This took me by surprise – Daylight Savings Time starts tomorrow, March 13th. We turn our clocks ahead one hour, which will have the effect of making our lengthening daylight hours linger into the early evening.
Sunday night you’ll be able to go out and chip some ice off the sidewalk as a just-before- bedtime stress reliever in precisely the way God intended you to do it – by his own natural light.
Not everyone is pleased with DST. I’m simply the messenger, mind you, but I felt obliged to pass along this rant that arrived by cellphone from an undisclosed location in the north woods. It has been translated (as usual) from the original Ursus Textish.
‘Lo. Bart here. A little sleepy. Just comin’ around.
Late winter, early spring is the time for groggy bears. We stumble around, just like you after a long sleep. Need a little time to adjust.
And it doesn’t help that right about when we wake up, you people start messing around with the clocks! Don’t DO that! Last year I got so confused. Started to feel drowsy at the end of the day and the dang sun was still up! Couldn’t figure it out. Got so tired I just went to sleep in this guy’s backyard. Then while I was sleepin’ his wife found me, and before you know it he’s out there with his video camera!
I knew if I opened my eyes then, I was gonna have to act all surprised and ferocious, and frankly right after I get up my vicious bear routine comes across as a little lame. Annoy me in July and you’ll get a face full of bad breath and spittle, but in March I’m a little bit logy and dry, and a wimpy roar is worse for our overall image than just lying there. Gotta protect the bear “brand”, if you know what I mean.
So I had to pretend to be asleep while they tromped all around me, ‘blah, blah, blah look a the dumb bear’. ‘Guess he got fooled by an early thaw. Blah blah blah.’ No. No I did not ‘get fooled’ by an early warm spell. I’m hopeful, just like you. If that’s my crime, so be it.
And how many different gadgets do you have for taking a picture of something, anyway? Geez! Had to wait until it was dark so I could sneak off. Seems like it took forever for the sun to go down. Dang DST!
Seriously, leave the time alone. Let the day be what it’s gonna be, WHEN it’s gonna be it. You make everything more complicated, and I’ve got enough problems. Can’t get a good night’s sleep, for one.
Your pal,
Bart
He IS a touch cranky, at least until early May. I think it’s hunger, so it’s a good idea to keep your distance.
Are you a morning person?
Trail Baboon 
yup! Early morning is my best friend. When I really have to get something done, early is when to do it. Of course, this makes me totally antisocial as a night person.
I’m with you on DST, Bart. We humans now have this crazy 24/7 thing going on, it’s not like messing with the clocks is going to squeeze out any more time than there actually is.
I understand China has exactly one time zone and no DST-be interested to hear from those who have been there how that works out. This week, I have felt like I am in NYC, living on LA time-always a couple of hours behind.
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oh, grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! yes, i am a morning person and i’m pretty crabby about moving this time change to mid-March. i think “they” should just put the whole country on one time. sun could set at 8 in NY where they don’t care if they are ever out doing anything in the evening light – and could set at 11 where they want to surf and party to the sunset.
but quit switching it back and forth!
sorry 🙂
Alba is comfortable this morning, as she was last night, and i think will wait another day – time change or not. we got about two inches of wet, heavy snow last night and still snowing quite hard here.
a gracious good day to You All
catch you Monday, maybe with kid-news.
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You’ve got us holding our breath, Barb! But Alba is a mother of proven ability, isn’t she?
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Not a morning person at all. The first two hours of the day I am pretty useless. Not that I’m good for much the rest of the day either….
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I used to walk dogs every day in dog park with a woman friend who is part of the MPR community. We met to walk on this very weekend several years ago. And Susan had something to say that has had me smiling ever since.
We were discussing DST. Susan said, “Well, it’s all good for people to get up an hour early. I see how that works. But the animals! I feel bad for them. All the animals forced to change their schedule just because of us.”
I thought she was kidding, but she wasn’t. “Susan, the animals don’t have wrist watches or alarm clocks. They don’t know what time it is! DST comes and goes and they just go on doing their thing.”
“Oh, no, I’m sure you are right,” said Susan, a little flustered. “And I like that extra hour of daylight. But you know . . . umm . . . the animals. I mean, we never think of them, do we? It’s not like they evolved with DST. They are just forced to get up an hour early just because of us!”
Tonight I might toast the end–or nearly the end–of one of the toughest winters of my life. I think we can expect a graceful glide toward spring now. But I won’t gloat, and I might lift a glass to show my compassion for all of the poor animals!
Have a heckuva weekend, dear baboons.
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Perhaps Susan was talking about the animals who are dependent on us for their food…like the goats, chickens and horses…and the human’s changed schedule which changes theirs. They do know when their humans should show up with the grub.
My favorite comment from many years ago was the farmer who believed the extra hour of daylight would burn up the crops. My favorite cartoon re: dst was Nixon holding up a blanket which had been trimmed off one end and added to the other.
I am definitely a morning person…up at 5:30 on a Saturday? Am I nuts?
