Sleep: We Really Need This Sh*t!

Scientists don’t technically know exactly why we sleep, but I do; because being tired sucks. Since becoming a parent three years ago, I’ve endured the effects of a bad night’s sleep more times than the previous 33 years of my life combined, and it’s not particularly close. Even worse, a lack of sleep wrecks me at the ripe old age of 36, and this week, it happened even more often than usual…

Even worse, I have a lot of trouble falling asleep. Instead of sugar plum fairies, to-do lists and unsent emails dance in my head as soon as my head hits the pillow, which if you can believe it, do not make for a expeditious sleep experience.

Thus, being tired is a regular part of my life. Luckily, it’s such a regular part of my life that I can recognize the signs of the sleepless grumpies a mile away, allowing me to interact with the world in an appropriate manner. My coworker isn't being wildly unreasonable for checking in on an overdue project, I’m just tired. My daughter isn’t being a huge pain in the booty by asking for breakfast, I’m just tired. My wife isn’t being a heartless monster by asking me to clean the bathroom again. I’m just tired… and I didn’t do it the first few times she asked.

Dad tips of the week

• Go to bed earlier. There are few things worse on this planet than having to parent while tired. 😴

• Schedules are suggestions. We played at the playground for way too long because she made a friend, and you know what happened? Nothing, she slept like a champ. 🛝

• Use parenthood to be a kid again. We went to a trampoline park and I’m not ashamed to admit that I may have had more fun than her. 🤸‍♂️

• Don’t take it personally. This week, my daughter said “I love mommy all the time, and I love you some of the time.” She’s three years old, I’m not worried about it. 😬

Will the Bulls ever be good again?

It really doesn’t feel like it, right?

It’s late-April, which means the annual tradition of the Bulls losing in the play-in tournament before they can make the real playoffs is upon us. This year it was the Heat, who unceremoniously end the lackluster 39-43 Bulls season with a decisive 19-point victory in Miami. The perennial disappointment has me asking a very reasonable question: Will the Bulls ever be good again?

All signs point to no. As has tragically been the case with most Chicago sports teams for the last decade (except the Cubs right now, more on that in future posts), the Bulls have been just good enough to sell seats, but not nearly good enough to make any kind of impact in the postseason. Owner Jerry Reinsdorf has cryptically eluded to being happy with this result, as it keeps the money flowing, but eventually a historically legendary sports town like Chicago is going to get fed up with mediocrity for the sake of capitalism.

Whether you’re old enough to remember repeating the 3-peat or simply yearn for the days of Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, it’s hard to argue that the Bulls aren’t a shell of who they’ve been in the past. Now, enjoy a glimpse into the past, the last home playoff game that the Bulls won… 10 years ago.

As someone that foolishly admitted during a work meeting that Dexter was his favorite TV show, marking me as a fan of creeps and murders, my love of You is almost too obvious. While Joe trades stalking for vigilante murder, these two are quite similar. Between the inner dialogue, the self-rightegous mission statements, and the handsome-enough looks, it’s easy to see why You has me stalking Netflix waiting for this final season.

That’s all folks!

Three weeks in a row? You’re a champ!

At what point do I stop counting how many of these I’ve done? Maybe after this third one, because I’m certainly not going to stop now!

Thank you for checking out the third edition of Conor Intelligence! I appreciate you checking it out and hope you’re having a great week. Oh yeah, and make sure to share this bad boy, so I can impart my quasi-wisdom with some other people, because that’s the dream!