My dahhling husband makes fun of me for many things. And one of them is ‘dipping around.’
The term ‘dipping around’ was coined by FatJ early in our marriage. He happened to take note that there was a substantial gap between the time when I said I was going to bed, and the moment when I actually entered the bed to go to sleep. What was I doing during that gap time? Well, my nighttime bathroom ritual, of course. You see, each night before I climb into bed, it is essential that I perform a bathroom ritual and routine that I have performed for years. The routine does not falter or change, and it is imperative that I complete each piece of the ritual before I can settle comfortably into bed. (This makes it sound like I have OCD or something. I do not.) FatJ, being of the male species who’s grooming takes less than 5 minutes per day, has a very hard time understanding what I could possibly need to do each night in the bathroom before I go to bed. He also wonders why it takes soooo long for me to complete my going to bed routine. [I actually timed it once to prove it doesn’t really take that long, and I was in and out in seven minutes.]
So my questions for you are these: 1. Do you have a ‘dipping around’ bedtime ritual, or do you just hop into bed without doing anything? 2. What does your bedtime ritual entail? 3. If you could do only ONE essential thing before going to bed, what would it be? 4. Do you know anyone who seems to take FOR-EV-ER to get ready for bed?
For anyone who cares, my answers follow. Here you are dahhhling husband- this is dipping around at its finest!
1. Yes, I have a bedtime ritual.
2. It involves, in this order: going to the bathroom, washing my hands, taking out my contacts, washing my face, examining my face for zits/wrinkles/signs of aging/other atrocities, applying moisturizer to my face, putting on my glasses, brushing my teeth, applying chapstick, and lotioning up my hands.
3. If I could only do ONE of the above things from my ritual, it would have to be taking out my contacts. I HATE sleeping in contacts.
4. Yes, I do. A college roommate of mine (it’s no one who reads my blog on a regular basis, so don’t get all worried Jen and Jen!) took an eternity getting ready for bed. And when I say eternity, I mean WAY longer than seven minutes.
FatJ 
my husband makes fun of me too. i do these things even when i am camping or away from home or i can’t sleep.
1. yes
2. floss, brush. wash face. serum on face. moisturize face. go the bathroom. wash hands. take vitamins. take a drink of water.
3. i HAVE to floss.
4. i don’t know.
1. Yes
2. brush, mouthwash, remove make-up/wash face, apply lotion, go to the bathroom, wash hands, apply hand lotion. Takes about 5 min total.
3. Brush teeth!
4. Yes. Actually, I’m guessing it’s the same person you are referring too. Speed is not her strong point.
1) yes and it drives my husband nuts.
2) go to the bathroom, wash hands, wash face, serum/moisturize face, zit zap if needed, brush teeth, rinse with ACT, qtip the ears, contacts to glasses (sometimes i do sleep in the contacts), and lotion up.
3) brush teeth! hate icky feeling teeth!
4) um, i’m not sure. i think everyone i know basically spends the same amount of time ‘dipping around’.
1. yes
2. brush my teeth, floss my teeth, go to bathroom, wash hands, lotion on hands, drink of water, put lip stuff on
3. floss, it’s the best…even in europe on our night train i had to do it
4. yes, that’s all i can say
“dipping around”… what the? pat?
i don’t really have a set ritual. there have been times in my life that i have, but right now, nah. i can’t get my crap together enough to do anything consistently, even a simple bedtime routine. some nights i skip washing my face. once in awhile i’ll even skip brushing my teeth. some nights i shower before bed. once in awhile i’ll sleep in my contacts. it’s really a crap shoot here is what i’m trying to say.
i guess if i could only do one thing, it would be going to the bathroom… peeing is a pretty big priority for me. :)
your brother would definitely tell you that i am the person he knows that takes HOURS to get ready for bed. it’s not so much the routine as the fact that i’m a night person and he wants to be in bed by 10:01.
Mine is pretty much the same as yours! LOL There is no way I could ever sleep in contacts, ewwww. Dry contact eyes are the worst.
hehehe…I had that roommate! :)
Don’t have time to respond, as I must begin dipping.
Good night in about 5 minutes.
1. yes
2. In order: Brush teeth, floss, remove contacts, wash face, zit patrol, Sometimes shave, moisturize, go to the bathroom, back to the kitchen for something to drink, turn off the remaining lights, back to the bedroom, refluff my pillows, set the alarm. Personal record is around 8 minutes.
3. Remove contacts.
4. I think I take the longest out of everyone I’ve ever discussed this topic with. I did know someone who insisted on air drying after exiting the shower which afforded them significant dipping around time in the morning hours.
Or would that be considered dripping around? Hee hee.