Rush Hour and Early Morning Views

I am not a morning person. I wish I was, but it’s never going to happen. But this morning we had to get up by 7 AM to bring our guest from Milwaukee to Union Station. After that we needed to drive to Alexandria to get our punctured tire replaced at Beyer Subaru service. We got a flat tire on Tuesday - luckily in front of our house, during the daylight hours - and were able to drive a couple of blocks to the gas station around the corner to get the spare tire put on it. The gash in the tire was so big it couldn’t be fixed. So as we drove in the early morning light, in rush hour traffic, the typical sights and views looked a little different. I’m just glad we were going in the opposite direction of the traffic  - away from DC - and thankful that my commute for ten years was walking two blocks to the Library of Congress. What a mess the traffic is on good days. So now we are sitting in the Subaru service waiting area waiting for two tires to get replaced. It hasn’t been a good year for our Forester - a cracked windshield, check engine and several other warning lights that wouldn’t turn off, and a flat tire. I can’t wait to get back home and relax. But that isn’t going to happen because there is a work crew banging around the house digging a French drain. We aren’t getting a noise break lately and it’s getting very old. 

Monday Morning and Early Hour Start Times

Going to work is difficult enough on Monday morning, but even more difficult after being off a week. We were in Florida visiting my mom, and it feels like I've been away a year. This year marks my fortieth year of full time work - thirty-one in health care - and nine as a civil servant. I used to have to get up for the 7 AM first shift while managing nursing units, then it moved to 8 in admin jobs. In the federal government there is flex scheduling that allows for a window of about 6:30-9:30 to begin a shift. I first started coming in for 9:00, but changed that to 8:00 when I worked nine hour shifts. Now that I work part time, I started coming in at 6:30 - because I love leaving at 3 PM! Even though I really dislike getting up so early - it's really not my nature- I like having a longer afternoon and can handle it for three days instead of five. Now the Library is starting to allow telework. I used to telework in Milwaukee one day every two weeks. But since it's easier to just walk a block or two, I'd rather just go to work. The place is so empty on a Monday and early morning. But I don't mind one bit. 

Do You Need an Alarm Clock?

After many years, my alarm clock/radio stopped working. The alarm and radio worked, but I could no longer set the time. I found that out with the last daylight savings go round. I knew it was an hour behind, but it was silly to keep a clock that wasn't telling the right time - especially during the night when you're looking to be oriented. So I started to use my iPhone in it's place. But I didn't have a stand for it, and I couldn't see the time during the night without actually picking it up and looking at it. And I was always afraid I would walk out the door in the morning without it. So I looked around on amazon and found an alarm clock only - no radio needed. I wanted a large face and a decent alarm. Since the clock arrived several weeks ago, I have never heard the alarm. For whatever reason, I am waking up before the alarm goes off. I used to get up before the alarm went off for most of my working life, but just rolled over and went back to sleep just to get in another fifteen minutes. In the end, as awful as it feels (for me) to wake up in the morning, it's better to wake up on your own than with a deafening noise. The big advantage is that I can leave work earlier and get home sooner. And that's the best reason of all. And now I know the time is actually right when I need to check it in the middle of the night.