For those of you who follow me on Twitter, you probably know about my recent health issues and frequent trips to the doctor for vitamin B12 injections.  Ironically, one of the symptoms that led me to give in to going to the doctor was that I can’t sleep at night but I can’t stay awake during the day.  As such, I started coming up with creative ways to relax at night… trying to get my body to de-stress and possibly fall asleep.

My favorite of these relaxation techniques is a playlist on my iPod that plays about an hour of Disney Theme Park Attraction music and ride-thrus.  Over at VisionsFantastic.com, they’ve complied an awesome audio gallery with tons of attraction audio.  I was so excited when I found the audio from the Disneyland: The First 50 Magical Years movie.  When I went to Disneyland for their 50th anniversary, this fun movie was one of the first attractions I visited… and I fell in love with it.  I love Steve Martin and this movie was dripping with nostalgia, just the kind of Disney storytelling that is right up my alley.

So, when the clock seems to endlessly tick through the night and sleep never comes, I turn on my “Sleep Mix” and let memories of Disneyland’s 50th Anniversary lull me – at least to relaxation if not sleep.  That’s why the big news of the anniversary movie going away to make room for the long-awaited return of Mr. Lincoln makes me sad.  I love American History, and Lincoln’s story is compelling and well-executed, but Steve Martin, in a tux, slapsticking with Donald Duck is irreplaceable.  From now on this show will live only in my sleepless nights, but at least I will have these memories and the special treat of listening to that audio when I’m stressed and frustrated and begging sleep to come my way.

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