B and I don’t fight often.
But when we do, it’s almost always about something entirely insignificant, like who has to go downstairs to get the takeout from the delivery guy. (We’re really big on Not Wearing Pants in our house, which clearly, this interferes with.) And 99 times out of a hundred, any argument- or negotiation, really- is entirely in jest. Unless of course it’s my week to “attract vampires,” and then not only is it dead serious but I am 100% right and NOT AT ALL BATSHIT CRAZY, no matter what the situation is.
Duh.
But the other night, we got INTO it for once. And it was bad.
You see, I am a Fall Asleep With TV On (FAWTO) person.
B, on the other hand, is an incredibly selfish Fall Asleep With TV Off, Because For Some Strange Reason He Can Turn Over, Sprinkle Some of His Magic Fairy Dust He Hides From LiLu On His Eyes, and Be Dead to the World Within 2.0 Seconds (FAWTOPBFSSRICTOSSOMMFDIHFLABAW2.0S) person.
Look, as we’ve established round these parts over the past few years, I am probably not the most “stable” person on the planet. The thoughts whirling around inside my head at any given moment are akin to what it would look like if Peter Griffin, Chelsea Handler, and a unicorn had a baby and it was ribbon-dancing a la Will Ferrell around inside my brain.

See? Scary stuff.
Anycrazypants, my point is that I simply cannot fall asleep unless my loco-ass mind is distracted. I have to trick myself into caring about the Kardashians’ latest baby scare, or Alton Brown’s ceramic potted planter BBQing technique, or whose makeup is the most atrocious on Jerseylicious (it’s Olivia, FYI), just so that I can put my own mile-a-minute thoughts aside long enough to go unconscious.
B, on the other hand, prefers to fall asleep in this very, very unnerving thing he calls… dum dum dum…
“QUIET.”
I know. Go figure.
In truth, I know it’s probably not exactly healthy to rely on cable network to lullaby me to sleep, but it’s been my way for over a decade now. The thought of going to bed and lying there, staring wide-eyed at the blank white ceiling with nary a Jon Stewart joke to snap me out of all the inane worries that wash over me is, well, terrifying.
And so, friends, I am at a loss. Perhaps the time has come for me to give up my late night affair with The Soup reruns and a plethora of Real Housewives dramz. It breaks my heart to say goodbye…
Let’s just hope it doesn’t break my mind.

























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Jesus – you and my BF should start dating. I want to throw the TV out of the bedroom because he ALWAYS has to watch TV before bed. Sometimes it’s the Golden Girls and sometimes it’s crazy movies that make me have nightmares.
I’ve tried Golden Girls! For some reason, he’ll put up with the Kardashians, but not Bea Arthur. The hell?!
Allison´s last blog ..what a lovely weekend….
jen Reply:
June 2nd, 2010 at 10:04 pm
@Allison, I totally fall asleep to the golden girls every night! …maybe that’s nothing to brag about though
This is why I rely on sleeping pills
I have them too, and they are magical. The problem is, when I take them, I absolutely WILL NOT wake up to work out. Le sigh.
Lunesta darling…..Lunesta!
See above.
I’m one of those fall asleep in two seconds people. Would music be a compromise?
Oh, God, no. I don’t know why, but I find music incredibly distracting and annoying when I’m trying to sleep. Firetrucks, stray cats, Jersey Shore, bring it on… but for the love, NO MUSIC.
See? Crazypants.
Molly´s last blog ..chores.
I bowed to my computer when you mentioned the ribbon dancing in your brain because THAT IS EXACTLY HOW I FEEL RIGHT NOW. I couldn’t put it into words. I feel like a weight has been lifted just hearing you say the words. Ahhhhh.
Can he wear earplugs? And put the TV on a sleep timer?
We do the sleep timer, which has probably been the saving grace that allowed him to put up with it this long. Thank goodness.
Lisa´s last blog ..It’s Friday, we should break up – Kate Gosselin the Media Whore.
I hate to admit it, but I’m with B. I need complete and utter silence and if you so much as breathe loudly I will smack you across the face.
But I do sometimes have trouble falling asleep because of crazy ramblings in my head. I’ve found that playing my electronic sudoku (could I be a bigger nerd?) which even lights up (yes, yes I can) relaxes me. I just do that until I’m having trouble keeping my eyes open then flick the power switch and roll over. That won’t bother him but will keep your mind occupied until you’re ready to sleep.
It sounds like you’re suggesting you use my brain. Like, to think, and stuff.
Let the record show I am against this.
NySoonerGirl´s last blog ..Passion
Crossword puzzles.
We had this problem and we brought in a fan so I had some white noise and I’ll do crossword puzzles until I get sleepy.
It’s distracting and makes me feel super smart. Which is a bonus. I can also brag about being able to do crossword puzzles. It’s a win-win.
