Turning Japanese?

Nakamichi or Maharishi?

Nakamichi is a Japanese high end audio company famous for its innovative and high quality cassette decks. In 1999 Nakamichi introduced home theater audio systems that could be hung on a wall. Nakamichi also sells high-quality mini systems, automotive stereo products and home video products.
Maharishi is a high end clothing company that focuses on denim and camouflage. Not to be confused with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the founder of Transcendental Meditation.

And this speaker is actually Maharishi.

Sleep-talkers, day 4

Day four at the sleep-talking lab... This time the guinea pigs are men in their thirties. By now, all I want to do is trade places with them. What's on their unconscious minds? Drop pajamas seat, pajamas sleeper and community pajamas type. B-o-r-i-n-g... Coping with their s-n-o-r-i-n-g... But the good news is that it's Friday and tomorrow I'm off the hook.

Sleep-talkers, day 3

Day three and yes, I am hanging in there... sort of... somehow. Anyway, today it's boy toddlers. Cute little footed pajamas and lots of drool. The sleep-talking topics in this room focused on games, songs, computers and the like... Once again, to be expected. What was curious is that a couple of boys seemed to be having a similar dream or a telepathic dialogue about game lyric pajamas and download pajamas sam. This was a confirmation that it's the absolute last time that I am getting conned into this. I was honored when I was first asked to participate, but having been here for 2-3 days now, I realize that it's a chore.

Sleep-talkers, day 2

On day two I was with rich housewives who were obsessed with horses and babies... hence the words that came out of their sleep talking mouths revolved around "sleazy sleepwear horse"or "baby clothes girl sleepwear"... Not exactly surprising or inspiring, to be frank. More like painfully tedious and uchallenging. My only challenge was trying to stay awake watching them sleep in cozy curled up positions. It's ok... two more days and I'm done.

Sleep-talkers, day 1

A few months ago the sleeper commission asked me to participate in a sleep-talking study as one of the judges. I was hoping for an interesting experience, since I've always been fascinated with the unconscious mind and dreaming. The patients were split up by different criteria and put into separate rooms. On the first day I was monitoring a room of teenage girls between 13-18. Their sleep talking wasn't too hard to decipher. It mainly revolved around fashion and shopping for sleepwear, proclaimed in lines such as "clothing fashion girl loungewear sleepwear" and "com secret sleepwear victoria". Although there's no cohesive sentence structure, it was easy to record and analyze. Interesting? not really.

Sleepwear shopping online

Shopping sleepwear online is not only a time-saver, but is also a money-saver. And since most stores won't let you try on intimates anyway, just use your best judgement and if you happen to be wrong, then you can always exchange. Be on the look-out for a sleepwear clearance after major holidays and at the end of summer.

Sleepwear Do's and Don'ts, part 2

DO this white satin night gown with lace detail by Valerie Stevens sleepwear.

DON'T get caught in these pajamas by Wicking J sleepwear unless you work in a hospital.

Sleepwear Do's and Don'ts

I love this cotton & cashmere layered nightie from Peter Alexander sleepwear. It's a definite DO. Erika Taylor sleepwear is clearly a DON'T to me. Too old-lady and tired. Time to move on to hip fresh new styles, even if it is for your private sleeping time.

Comfort rules

Carole Hochman sleepwear is inspired by her boyfriend's cotton t-shirt, which is always inviting to sleep in. May not be the most feminine or sexy wear, but definitely comfortable when you're tired of the tight fitting negligees. And she makes it her goal to have high quality cotton. But there's another side to Carole - she is also the creative force behind some private labels, and is the licensee for Oscar de la Renta's lingerie collection.

Sleep better in silk

Miss Elaine sleepwear is known for their long fluid silk gowns. The gown featured above is a Classic Miss Elaine Silk Essence, with long spaghetti straps, which comes in a set with a long wrap silk coat. I love the feminine lace accents on both pieces. Right now they are on special sleepwear sale at amazon.com.

