good!
And I love how you names this “Filler Post”. So honest - it made me laugh.
Kelly
Hi Natural: When I worked for the Panama Canal Commission I had this huge, old, government-issue desk, and I would also crawl under my desk and just sit there during the lunch hour, so I understand where you’re coming from. It’s just so cozy under there. Of course, I would lock my door before doing this so that I wouldn’t get caught. Turn a small flashlight on and off pointing toward the middle of your forehead. I read somewhere that helps with SAD. But don’t do it while you’re sitting under the desk because that would be doing two strange things at the same time and I wouldn’t recommend that, it’s best to keep each strange behavior separate
Marelisa´s last blog post..Four Outstanding Thoughts on Innovation
Fat clothes!!! Eeeeee! I’m all a-twitter just thinking about them! HAHAHAHA
Like you, the earlier I go to bed, the harder it is for me to get up at my normal time (6:00AM). I think it’s because I am able to fall into a deeper sleep, so getting myself up is much more difficult than just sleeping for 5-6 hours.
I naturally eat warmer foods. I make less salads and more cooked greens and (indoor) grilled veggies. Since berries and peaches are out of season, I eat less fruit since I’m not a fan of apples and oranges. Drink more tea and coffee and less cold beverages. Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Gewurtztraminer, Pinot Grigio and Riesling is replaced with Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel,Cabernet Franc, Chianti, Barolo, Barberesco, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Shiraz, Sangiovese, Malbec,Grenache, Bordeaux, and Côtes du Rhône.
I take more evening baths in place of showers. I naturally work out more in the house (spinning, weights) and less running outdoors.
I love fall and winter!
carla´s last blog post..Blog redirected
Ok, SERIOUSLY…I wish I had your sleeping problem; go to bed at 12:00am wake up at 5:00am with no problem.
I takes a blow-horn and some industrial strength coffee to get me outta bed!
Anyway, do I experience any seasonal moods changes? I don’t think so. I do look forward to the winter season though. It’s when i get to take a week off and go snowboarding. I love it up there. It’s my calm. I’ve gotten my girlfriend into it; it was our second year up together last year. She’s getting better at it (despite not liking the cold very much). Now that she’s gotten better though she doesn’t worry too much about getting all wet from falling ya know?
SAD is the reason Im thrilled to be living in TX now (east coast woman) as Ill tolerate the heat through Oct just not to have my WANNA CRAWL IN A CAVE ALL WINTER’ITIS!
MizFit´s last blog post..Im down with MBT (yeah you know me)
Hi Valerie - I know what you mean. The winter sucks for me too and I find it more difficult to get up early on a Winter morning. I’d hoped to emigrate before the Winter set in here - even a bit of sunshine would help. But it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen so, I’m thinking of trying one of those lamps for folk suffering from SAD.
I must confess - when I was really wrecked at work, because I’d worked through the night and nobody was in the office with me - I’d lock the door, put the phone on busy for 30 minutes and have a nap on the floor.
Hah! This post made me laugh out loud - like Vered mentioned, the vision of George Costanza came to my head. Whatever works though, works.
I also find myself sometimes struggling at work and needing a nap. I’m so much more alert after a power nap. I’m fortunate that I am driving distance to my home, so sometimes I just simply go home and take a nap. Of course, it only works for jobs that have a flex schedule.
Al at 7P´s last blog post..Guest Post at Write to Done
crawling under your desk? that’s weird.
melai´s last blog post..Green Tea For My Dandruff?
Lana, if I had to deal with 7 dark cold months of cold, I would die. I enjoy the sunlight as much as possible.
Mike, I remember that episode. George is so funny. I just read about a study done on Rats and darkness, they were indeed depressed.
Rita, I think we need to have nap and lunch time at work, that would be great.
Kelly, I can’t deal with the cold, Fall is my limit. I wear so many layers of clothing in the winter out of fear. One of my favorite comedians would often say about his jokes that the one he just threw in was a “filler”, not really a part of his show. That’s so funny, but true. I need more fillers.