I’ve always blown chunks at crossword puzzles. This also ties into the using my brain thing, which I am generally opposed to (see above). Maybe word searches? I was always really good at word searches.
I really shouldn’t talk because I’m a sleep with the TV set on girl too. The one guy I used to date where I would sleep at his house he was one too so I haven’t come to this problem yet. There’s that saying that you should try to bend to the other person a lil to make things work. I’d say try sleeping with it off for a while OR put the TV on a timer so it will shut off eventually when your long asleep? I dunno. Good luck tho!! =)
See, I think the sleep timer is totally a compromise! I’m a giver!
Melanie’s Randomness´s last blog ..Climbing out the rabbit hole…
Ipod (for music or a video) with headphones!!!
But it’d be so small! (twss)
Tessey´s last blog ..My fav blogs this week
sherryrose Reply:
June 2nd, 2010 at 11:52 am
@Tessey,
i was going to say the EXACT SAME THING. mine even has a timer to turn off after a while. just beware of strangling in your sleep on the cord if you’re a tosser like me…
you know what i meant.
hmmm that’s a tough one. what about falling asleep to an ipod? then he doesn’t have to hear it.
That seems complicated, for some reason.
God, I’m lazy.
Grace´s last blog ..Summer Reading List 2010
Cold medicine. People will probably frown at this, but it works for me. Case in point, last night I was still awake at 2am. My internet and cable went out around midnight, so I couldn’t mindlessly entertain myself while waiting for the appearance of the sandman. Reading usually works, but only up until the point I put the book away and turn the light off, then I’m wide awake again, laying there, getting pissed off because the moon is too bright, the clock is too bright, the little green light on the smoke detector is too bright, it’s too hot, it’s too freakin’ quiet… Pop some cold medicine and I’m out in less than 30.
Oh, I’m with ya. Nyquil super does the trick. But what about that half hour I’m just laying there waiting for it to kick in???? *shudders*
April´s last blog ..One Blonde Girl 101
FRASIER.
yup. i turn that shit on every night to fall asleep to.
i really just admitted that, huh?
I LOVE Frasier.
You are not alone. <3
We used to be TV on people, but then we moved to DC had a TINY apartment in Dupont and couldn’t fit a TV in the bedroom. Not even kidding. I freaked out the first couple nights and didn’t sleep well at all, but at some point during that first week I was just so tired at night (I refused to let myself nap) that I eventually started sleeping and got used to not having a TV. Then when we moved to our house on the hill we purposefully didn’t put a TV in our room. You can do it!
So what do you do at night? … TALK?!
Jackie´s last blog ..In the Homestretch!
I couldn’t agree with you more. Just knowing that it’s time to go to bed gives me crazy ants in my pants but luckily..N gave up the fight years ago. We used to only have a DVD player in our bedroom and no cable/tv hookup so I just always put in Disney movies or something that won’t really catch my attention that it actually keeps me awake, but it just becomes soft background noise. Maybe try movies instead!
I’m right there with ya lilu. What is it with boys and they’re damn fairy dust? Tink must still be a jealous little bitch like she was in Peter Pan and only shares with boys.
I like where your head’s at. He actually won’t let me put on stuff he knows I actually want to see because I’ll stay up longer. Good looking out.
I’ve been there. Basically, there’s no solution.
Aren’t you glad you asked?
Except for me to win?
Good.
shine´s last blog ..Okay, that’s just too far.
This is why I have to watch Teresa and Danielle and the table flipping drama, on the living room TV. I try to watch it in the bedroom, and my husband will stab me.
RH is one of his least favorites for me to have on, and Jersey is definitely not allowed. Those broads are LOUD.
Kristina P.´s last blog ..Making Sparks Fly
It took me a LONG time to get used to falling asleep without the radio on. After years of being married, I guess she finally beat it out of me, but still, I feel your pain (though I was never one for having the tv on…I like it dark, but with some white noise to lull me to lalaland.)
I could do talk radio, maybe. I find music really disconcerting when I’m trying to sleep.
I know I’m weird.
MJenks´s last blog ..Like Sand in Your Buns
POISON HIM!!!
Case solved.
You know, you WILL meet him someday, and have to answer for all of these comments.
moooooog35´s last blog ..Craigslist Killer – Part Deux?
Nooooooo, don’t give in!! You are 100% IN THE RIGHT, and he will cave eventually. Just point out that the alternative to TV on is that you go batshit crazy from sleep deprivation and start acting all “vampire attracting” 24/7 instead of a measly few days a month.
I knew I liked you.
I don’t know how people who fall asleep with sound do it. If I hear something, my brain focuses on it, which makes it alert. The crazy thoughts of my head dance around until I’m out. I’ve heard that type of decompression thinking is actually really needed…maybe you’re just mentally backed-up, so to speak.
Well, obviously. But if trashy TV is a quick fix, I’m all for it.
Ronnica´s last blog ..First Day of First Grade
My boyfriend can’t fall asleep without the TV either. It used to be really annoying because I prefer quiet and darkness, but I’ve gotten used to it.
