diff --git a/wash/src/actor/ActorThread.java b/wash/src/actor/ActorThread.java
index b7f992f..558aa21 100644
--- a/wash/src/actor/ActorThread.java
+++ b/wash/src/actor/ActorThread.java
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import java.util.concurrent.LinkedBlockingQueue;
 import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit;
 import java.util.Optional;
 
-public class ActorThread<M> extends Thread {
+public abstract class ActorThread<M> extends Thread {
 
     private final LinkedBlockingQueue<M> q = new LinkedBlockingQueue<>();
 
@@ -25,7 +25,21 @@ public class ActorThread<M> extends Thread {
         return q.poll(timeout, TimeUnit.MILLISECONDS);
     }
 
-    protected Optional<M> poll(long timeOut) throws InterruptedException {
-        return Optional.ofNullable(q.poll(timeOut, TimeUnit.MILLISECONDS));
+    protected Optional<M> poll(long timeOut) {
+        try {
+            return Optional.ofNullable(q.poll(timeOut, TimeUnit.MILLISECONDS));
+        } catch (InterruptedException e) {
+            return Optional.empty();
+        } catch (Exception e) {
+            return Optional.empty(); // Or exit the program
+        }
+    }
+
+    protected void usleep(long time) {
+        try {
+            Thread.sleep(time);
+        } catch (InterruptedException e) {
+            e.printStackTrace();
+        }
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file