All the Pretty Lights

Light exhibits properties of both a particle and a wave.

Usually I am able to pull in a good 6 hours of sleep a night. That's not too bad for a college student, at least from what I hear. It's enough sleep to keep you alive but slightly groggy throughout the week. Then on the weekend I sleep in and refill my nearly empty tank. Lately I've been getting far less than my usual 6 hours, and it's been taking a toll. I am far more tired and exhausted than usual, but additionally I am far more easily agitated. Not to mention my spelling becomes atrocious, perhaps the worst aspect of all. This sudden sleep shortage has come as a result of my previously single roommate becoming entangled in a relationship with a girl he recently met. Every night it seems without fail, my roommate either calls or receives a call from said girl originating around 1:00 am, and lasting several hours. The majority of individuals I have run across in my life have been the sort that usually would rather not have personal conversations with the opposite sex in the presence of another person. They would typically walk out into the empty front room to sit on the couch and discuss the ever important issues of who misses who more since seeing each other an hour ago, or who loves who more. Instead of utilizing the spacious, empty front room to pace and talk my roommate prefers the comfort of his bed and my unsolicited ears. I find it rather difficult to sleep to an ongoing conversation, whether it is in Spanish or not. The end result is an increasing level of irritation until I either fall unconscious or the conversation ends and I am able to compose myself and fall asleep, hours later than intended. Besides feeling zombie-like all day, I have also noticed that when I am sleeping and wake up during the night I am much more disoriented than usual, and prone to some crazy dreams.

I went on an art travel study trip this past weekend to Salt Lake City, to visit all the galleries and art museums in the area as well as a few other landmarks nearby. I was worried the trip was going to be an annoying waste of time and more than a minor inconvenience. Thankfully I was proven wrong completely. We stayed in a hotel downtown blocks away from the massive buildings that make up the skyline of the city. Outside the window flashed the lights of the buildings and signage advertising parking and midnight sushi. It reminded me of staying in Vegas where there are always lights flashing brightly outside of any hotel window, day or night. There is always something shining outside those large glass windows.

It was just after Thanksgiving and nearing Christmas time, and surprise surprise I was sick. Nothing saps the holiday spirit like having family around to visit for a short time and being too unwell to spend any time with them. Such was the case for me, and I was trapped in the dark and lonely isolation of my room  wrapped in the blankets on my bed hoping for sleep to save me from the current uncomfort of being conscious. I was drifting through a feverish sleep cycle when I was jettisoned awake by the unmistakable feeling of something or someone being on top of me. Still semiconscious, I realized what was taking place. My 2 year old niece had wandered into my room, "the fun room", and was climbing up onto the bed and on top of me. She was saying, "Lights! Lights! look at the lights danyo!" I pulled myself up and helped her onto the bed where she went to the window just above and began pointing to the recently hung Christmas lights glowing outside. I sat there and looked at the lights with her for a few minutes until her mom came in and pulled her away to let me back to my feverish slumber. It was a beautiful moment, topped only by my awaking in the morning to a surprise cup full of cheerios in my bed.