Sleep like a king

Want to sleep like royalty without breaking your bank account? Overtock.com is here to help. If you know about luxury bedding then you know that egyptian cotton sheets are the finest. Here you can find the right thread count and the right color to match your duvet covers and pillows.

Sleepwear for the little princess

Kid pageants have always freaked me out. Kind of like the carousel tune in horror movies, I guess. Like it should be pleasant, but it's not... Anyway, there's just something unnatural about all those little girls all dolled up, acting as little women, body language, lipstick and all. This pink pageant sleepwear gown is yet another reminder of how tacky it really is. Even my grandma would never wear that. It reminds me of those ridiculous poodles or celebrity chihuahuas in their furry jackets and booties. Tinker? Tinker? Are you in there?

Sleepwear choices for women

When it comes to womens sleepwear, there are simply too many choices. To narrow it down, you need to know what you're looking for. For simplicity and comfort, I recommend DKNY sleepwear. For a more racy-lacy number, you can't go wrong with Oscar de la Renta sleepwear.

Bedding, Jr. has more fun

Juvenile bedding comes in all kinds of fun patterns, colors and your kids' favorite cartoon characters. What about the "big" babies? Why can't we fall asleep in Elmo's arms or trade places with Barbie?

Regional bedding

John Deere Bedding is to mid-west what Roxy Bedding is to California. Just look at the logos. Nuff said.

Sleeping in the rain

Sleeping in the rain is romantic when you’re inside, warm and cozy by a fireplace. But if you’re out and caught off guard, then it’s no picnic. Make sure that you go to the bathroom right before the competition, or else the sound of running of water will send you to the john and get you disqualified from the race. There have been cases of participants relieving themselves in bed, and they too were disqualified. If you don't trust your bladder, use a waterbed and make sure to have waterbed sheets.

Sleeping in the wind

Sleeping in the wind is no easy task. There is a lot of self-protection to account for. Depending on your location at the time of wind, you need to know whether your surroundings are hazardous in terms of debris. If you’re in the woods under windy conditions, beware of falling branches, rockslides, etc. Having a sturdy low tent is a plus and then it’s all about positioning. If you’re in a mountainous region or a rocky beach, try to be adjacent to a side that goes with the wind and not against it. Bedding wise, just use your common sense. Naturally satin bedding would not do well in windy conditions, neither would canopy bedding, for obvious reasons.

Sleeping in the snow

Sleeping in the snow can be fun if you plan ahead. You need to be prepared and efficient. You’ll need warm flannel sheets and down comforters - optimal bedding for below zero conditions. Down comforters are good insulators, but nothing’s better than a partner to cuddle up to. If they like it, you can enter the couples sleeper cross division. But if you do end up solo and have a generator, then you could also plug in a Sunbeam electric blanket for a constant heat source throughout the night.

Sleeping in the sun

Sleeping in the sun requires proper hydration beforehand and smart sleepwear and bedding. Calvin Klein sleepwear is made from light breathable cotton,hence a perfect option for high temperatures and sun exposure. Choose white or pastel colors for less heat absorption. You should cover yourself as much as possible to avoid dehydration. The less your body is covered, the faster you lose water through your exposed skin. So please beware. I strongly suggest bringing along a camel water pack, a mosquito net and a good sunscreen. Bedding is as equally important; for extremely hot conditions I recommend Egyptian cotton sheets and a visco pedic foam mattress, because it takes on the shape of your body, which prevents you from tossing and depleting your energy and water supply. Be careful and all the best.

Sleeping in the elements

There is a whole science to sleeping in the elements. Over the next few posts, I will feature my recommendations for sleeping in the wild. So keep your eyes open and good luck.

If you’re too domesticated and spoiled and have self-doubts about sleeping in the wild, you can try out a couple of training sessions that will help you gain knowledge and confidence for the outdoor survival.

There are training centers across the country, and even abroad now, that can help you gear up for sleeping in the great outdoors. If you need contact information for the center nearest you, please leave a comment underneath this post and I would gladly help you out.

