Nov 01 2009
Back to the future
Pre-Ramble: In theory, “spring forward“ seems way better than the annual Daylight Savings “fall back” event. Who wants to go backwards, let alone fall there? (I would rather slam my hand in a car door than re-live junior high.) Besides, I am definitely a “spring forward” kind of gal. I am all about leaping into the future full of vim and vigor to wring the most out of the exciting possibilities that lie ahead.
Upon closer observation, however, I’ve discovered that the “fall back” is really the desirable option here. As twisty and turny as Alice’s trip through Wonderland, the discrepancy between the “spring forward/fall back” language and meaning is actually quite deceptive.
Turns out the clumsy and degenerative terms “fall” and “back“ actually represent the bonus extra hour opportunity, while the energetic and progressive ”spring” and “forward“ are all about the lose-an-hour-of-sleep-and-be-late-for-everything scenario. !!
How many times have you said to yourself, “Oh, if I only had an extra hour in a day” … ? Well, quit your whining! Here’s your opportunity to tack on the extra hour and live it up! The following are some suggestions to get you started:
- Play the Minute Waltz 60 times
- Boil a 5 minute egg 12 times
- Run 6.6 miles (or 1.6 miles if you’re really slow)
- Play 4 holes of golf (or 2 holes of golf if you take twice as many shots as a normal golfer)
- Paint your fingernails and toenails, and the nails of 4 of your friends, with Sally Hansen’s Dries in One-Minute polish
- Bake a pan of brownies (includes, opening box, adding ingredients, mixing it up, baking time and cooling)
- Eat a pan of warm brownies
- Read “Goodnight Moon” to a 5-year-old (includes sounding out words and the random Q&A)
- Do whatever it is you do when you say “Just a minute … ” (Note: this always takes longer than 1 minute.)
- Well, it is going to take me at least 20 minutes to set all the clocks back an hour … (except the one in my car which is conveniently set at Daylight Savings Time on a permanent basis)
The Take-Away: Time is ticking! … What fabulous things are you going to do with your extra hour?
Great suggestions. (Do you know of any alternatives to Goodnight Moon that one might read to a 5 year old at bedtime?)
Why yes, Deb, as a matter of fact, I can think of a very good story that can be read to and with children at bedtime or pretty much any time of day – the “i-get-around” book featuring an adventurous and adorable dog named Rover! Look for it at http://www.i-get-around.com … Woof!
Now , I’m sorry I lost my extra hour Sunday, with all your good ideas.