Marelisa, lol. I’m happy to know I’m not the only one who doesn’t mind getting comfy underneath a desk..we could all rent a whole class room and take a nap. I’ll limit myself to one strange thing at a time, I’m probably over my limit anyway. LOL.
Corrina, do I look fat in this post? LOL.
Carla, my bed time has always be 10:00, I would like to go back to that, not 12 or 1. I’ll try it tonight, maybe with a drink. I love my bath time too. Yeah.
Ribeezie, I will tweet over all my sleeping problems to you. Take ‘em! Oooh, snow boarding. Not me. I don’t ski, I don’t play in the snow, I can’t even watch winter sports. Good thing you found a girlfriend who can join you in those activities.
MizFit, I would tolerate the heat over the cold any time. I love Arizona and Florida when I need to get my heat on.
Cath, LOL. Another person who can rest on the floor. This is great! Anywho, the sun will come out tomorrow, I hope, or I might have to buy a lamp. I get a great deal of sunlight in the house now, it’s just around 4 when it starts getting dark, I’m like it’s too early for this and by the time I get home, just wanna crawl in bed.
Al, hey there Al! I don’t know who started sleeping under the desk first, my co-worker or George. I’ll have to ask her. Next time I see that episode I’m going to crack up laughing. I love that show! I sleep in my car during lunch time.
Melai, weird yes, but it’s okay because you will never hear me use the words, smart or sane in the same sentence as my name.
Jigsawman, Uh, it came with the template. I don’t have a clue. I hope you don’t mind, but I will delete your comment and send you an email.
I can send you the coding if you want, don’t know if you can work off of that.
NaTuRaL´s last blog post..Filler Post
Like you, I seem to feel better after 5 hours of sleep than I do with 8! Weird. I wasn’t always like this either. Now that I’ve got an 18-month old that wakes up 4-5 times during the night, sleep is a precious commodity.
Laura-Junkfoodaholic´s last blog post..Arianna Chavez Lost 127 Pounds!
They call me Papa Bear and that should answer your question… LOL!
shaxx´s last blog post..Update: 06-10-2008
seems to be a pretty good response to your ‘filler post’ ! maybe you should do more of them?
my seasonal change is to close the window behind my PC, it’s cold enough to keep the tower from overheating now. oh god, what a geek :-/
btw.. you may have to disable the heart info box in your commentluv settings, it appears you hosting does not allow external file acess for fopen or file_get_contents.
you could ask your host to enable it for you, some people have been successful getting the option switched back on if they ask nice!
Andy Bailey´s last blog post..I wanted to join Starfleet
“my current employer would be mortified to find me crawling out from under my desk!”
Haha, I can so imagine this. Hey, I think that’s grand!
Seasonal changes in our habits is certainly a compelling concept. I never thought about it. I can’t think of anything now, but I bet there is; it really makes sense.
I am very much affected by the winter months. I use a “happy” light that is supposed to mimic bright sunlight and help restore some of the serotonin we lose in the winter. It’s weird, tho, because I actually like it when it gets dark early, love a good thunderstorm or cloudy day — it just makes me feel all cozy. But my brain must not like it, ‘cuz I do tend to feel rather down. Hope you perk up soon!
JD at I Do Things´s last blog post..I’m a Carnivore so you don’t have to be
Who knew this would be a wildly popular topic? I have SAD, so I make sure I get outside and also have lots and lots of light near my chair when I’m reading or watching TV. It sounds like you might be sleeping too long. Some people get more tired when they sleep more than they need.
I don’t like fall and winter because I have retinal damage that makes me almost blind in the dark. Coming home from work in the dark makes me very nervous, but with sundown at 4:30 eventually, what can I do.
On the other hand, flannel pj’s and staying indoors are good things!
Dot´s last blog post..Haiku Friday
Sorry but I am not buying this. I think we have enough problems already without adding more. This just sounds like somebody sitting around makingup stuff.