Kid's Bedding

That is not to say that all kid's bedding needs to be devoid of color or pattern. Boys are infinitely fascinated by cars, so they'll enjoy Nascar bedding resplendent with the latest sports cars and champions' signatures. And girls will love the abundance of color and fabric choices from Seventeen bedding, their favorite magazine's collections.

Sacred infant sleep

Having hypochondriac parents was quite a traumatic experience to go through as an infant and it most definitely left an imprint on me. For starters, i am hot blooded, so how on Earth was I meant to make it clear that I need ventilation and hydration. My attempts at sign language escaped my parents, no matter how hard I tried. Today, I highly recommend that future parents consider infant bedding a serious matter. It shouldn't be too busy or suffocating. Parents like to distract their babies by hanging toys and noise-makers, but forget about the zen sleep quality that their infants lack as a result. Just stick to simplicity, they'll thank you later.

A Dream of Car Repair

I'm far out west. A dusty town. Not even, just a roadside stop. My car is in the shop. The mechanic rolls out from underneath and it's not the burly cigar stubbed mechanic. Instead, it's this girl. The beautiful collaboration of the greasy leanedness of a hard working man with the wit and string curled smile of a woman. She's young but she's wearing the work of her years. Maybe born with a sticky wrench in her hand.

Tar between her teeth, oil under her finger nails. She's talking and talking. I don't even know who she's talking to cause she hasn't seen me yet. Cigarette in one hand, socket wrench in the other. She might be the mechanic that Wynona Ryder never was. And this is what she says:

"The way I see it is - you got ten fingers, you're gonna die with 'em. (at 'em she flashes a huge teethy grin that beams out from under her oil slick face.) Well ya got eight fingers, two opposable thumbs that is, ya get rid of those thumbs - you save a lotta money on nail polish. Ya figure, the average middle lower class woman paints her nails about fifteen hundred times till they're seventy-five. At least. Maybe more. You get rid of those thumbs. Save a lotta money. Still look pretty.

But ya see I'm supportin the proletariat. Those big men up there in the government, they know smokin's good for you. Makes you live longer. They all smoke. They tell all of you that it's bad. That it's gonna kill ya, printin up little messages on the boxes. It's all hoax damn it! Think I like smokin? (she spits) Pppppeh! It's nasty, but I do it to champion the proletariat. Somebody's gotta smoke. Be no one around to fix your car if I didn't."

That night I was sleeping in Jockey sleepwear on Hotel Collection Bedding.

Fairy Tale from the Dreamer

My mom tucked me in as I was wearing footy pajamas (or is it footed pajamas?). My mom rarely read me fairy tales but I repeatedly had dreams in which she would tuck me in and read me a fairy tale that I had written. After I told her about the fairy tale from my dream, she wrote it down and then from time to time she would read it to me as I lay tucked in bed. This is the fairy tale:"There are billions of little circles drifting across the big square. The big square has lots and lots of very tall triangles. The circles made the triangles white and soft and so the triangles are very very happy and will be for a very long time. Soon the cirlcles will come to the triangles again. And the triangles will be even happier. The funny thing is: These triangles are always happy... because they're so high all the time."

Free Dreaming

It's common knowledge that competitive sleepers, in their quest for controlled, elegant and statuesque sleep often lose their natural ability to dream.
I've decided to do a series of posts that will share and recount what we call "free dreaming." The casual sleeper has access to a wonder of wandering dreams. When I was younger and a free dreamer, my mother logged each dream knowing, that each one might be the last. When I look at these old records of my dreams I must admit that I wish free dreaming were a sport itself. My mother not only logged my dreams as I described them in the morning but she noted the details about my pajamas, mattresses or anything unique about that night.

Designer Bedding

As far as designer bedding is concerned, Nautica bedding is the most simple, summery, vacation-evoking of them all.
if that's what you're looking for, of course. But if your cup of tea is floral and feminine, then oscar de la renta bedding is the one for you.

Modern Bedding for Modern Man

" Modern man associates himself with the ancient world, not in order to reflect, like a mirror, but to capture its spirit and apply it in the modern way." Palladio 1564 A.D.

