Sleep Deprivation Hangover

I had a wonderful time at the Ridgefield Playhouse where the reggae band The Wailers exhorted the audience to stand up and dance along. There were several familiar songs like One Love, I Shot the Sheriff, and Burnin... But we got back late and then I had to walk the dogs (again) before settling down to wait for my kid to return from college with a friend who drove up to help with the packing and transport. They had gotten a late start with an over-packed vehicle that interfered with backing out of the parking lot, and there was a fender bender and insurance info exchanged and an accident report... 

My kid got back well past 2 AM Friday morning and I still haven't recovered from the sleep deprivation. I had just fallen asleep at 1:35 but the dog started barking at 2:15 and didn't stop until the car had been fully unpacked and its driver went home. Meanwhile, my kid was up when I took the dogs to the park at 8:45 but asleep by 11 AM. It's two days later, Saturday, and I'm still not feeling quite right. Skipped the gym Friday because sleep deprivation gives me mild vertigo and a vague sense of unease, like I might be dreaming but I'm not entirely certain. It's very disconcerting. 

Felt okay at the dog park today, took pups to the dog boarding facility for their semi-annual bath, and then headed to the gym. The day started out chilly but quickly hit temps in the mid 70s. Next week promises ridiculously hot weather into the 90s. Craziness all around. The gym was quite empty and that meant I could pedal elliptical #1. Wind Breaker was not on #3. Instead there was a younger fellow I'd never seen before. (Wind Breaker showed up much later.) 

I'd already decided to do an abbreviated workout because at some point I'd have to retrieve the dogs from their grooming appointment, and the less time they have to wait, the less stressed out they'll be. So today was just bare basics: cardio, pull-up, and core stretches. Pull-ups were quite disappointing as my fingers felt swollen and my body heavy and dull. Glad I made it as far as I did! 

I skipped the step machine, pushing weights, and other non-essentials, like Bird Dog planks and Air Squats. My phone buzzed just as I got back to my car. The dogs were ready. Of course today, being a lovely sunny day, also had a local road closure, not due to road work but because there was a street fair. 

Street fairs mean detours. No problem. Except that some people don't understand the size of their own vehicles. Drove past a big silver SUV that had just smushed its own passenger side front fender into a smaller sedan. The driver was exiting his clearly-in-the-wrong vehicle as it was obviously making a left turn at the blocked off intersection. The vehicle it hit was most likely coming from the opposite direction and had completed a right turn. There's no excuse for the big silver SUV. Except maybe stupidity and inattention.  

On a cheerier note, I discovered some lovely new teas at the grocery. The local Stop & Shop, known to be overpriced and never quite the best quality produce or meats, sometimes surprises shoppers with a brand or flavor not available at other shops. Like these British teas from Taylors. 

The rose lemonade is really nice with a distinctive rose fragrance and flavor. The mandarin & ginger is equally flavorful. Both are enhanced with a teaspoon of raw honey. Highly recommend if you're looking for a different herbal tea that's not a traditional mint or a sour zing of hibiscus. (The only hibiscus tea I like is Black Cherry Berry by Celestial Seasoning. With a dollop of honey, of course.)

16 May 2026 12:43-1:50

Sunny Saturday Abbrev / Dog Baths

Temps forecast to hit 80°F?!

Precor elliptical #1 (1:20)

Program 3

Time: 30 + 5 (5422)

Distance: 2.79

Cal: 306

Precor HR: 163, 212

Fitbit: 43-141

HGPU 15 (sore fingers/feel very heavy)

20 Piriformis/Hip flex

10 Hamstring stretches

DeadBugs 20 x 5 

10 Piriformis stretches

Child’s Pose

Cat/Cow stretch 12

Child’s Pose

Fire Hydrants 40 x 2

Arm rotations 20

Push-Ups 25

Standing Cross Body Knee to Elbow 12 each side

Neck Stretch / eye yoga