Telling Time by the Whistles

[mrdreamjeans]

One of my quirks is that I really don't like having clocks around the house, especially alarm clocks. I don't even own one. A perk of theater life is that performances are always in the evenings and afternoons (on the weekends or an occasional Wednesday), though occasionally you'll work for a theater company that does student matinees at 10 in the morning. Even then, you seldom need a wake-up call.

My internal clock is fairly accurate. If I decide at bed time that I'll awake at 7am, I usually do. At my folks, I could tell by the light entering my room what time it was. I worried a bit about waking up on time for work in my new house, but have found I have nothing to worry about. I can get up and judge time in the mornings by train whistles.

Train tracks run through downtown Brenham and the passing freight trains encounter three closely spaced crossings in about a quarter of a mile. It means lots of whistles. The trains run like clock-work (grin) in the early morning hours, their warning whistles piercing the quiet, waking the townsfolk. Instead of an irritant, I've decided I've got a built-in alarm clock system at my disposal. The first train whistle comes at 6:42am. I can get up then or choose to ignore it for a few more minutes of burrowing in my comfy bed. The second set of whistles comes at 7am sharp. For me, that means get your ass out of bed. At 7:23am, there's a third set of whistles which means, you better be out the door in seven minutes or you'll be late for work.

There's no set time for me to be at the office as I work on contract and set my own hours; however, to instill discipline in myself, I push to be to work by 8am. I've had 2 1/2 decades of theater work and this has been a big change, but I'm slowly getting used to it. Fortunately, the new house only adds four miles to my commute. I now live 18 miles from my employment. Since, our two-lane highways have a speed limit of 70mph, unless I get behind an old geezer or a truck hauling hay or cattle, I can be to work in 30 minutes or less. Besides, my brother has gotten in the habit of bringing me a breakfast taco and chocolate milk from the local donut shop in the mornings. Wouldn't want it to get cold:) Life is good!

Bottom line - If you want me in the mornings, just whistle! :)

On another topic: A VERY BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO guiser1!!!!

Comments

[vernnyc.livejournal.com]

But good sir, exactly how does one whistle?

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Pucker and blow, dear, pucker and blow:)

Nice to hear that there is order in the world

[redbearmark.livejournal.com]

Punctual trains are an irritant to most people. Glad to hear that they can help you know times and get your day started.

Re: Nice to hear that there is order in the world

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Of course, if they are ever off schedule, then I'm late for work. *grin*

[mikeybill.livejournal.com]

I whistled this morning, and I whistled, and I whistled... ;-)

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Damn, boy! That was you?! I could hear the squealing just like it was in the room:)!

[mikeybill.livejournal.com]

Squealing?!?!? I wasn't squealing - that would come later ;-)

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I always get whistling and squealing mixed up. They're both happy sounds to me:)

[huladavid.livejournal.com]

I lived for a long time in the Fargo (ND) & Moorhead (MN) area, and there's a railroad track that runs right down the middle of town. Plus there are a lot of coal trains coming through--very loooooong coal trains. Life pretty much shut down when ever a train came through.

Now, I've lived in Minneapolis for about 25, almost 30 years, and I can still remember how shocked I was when I was first stopped by a train here. A couple of years after I moved. I'd forgotten how used to trains I used to be.

Somewhat related: A couple of years ago I was visiting my brother & his family, and we went into "town" for a block party. While we were walking to the party a train came through, so we had to wait for a bit. After a while I turned to my brother and asked, "Coal train?"

He said, "Yeah."

"Hmmph." I anwered back. "I thought it was Mingus."

[scottokc.livejournal.com]

I am on disability and don't work, so I don't have to set an alarm most mornings. However, there is something comforting in being able to turn over and look at a clock during the night.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

That's true ... I just don't want an alarm attached to it:)

[scottokc.livejournal.com]

Good point! I find that I don't sleep well the nights where I do have to get up early for some reason. I tend to wake up every hour.