Humor abou Sleep Deprivation, Diesel Repairs and Driving.... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Carrameow · #1 05-31-2007, 10:27 AM

For a while I was such a Caffeine abuser--maybe a pot and a half a day--that sleep came not too often. I loved Caffeine and a couple of cups at 11 PM and then tally ho off to the garage and nirvana, lost in my heaven of tools and bolts and diassembled engines. I estimate that 70% of my work was done once between 11 PM to 5 AM.
I started to show the signs of Sleep Deprivation.They werent really noticeable at work because sleep deprived, I rarely talked to my coworkers or said anything intelligent at meetings. Also i would always wait until at least 20 minutes into a large meeting or a talk in the company auditorium to start snoring. I am also sure noone noticed my feet dangling out of the window when i crawled down to my car at lunch to take a nap or the fact that I would nod off in the middle of a sentence or even walking (yes thats posssible) ( some of this is facetious, dont worry I take work very very seriously)I even thought I had Sleep Apnea because I have a thick neck and meet the profile. I went to the Sleep Lab to get tested, and didnt sleep one minute that night--and somehow all those intelligent sensors and software and alogorithims said I had 80 awakening events that night.
I wanted to believe them so I could have the sleep machine which is bit like sleeping with an air compressor hose stuck into your mouth or a HVLP gun taped to your mouth--I couldnt stand having that wind cyclone coming down my throat.
Now you couple sleep deprivation with being a Diesel Head. I work.Great at night! The mind is like a Steel Trap. Boundless energy, cool weather, quiet, all the family is asleep. Unfortunately there are minor details like, well the night may seem endless but when 6 am rolls around and you have to go to work. No problem! Drink more coffee!!! Well Sleep deprivation and driving can be fraught with complications. In the winter when its 20 degrees outside, you have to leave the windows open, no heat when driving long distance. More than once I found myself staring at the insides of my eyeballs at a traffic light only to be awaken by a string of Horns.

Finally one day, I said this is enough. I grew up and maturity stepped in. I cut my caffeine drastically, from a pitcher and a half to atwo cups. Believe it or not I even got sick of the taste of coffee and curbed it tremendously. Also the cool Northwest weather heps me take naps and get my 8 hours of Beauty (sic) sleep everynight.

( IN ALL SERIOUSNESS SLEEP DEPRIVATION IS A SERIOUS THING AND THAT AND DRIVING ARE AS SERIOUS AS DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL)

vstech · #2 05-31-2007, 10:49 AM

hmm, what ? 5 more minutes mom...

TX76513 · #3 05-31-2007, 10:59 AM

Now it all makes sense why you moved to Seattle!

SD Blue · #4 05-31-2007, 11:10 AM

Yes, Seattle the caffiene capitol of the U.S.

It seemed as if there was a coffee drive thru in every commercial zone, when I was there a few years ago.

TX76513 · #5 05-31-2007, 11:26 AM

Maybe the title of this thread should have been "Sleepless in Seattle"

300SD81 · #6 05-31-2007, 11:44 AM

I've gone a week without sleep living on only coffee before

It was fun.. but I couldn't drive back then, so it was safe..