New life goal: Arrange my existence such that I don’t need to wake up routinely before dawn or get home in the dark. Just last week the sun started coming up late enough to necessitate waking in the dark. (Where I live, an eastward-looming mountain range delays sunrise by 35 minutes.) And it will be just a few weeks until darkness begins to fall in the late afternoon.
By putting this on the same list as “orbit Earth” and “ride a motorcycle around the world,” it’s sure to happen.
Step one: smash your alarm clock with a brick.
Step two: stay up late every night with your wife, sipping wine.
Step three: …there’s no step three! Enjoy waking up well past dawn every day (albeit occasionally with a mild headache).
Waldo,
I admire your goals, however, I’m disappointed to learn that “orbit Earth” and “ride a motorcycle around the world” are separate items. Obviously, you just need a big jump and a really powerful motorcycle.
What you need to do is build a new house *on top of* that mountain.
Oh, wait. I believe you’ve already got that happening.
Jeff,
You forgot step 4. Profit!
I’m reminded unpleasantly of the winters I spent in California; I was in college, all my classes were in the afternoons and evenings, and I frequently stayed up late partying or working. That meant that I often woke up at 12:30, hurried to a 1pm class, and stayed in class until 5pm — at which point it had already been dark for about 30 minutes. This means that I usually got around 25-30 minutes of sunlight every day. It was pretty depressing.
This was also combined with California’s mild-but-frustrating winters, during which the temperature is around 70-80 degrees during the day, but drops to the 40s-50s at night, necessitating that one change pants at least once, if not twice a day. ugh.
moral #1 = we should institute daylight-savings-time that runs year-round (extending its duration is the sole issue about which I have ever agreed with George W.)
moral #2 = southern california is inhospitable and unpleasant, and a dramatically miserable place to live.
James,
Don’t feel too embarrassed. I’m sure that chronic incontinence caused by temperature shifts is more common than most people would think.
as we say in the south: do what now?
Waldo, If you ride a motorcycle around the world, you better consider riding with me buddy. I’ll be the Charlie to your Ewan and we’ll make either a fantastic documentary or blog (or both). First I need to accomplish my goal of learning to ride a wheelie. Ideally I’d like to be taught by Charlie Boorman.
If you don’t invite me I’ll get your parents on my side ;)
-Chris