Tell B to head to bed earlier than you that way he can fall asleep in quiet and hopefully won’t be wakened by you.
Not to be schmoopy, but I can’t stand the thought of not going to bed together. It makes my heart sad.
Okay, I just made myself throw up.
Barbara´s last blog ..The Missing A
Yup, boyfriend and I would have had that fight (he for the TV on, me for it off), but I headed it off (wisely) with ANOTHER FIGHT: whether or not to have a TV in the bedroom! Guess who won? Moi! We don’t have a TV in our bedroom. *gasp!* But, no problems when one of us wants to go to bed.
His solution for falling asleep sans TV? Medicate, medicate, medicate!
So the moral is the woman always wins? I like.
Jen´s last blog ..Would you rather…?
Books. Smutty, dirty whore books. That’s what works for me.
I’m listening…
k8´s last blog ..A Weekend in Pictures
I, too, am a FAWTO, which almost looks like FATSO, so, watch it!
I put the sleep timer on the TV, so it won’t run all night long. That way I don’t go to sleep with the Golden Girls and wake up in the middle of the night with TurboJam.
Although, sleep exercise is better than none… hm…
Now I have the image of Betty White doing TurboJam in my head.
Thanks. Thanks a lot.
L A Cochran´s last blog .."Just walk away" –Kelly Clarkson
My boyfriend is the same way. I sometimes lay there and count backwards from 100 to 0….It distracts me enough that I almost never make it to 0.
That sounds too much like math.
oh man, same situation for me. if i’m by myself, tv lulls me to sleep. boyfriend, not so much. what works for me: sex right before bed to make me all happy and sleepy, then corny as it sounds, i listen to him breathing and it slows my own thoughts down.
You Schmoopy McSchmooperson!! Love it.
Alice´s last blog ..May charity: hip-hip, hooray, Electron Boy!
My sister and I have the same problem. (Umm yeah, we’re 29 and share a room. Hello, NYC!) I can fall asleep no matter what is going on—crazy stray cats trying to claw each other’s eyes out, drunkies hollaring at 4am, ANYTHING—while my sis needs total quiet. Noise helps me go to sleep, I don’t know why…sometimes I even have to resort to the couch so I can flip on Kardashian reruns.
I actually LOVE the city sounds when I’m trying to fall asleep. Bring on the fire engines.
I too need to fall asleep with the TV on – but H controls the remote in bed. I try to argue that I HATE “How It’s Made” and it ANNOYS me to fall asleep to that shiz, but within 3 mins I can roll over and crash. So I technically haven’t a leg to stand on in the argument. ANYWAY – maybe let B choose what is on?
Believe me, Alton Brown isn’t MY choice.
Gwen´s last blog ..KeyBank Vermont City Marathon Relay Recap
I see separate bedrooms in your future. OR earplugs for B OR headphones for you. See? Problem solver.
You should create and patent a little hearing aide-esqe piece that plays television shows…wait, would that be the radio?
You are so GENIUSY!!!
Nikki´s last blog ..Knocked up in San Diego
I’m with B on this one. I was married to you and had to sleep with a t.v on, but the damn commercials would always lull me out of a perfect slumber –AND we didn’t have the sleep timer thingy on our tv so I was always the one to turn it off.
Current hubby (and last one) is also you, but I’ve WON this battle – how you ask? He takes Ambien and is out like a light within seconds and wouldn’t be watching any t.v.
I adore my Ambien. Truly. We make sweet passionate love on the weekends. But it is not condusive to waking up early for workouts.
WHY IS LIFE SO HARD?!
littlemsblogger´s last blog ..Rant and Rave Wednesday
This is a chronic fight in my house too. I compromised by making sure the show I watch doesn’t have a laugh track. I think I clearly met him half way.
Good luck.
Don’t go batshit when you can’t sleep and he is snoozing in the deepest slumber.
I like the laugh track rule! That’s fair. He’d probably have to add an addendum to exclude anything involving Jersey people as well.
answer: bluetooth headphones for your tv. I also had a decent portable media player i’d take to bed with me with my ex so he could sleep in the dark and quiet and i’d watch my little screen with headphones.
This? Is pure, unadulterated genius. That actually might be the PERFECT solution. WIN!!!
Dominique´s last blog ..red velvet whoopie pies
I cannot go to sleep without the tv either. In fact, I have passed this trait onto my oldest spawn, who needs a disney movie to lull her. Now, husby…he’s a radio kind of guy. But he deals with my tv crap, and often leaves me on the couch to sleep because I heart the Real Housewives/Kardashians/ any kind of trashy reality tv ever made. Really. Ever. Made.
Anyhow, take a deep breath, get him a sleeping beauty mask and some ear plugs, and you enjoy your smutty tv to go to sleep to, dollface.
