The Time Has Come!

I know most folks can't wait until Daylight Savings Time begins in spring. Sure you lose an hour of sleep but the daylight after suppertime more than makes up for it. But for me, Daylight Savings Time means that I can start thinking in regular time. Huh? Let me explain. Three years ago I was looking for a bedside alarm clock that would play CDs, give me the weather on a 24-hour basis, deliver the news plus wake me up on time.

I thought my problems were solved when I found an alarm clock at Best Buy on the discontinued shelf. While the box looked like it had been opened, I decided that the combination of features that I wanted, along with the discounted price were overriding factors. I was so wrong! There was a good reason that model was being discontinued. In fact, I think the overwhelming cries from the customer service department being forced to handle an overload of complaints from disgruntled customers may have had something to do with its demise.

The directions for setting the time and alarms on the clock came in eight different languages - none of which made any sense. While I figured out how to set the three alarm buttons - no easy feat (press the third button four times while dancing a jig) setting the actual time was another thing. After 20 minutes, I managed to set the clock using combination of button-pushing and cuss words. To switch the clock back or ahead one hour for daylight savings time? Just press the little button with the picture of the sun. When I tried this the first time, all my settings were lost. So I had to dig out the directions and cuss words again.

Did it get any easier? No. I just learned to adapt. So for the last six months my clock is an hour ahead. But come next Sunday morning I will be back in the groove again. And then I can turn off the 7 a.m. alarm button (that really rang at 6 a.m.) and set the 6:30 a.m. alarm button that would have awakened me at 5:30 a.m. prior to Daylight Savings Time. Confusing? You get the picture.

So much for technology making life easier. This alarm clock makes me yearn for my analog clock that I had to wind up every other day. But the loud ticking interfered with sleep - hence the quieter digital clock with CD capability (on the nights when sleep won't come and you need the droning voice of Garrison Keillor to push you over the edge. That guy is the best sleep aid!). Unfortunately this radio does not have a headphone jack, so my soothing nighttime music and monologues keeps my husband awake resulting in a grouchy farmer in the morning.

I guess now is not the time to tell him I bought a digital photo frame that doubles as an alarm clock and MP3 player.