Wednesday, February 14

jetlagging behind

so you think you've got it sussed. you've made it to eleven at night without sleeping, you're as tired as a sloth with narcolepsy, and the cool sheets feel so good on your achy limbs. you crash into a deep slumber.

you wake. "finally sussed it," you think. there's probably a self-satisfied smirk on your face, but it's too dark to see. the hotel must have thick curtains, because surely the sun rose hours ago. you grope your way into the bathroom, switch the air con on and off a few times, call room service, and finally succeed in getting the light on. you examine your watch. 1:30 a.m. you shake your watch, but it is still going. ah, perhaps you left it on uk time. back in the dark room, you fumble around knocking glasses of water over to find your husband's watch. it too says 1:30. you've slept for all of two and a half hours.

you get back into bed and try to think of boring things like how you might make an extra bedroom in the house you saw the day before. ten minutes later you're crouched on the floor in the bathroom with pen and paper drawing plans.

this is silly. back to bed, lie still and think about something else. anything else. no, not what you've got to buy at frys, that will just end up with you back in the bathroom making lists. you breathe deeply and count up to a hundred in german. still awake. perhaps you'll read the interweb for ten minutes, and then try again.

it's three thirty. what happened there? was there really any urgent need to find molvanian food bloggers with a decent recipe for blini? let alone san franciscan dog parks with an off leash zone. god, you feel crap. you feel as if a large group of mexicans had been having a party in your head and they forgot to clean up afterwards.

now what's the time? four thirty. you shut the computer down and try again. ein, zwei, drei... hundert. it's not working. perhaps there was something to be said for counting sheep. what's german for sheep? google will know. DON'T START THE COMPUTER AGAIN. you'll end up looking up where to buy llama wool in haight ashbury*. just lie still and think sleepy thoughts. good, getting quite dozy. ah, you're drifting off now.

bugger. your husband has switched the light on and fired his computer up. may as well join him. the german for sheep is das schaf.

six thirty. not only have the mexicans not cleared up, now they've emptied the ash trays all over the floor and trod their contents into the carpet. six thirty. only thirty minutes to seven o'clock when mama's in washington square opens (thanks chris!). suddenly coffee and huevos rancheros seem like the most enticing things in the world. getting out of this room seems like the most enticing thing in the world.

if enid ever invents a religion, hell won't be burning pits or devils with pitchforks, it will be eternity spent in california with your body clock in london... in a small san francisco hotel room without a kettle.

*anywhere

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

One word, Enid: Ambien.

There are few problems that prescription drugs purchased over the counter in Crapistan for kopeks on the dollar cannot solve.

Anonymous said...

I have another word.

Melatonin.

Resets your body clock. Not a sleeping pill. Natural. Available from your local drug store in the U S of A.

Brooke - Little Miss Moi said...

Dear enid. Ride the wave. The out-of-body jet lag experience is unique. I love 3am. Also, being an Aussie who likes to travel to places other than Asian and NZ, it's a way of life. At least it's still winter there. Cause it's not in Kernib, melt melt, head-puncture from falling ice.

ChrisB said...

enid I know Sam found Melatonin helped you can get it in the states.
Hope you enjoy mama's as much as we did but that was back in 2001.

Samantha Louise said...

Oh my gosh.
That was awesome. So far I have only read this entry of yours.. but I'm in love with your writing and your style.

You have a new fan.

Can i have your autograph?

enidd said...

thanks for helpful suggestions all. you just want enid to stop writing crap at five in the morning, don't you! enid's tried melatonin, but either she's not one of the people it works for, or the stuff she got was no good.

riding the wave is cool, but not by late afternoon when you just wish you were dead rather than having to trail round another house and then meet some people for dinner.

chris, mama's was great, thanks for the tip.

samantha louise, welcome to enid's blog. and thanks for the undeserved kind words - she's blushing now!

y.Wendy.y said...

Just pretend you're having a major 'trip' and enjoy it. At least the downer will actually be an upper. Does that make any sense?

enidd said...

hi wendz. enid thinks she knows what you mean. and last night she slept well and now she feels all alive, like you do after you're ill.

Anonymous said...

lol, i was going to suggest melatonin too, but decided to suggest calms forte instead. you can even buy them in the usa and the uk. best thing, for can't sleep in the middle of the night cos the brain is just a whirly whirling!
good luck with the houses btw....

sallywrites said...

Doesn't melatonin make you depressed????

I think i'd rather be spaced out!!!

Glad your're feeling better Enid!!

Sally

enidd said...

thanks elena jane, enid's not heard of those. now she's a couple of new things to try.

sally, she'd not heard about the depression thing. she'll perhaps give melatonin one more try with some tablets that aren't ten years old!