It's couldn't have been better said. Everything is borrowed and brought back numerous times... it's a recycle cycle. Look around, even the 80's made a comeback. But it's the way that it's done that makes it timeless and modern... When it comes to modern bedding, I lean towards classics like Calvin Klein bedding because I know what to expect: clean, fresh, no frills.

Star Wars remake

I was never a huge Star Wars fan, but I recall sleeping on Star War bedding as a little boy. At an age I couldn't choose for myself yet... There's a cute Star Wars video game out, LEGO version... and I'd be more likely to buy those sheets.

Navigate dreams

These Nautica catalogs have me keeping up with my new year's resolutions so far... heck, they even have me buying Nautica sleepwear! I've been working on my abs and buns of steel and this year I, too, will have Edward Burns' six-pack, marry Christy Turlington's twin sister, have 2 gorgeous kids, buy a yacht and a house in the Hamptons...Only I'll keep my baritone, thank you. (sorry, Ed, but you sound like a little girl on helium...) Then it'll be easier to "Navigate Life" ... with a whole new set of variables.

Wild West

I love travelling... for pleasure, for business, for sport... I've crossed this country numerous times, and on the last trip I fell in love with New Mexico. The rolling hills, auburn sunsets and coyotes... The colorful Native American wool blankets and western bedding inspired my dreams about Billie, the Kid galloping full speed through the deserty plains outside El Capitan.

Feather beds are for princesses

Feather beds are over-rated. Except, they remind me of a childhood story by Hans Christian Andersen "The Princess and the Pea". A tale of how a prince found his "real" princess, the one that was bruised by a pea through a towering pile of feather beds... "Fifty feather mattresses up and up she climbed..." It's a cute story for the little ones, but if you've kept up with my entries, then you already know that I'm a true visco fan. You just can't go wrong with a visco foam mattress. It forms to your contours and is built to last...so what's not to love?

You say night CAP, I say NIGHT cap

You say night CAP

I say NIGHT cap

Ralph Lauren or me?

My ex was a little compulsive, to say the least. She used to put me through hell with her sleeping rituals. At first I thought I'd get used to it, but it only got progressively worse with time. We met at one of the sleeper cross conferences in Singapore. She was soft-spoken, introverted and exotic... until I got to know her true colors. Here's a typical scenario: It was her turn to visit me and I had planned out a romantic practice session for the two of us in the Redwoods. I had sketched out the route up the scenic California coast, stocked up on supplies and was anxious to see her at the airport that afternoon... She finally arrived... with suitcases that were bigger than my SUV. When I jokingly asked her if she was moving in, she laughed, but made it quite clear that she was going nowhere without her ralph lauren bedding and her matching ralph lauren sleepwear (and everything else, of course). She said: "It's for GOOD luck, Barrett!" But I somehow interpreted that as a cover-up for her crush on a man whose teeth are whiter than mine. But "good" luck or "good" looks... was only half the trouble...you see, the real issue was that her obsessive attitude was stepping on my bohemian toes...and I like my feet, so I had to pick them over her.

Child prodigy sleeper

Some of us are lucky enough to know what we want to do with our lives at a very young age while others struggle their entire lives in search of a purpose. I was born lucky and am grateful to be gifted with a mission in life. Long distance sleeping is most often heredetary, yet there are also cases of competitive sleepers that are simply products of their environment. I am one of extremely rare cases (born asleep), hence my chances of passing this gene to my offspring are multiplied. I reckon I would be a proud father no matter what, but if I pass this down, I will prepare my newborn's surroundings to the T. In my quest to provide my future sleeping prodigy (I picture having a daughter) with the finest ingredients for sound sleep... I came across the most adorable hello kitty pajamas! Just too irresistibly cute to pass up.

Under-cover(s), part 2

For those who get cold easily there is always long underwear or long johns, if you like. You can buy them in cotton or silk, but if you need extra coverage, opt for ski thermal underwear, which is layered and conserves the heat better. My personal favourite is the original red union suit with a poop chute. There is something nostalgic about it...