And this is why I love you. <3
Wendy´s last blog ..The New Pediatrician and an Update
When I was younger and still living in my parents basement, they had all these great late night more adult oriented (no, I don’t mean porn. LOL) cartoons on TV and I couldn’t fall asleep without watching Mission Hill, The Oblongs, Undergrads, etc. first.
The quiet can be too…quiet! LOL
It is *so* quiet! It’s unnatural!!!
Pauline´s last blog ..Cocktails, Wood and Gams
Lenny Brisco is my sandman. If he isn’t describing the horrid, blood filled details of a crime scene, I can’t fall asleep. Fortunately Law and Order is basically on 24/7.
That’s a great compromise show, too. Not too loud, but just boring enough that I can drift off…
Elly Lou´s last blog ..Shuttlecocks
I used to be like B, but then I married someone like you. I’m now addicted to watching TV very late at night.
So you’re saying just keep hammering away, and eventually he’ll bend to my will?
AWESOME.
Summer´s last blog ..Good Bye Ice Cream
But you never see people sleeping at a movie theater. Why???
Uhhh. Clearly you haven’t seen *me* at the movie theater…
At least I don’t snore.
eric´s last blog ..Local Television Production (i Bravi Ragazzi)
I have had this exact argument… He’s pretty much given into the fact that I will have the tv on when I go to bed… But once I’ve wound down a bit, I give in and turn it off… I can’t stand to go straight to bed with no tv time……. I’ll lay there away for hours!
EGGSACKLY. You get me. You really get me.
Kelly´s last blog ..The Perfect Storm
I’m the exact same way. Unless I’m completely ambied/wined up… there is no way I can wine down without watching tv.
When I can’t watch tv on the actual tv, I download tv shows on my ipod, which sometimes even works better. That or listen to a podcast. You might want to give it a shot!
Apparently, I need to start using my iPod for more than listening to Miley on the treadmill.
carissa´s last blog ..My “AHHHHHHHHH (HANDS ON CHEEKS)” Week.
I often have trouble falling asleep at night too, and I sometimes share a room so my normal method of reading or computing before bed doesn’t always work.
I have found that a subscription to a podcast or an audiobook (your library may have free ones through their website) work wonders. Personally I like listening to Fresh Air and This American Life.
I did suggest that I try reading. I’m just not sure there’s enough trashy vampire books in the world to keep me going forever.
silverneurotic´s last blog ..An interesting response…
I don’t generally have trouble falling asleep, but when I do, I’m definitely a FAWTO kinda gal.
Maybe you guys could compromise and get a sound machine ? The sounds of crickets can drive you just as crazy as staring at the ceiling for hours .. but it’s a distraction at least. lol
Anywho, good luck
No crickets! CITY sounds only. Farm sounds are way too peaceful. It’s unnerving.
Aritza, Goddess of ..´s last blog ..Goddess of .. I swear, It’s not what you think !
Gasp! You’re one of THOSE? You know, I hate to take sides, particularly in a pantsless situation, but B. is clearly right. One needs silence and darkness to sleep, not the TV. This happens in our house too. I am a TV OFF NOW person and he is a TV ON ALL NIGHT IF POSSIBLE person. This is quite clearly some marker for serial killers, missy.
Well, let’s be honest. The serial killer thing was probably gonna happen anyway, with or without the sleep situation.
What?
Vegetable Assassin´s last blog ..Short, Random, Good Smelling Things
OMG! The hubby and I fight over insignificant issues as well! When we were living on our own, we were arguing over ‘who’s going to open the door for the delivery guy and collect the food from him’ because we used to be half-or-totally-naked most of the time! Now, because we live in the building as his father but in separate wings, we don’t have such issues. However, we still fight over who’s going to take the plates to the sink, who’s going to switch off the light etc…Gah…And he can’t sleep with the TV on! Sometimes, he manages to and then when he wakes up he accuses me of increasing the TV volume! Which I totally did not. He wakes up with extra-sensitive ears. If it’s not about the volume, then it’s “OMG! What are you watching? Where’s the action movie I was watching? You switched the channels and now you want me to watch this friggin’ reality show?”
It never ends. *smh*
I’m glad there are more couples like us out there. LOL
The Mercurial Wife´s last blog ..It’s Funny Now…
omg i LOVE jersylicious! no one i know watches it! and i cant sleep w/o the tv on either. but i fall asleep to nick at night
fizzgigabyte´s last blog ..Lock Down…
I’ve been thinking about getting that movie from Netflix and you just sold me. I’ve gone too long without ribbon dancing in my life.
If only one of you could learn to be ambi–FAWTO.
I CANNOT fall asleep without the TV on… Even if I stumble home in a drunken stupor I spend a good ten minutes searching and praying for reruns of South Park, trashy reality shows or Criminal Minds. Lord help me when I HAVE TO LIVE WITH A BOY. (Friends quote, anyone? Anyone?)
Good luck, though! And I agree… Olivia’s makeup is hideous.
