Sleeping In...NOT

As a working woman, I was up and out of the house while it was still dark through most of the school year. I always longed to sleep in. That does not include when you stay home because you are sick...I am talking about the decadence of sleeping in just because you can.

Now that I have had a few months off, the ole' time clock is adjusting and I am trying to sleep in an extra hour. Well, the other day I thought I would just lounge around until 8:30. NOT! Do you have any idea what goes on in a neighborhood while you have left for the day? YIKES

First there are the beloved "trash-pickers." These are the homeless and not so homeless folk that root through the trash cans beginning about 6:30. They are NOT QUIET or SUBTLE about what they are doing. Some even leave trash all over the street after sorting through trash bags. Now, I am all for recycling, and I am glad they are helping out in their own way, but they leave a mess and are very LOUD while many of us are trying to sleep. The banging of a trash can lid can scare you right out of a deep sleep.

Once the trash-pickers have come through, the house begins to shake and rattle as the trash collector truck rambles across our antiquated, pot-holed street. That wakes you for sure if you were able to drift off for a few extra minutes. Stop-go-stop-go. Geez those trucks are loud. You may be thinking, "Get over it-it's just once a week!" A big NOT to that!! Our alley must have no less than 4 different service companies sending trucks rattling down it. That is a trash truck almost every day of the week.

OK, so now I am up and I plan some quiet time to read. NOT! The gardener comes with his truck. He has a mower, a blower, and a weed-wacker. HE wears industrial ear protection like those worn by airport groundsmen. What do I get? NOISE. He is a popular gardener because he does several homes in a row...that means several HOURS of noise. I do live on a pretty street though.

So, pretty much until noon, there is no such thing as quiet. Who needs to sleep in anyway when there is laundry to do, dusting, mopping, cooking, toilet cleaning, ironing, cleaning out drawers, sorting files, updating computer data, writing this blog, checking on the dogs, calling other retired friends, card making, cleaning out the car, and so much more. Doesn't retirement sound appealing? I always wondered how Auggie could sleep all morning...he's deaf!

Actually I am excited that next week I get to substitute teach for 3 days back at my old school. I wonder what that will be like? I'll keep you posted. But first I have to get through the Trail of Terror 5K coming up this weekend. I will definitely share my thoughts on that and maybe a picture or two. It is supposed to be cold out on the trail at 7 a.m. (that works well for us "hot-flash" mamas)!