Under-cover(s)

What do you wear under the covers?

a) tighty whities
b) mens thongs
c) boxer shorts

If you answered a, you are an amateur
If you answered b, you are rebel
If you answered c, you are a true sleeper cross veteran who knows from experience that comfort is priority in this event.

Dr. Sleep prescribes...

Improve your quality of life with sleep. It's the best medicine out there. Still don't believe me? Need a second opinion? The sleepless society will confirm my rants. I'll let them break down the medical aspects, while I take this time to focus on the best accessories to recharge. What does one need for the most optimal sleep, you ask? Well... what you sleep on is vital and I highly recommend a temperpedic mattress. It forms to your body which results in less tossing and no back pain. 1000 thread count sheet is the next priority. Remember that we spend a third of our lives in bed, so don't short change your health and buy the best. And... less is not more when it comes to sleep. Sleep is about both quality and quantity. Treat yourself to high end cotton sleepwear. You won't regret it.

Respect your sleep

Having been born asleep, dozing comes naturally to me. I have always had utter respect for sleep, so becoming a competitive sleeper was an organic transition. Today I'm surrounded by those who understand and those who criticize my "unusual" lifestyle. The ones that criticize are usually the ones that are sleep deprived, envious and bitter for they claim to lack "that kind of time". But their over-achieving mentality doesn't phase me, since there's time and place for everything. And it is out of my respect for sleep that I do not get offended by their attitudes. On the contrary, I believe that every person's intentions are good, but lack of sleep drives them to irrational behavior and poor decision-making... and so I sleep for them. I am a firm believer in the universe being a whole of which we are a part and are therefore all connected. Each time I lay down for a session, I dedicate it to all those that are sleep-robbed.

Sleepwalking in style

I never understood why cartoons and movies always portray sleepwalkers with eyes shut and arms stretched out in front of them? ...considering that sleepwalkers need to see where they're going despite their semi-conscious state. Sleepwalking (or somnambulism) is more prevalent in pre-teen kids, but if I ever get busted for sleepwalking by the sleep cross committee, I hope to be wearing my finest silk sleepwear. Although I enjoy an occasional birthday suit snooze, I'd rather be caught sleepwalking in style than in the nude.

Bear with me

That’s it! I give in. Hybernation is a one way ticket to winter in comfort. The animals have it all figured out. Optimal competitive sleep season, you might think. Alas, not so, not for me. I am either too cold or too hot, too itchy or staticky, too dehydrated or just plain ol’ miserable. This is clearly not my season to thrive. But just imagine how magical it would be to fill up with enough food for three months, put on your favourite flannel pajamas, wrap up in mink blankets and check out for a nice long session. Hmmm…sweet indeed. I wish I was a bear today.

Luxury sleep aids

Once again, while I seek out exotic sleeping locations, others seek out exotic sleep aids. I’ve heard rumors of a growing number of bourgeois sleepers in Europe that have been joining the international sleep league and their tastes scream luxury. Satin sheets are back this season and are an absolute must for the die hard trend followers. For some this item remains timeless, yet to me it’s still so 80’s Prince era. And most recently, designer bed skirts have been the dernier-cri among the fashionistas of sleeping. To each his own, I suppose, though I remain a devout purist when it comes to my dream state essentials.

Cultural sleeping diversity does matter

At the last sleeper cross convention the question of “sleeping covered” was raised at the discussion panel. It appears that in some cultures, it is bad luck to watch one sleep. They believe that in a powerless state of sleep one’s dreams can be stolen, hypnosis may take place and spells might be cast by an unknown party. If this is to be a true international event, then competitors have to abide by certain rules. The judges feel that cultural and religious boundaries need to be addressed to make this event open to anyone. This may put off the International Championship for some time again, but at least everyone will be happy and have the opportunity to enter the cross without feeling discriminated against. The argument against this ruling is that sleeping covered may be conducive to cheating. In order to reach a compromise, tests are about to commence at the headquarters lab and the results will be determined early this spring. Great! That’s when my insomnia starts to set in. if I continue my breathing and meditation classes then I just might make it, if not… then I’ll have to wait a year to reapply. But I’m not too worried… I have my entire lifetime to compete, and there is a record out there to be broken by me. More mature, experienced sleepers always seem to excel, and I am nowhere near my peak.