B.´s last blog ..A touchy subject…
I can’t fall asleep with it on, unless I’m alone, and then I need uh, Jack Lalanne’s magic juicer to ward off rapists or something? I don’t know. But I HATE PEOPLE WHO FALL ASLEEP MAGICALLY. It’s like, a 45 minute or longer process for me.
Amy — Just A Titch´s last blog ..Summer Obsessions
i used to be like B.
and then my husband won.
but seriously? it’s because 1. he falls asleep 2 minutes after he gets horizontal, and then i can watch project runway sans bitching and 2. sleep timer. knowing that i don’t have to wake up at 2am to montell reruns and turn off the tube? that’s peace of mind.
I completely understand crazypants. Even with Ambien I still have to read for at least an hour before snoozing to distract my brain. I also sleep with a fan on every night, even in winter. I can’t stand the quiet. But I don’t like the TV on, I can’t be watching something I’m interested in and fall asleep, but my husband does. Thank goodness for sleep timer, thats the only thing that saves us.
you and me = twinsies.
Only I go to bed around 4am, so I fall asleep to cops, followed by TMZ.
rebel mel´s last blog ..I took the tunnel to China last night.
“Attracting vampires.” That’s a good one. Using it now.
It’s weird – I can’t fall asleep if I am in bed and hear someone in another room watching TV because it’s too loud, but I fall asleep on the couch in front of the TV all the damn time.
Also, NEVER give up The Soup.
BeckEye ´s last blog ..In Memoriam
oh, this is a common fight! my ex and I were the same way, only I’m B and he’s you…..

Good luck!!
Michelle (bikramyogachick)´s last blog ..Wall Walking
I’m generally a fall asleep in 2.0 seconds person and I think I’ve only had one experience with a FAWTO lady. I ended up sleeping in the living room on the couch because it was too bright and too loud due to the TV in the bedroom; sorry to side with the guy here, but props to him for being so patient.
I have to have high school musical and OTC sleeping pills to get me to fall asleep. no shame sister.
Both the boyfriend and I require TV on to fall asleep, so I definitely feel for you.
(I also concur that going to bed at different times would be heart hurty)
Soooo….Why not start with a book/laptop and once B is fast asleep, pop the TV on and finish your own falling asleep routine? Maybe?
Good luck!
I, too, must sleep with the tv on. The Husband is forced to cover his head with a pillow to block out the light and sound. He can sleep through anything, so I don’t know why the tv bothers him, but I am not turning it off. Not at all.
Stephanie´s last blog ..Seriously?
oh sleeping woes. my college roomate had to have the tv blaring to fall asleep. i, on the other hand, am a quiet type of gal. although, i need the fan on!

wishful nals´s last blog ..a graduation fiesta
Two Words: Wireless Headphones
OG´s last blog ..What I Want To Know Wednesday…
What is it with the boys always able to fall asleep straight away? It’s so ridiculously ANNOYING. I don’t really fall into either category, I just need to be tired. Shocker, right?

Aly´s last blog ..‘The List’: It’s Back
Definitely need the TV on while falling asleep. Prefer something humorous, but it can also be a movie I’m familiar with (I can listen to the dialogue while images play in my head).
Reading will also make you sleepy, but not as enjoyable.
Phil´s last blog ..Once more into the breach
hubs and i (thank God)… both want ABSOLUTE quietness and ABSOLUTE darkness when we go to sleep…
we are weird.. i know..
Randi´s last blog ..google is scary
Oh, the never ending sleeping habits. It is hard when they are different because you both need what you need and sleep deprived people get nasty and cranky. Good Luck but in my house, well, I tend to win the battles (lol)
Lucy´s last blog ..21
viva la difference, right!? you know a relationship is gonna work if you can put up with each others idiosyncrasies (idiot-syncracies? jk jk!).
personally, i can deal with sound on when im trying to sleep. but not light. i have to flip cell phones over, strategically block the digital clock, electrical tape over any small power lights, etc. im waging a personal war against all light bearers when i try to sleep!
Lusty Reader´s last blog ..random stuff on my brain
I usually fall asleep under a bench in Santa Monica.
there is no TV.
THERE IS NO TV.
Rahul´s last blog ..Technology Has Ruined My Mellow
oh lilu…i hear you! my hubby is “Fall Asleep With TV Off, Because For Some Strange Reason He Can Turn Over, Sprinkle Some of His Magic Fairy Dust He Hides From ALLISON On His Eyes, and Be Dead to the World Within 2.0 Seconds (FAWTOBFSSRHCTOSSOMMFDIHFAABAW2.0S). Seriously, he lifts his arm over his head and he is out when he hits the pillow. I just wait until i hear the major deep sleep breath…and then the TV is on! So, that should be your plan…just let him sleep then let your brain be distracted and sleep. i find TIVO is good for this!
allison´s last blog ..In the Bag
The BF likes to fall asleep to the TV too…the only time I ask him to turn it off is when it’s only Criminal Minds, I don’t need to hear about serial killers as I drift off towards possible frightening dreams for 7 hours…
Also, “Good Eats” is the easiest show to fall asleep to. IT’S SO BORING.
