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!!!!