ODE to OCD

You may have noticed that I tend to lean towards more adventurous sleeping environments and am seldom bothered by my circumstantial surroundings. To me it's part of the challenge. However, I do realize that not every competitive sleeper out there is as low-maintenance as myself and I can certainly respect that. Some sleepers worry about the level of hygiene of their dozing quarters and need to have their bases covered before they can even begin to imagine breathing evenly, let alone relax, let go and snooze. These types of dozers usually go for the traditional sleep basics: mattresses, pillows and comforters. The familiar is important, but age and material are even more crucial here. Did you know that between the time we buy our mattresses to the time we throw them out, they double in weight? Why? (you ask hesitantly) Dust mites. They move in the same day you do. To avoid even an inkling of this unappealing image, an O.C.D. (obsessive compulsive dozer) opts for the tempur pedic matress made out of viscoelastic memory foam (that mites don’t care for) and a tempur-pedic pillow. Comforters or duvets on the other hand tend to be a bit tricky. Down duvets keep you cozy and warm, but they are not necessarily OCD’s first choice for they too are dust magnets and are a pain to clean. OCD is more comfortable with layered wool blankets and cotton quilts. I am not berating this approach to competitive sleeping since I have an appreciation for quality. I just prefer a more bohemian, open-minded approach for myself.

Snore-free pillow, your new best friend

I have heard of snore reducing throat sprays, mouth pieces and other snore-free devices… but this is my first encounter with a pillow that does the trick just as well, if not better. It’s a water pillow that is adjustable to your desirable water level and comfort. A mini waterbed mattress, if you will. This will make it easier for the noisy sleepers to respect the silence during group sessions. Finally here’s a product that’s not obstructive, awkward or bad tasting… This is by far the most discreet anti-snoring device on the market today. The trick is in the smaller bar (see photo) that keeps the jaw supported by the curve which corrects your posture. It also encourages sleeping on your side, the position you snore least in. Who would have known that proper posture can put an end to snoring.

Snowed in the Car

With the sleeper cross on indefinite hold for me my agent sent me on a fact finding mission to the origins of the dan river bedding factory in Danville Virginia.

I packed a pair of man pajamas and it was a good thing. The east coast got pounded by a snow storm and I was stranded in the car. Wouldn't you know it, I had to sleep overnight in the car. Not a problem for an international pro-dozer. Here's a couple tips that can make a cold night in the car a lot dreamier.

1. Make sure you always travel with an extra set of silk thermal underwear tucked away in your trunk.
2. If you have a hatch-back or SUV always flatten the back seat and sleep in the cargo hold. You will have almost enough room to extend your entire body. This is better for the spine. DO NOT SLEEP ON THE BACK SEAT. Bad for the spine. If you're driving a regular sedan then opt to entirely recline (or until comfortable) the driver's seat and sleep there. This will be safer in case the car comes into motion during the night as you are immediately in position to take control.

Electric Blanket for Long Winters Sleep? Ouch!

My buddy just called me as I'm about to tuck myself in for a long Winters nap. The long underwear is "too hot," he says. Frankly, I'm not getting paid for this. If he's got some psychosis about sleeping then maybe he should seek mental support not support from a pro-dozer.

He said, "what about the sunbeam electric blanket," he'd found in his mother's closet. I winced. I mean talk about sleeping dry. An electric blanket will suck the moisture out of your flesh so efficiently that your limbs might just burst into dust when you move in the morning. It's getting late. The sandman is coming to me so I acquiesce. Yes go for the electric. At this point anything to keep him occupied. Just look at safety concerns associated with an electric blanket!