Challenge # 39 It’s Nap Time

 

This challenge comes from a small writing group.  We have a large series of random questions that we answer and share.  The goal is to answer at least one per week.  My personal goal is to do this for one full year.

Question:

Do you believe “power naps” are beneficial?  Do you think they should be incorporated into the workplace?

Is It Nap Time Yet?

Yes I do believe in “power naps” and I do take them.  A power nap is considered  a nap of 15 to 35 minutes.  I don’t have the ability to automatically wake up so I set an alarm for these naps.  If I don’t have a set agenda or an appointment I will just allow myself to wake up naturally.

Today it was a 15 minute nap because I had a rough night.  My pandemic worried brain woke me at 3 AM for no particular reason.  Over an hour later still awake I put on some soothing music to sleep another 4 hours.  So after lunch is a 15 minute quick nap and I am refreshed again and ready to move on.

While working at one of my large telephone centers, we had a “quiet” room.  This could be used after you had a tough call to reset and get back to the phones.  One of my coworkers had a family member pass away and she needed to simply sit in that room for a bit before leaving for the day. Mainly it was used by agents to take a quick nap

We all have from time to time a day with too much activity and so that room came in handy.  I once had a Paul McCartney concert on a school night that went way too late in the evening.  Before everyone had cell phones, I grabbed a kitchen timer as I walked out the door that day.  Lunch found me pulling into a quiet park in the area and setting the timer for 45 minutes, then right back to work.  I think that was more of a rescue nap than a power nap. LOL

Some corporations are realizing that a short nap can really do wonders and allowing employees to check out for  1/2 hour or so.  Sleep deprivation can be brutal and cause damage in lots of ways.  Maybe with the work from home scenario we are in now, more people will learn how to sneak in that little nap and better handle the 9 hour day they are putting in at the computer.

Take a nap!!

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Challenge #32 Mercedes Benz

This challenge comes from a small writing group.  We have a large series of random questions that we answer and share.  The goal is to answer at least one question per week. ( My personal goal is to do one year.)

 

Question:

Have you ever tried anything on to see how it would fit (not clothing)?

My shot at a Benz

Well over 30 years ago, I had an opportunity to try on my favorite car, a Mercedes Benz.  Thank you Janis Joplin, I was a huge fan of her song Mercedes Benz.  I will always let people know, I am not a car person,  I can’t tell a Ford from a Nissan from a Lexus.  The only two cars I could identify as they drove past were a Volkswagen or a Mercedes and it was just because of the song.

I was working for a small gas station/tire shop/auto repair shop and it was mostly family that worked there.  The wife of the owner drove a Mercedes at the time and I told her that one day I wanted to drive a car like hers.  Fast Forward about 2 years.  I find an older car for sale at my price point.

I go to meet the seller and it is about 10 years old, dark green sedan,  I ask if I can take this to my mechanic  and have it checked out.  I proudly pulled up to work the next day in my “new” car.

I go in and start working and wait until the owner comes into the office so I can talk to him. He does not seem as excited as I am but said yes he will look at it.  Puts it up on a rack when time permits and checks it out. At the end of the work day, he has me walk down and look at my car on the rack and he begins to show me all the rusted out places under the car.

He knew where to look for the weak spots, the undercarriage is full of rust and holes.  as pretty as the car looked, it would need major repairs and soon. Sadly that car went back to the owner, I moved on and have never owned “my”car, nor will I.

Lyrics

Oh Lord won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz.  My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends. Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends.  So, oh Lord won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz

Woodstock 50 in 2019

I was not at the first, but I was able to go to this one, and yes it did happen.  Two venues were vying for the public and I’m sure there are enough music fans to support two events the same weekend.  It was pretty much a festival of peace and love and some rock n’ roll.

The venue is right next to the original and a lot of homage paid to the original.  Rain was a threat or a factor all 3 days, no huge mud slides, that might have been difficult with the walkers and wheelchairs in attendance.

The entire process to an old hippie like me was pretty magical.  I am sure many people came with their own agenda and expectations.  Being able to attend and be in the moment to absorb the vibe met and exceeded any expectation I had about Woodstock.

Near where I live in Illinois we have a music venue that has been here for a long time, Ravinia.  Always a home for Peter, Paul and Mary as well as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra or Bernadette Peters.  Great music, outdoor setting, food out on the lawn, the two were comparable.

Happy Woodstock.