Science Friday had a guest talking about sleep yesterday…did I get this right, new research found a lack of sleep makes you more cheerful/less depressed? Perhaps that’s why Bart is so grumpy in March…too much sleep!
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Good guess, Cynthia, but I’m pretty sure she meant the critters in the woods. I used to walk another dog during All Things Considered, and it was instructive. I learned that dogs can tell time with eerie precision, but they can’t count to two or three. Without the benefit of a watch, Spook would show up with an expectant expression each day at 3:58, ready to go walking at 4 PM. When DST came, it took Spook no more than a day or two to shift his clock. And this is a dog that lived in the basement where he couldn’t see the sun to tell time. But on those odd days when I had for some reason already walked him, he couldn’t adjust. He’d be there at 3:58 looking a little peeved because we were supposed to be getting on with our walk.
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My dogs get confused, 630 is wale up time around here and the sun is coming up. Today they kick us at what said 715 on the clock and I had to laugh. The dogs keep us on the real clock today. Starting tomorrow they will be please to see we a getting up earlier. They won’t have to wait for sun up.
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Mornin’ person here. What do you expect from a Morning Show fan since the Collegeville Days?
I hate DST now. I’ve just been getting a taste of light as I walk, and now it’s being taken away for another month.
However, in July, light until after 8:00pm is a wonderful excuse to stay in the hammock and meditate on the changing colors of the sunset across the lake. And it’s still light when I go walking at 6:00am.
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Rise and Shine Baboons:
Yes, I am usually a morning person, usually waking up between 5:45 and 6:00 am, then ready for bed by 9:30pm and awake between 2:00 and 4:00am). I am out the door walking outside or at the gym by 6:30 am. The serene morning is my favorite part of the day.
But the last few days have messed with that. Thursday at 12:30am I awoke in excruciating pain emanating from my right shoulder. I proceeded to pace, not sleeping much that night. Dr., Chiropractor, and Massage Therapist say I have an inflamed, spasming muscle there, reason not yet determined. The next week should reveal why. Meanwhile, I am taking a muscle relaxer which helps immensely, but it makes my brain muscles tired, too. So I’m sleeping a lot, mornings included. What an experience! I’m also not certain that I make any sense. But the shoulder is considerably improved today–just 2 days later–so there is progress. If things aren’t a lot better by Monday, then there will be tests. Now I can type, though. On Thurs and Fri mornings my brief entries were one handed.
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For those who enjoyed Gail Collins’ comments on T-Paw and The Troll MB, she goes for Newt today. It is too wonderful not to point it out.
I love this columnist!
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I just finished reading it…still laughing…but amazed how a (Newt’s) mind can work itself into justification for bad behavior….but not funny is the possibility that he could pull it off.
I agree, Jacque…she is the best!
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Aww, she’s wicked funny!
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I am not a morning person by choice; my body demands it of me.
OT: in the midst of our downsizing, we have a couple of item which may be on interest to various babooners, especially those nearby. I have a reasonable quality, and in good shape, drawing table and rolling high stool to match it. The table is adjustable to tilts and heights, white, about 30 by 40. The stool is black, with a high foot bar. Free to whoever wants to come get it.
Also, we have an antique occasional table with a small front drawer, bowed legs, and a lower stool, a yellow oak color, a bit rickety. Also, free to whoever wants to come get it. Has a small value.
Next Wednesday I have a local charity coming to pick up a few items, and I will add these to the load if not spoken for by then.
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I am a night owl who can no longer sleep late. My husband and children are morning persons who can’t stay up very late. This makes things complicated at times. Wow, did we have a windy day yesterday. We missed out on the blizzard conditions that the rest of the state had, but it was pretty septic in any event with wind gusts up to 45 mph. Spring can’t come soon enough.
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I forgot to add that we have already turned our clocks ahead this morning so that we have all day to acclimate to the time change.
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I’m at my best in the morning, and like to be up and around by 6:30*, but it rarely happens because I’m also a night owl who loves to read late if, say, I’m at a particularly exciting part of Huck Finn! So my current job (volunteer when I want to) works well for my schedule.
*especially when there is light out, which there has been and now there won’t be. Renee, I think you’re onto something; we always change our clocks on the evening before, at any rate.
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No. Nope. No sirree. Not even slightly. Not a morning person. Never have been. And if I ever am, it probably won’t happen for a good long time. Left to my own devices I sleep until at least 9am (10 if allowed). Forced to wake up earlier, you will have a grumbling, quiet Anna stumping around like a bear with her crabby pants on who would prefer to be left alone to get through the morning’s routine thankyouverymuch. My husband commented the other day about how I had seemed cranky lately in the morning – to which I replied, “I’m always cranky in the morning. You hadn’t noticed?…” (10 years of marriage and somehow he still thinks I’m peaches and sunshine at 7am – boy is he deluded.)
