Thanks a Bunch Mr Edison
Apparently people used to sleep nine hours a night before the electric light bulb came along and kept us artificially awake until the wee hours. Words cannot describe how relieved I was when I read this, since I have been ashamed of my sleeping habits for years.
However, if I were to follow the natural day light schedule in Iceland, I would soon be sleeping not so much nine hours a night, as twenty. In the summer of course, I would not sleep at all from June 1st till July 20th. Not super practical. Would make helmet use mandatory.
When we relocated to Reykjavik we made an uncharacteristic attempt to get fit - an attempt we quickly abandoned for much needed couch sitting/lounging/sleeping- and decided to go swimming. On the way to the local pool we met a child walking by itself in the absolute darkness. Both of us instinctively worried why a young child was walking all alone in the dark, until we remembered that it was 9. 30 in the morning and the kid was probably on the way to school.
Even though I spent most of my childhood on the 64th parallel, I never quite got used to the wild light swings. I get very uppity in the light times, very tired in the darkness.
In an effort to control the light I use one of those ridiculous eye masks in the summer. Yes, yes I look like a drunk movie star when I sleep.
For our winter blues The Husband made us a daylight lamp which we soon realized has to be used with the utmost care. Leave it on too long and The Husband turns into a spastic puppy and I into jell-o that sees pink spots in her peripheral vision.
Soon enough I will mention the C word. The C-word is needed in the dark that engulfs this island in midwinter. But I won't bring it up until I absolutely have to. The fact that the C-word is being pushed and pandered as early as October makes me irate, it ruins it for me.
Of course the city of Reykjavik disagrees and the C-word ornamental lights already adorn some of the main streets.
Remember to thank Mr. Edison when your neighbor puts up the entire electric C-word gang, reindeer and all, in the front yard.
However, if I were to follow the natural day light schedule in Iceland, I would soon be sleeping not so much nine hours a night, as twenty. In the summer of course, I would not sleep at all from June 1st till July 20th. Not super practical. Would make helmet use mandatory.
When we relocated to Reykjavik we made an uncharacteristic attempt to get fit - an attempt we quickly abandoned for much needed couch sitting/lounging/sleeping- and decided to go swimming. On the way to the local pool we met a child walking by itself in the absolute darkness. Both of us instinctively worried why a young child was walking all alone in the dark, until we remembered that it was 9. 30 in the morning and the kid was probably on the way to school.
Even though I spent most of my childhood on the 64th parallel, I never quite got used to the wild light swings. I get very uppity in the light times, very tired in the darkness.
In an effort to control the light I use one of those ridiculous eye masks in the summer. Yes, yes I look like a drunk movie star when I sleep.
For our winter blues The Husband made us a daylight lamp which we soon realized has to be used with the utmost care. Leave it on too long and The Husband turns into a spastic puppy and I into jell-o that sees pink spots in her peripheral vision.
Soon enough I will mention the C word. The C-word is needed in the dark that engulfs this island in midwinter. But I won't bring it up until I absolutely have to. The fact that the C-word is being pushed and pandered as early as October makes me irate, it ruins it for me.
Of course the city of Reykjavik disagrees and the C-word ornamental lights already adorn some of the main streets.
Remember to thank Mr. Edison when your neighbor puts up the entire electric C-word gang, reindeer and all, in the front yard.
posted by disinterpreter at 2:50 PM
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