Just popping over in hopes of a new post….
meleah rebeccah´s last blog post..I Need To Know
Ahh the filler post…
and as an answer to your question I like to travel and get outside when the weather is like this. I find myself getting cabin fever before I even get snowed in. I’m from the midwest so we only get sort of snowed in once a year. Anyway, I want to be outside more and do all those things that its to hot to do in the summer.
Paunchiness´s last blog post..Win an Apple® iPod® Shuffle
I’m actually a bit blue now that the cold weather is upon us. I don’t think I’d mind it as much if I could stay inside with a good book and sit by the fire (or curl up under a desk) and stay there, but that won’t be the case. Bears have the right idea—sleep until it’s all over.
I don’t like looking for the kid’s gloves, hats and scarves. I don’t like skiing, I’ve built enough snowmen, and I hate that it’s pitch black when I get out of bed in the morning.
I don’t think Hell is a warm place. I’m pretty sure that it’s freezing cold.
With that in mind—I’ll quit my complaining and count my blessings (just in case anyone is listening).
Laura, I would like to start back to going to bed at 10:00 and getting up at 6. Last night I went to bed at 9:30 and I overslept. Must. Reprogram. Brain.
Papa Bear, say no more.
Andy Bailey, nice of you to come here, from BWAB, no doubt. My Filler post? You mean rambling? LOL. I wish I could control the seasons by opening or closing a window. I’ll look into my settings and contact my hosting company as well.
Bamboo Forest, they would be mortified. On the surface, it looks weird, but they haven’t tried it. Light, or the lack of light, affect regions of the brain that control pleasure and cognition.
JD, I’m more likely to want to hide and stay inside during the winter months. I don’t like when it gets dark too early, especially if I have to be out in it. I only want to be in the bed when it rains or thunders. I hope I perk up too, I’m getting on my nerves.
Dot, who knew is right. Today is a beautiful sunny day, I sung like a bird all the way to work and I can’t sing. LOL. I’ll be outside today for sure. I’m a sun worshiper, I like the light. Ohhh flannel PJ’s..I was thinking of a pajama post, lol.
Kat, you don’t have to buy it, I’m not selling it. The brain is an amazing, mind boggling marvel. I agree, there is a diagnosis for everything, but I don’t think scientists are sitting around making up stuff, (well not everything – some studies are informative) but are trying to understand the reason behind some behavior. It’s all very interesting to me, well things that pertain to the brain anyway. Check this out: http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=down-in-the-dark
Meleah, uh huh. I hope for a new post too, problem is: I don’t write them, they have to write themselves. I’m just a vessel for the voice and right now the voice is not speaking to me. Gee that sounds crazy, I better get writing or find another voice to listen to. (Runs off in search of a new post….)
Pauchiness, that’s right. I remember what I have to do, thanks for the reminder. I don’t mind the Fall, but it doesn’t put me in the mood to do too much, but think of ways to stay warm.
Colleen Dealy, exactly: “I don’t think I’d mind it as much if I could stay inside with a good book and sit by the fire.” That sounds yummy. That’s almost all I want to do during the fall and winter anyway. I’ve been in an evil mood for the past several days, I’m sure some of it has to do with the reduced hours of sunlight. I’ll snap out of it somehow.
NaTuRaL´s last blog post..Filler Post
Haha! You can turn off the lights if you’d like.
In Melbourne - today’s top (Wed) was about 18, it was windy and seemed cold, though. On Saturday it is meant to be 25. It is cold at night - more of that snuggling required.
Robin´s last blog post..Why We Want To Live
“I’m tired of looking at that week old post just like you,”
Please new post? Or at least come celebrate my first day in cougar-ville!
meleah rebeccah´s last blog post..Happy Birthday … To Me
Matthew - I’m about to turn out the lights.
Robin - snuggle on. The weather has been great here for the past few days. Very happy about that.
Meleah - operating on limited brain activity. I do have a funny post in my head, just need to put it together. Next up - Poverty.