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BBC Alert – Change of location
I have just offered, and Jacque accepted, that I will host, in her place, tomorrow’s discussion of Huck Finn. Please go to Blevens Book Club at the top of this page for more detail.
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Duly noted – Thanks BiR!
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Greetings! In general, I’m a morning person. I go to bed early and get up early — meaning 7am. Getting up before 7am means I have to go to work, and it’s been a bit of an adjustment to work full-time again and be AT work and being productive by 7am. I’ve never liked nor drank coffee, but I do have one cup of coffee in the morning at work which I never needed before. Of course, I have to add lots of cream/sugar to make it not taste like coffee! How lame is that?!
My oldest son in the Marines is also a morning person, even in high school. We would both be up early and because he would watch the news for Current Events, he would ask questions and we would discuss things. I miss that. My husband and 16-yr old are champion sleepers who are night owls, but my 13-yr old with autism is more of a morning person like me.
Just have to brag — my 13-yr old just got his Advanced Brown Belt in karate last Saturday. I’m so proud of him — he did such a great job. I’ll be going for my Black Belt in September is my goal at this point, and I would be honored to have a contingent of Baboons there to see me graduate. I’ll keep you updated …
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Congrats to your son! Actually, congrats to both your Marine and your brown belt for their hard work and accomplishments.
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Greetings Kids!
I think I’d be more of a morning person if I didn’t have to be. Getting up early for work is required. I have no control of the matter and that makes me want to rebel, which I do, by practicing scattered right-brained procrastination techniques: hitting the snooze button, drinking coffee, making my bed, making my lunch, pressing my clothes, applying eyeliner, scooping out the cat box, paying some bills, doing some laundry, sorting my socks and clipping my toenails. And if I want to be really late I’ll check the blog before I run out the door but only on Fridays when I can wear jeans and don’t need to plug in the iron. Co-workers marvel at my ability to get to the classroom 5 min. before the kids do and still manage to teach a thing or two. I guess they must think I’m a machine.
Here’s a sweet little poem I found on the world wide web called, “Morning Song”:
I woke early one morning,
The earth lay cool and still
When suddenly a tiny bird
Perched on my window sill.
He sang a song so lovely
So carefree and so gay,
That slowly all my troubles
Began to slip away.
He sang of far off places
Of laughter and of fun,
It seemed his very trilling,
brought up the morning sun.
I stirred beneath the covers
Crept slowly out of bed,
And gently lowered the window
And crushed his effing head.
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Ahhh, you had me going, Donna. 🙂 So sweet…
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Yes, very, very sweet.
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Afternoon all. I am also a morning person. I have the most energy in the morning and although during the day I think “I’ll do this tonight, or I’ll do that tonight.” things only happy in the evening if they absolutely cannot wait one more minute to happen. I never have any energy left after about 6 p.m.
I never have to set the alarm on the weekends; although I do sometimes need a nudge getting up at 5:30 on the weekdays, I usually don’t make it past 6 or 6:30. In fact, during the summer, I’m up even earlier… as soon as it starts to get light and the birds get going, I’m done for!
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Good well past morning to all:
I have been very busy all day taking care of the annual meeting of our Sustainable Farming Assoc. chapter in the South Central area. it was a long day and a lot of work. The meeting went fairly well. Some how I just can’t get very much help putting on this meeting and that has been a problem for me. Well, I did get help from some people and it seems that it was a sucessful meeting, so I guess it was okay.
I am a morning person and I very much don’t like DST. I think it will actually be to my advantage tomorrow because by advancing the clock, when I wake up too early, it will be one hour latter on my clock and I will be more in step with other people who do not wake up too early. Is that right? I think that is right. Just trying to figure out the effect on my sleep patern of DST is a problem for me. I don’t understand why we have to put up with the confusion caused by DST and the bad effect that it can have on people like me who already have trouble developing a good sleep patern.
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Ask me again at noon! *yawn*
Chris
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I do like the early morning when it is cool on hot summer days and when you can hear the early morning songs of birds and don’t hear most of the noise of traffic and other jarring noises. However, lots of interesting things take place in the late evening when I should be in bed to get enough sleep. The result of this is the problem I have with establishing a good sleep patern. I am not good at taking naps or sleeping late after getting to bed late.
I would feel better if I could get more sleep. I am able to function okay without getting enough sleep. When I’m really short on sleep I try to compensate for problems I have on those day with paying attention to what I’m doing and I try to keep from being too grumpy.
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I’m not a morning person by choice. Donna nailed it when describing her own mornings. It’s very much like that for me too. I have to get up and go to work and that’s the only reason why I force myself to get up. I have hit the snooze repeatedly for an hour. I finally get up and head for the couch for at least another half-hour of coffee and lounging. When I finally do get up, my body/mind rebels and I do all kinds of things that have nothing to do with getting ready to go to work. Years of getting up early for work have created some habits, but I’m sure that (if I ever retire) in the future I’ll be a night owl again.
I had a very busy week last week and am heading into another busy one. I’ll join all of you when I can.
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