J´s last blog ..Girly + Manly = Mirly.
I can fall asleep with the TV on, but I have a no tv in the bedroom policy. I can’t believe you are just fighting about this after having lived together for how long??? Cheers to that.
Maybe try something inbetween? I have an alarm clock that I bought at Bed, Bath and Beyond that has 6 different sounds. My favorite started out as the crashing waves, but lately I have been falling asleep to the sound of rain. It distracts my mind enough so that it doesn’t race at night when trying to go to sleep, but doesn’t distract my eyes with the light.
Billy and I used to have this fight all the friggin time. Until one day we decided to take the tv out of our bedroom. Don’t look at me like I’m crazy! No tv in bedroom = more sex. EVERYBODY WINS!
Stacey Paradise´s last blog ..Rainbow Vegas: The Actual Best Weekend
OMG! My fiancee has to have the TV on too! I taught him about this beautiful thing called “sleep timer” its great, when he actually uses it. Which most of the time he doesn’t. It blows. He can sleep with ALL the lights on as well as the TV… Me? I CANT. Drives me NUTS!
xo
-K
Kandid Kelli´s last blog .."Wordless Wednesday"
I’m totally light sensitive that it might be a health condition. I can sleep with a TV on, but I have to make sure it’s not on anything with blinking, flashing lights. Do I usually just watch Supernatural DVDs all night.
Muted, of course. Because I’m a freako who watches TV with sounds sometimes.
I think most couples have this TV problem though. You’d think by now there would be a magic answer to it… :/
First off, I don’t know what’s sadder, what “Unless of course it’s my week to “attract vampires,”” stands for and that you actually use it…or how long it took me to figure out what the hell you meant. I was like, Woah, they have vampires at her house??!?
I am a FAWOTVOFE person (Fall Asleep with the TV Off or FUCKING LESE) because, like you, my brain is so batshit crazy that, unlike you, I can’t trick it with TV. INSTEAD, even if it is something terrible and completely uninteresting, my brain latches on like a demon baby on an Oreo cakester (work for you? no?) and WILL NOT LET GO. And so even though I am trying DESPERATELY to fall asleep, it’s like Ooo, will the Donald pick Bret Michales as his new celebrity apprentice? VAIR VAIR IMPORTANT.
SO, may I suggest what helped make my zombie brain to fall asleep…white noise machines. Specifically the esleep lite application on my iPod Touch. It has a variety of settings, rain and wind and creek and all of those or none of those and then various beta/theta sounds that LITERALLY trick your brain into going to sleep.
So if you could plug that into your headphones and trick your zombie brain into going to sleep, MAAAYBE you could ignore the TV?
Also, just because I never waste an opportunity to say this, I LOVE ALTON BROWN.
same here, on all accounts. I absolutely cannot fall asleep without the TV, and my stupid husband has to have complete silence. therefore, I make him go to bed at like 7PM while I get my “sleepy TV time” in on the couch before I can hit the sack. fucking men and their non-insomnia asses.
Mandee´s last blog ..window shopping – Francesca’s Collections
Tell him to get one of those silken lovely eye covers so the lights doesn’t bother his eyes. Makes sure it is Disney princess themed so you can take pictures and put them on the blog! It will be a gift for being such a great compromiser.
I’m with your B. My sleep needs quiet. Try it. You might actually like it. Think of it as the grown up way of falling asleep.

Barbara´s last blog ..Glorious Greens
My SO and I had this. I love when it’s quiet, dark & peaceful, he loves the distraction of a radio program playing. The solution? He got headphones and I got a black cloth to drape over my eyes. It worked!
If your sweetie is falling asleep that quickly, he must be exhausted by the time he hits the pillow! They say if you fall asleep within a few minutes, you’re sleep-deprived. I know I have this problem. But D was also sleep deprived, but seemed to be able to fight it better with his nighttime active mind.
I am a all natural kinda girl. You shouldn’t need sleeping tablets to sleep or a TV buzzing around in your ears… it’s a bad habit! Though if you don’t want to be the one to compromise why doesn’t B wear ear plugs? Ear plugs quietly rock, although i don’t need them at home, I wear them while camping, flying or anyplace that will ruin my private sleeping serenity. Some of them fall out easily but you can get some good ones that mold to your ear and stay in place.
kristy´s last blog ..In Canada my hair doesn’t have low self esteem.
I am so FAWTO I cant help it but I set my timer now to go off LOL I love your post this is my first time here and I will def be back. Thanks for stopping by my blog.
http://iwouldsorockthis.blogspot.com/
Rocker Chic´s last blog ..My Must Have Earrings!!
That’s certainly me and M and I’m actually prohibited from watching E! & Comedy Central (wait..and Bravo) because those channels are too “screechy” for him to sleep with. I either compromise by watching another station or plugging some headphones into my laptop to watch shows there.
