I've Looked at Clouds From Both Sides....

I've been a devoted insomniac for most of my adult life.  It's not a pretty sight.  I'm sure I'd've moved several mountains by now, if I had just caught a little sleep now and then. Most days I generate enough adrenaline to fuel a small country, just to function at a basic level.  Can't remember the last time I awoke with that delicious drowsy feeling, drooling and stretching like a satisfied kitty. 

I have, of course, gone the pharmaceutical route at times, but that's not a happy longterm solution.  I have tried to follow all the standard wisdom, but  I do frequently give in and turn on the TV rather than flop about in confrontation with my demons between 2 and 5 a.m.  Reading is difficult in 3 of 4 seasons, because my hands get cold.  And reading seems more energetic than viewing. 

SO, for my recent birthday I decided to go for the ultimate solution on Dr. Oz's checklist - the best possible mattress.  I parted with a sizable chunk of change and  treated myself to a TempurPedic Cloud Luxe, and I think, but am afraid to say out loud, that I might just have landed on a solution.  Early results are in, and I'm feeling optimistic.  I'm definitely sleeping better, but my goal is to sleep brilliantly.  So, I'll be patient.  I've been such a dismal failure for so long, I don't expect brilliance overnight, so to speak.  I consider myself a sleeper-in-training.  I hope I'll have wonderful things to report here as time passes.  Even if I'm the only reader.  I'll be delighted to open this up and discover that I've been sleeping soundly! 

As a post script, I should add that I've also purchased My Pillow, which I learned about through telemarketing while awake in the middle of the night. It also seems to deliver.  Wish me luck.

Life's a Beach in Costa Rica...at least, that's the rumour.

We (my husband and I) were recently in Costa Rica for a week, a beautiful country that deserves more than a week of one's time. We had planned an eco-tour of 10 days to 2 weeks, but left it too late to get the required flights, so we hooked up with a tour group.

This was our first time in a group tour package, as we prefer to do our own thing, but it turned out to be, for us, the wisest way to visit CR the first time.  And we're pessimistic that we'll ever be so lucky again.  We were a small group (14) with a wonderful guide and driver, and small air-conditioned bus, and we quickly became family, with nary a spoiler in the group.  Within a couple of days, the bus rides and meal times were riotous, and we were staging happy hours in hotel rooms. Every age decade from the 20's to the 70's was represented in our group. 

I cannot imagine how Collin and I would've navigated the roads on our own in a rental car.  And we learned so much from our very knowledgeable guide. 

Costa Rica boasts world-class beaches with brown-sugar sand and warm water, but we spent only marginal time on beaches.  This was more of a boot-camp holiday for a wimp such as I am. We spent more time in rainwear in the  cloud forest, slogging through mud to a waterfall, climbing a recently  active volcano, piling out of the bus for bird and animal sitings, etc.  AND we ziplined across the treetops.
 
I am not known for my athletic prowess. It has been a family tradition that, whenever we have visited a midway, I am the member who "holds the sweaters" while others entertain themselves on the treacherous rides.  If I had dreamed that I'd be harnessed and flying through treetops, I might have reconsidered before boarding that plane at Toronto International.  But somehow, I agreed to try it.  Peer pressure I guess.  (When my younger daughter heard about it, she exclaimed, "SHUT UP.  YOU DID NOT!" )  But I did.  I did not, however, do the Tarzan drop, similar to bungee jumping.  I was not at all embarrassed to be the only group member to wimp out of that.  (and I was not the oldest!)

So, I was proud of myself for acting out of character on the zipline, but I would've enjoyed a bit more downtime with a pina colada and a book on a beach or by a pool.  While we were slogging through muck to the Rio Celeste waterfall, I was muttering under my breath, "Somewhere in CR there's a Canadian relaxing on a beach.  What am I doing here?" 

The accommodations and food were excellent and not overpriced.  The people are lovely, and their living standard seems to be healthy and balanced. The flora and fauna are stunning. Why would you not want to visit?  

Our group (all Ontario residents)  is planning a reunion in August!!

Thanks, Philly

My handy-dandy new son-in-law, Philip Sullivan, set up this blog for me.  I had only to suggest that I'd impulsively considered writing a blog and in a flash he was on his laptop setting me up.  I can't believe that he and his charming wife were willing to trust me to go public with my thoughts, when they are painfully aware of my lunacy.  I guess they're smugly amused by it, knowing no one will ever read this stuff.

Look at me, blogging.

You're right - I don't know why either.  Why I've decided to become a blogger.  First of all, who could possibly be interested?  And I often have opinions that are best kept to myself.  But it seems like a fun idea, just to amuse myself...in a public sort of way.  Let me just say at the outset that I have the best intentions  to avoid embarrassing my husband and offspring (although that horse is pretty much out of the paddock by now).