Sunday, March 12, 2006

A Simple Pleasure


Not a day went by last week where my mind did not wander back to one of those simple joys of yesteryear. In those long ago days, I did not consider it a simple joy. Now I see that it was. I suppose it was just the effects of the strong cough medicine that the doctor prescribed for me but towards mid-afternoon, I would feel my eyes grow weary and my sight grow dim, much like the old Eagles tune, and I wished that I had a comfortable place to rest my tired bones. I longed for a nap.

Some years ago, I read where the Japanese instituted a twenty minute power nap. Workers could enter a berth and for twenty minutes rest and recharge. This seems like a good idea, but I am of the opinion that twenty minutes for a nap is just long enough to piss me off. I would prefer a nap much like the Mexican siesta; a two hour snooze-fest during the heat of the day. That would recharge me.

One of my Dad's favorite sayings came on weekends after lunch when he would glance around and announce, 'Let's choose up sides and take a nap.' I always wondered as a child why he always chose Mom. Later in life, I came to understand the difference between a Nap and a nap. A one hour Nap every day after lunch would probably do much more in the way of recharging my batteries than any snooze-fest.

17 comments:

JM said...

I would do the twenty minute recharge nap during my fourth year of medical school--the internal medicine rotation. It worked. But you are right, when you first wake up from it, you are definitely pissed.

Unknown said...

that would explain why your dad would say "let's choose up sides" first. It was his subconcious way of letting you know he was a one-side of the game kinda guy. :-)

I close the door to my office, put my feet up on my desk and take a nap quite often. I'm usually scared to death my boss will walk in though.

As for the Nap, that's one of my favorite weekend activities. But the Antidote (my nickname for the hubby, ha ha) and I usually do nap afterwards!

Phred said...

Power naps work for me.
If I sleep for 2 + hours...I`m not worth a damn the rest of the day.

:P fuzzbox said...

ranea: Probably :)

angel jr.: I once worked with a guy that was a firm believer in the power nap. Every night on shift he would take a twenty minute power nap while locking himself in his car. Twenty minutes just never could do it for me. If it works more power to you.

siren: No one has ever been comfortable enough to sleep in front of me at work. ;)

cz: The young uns make it hard to get a good NAP in on the weekends. But it does make for a more enjoyable weekend when you can get one in.

:P fuzzbox said...

phred: Compared to what? LOL

Jay Noel said...

Sounds like your father is partaking in the proverbial "Nooner." That's not even a distant cousin of the traditional "nap."

Vic said...

I have never been able to sleep when its light outside. Its really a pain. This is why many of my comments and posts are early in the morning on the weekends - I'm up and everyone else in the house is asleep.

But the NAPS... oh yeah! Sign me up! As far as the kids - it helps when they get old enough to sit in front of the tv for a while. We've also found bath time is great for a "Quickie from Vicki". (Disclosure - they're old enough to be in the tub by themselves.)

April said...

oh, I do love naps.

(and naps.)

I'd be so much more productive in the later afternoon if I had that afternoon siesta.

Green Eyes said...

No naps here, I just feel like crap afterwards. At this point I'd just sleep through til the next morning!

Naps of the other variety, that, I could definitely handle!

:P fuzzbox said...

phoenix: A rose by any other name ...

vic: 'Quickie from Vicki' gets my vote as a phrase to remember ;)

michael: I didn't realize that it was an accepted practice in Europe as well. We are way to far behind on this subject.

mimi: Gotta luv those NAPS!!!!

april: It's all about productivity. That should be the selling point anyway :)

green eyes: I know what you mean. Naps are like potato chips and tattoos, the more you get the more you want.

:P fuzzbox said...

laurie: I never had a problem getting tired on the night shift. I guess it is the night owl in me. It is the darned afternoons that are killing me.

Keshi said...

I like naps..but my naps r usually very short...maximum an hour...i.o.w. Im a hopeless Insomniac...

Keshi.

:P fuzzbox said...

My sleep patterns are very erratic. I guess that is why I can take a nap in a moments notice.

Shay said...

Well that's why you need two hours!!
One hour for fuckin' and one for sleepin' ^_~

:P fuzzbox said...

Yep, It's called recuperation time at my age.

Perplexio said...

But does the nap come with a "happy ending"?

If so, that would give a WHOLE new definition to those "Wet Naps" they give out at all those Buffalo Wing/Rib restaurants.

:P fuzzbox said...

All naps should come with a happy beginning.