Cass´s last blog ..I’d like a little cracker with my cheese & wine
Go back to the one I checked off with my Sharpie. It’s the perfect answer.
My bf and I have reached a similar impasse when it comes to sleeping arrangements. I am someone who requires the sheets to be firmly tucked in at the end of the bed (and on the sides during cold months). He is of the (wrong) opinion that sheets should remain untucked. We fight about this often. And it’s not even playful fighting, it’s for real.
Good Luck!
Claire Suzanne´s last blog ..Putting an end to The Wallow
it’s so funny, matt and i are the opposite, he needs tv or radio or something to lull him to sleep and i’m pretty much asleep as my head hits the pillow. it’s a gift i presume.
katelin´s last blog ..3 Months.
I can fall dead asleep in front of the TV during a show I love (or in a movie theatre), but when I actually lay down to go to sleep, I need absolute silence. On those occasions (usually in hotels) when I need to drown out outside noise, I find those noise machines actually work pretty well to distract my active brain.
fojoy´s last blog ..A Trick Question
I think that was one break point with my ex. I need dead silence and a bat cave and he was more the “rock venue” experience at night… Living hell!!
I am so much better now!
get a job finally and life would be perfect and sane!
HEADPHONES!
nikki´s last blog .."Ramona’s confidence in herself was badly shaken." or Ramona the Brave
Booze. That’s the number one answer to your problems. Of course, not everyone can binge drink & then hit the next morning running. For them, there is Benadryl (BENNIEZ!) & other meds. Good luck my friend!
Me and the Man are the opposite. I need no sound, utter darkness, 3 perfectly positioned pillows, and preferably a Post-orgasm face on, and then WHAM! I’m asleep. My hubs needs the TV. I refuse to allow one in our bedroom.
We’ve devised a plan. I sleep, he doesn’t. OR he goes on the couch, and watches Sportsdesk until he falls asleep.
I’m a truthful advocate for different bedrooms.
Kris´s last blog ..Raising them right.
We don’t have a TV in our room, but I have to read to sleep–have to. He hates falling asleep to the light, and I never remember to turn it off. It doesn’t quite work, but he likes me when I’m not cranky from lack of sleep so I win.
Wade and I are exactly like you 2! I am like B and Wade is like you. I continuously tell him to turn it down until it gets to a volume low enough for me to pass out and for him to have to read the lips on the screen. Eventually he gets tired enough of it that he shuts it off and we are both happy. Well, at least that is what I like to think.
xoxo
Kellie´s last blog ..You’ve got to pay the troll toll…
I’ve been married for almost 9 years and we STILL have this problem with bedtime. I need the tv on to drown out the voices in my head and he just has to roll over and he’s out. He’s bought me headphones, white noise machines, NyQuil, and even tried sex. (Last resort usually.)
I invest heavily in the sleep timer and keep A Baby Story on DVR for those nights when I’m REALLY desperate.
Sprite’s Keeper´s last blog ..RTT: As part of a well balanced Tuesday..
Ok, 2 thoughts here. Wireless headphones for the TV (you can have your TV, he can have his quiet) or maybe the iPod could have non music audio (podcasts?) so you could still have your “noise” but the noise would not be music.
Or maybe B needs earplugs? and one of those chic sleep masks? (I sleep w/earplugs and can still hear an alarm just fine).
MsDarkstar´s last blog ..Wanderlustless….
Never understood how people sleep with the TV on. Those kind of people are just strange to me. I am just like B, out like a mutherfreaking light yo!
Brown Girl´s last blog ..And then I was like, Yes I can because it’s my birthday!
Same at our house, except T developed this habit after a trauma that gave her nightmares, and so I could hardly complain. But I wish I had said something long before I actually snapped, because I.cannot.sleep. with the tv on. So while she dweamed peacefuwy in hew wittle jammies all morning, I was up at six with the boy and off to work every day.

I got adrenal fatigue from long term sleep deprivation.
So yeah, anything you have to do, do it for the man you love
Alyxherself´s last blog ..Treat yourself to the funny.
I NEED the tv on. Who are these crazy people who like the darkness and quiet. That is some serious insanity. Perhaps he needs earplugs and an eye mask? Or maybe you need headphones?
Dutchess of Kickball´s last blog ..The Conversation Prism; Social Media in a Pie Chart-ish Form
I hate to say it, because I was dedicated to (not to mention dependent on) my precious sleep timer for well over a decade myself, but I, too, was talked into falling asleep in the dark and quiet and I got used to it .
Then again, when some people wake up and immediately start tap tap tapping around on their damn iPad while I’m still sleeping, well that doesn’t seem to be the same as a sleep timer, apparently.
Ah, forget everything I just said. I’m pissed. (It may be the attracting vampires time around here, I GUESS.)
