Sleepy Time with Shaq & Shasta 11/19/00

Sleepy Time with Shaq & Shasta

11/19/00
Copyright © 2001 Ray Hebert

Howdy all,

The kids have very different bed habits. One is very easy to manipulate in bed and the other is as stubborn as a Missouri Mule. (That is a quote from the movie Truman that I was watching last night. It is on the life of Harry Truman, President after WW II for you non-Americans)

Shaq is very good at sleeping in bed. He gets up just before you go to sleep and lays right on your spot. This is great because he warms it up real good. As soon as you move the covers he gets up and moves to the other side of the bed. If you want him to move more he is very good at adjusting. Shaq knows that no one piece of the bed is any better than any other. The whole bed is comfortable and good to curl up on. He likes to sleep at the end of the bed, curled up in a ball. Every now and then he gives out a satisfied moan.

Shasta on the other hand is a different subject. She is the one that is stubborn as a Missouri Mule. Shasta will jump up just as you are getting ready to get in bed. She will commandeer the spot that is exactly where you want to occupy (this is not just for bed it also is valid for where you want to sit as well). Right where your back and head would go is the usual spot.

Now unlike Shaq who is ambivalent on where to sleep on the bed, Shasta feels that if you want her to move that the spot you are trying to get her out of must be the best and most comfortable spot on the whole bed. She will then become an immovable object and resist all efforts to move her. If you get her moved you have to be ready to capitalize on the advantage immediately as she will quickly try to get back to the perceived choice spot. If you do get her moved and you get yourself situated in the spot, the battle is only half over.

If Shasta is determined to make a statement She will come over and stand on you (not over you, but on you), with that don't mind me look on her face. Then she will settle down and snuggle right next to you and put her head on your chest. Every now and then she will try to get a lick in on your face.

Then she will wait, all so patiently for you to turn or twist in your sleep. When you do she will fill in the space that you have vacated for a split second. By the end of the night you are over near the edge of the bed and she is sleeping peacefully in the best spot on the bed.

All this time, Shaq is sleeping peacefully at the end of the bed. Every now and then he lets out a moan. Sort of will you two quit this foolishness and let me sleep. After a while he will just give up and go sleep on the Chaise Lounge (the one that is triple wide and very comfortable).

During the evening when he needs to go out side he will come over and give a low Hummpppphhhh. If that does not get your attention then he will go a bit louder. It is sort of excuse me I need to go out, don't mean to disturb you but I can't open the door by myself. Shasta waits until Shaq gets my attention, then she springs up and heads for the door. She has to be the first one out the door at all times. She gets there and starts this excited dancing routine sort of like, "I have to go real bad, open the door".

When they are done and ready to come in you have to time it just right. You let them in, acknowledge their presence, faint going to the door and hope that Shasta buys it. If she does you then have a clear path back to bed, if not you start from scratch.

Well that is the story of Sleepy Time Shaq & Shasta.

We hope each of you had a pleasant and relaxed weekend.

Cheers,
Ray & Shaq & Shasta