Spring Forward, Fall Back (Asleep)

So yesterday, everyone (with the exception of Arizona, Hawaii, and parts of Indiana) did their clock-ly duties and flipped them ahead on hour in honor of Daylight Savings Time.

This practice both confuses and infuriates me.

First off, I am not sure why we do it. Yes, I have heard experts explain about getting more hours during when it is light out and how it will help people. Still don’t understand why we have to do this. There is nothing like throwing off the schedules of millions of hard working Americans by forcing them to go to sleep when their bodies aren’t ready for it yet.

I generally go to sleep around ten or so, depends on what is on TV or if I am in the middle of writing. (Note: Nothing on TV has kept me awake lately because I won’t have cable until next Monday!) So I put on my PJ’s, brush my teeth, get a drink of water, settle down in my comfy bed and proceed to spend the next hour staring at my ceiling. I was in bed, but I wasn’t really tired yet.

Secondly, it isn’t until you have to change your clocks that you realize how many freaking clocks you have in your life. Yesterday I changed, in the span of the day:

Clock on Fridge
Clock on Microwave
Clock on Cellphone (turned it off and turned it back on)
Clock in car
Clock on Alarm
Clock on DVD player
Clock on radio
Three watches (one of which I still don’t have correct and need to pull the direction book out)
Guinness Clock

And those are just in my one bedroom apartment. I still have to venture up to my lake house and see what all needs to be changed up there!

But out of this grief did come a bit of humor. A friend of mine e-mail me this morning and asked if I ever have other people write for this blog, because she would like to contribute as Asleep On My Desk, since she fell asleep at her desk this morning. After laughing as I got the mental picture in my head, I told her that I am always up for having others contribute crazy work stories to share with others.

But now I have to go back to being confused about why it is nearly time to leave and still as bright out as it was at noon. Somehow I want to blame the Weather Channel…

The Office Scribe

Weekend Movie Suggestion – PCU

Sometimes I find myself missing college.

And then I remember the following things about college and that feeling goes away:
- 3AM fire alarms
- Noisy sex from neighbors
- The freshman 15
- Tests
- Lack of personal space
- Basic Cable
- Realizing that people are filthy creatures when it comes to bathrooms

But still, sometimes I like to be reminded of a better college experience. So I turn to movies. Classics such as Animal House, Van Wilder, and Urban Legend help me feel like there are colleges out there that were better than mine. (And by “mine” I mean the three I went to. Yeah, it took me 6 years to get a BA.)

But last night, I watched one of my favorite movies about college life: PCU. If you don’t have Comedy Central, then chances are you may not have seen this gem.

The basic story is a young kid goes to visit Port Chester University as a pre-frosh to see if it will be the college for him. But the moment he steps off the bus, he realizes that college isn’t all it is cracked up to be. From being pared with a 7th year senior (Jeremy Piven) to being chased by all the politically correct kids on campus, one day in college is hell for this kid.

The story itself is kinda lame, but what I love is the characters. Piven is the leader of a slacker group who lives in an old fraternity house. David Spade is the head of an uber-conservative underground fraternity. George Clinton makes a cameo. Jon Favreau, who has gone on the be a director, is a stoner house member. It’s just an all around fun movie.

So check you basic cable listing to see if it’s being played 700 times this weekend on Comedy Central or move it to the top on NetFlix and kick back with a college experience that most likely looks nothing like what you went through.

The Office Scribe

Things Are Slow

For the past couple days I have been trying to find something to write about. But as I look around my office, nothing is inspiring me. Everyone seems kind of run down and blah. Maybe it’s the weather. Maybe it’s the economy. Who knows?

So instead, I will take the time to wish Dave a Happy Birthday! I know he reads this on a regular basis. So have a great time! Celebrate like you have never celebrated before. Get arrested and provide me with some fodder for this blog!

The Office Scribe

My New Commute

To those of you who know me, you know I don’t like change. But when my parents finally sold my childhood home out from underneath me, it was time to find a dwelling of my own. I spent months searching through postings at craigslist top find a place that would suit me. And I finally found one. I moved in a few weeks ago, and while I still have a ton of unpacking to do, my main concern was the new commute.

Granted, I am about the same distance away from my job that I have always been, but in a completely different direction. And this presented a problem: What’s the new best way to get to and from work?

The options seemed endless. Highway? Tollway? Surface road? Cut through a neighborhood? How to get across the tracks? What are the lights like? Are the commuters here crazier than at my other house? Where is the nearest Starbucks?

So I tried a few routes and settled on what seemed like the most efficient. I was getting to work in record time. Cruising along, enjoying the new scenery.

That is, until the other day. It snowed (as it is prone to do in the Chicagoland area in February) and my car was stuck in my parking space. Why? Because the parking lot wasn’t shoveled? No. Because we got more snow that I have ever seen before? No. Because the idiot who parks next to me hasn’t moved the car in three weeks and all his snow has turned my spot into a snowy, ice filled parking space of death?

Ding Ding Ding WE HAVE A WINNER!

I guess I didn’t take into account when I thought about my new, improved commute that I would have to dig my car out of an avalanche courtesy of my new neighbors.

If it weren’t for my sweet couch being delivered on Saturday I’d go move back in with my mom. At least her driveway is easy to get out of.

The Office Scribe

Yes, I am back - did you miss me?

Hi everyone,

Sorry I haven't updated this in a while. On February 5, my father died due to complications from a massive heart attack. He was an awesome man who did nothing but encourage me. And while I miss his like crazy, I know he would yell at me if I abandoned this blog and my other writings.

So make sure you stay tuned. I have a whole list of exciting topics that I want to address in the coming days.

Thanks!

The Office Scribe

What to do with all those Legos in your attic...

Another amazing website at which you can waste hours.

http://www.thebricktestament.com/

I know I am on a bit of a relgious kick lately, but come on. I did go to a catholic school!

So The Weatherman Got Something Right

For those of you who don’t reside in the greater Chicagoland area, I would like to enlighten you to the fact that we are getting some snow. And by some snow I mean it has been falling for about 27 hours now and there was eight inches piled on top of my car this morning. All the news stations were proclaiming how horrible the commutes were going to be. How if you could, you should stay home. To call their special 1-800 numbers to find out what schools are closed. And for all this I want to say:

Thank you.

If it weren’t for the fear inducing rhetoric of the news people my commute wouldn’t have been so easy this morning. On a normal, dry pavement, balmy blue skied May day it generally takes me 45 minutes to get to work on time if I start at 8:30.

On this roads not really plowed, cold, grey 8-12 inches of snow January day, it took me 49 minutes.

The roads were nearly empty. I never really stopped at a light. It was wonderful. I called my mom to say I had made it to work safely and she was like “What, already? How fast were you driving?” (You’ve got to love moms. They can always find something wrong with what you’ve done.)

So to all those people who stayed off the roads today, I thank you. And while you do get to chill at home today I will be at work, making sure I can use my vacations days when I want to and not when the weather gods say so.

The Office Scribe