Sleep Deprivation

Last week during spring break, I chose to stay up late to catch up on television, movies and reading. It was retrospectively a test to observe how I operate under the circumstances of zero sleep. I could only figure that I have done this seldom in my life and could only remember once. The last occasion was when Garrick and I visited sites and people throughout Southern Utah and Arizona in 2008. I was awake for over 2 days straight.

Back to last week's experiences. After returning home from work I would wind down by eating and watching television. Then I would resort to submitting my blogs as a part time blogger for a local radio station. After this I would waste time on the Internet with sites like Facebook and Hulu. At some point I would decide to see if I could just stay up through the night. I estimated that I could not get to sleep so let and then get up early to accomplish much before going to work in the early afternoon. I would then set about task such as organizing files on my computer, purge various filings of papers of further unwanted items and readjusting the arrangement of objects of my possession (you know the pursuits that someone with obsessively compulsive tendencies ventures).


At some point of the late night/early morning I would run switch to quiet mode and pick up a book (one written by a Tolkien or The Hunchback of Notre Dame). Obviously the relaxation that comes from reading takes a toll on the mental fortitude required to stay up through the night while sitting or laying on my bed. The results averaged that I would give to sleep about 4:30 AM. And , as I hypothesized, I was not able to rise with much time to occupy myself with errands before heading to my paying job.


We come to Monday night. I chose not to do my last piece of homework assigned for spring break until the night before it was do. I will admit that I did do some reading and studying for my classes over previous week so it was not wholly a vacation from my problems...eh...school work. Just like the attempts of last week to stay up through the night I had to grapple with not getting up early enough for the day if I did fall to sleep late in the night. This time there would be negative consequences if I failed to arise, so my determination was raised to 'pull an all-nighter.' I had signed-up for an extra and early shift at my place of employment so instead of my early afternoon start time, I had to be at my keying station at 9:30 AM.

After completing my homework I watched a few episodes of television on my laptop then listened to music as I reorganized some more documents and pictures on the hard drive (yes I know I already mentioned that I did this. that was not the first time and this second event will not be the last time). I pushed through the 4:30 AM wall and came to the 8 o'clock hour. As my clock radio alarm went off with Radio From Hell I was lulled into moving into restful position and a sleeping status. When I woke up nearly an hour later (so I guess this truly doesn't count as an all-nighter- discount the whole discussion if you must) I quickly got in my car and drove to work. Since the weather had turned to frightful dust storms I was confused by not seeing the normal form of the son. I was very disoriented to time as I drove on the freeway. I was not certain of how early or late I actually was in reference to my clock-in time.


My mind couldn't wrap itself around the concept of being so bright so early in the morning. I could only compare my physical and mental condition to what I have heard are the results of coming of a drug high. Whether the disorientation was caused by the lack of sleep or trying to get by on a minuscule amount of sleep I don't know, but I do know that the experience caused me to be very irritable at work and throughout midday. I was able to recover before heading to class in the evening and returned to form to stay up late once again.


Here's to staying up all night again for April Fool's Day and hopes that it causes great discomfort and new reactions (too be chronicled in another posting I project).

Food Sniping and the Chips of Desire

My good friend, Bryant Thompson, native of New Hampshire and huge Celtics and Red Sox fan, desired that I address the contentious matter of ‘food sniping.’ Bryant used the term ‘food sniping’ to mean taking food from other people or people’s table after they have completed and exited the meal. I will henceforth not be enclosing this term in apostrophes or quotations.

After the disappointing 2010 loss of Utah men’s’ basketball to BYU men’s basketball, another esteemed friend, Chris Mabey, and I searched for a good meal. We took ourselves by automobile to La Frontera (the one on the west side). We each ordered the large platter. As a side note, Bryant commended me for performing well by devouring every morsel served to me and condoned Mabey's performance.

Now to the juice of the situation, or chips in this case. There was a simple, spicy salsa served with the restaurant style corn chips. However, at an early point of dining we had chomped through the basket of chips. Across from the aisle from us a man had just left leaving an untouched basket of chips. Bryant truly desired more salty corn chips to go with the grande platter in front of him. He debated with himself about performing the act of reaching across and grabbing it. I urged him to do so for his benefit and mine.

There are three factors that may have kept him from food sniping. First, the restaurant staff was near and bustling about which created a difficult situation for retaining an inconspicuous demeanor at our booth. This also caused self-consciousness due to the questionable behavior of food sniping. Second, the credibility of the character of the man who had been delivered the chips was in question. What may have been done to the chips without our observance? Why had they remained untouched through that man’s meal? Third, the least important, would be the physical exertion to reach and take the chips. After beginning to ingest a large quantity of food the ability for motion is decreased. This affects the motivation that the mind can conjure to overcome inhibition from the physical senses and restraints.

The problem was resolved when a member of the service staff questioned our enjoyment of the food. I requested more chips on the behalf of myself, but mostly Bryant. Of course, they came at an extra charge, but that was a small cost for a necessary side to the beans, salsa and chile verde. After the chips were brought to us a discussion ensued about the practice of food sniping.

I have always been content with eating things off the floor after they had only been there for a reasonably short period. The first instance that I remember was in the first grade of school at Oakwood Elementary. A piece of red licorice was dropped on the floor of the lunchroom underneath the table. I picked it up and ate it. I may have done this for the shock factor, which was raised in a female classmate. I do not feel that I need to be justified in this behavior by any logic, but I will state that if a germ is on the floor it may likely be on my hand or in my mouth as well. Just build or test the body’s immune system.

Bryant shared a more related memory. He and some friends were dining but had only ordered when an older couple approached their table. They said that they were finished eating but had food left over that they did not want to eat or take with them to consume later. They offered the food to Bryant and his companions. The intended recipients accepted the couple’s remainder and happily ate the spoils.

The positive argument for food sniping is the mother’s words “there are starving kids in [country other than the United States (though increasingly the phrase fits America)].” Those of us who food snipe are just reducing the amount food that is wasted. Yes, we accept the consequences of the bulging waste-line and constricting blood passage through arteries. You’re Welcome.