Sleepless in West Virginia

1. meg
   October 30th, 2009 at 6:34 am

   At first I read this as "WV in most need of sheep" and wondered "Why on earth does a state NEED sheep?"

   Then I realized what it said and that I only got 4 hours of sleep last night. Go go coffee time!

2. Craig
   October 30th, 2009 at 9:48 am

   There's a lot of poverty in WV, especially the Appalachia areas. I imagine there are a lot of people working two or three jobs just to get by. Unfortunately, that's why meth is so popular in areas like that: it allows people to work two or three jobs with little sleep and little food. It's a sad situation.

3. randolf hurts
   October 30th, 2009 at 9:59 am

   Am I reading this wrong?

   One single night of not enough sleep in the past month? Is that what describes insomnia now?

4. Steve in ND
   October 30th, 2009 at 10:10 am

   It's cold here in ND. The warmest place is to stay in bed.

5. Marianne
   October 30th, 2009 at 10:24 am

   randolf hurts:

   Of course it's the opposite:

   "... did not get a single good night's sleep in the previous month ..."

   Am so glad there's a whole state of people who can commiserate with my insomnia ...

6. dutchboy
   October 30th, 2009 at 10:29 am

   Why are we constantly being told that we don't get enought sleep?
   It's almost like there is someone behind it, I'll go out on a limb to suggest it might be the sleeping pill guys.

7. Justin
   October 30th, 2009 at 10:48 am

   I think there is a perception among many Americans that less sleep translates into someone who is harder working and more dedicated to their job.

   However I believe the reasons behind not getting enough sleep may have more to do with late night TV (or surfing neatorma), than actual spending more time at work.

   A lot of us underestimate how much better we can preform on our jobs and in school after getting a good night's sleep. Our body seems to trick us sometimes into thinking we are fine when in fact our brains aren't working at 100%.

   That said, the "right amount of sleep seems to be different for everyone and can often change from day to day. Sometimes I wake up feeling refreshed after 5 or 6 hours, but the next day I'll probably need 8.

8. FedEazel
   October 30th, 2009 at 8:02 pm

   I lived in WV for two years and never got a good night's sleep. It was the nature of the work up there in the oilfield, and I'm certain that the other two major resource-based professions (coal mining and timber) are the same way. WV doesn't have very many manufacturing or service industry jobs, its hands-on blue collar work. Combine that with the poverty that greatly affects the diets and health of the non-laborers and the mindset of all residents, and you have a recipe for no one ever sleeping quite enough.

   Still miss it, though; its a beautiful place.

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT