Reason 183 (the halfway point!)

Insomnia. As I mentioned in a previous post, I am fortunate enough to be able to fall asleep fairly easily and just about anywhere. Insomnia does make a house call to my place now and then, though, so I have cultivated a myriad of tricks to lull myself to sleep. No, I don't count sheep or other barnyard creatures or sedate myself with warm milk (too middle-America mainstream for me). Instead, I may crack open a book or mentally wish my various body parts a good night (sounds weird, but it works), but my most reliable strategy for drifting off to dreamland is singing. I have a handful of standards I quietly croon to myself, including "Rainbow Connection" and "In My Life" by the Beatles, and after a few minutes of vocal exercise I inevitably start yawning, roll over onto my tummy, and am out like a light. It's not like I have a particularly soothing voice, so I'm not sure why this technique is so effective, but it's probably wise not to question it and just be grateful Morpheus appreciates a supremely talented singer when he hears one. Jason, I know you generally have an easy time meeting up with Mr. Sandman, but if there is ever a night when you are struggling to fall asleep and desperately need some shut eye, give me a call and I will softly sing you to sleep over the phone. My repertoire includes hits from James Taylor, Indigo Girls, and Bette Midler, as well as some classic children's songs like "You Are My Sunshine" and "Teddy Bear's Picnic." I've usually crashed by 11pm, though, so if you need my services after that you'll have to rely on the video I whipped up in celebration of reaching my blog's halfway point - that's right I've been doggedly trying to convince you for six months now that we should be friends and, honestly, I'm a little disappointed I haven't heard a peep from you. I will soldier on, though, and hang my hat on the hope that you will come to your senses sometime in the next six months, so all of my clever reasoning hasn't been in vain. I hope you enjoy the video (and don't fall asleep while watching it).

"Goodnight Sweetheart" video