Can't a guy sleep?

      I had a long week. Hell, I bet we all had one because of this damn Hurricane. Work this week was ten times crazier than it has ever been. All our patients thought that this hurricane was going to cause the end of the world as we know it. They must have thought among themselves; "Why don't we all just go in the store at one time to get what we need and all be a pain in the ass while doing it. It may be our last time doing it." Why didn't all one thousand of you come inside together with axes and pitchforks? That would have been better and more effective. I gave a major portion of my life this week to my job. When I come home from one of these days, I think of sleep and a peaceful time doing whatever it is I think of at the time. Remember, this week is my last week of "vacation" before school starts. I shouldn't have someone yelling at me, I've had ten hours of that already.
      Yet, that is what happens. Let's take a prime example of an experience I had close to midnight yesterday. While I was laying in bed quietly reading The Second Messiah, my dad came barging into the room, asking me what I was doing up. I guess seeing me reading wasn't enough but he wanted to hear it from my mouth for him to understand what was going on. He then comes in and asks if I was studying from class material. He looks one look at the cover and says the name of the book in question form, "The Second Messiah?" I just wanted him to leave me to my reading. He then made a quick reference to my below average grades in school and advised me to be careful. Thank you, I appreciate your input.
      This happened, yet another time, just a couple of minutes ago. I had just come back from another eight hours of work and because I didn't sleep well last night, I felt like dosing off for a little while. My dad started calling my name enough times that I could hear him calling in my dreams which woke me up. He asks me whether or not he heard me and what it was that I was doing. After telling him that I feel asleep, he made me repeat the words "I feel asleep" a good five times before he understood what I was saying. He then sees the book, which I was reading the night before, laying open before me and starts getting mouthy at me. "Why are you reading this book? Your main purpose right now is to complete this program and graduate from school. If you put just 25% of the effort you put into reading religious books like "Messiah" into school, you would have no problems getting good grades. I feel like I'm wasting my time trying to give you advice." Thanks, I really needed that pep talk; it couldn't have come a better time.
      My dad looks out for me and that's all he was trying to do. But its coming to the point that I can't read something or go online without making them think that I don't care about school anymore. Of course I care about school. Why else would I even want to stay in this six year program? All I wanted for him to do during that drawn out rant is to leave the room and leave me alone. I'll figure it out. But right now, this is the last thing I want to think about. As we speak, Kristen Kreuk is fading from that dream I was having and I need to get back to it as fast as humanly possible.

One of Those Days

      I'm exhausted. I know it's almost two in the morning and I should be sound asleep by now. I have work in the morning so it's only beneficial for me to get in some good REM sleep in there but, frankly, I don't want to. Actually, my eyelids are aching to close. It feels like there are ten pound kettle-bells weighing themselves on each of them. Just, imagine how big my head has to be for that to be true. The point is that I didn't do one thing for myself today so this entry will be my well needed compensation.
      Today was my day off. Emphasis on the word "was". So, technically, it should have been a time for me to kick back, keep the feet up, find some new music,  and do things I actually enjoy. But I have a sad tendency to make it hard for myself. Since one of my coworkers called out yesterday on short notice, I volunteered to take over her hours to make the boss's life easier. It was a short shift from five to nine, no biggie, right? Not when you take it out of context. Let's talk what I did on my day off before I had to step into work.
      Every year, for my continuing education, I have to have a complete physical and a thorough testing of my blood-work. My medical records expire in a year and without these updated records, I will not be placed in specific classes and will have to be forced to take them in a later period. If this happens to me then I would be liable to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket. The doctor's office called my cell phone and left a message on the voice-mail stating that that appointment will take place on August 25th at precisely 8:15am. Let me clue you in about my cell phone situation. I barely use the cell phone so I don't really care when the batteries are dead. So the night before I checked my messages and, lo and behold, I was reminded that I have a early morning appointment. I had somewhat forgotten. After getting a whopping five hours of sleep, I headed towards the clinic completely unaware that I left my wallet on top of the counter. Driving without a license! I'm living my life on the edge.
      After the exams, I was required to obtain a chest X-ray which took me on a frantic search to an Imaging Center through unforgiving construction sites and pot-hole infested roads. Afterwards, I went straight back home to take my mother to her doctor's appointment. What can I say? We're a sick lot. It took two hours for my mom to see the physician and come back but, again, no biggie. I came prepared. The Second Messiah accompanied me throughout this arduous journey. But, I wasn't ready for what was about to happen next. My mother commanded me to take my sister to the Department of Motor Vehicles to obtain her junior permit. Unlike everyone else, my experiences with the D.M.V. were nice and short. I only had good memories about this now dreadful place. While waiting for more than three hours for my sister these memories started to boil away into vapor. Supposedly, she finished early but the person grading the exams took an hour to review the exam. Seriously? It's only 20 questions. By the time she opened the testing room's door it was 4:50 in the afternoon and I had already called in late to work. I immediately floored the Civic at seventy five miles an hour back to our state of residence to change and head to work till closing. What a role model, right? My sister kept stating that it was not a good idea for the State of New York to allow me a licence.
      On a better note, I ended up reading a total of twenty six chapters of the The Second Messiah and I'll let you in on this much. This book does not show your imagination mercy. I feel as if I was right down there with the characters helping them unlock unearthly mysteries and finding ancient artifacts that could change the fate of human existence and belief. Sometimes, I wish that is what I did for a living. Tomorrow seems a bit bleak since the talk of Hurricane Irene passing through the area, on the weekend, has everyone on their toes. Hopefully, I don't get hit by a tree on my way to work. That wouldn't be pleasant.