LesleyG´s last blog ..10 to 20
My bf is a fall asleep with TV on guy. So he usually falls asleep on the couch. I need white noise (ala fan) in order to fall asleep. I also need a million blankets, whereas he likes just a sheet or he overheats. I have talked to several friends, and it seems as though sleep patterns and habits should be a category added to dating sites….because we all have this problem!
Herding Cats´s last blog ..That Time I Got Held Up At Gunpoint…
Oh hell no! I seriously need the E! Channel. I just can’t fall asleep without a healthy dose of Kendra, Chelsea, The Soup, and the Kardashians. I feel your pain.
PS: “Anycrazypants” totally cracked me up. And, so did “(FAWTOPBFSSRICTOSSOMMFDIHFLABAW2.0S)”
meleah rebeccah´s last blog ..Doing Things Differently – My Week In Review – [Part Seventeen]
I am so curious now as to what movie has Will Ferrell ribbon dancing. I have not seen it, and that needs to be changed.
K´s last blog ..A "Friend"-ly Guy
Maybe try falling asleep to music? It’ll be less distracting for B and you won’t have to endure complete silence! Haha

Taylor´s last blog ..Lately…
I had that problem with a roommate in college. She needed it to fall asleep, but I *can’t* fall asleep with any other sounds in the room — I need absolute quiet. It was a nightmare. We were friends before we moved in together and thought that this one thing wouldn’t be a big deal, since she “would always go to bed before me” — sadly, that didn’t happen!
Kat´s last blog ..Music Round-up
Ooh no, not the TV! The worst case scenario for me sleeping is TV on, lights out – there is just something so strident about the light from ‘the tube’. My little sleep pecadillo is air conditioning. Even is it’s the middle of winter I like the sound of that gentle whoosh of air in the room.
Maybe one of those ‘sounds of the rainforest’ discs would work for you??!
Jayne´s last blog ..T is for…
Ribbon dancing hah… I’d love to visit your mind… it’d be a nice break from mine. Good luck on your sleeping arrangements. Maybe a small box fan might help. It’s not near as a distracting as a tv, but still puts out noise.
Veronica´s last blog ..Halfway Through The Year
We have this fight fairly constantly except it’s pretty much the opposite for us.
First, we always had the fight over a TV (or laptop) in the bedroom, and AB won by sneakily buying one while I was out of the country for 4 weeks. (He claimed he was lonely since I wasn’t there to talk constantly, I claimed Bullshit)
Now we have the fight over falling asleep with it on (Him) or off (Me). However, like your B, AB is the fall-asleep-in-2-minutes person and I’m a “get totally sucked into tv and stay up until 4am person”. We set the timer for 30-min max. He falls asleep ASAP and I either turn it off, or eventually fall asleep to silence later.
Works for us, except I still fight (internally with myself) over whether the tv in the bedroom is a good idea or not.
Caz´s last blog ..Quick-sand you can’t escape from…
You know, I did agree with Carrie when Big brought that TV into the bedroom in that otherwise atrocious movie we both saw recently. I am way late and likely just repeating what others have said, but exercising at night can help an overactive mind. Also, meditating.
But if he loves you, he’ll wear earplugs.

girltrueheart´s last blog ..Grounded?
Ooof, that’s tough. I need quiet when I fall asleep, too. I once stopped dating a guy because I just COULD NOT take his snoring. It was horrible. I even bought ear plugs.
Hey. Wait. Maybe that’s the solution? Maybe B buys ear plugs??
It’s weak, I know, but that’s all I got this morning.
Hannah´s last blog ..Parts III – V: The Yogi, The Auntie, The Real Me.
i’ve slowly morphed into a FAWTO person… tv at bedtime can be a serious cause for fighting!
hanako66´s last blog ..forever in dept to your priceless advice
You can fall asleep WTO when you’re with me ANY TIME YOU WANT. Cuddling with boys is overrated anyway. Okay fine, that’s a total lie. But I’m a good cuddler too! I miss youuuu.
Vixations´s last blog ..Southern Boys, Michael Jackson, Day Drinking, You Know, The Usual.
I must have the greatest husband in the world ’cause I get to fall asleep while reading and he doesn’t mind the light burning all night. Now that he’s deployed and I’m a monster insomniac, I’m back on the TV. I play Star Trek: TNG and pretend I’m on a space ship all night, which is as amazing as it sounds.
Clearly, you need some wireless headphones. And one of those tvs with a timer so it shuts off after a certain length of time.
Hope´s last blog ..The One Thing I Didn’t Do This Weekend…
Aw
I see both your points-o-view on this one. This is the time where you need one of those noise enhancers they push on infomercials that magically let you hear the tv even though it’s on a level 2. LOL
Maybe try listening to music as an alternative?
Kayla´s last blog ..Rest in Peace Rue.
I am late to this- and I didnt read the comments so, if this has already been suggested- well, i guess I will be double suggesting it… Anyhangover… You should try reading- Its quiet for him, but stimulates your brain enough that you space out- and it helps me fall asleep fast as lightning, unless its reeeaallly good.
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