Rise and shine

In general, on the days that I teach a morning class, I sit down to my desk at home at 5 a.m. The early start helps me get organized and ease into the day, and that's more important to me (on those days) than toasting myself in bed (which I dearly love doing).

But today I got up at 4:15 a.m.  That's a tad early. It means I'll be getting through the afternoon on caffeine fumes, despite my recent resolution to cut back.

I had trouble sleeping last night and into the wee hours, and this time it was about temperature control.  My husband and I are wildly incompatible when it comes to heat, or lack thereof.  He dearly loves being on the border of cold:  he dresses in thermal and fleece layers, wears a fleece cap in the house (he has less hair than he used to, and it does help keep him warm), and he truly adores being able to see his breath, even.  He's like a hibernating bear:  he sleeps most soundly when he's wrapped up snug and tight, with him warm in bed but the air frigid outside the covers (our bedroom temperature averages around 62 degrees at night --  window wide open, fan above our bed spinning).

I, on the other hand, shiver under such conditions and am absofuckinglutely miserable. I've been sleeping with a heating pad, but in the middle of the night that small area of heat is so  concentrated that I wake up sweaty -- and then immediately start to shiver from the dampness of my pajamas or nightgown (no, these aren't biological hot flashes, by the way), and that just makes things worse.

He and I have always been very different in this respect, but now it's absurd: he must have it cold , and given my recent weight loss, I'm now miserable unless I'm warm.  We really do have different requirements in order to get some quality sleep.  I've been pretty accommodating, going on the theory that it's easier to get warmer than it is to cool off, but really, it's time to take care of my own side of things a little more effectively.

The obvious answer is an electric blanket with dual controls, though I kind of hate the feel of the wires.  Or perhaps I'll just haul out the twin-sized electric blanket we already have and put it only on my side of the bed, because my husband will turn on his side of an electric blanket ... well, never.  Not even when hell freezes over.

Yes, when I get home from campus this afternoon, I think I may change the sheets, put on the new set of cranberry-colored jersy sheets that my sister gave me for my birthday, and hook up the electric blanket we already own.

I should sleep better tonight.

Comments

[Fat Girl Shrinking]

There are always separate bedrooms :-)

Im only 6 weeks out, but I have two comforters always, and two extra blankets if I get cold.

[Deluzy]

Separate bedrooms sounds good just about now! Not good long-term, though. ;)

[Jennifer]

Hi- I am 10 months out from my surgery (120 lbs gone!) and I am ALWAYS COLD!!!! I seriously have started 'going to bed' at around 8 o'clock because it's the only place I can get warm- Thanks to my lovely electric blanket that is set on High all might long!

[Deluzy]

Great job to both of you, FGS and Jennifer!!!! And Jennifer, I go to bed early now for the SAME REASON!!!!! lol.

[*S*]

Man, it's a cultural thing, Deluzy. I was also raised in that No. Euro "sleep cold, sleep healthy" thing. Even post DS, as an icicle in waiting, I have to have the fan on, at the very least. If my face is warm, I can't sleep at all. We also keep our house something around 57-62. Native frugality and what we are used to growing up is also a part of it. If you don't want wires, try buying a featherbed to sleep on for your side as well as flannel sheets. The German ones are best - Garnet Hill sometimes has them on sale.

Stay warm!

TK