Never long enough

Good Morning and do I feel spring weather out there?

I go through the same ritual every morning: wake up well before the alarm, fall back asleep, hear alarm, hit snooze about 100 times, pull myself out of bed.
Every morning. The exact same ritual.
In between the first alarm and the snooze, I always think: "If I just had a couple more hours, the day will go smooth."
I know it's not true. I know if I did call into work and say I would be a little late, the extra sleep wouldn't matter. The next day would be the ritual.
So, as the coffee is brewing next to me, I think: "Wouldn't it be good to get a couple of hours of sleep."

Video game redux

Good Morning and let's just all agree we should end winter now.

I remember when we first got video games in our house.
Suddenly, I could play pong and space invaders on the television (Thanks Atari) instead of waiting to go to the mall.
It was a good time.
As I got older, I found it was more fun to head to the mall and hang out at the arcade. Don't think that had as much to do with the games as being able to just hang out.
The arcades soon went the way of the dinosaurs (well, except for the down the shore) when the games at home got cheaper and better.
Now, it's all about the games.
My biggest threat for good behavior is I'll not let them play games. Sometimes it works, other times it just gets worse.
I pull them off the computer and they start playing on the phone.
I take the phone away and they are lost.
So, what can we do about this? How do we unplug teens and pre-teens?
Time to pull out the basketball.

Rise and Shine --- WAKE UP

Good Morning to all you loyal readers (I know you are both out there)!

Ever have one of those mornings where you are so tired you want to just stay in bed, but you know you wouldn't fall back asleep anyway so might as well get up.
Yeah, those days. Like today.
I swear I hit the snooze about 10 times this morning. I knew I had to get up and get to work, but it felt so much better just to stay under the covers. Somehow, maybe because this seems to happen more and more, I know I wouldn't have fallen back asleep. At least if I had fallen asleep, I just knew it wouldn't have been restful.
I'd want to check my e-mail to see if I have any cool messages. I'd want to see if it really is that hot outside or is the air conditioner just set too high. I'd want to eat my breakfast.
So, yeah, I curse that guy who invented the snooze button, but I also honor him (apparently it was an unknown worker in 1959 who came up the idea).
Now, where's my pillow?

Rise and Shine --- It's too early

Good Morning and welcome back to a brand-new week!

So, it's a rare occurrence when my alarm doesn't go off in the morning. Usually, I have to set it seven days a week. It rings (well, sings or something) anywhere between 3:30 and 8 every morning.
After a long week, though, I decided not to set it Saturday morning. I told the little ones there was no reason to get up early. The first thing we had to do Saturday was make a drop-off at dance class, but that wasn't until 9:45.
We stayed up a little later Friday night and figured it would be a good day to get some extra rest.
It slipped my mind, though, there was a birthday party to attend. Tell a precocious 6-year old girl there's a party Saturday afternoon and, well, you can predict what happened.
"Daddy, Daddy," came the first shakes. "Is it time to get ready for the party?"
Um, not yet, it's only 5 a.m. How about we sleep for a little while longer.
"OK," she said. "But you have to make sure you wake me up in time."
Like hitting the snooze button on the alarm, about 30 minutes later I heard the door open.
"Is it time yet, Daddy?"
Knowing it was going to be a losing time battle, I came back with "Not for the party. But, how about we make some pancakes?"
"Yayyyy!"
There wasn't any extra sleep, but, even though the afternoon was spent cleaning the kitchen, it was OK to get up early this time.

Rise and Shine --- Awarded by sleep

Good Morning and welcome back to another one of those winter weeks!

So, having not much to do last night, I turned on the Golden Globes.
Five minutes later, I was having trouble keeping my eyes open. Ten minutes later, I was fast asleep.
I don't know, maybe sometime in the past, these award shows were fun to watch. You could see your favorite movie and TV stars yucking it up.
Now, though, thanks to the Internet, we know all about these people and, to me anyway, they aren't entertaining outside of their roles.
Robert DeNiro is good as a gangster, but not so good as a stand-up comedian.
Ricky Gervais is good as a comedian, but when he's using inside talk to bust on fellow actors, well, it seems like we are just viewing a frat party.
I guess it doesn't help I hadn't seen many of the movies or TV shows being honored, but, still, it was boring.
Even the winners were terrible. In order to make the show go quick, they were rushing speeches, giving lists of names nobody knew and rambling about how great it is to win.
Can't wait for the next one!
ZZZZzzzzz

Rise and Shine -- Toss, turn, toss, turn

Good Morning and welcome to the day before Thankgsiving!
Since I won't be here tomorrow to brighten your morning, I offer a "Happy Thanksgiving" handshake today.
By the way, ever have one of those nights when, for no known reason, you just can't fall asleep.
You head to bed feeling a little tired. Do whatever your nighttime ritual has become, then hit the pillow.
Wham, suddenly you are wide awake. So, you turn a little bit. Maybe a lot. Still, sleep doesn't come. Meanwhile, the clock keeps moving. Suddenly, it's 11:30 (if your like me and try to be in bed by 11 each night). Then, it's midnight. So, you toss and turn a little more, trying not to think about the clock.
Yet, in the back of you mind, you can't help but count down how many hours it is until the alarm will go off.
It's 12:30. It's 1 a.m.
OK, trying counting sheep. Really, does that ever work.
Find some calming music. Well, that doesn't exist that time of the day.
Look at the clock. It's now 1:30. No, it's 2. Wait a minute, the alarm goes off in an hour-and-a-half.
Wednesday is going to be a long day.
So, as I muddle through the morning in some of not-quite-awake state, it's time to figure out a better strategy.
You don't know how much you miss the sleep until you don't get it.

Rise and Shine --- Time to rest

Good Morning and I was wondering if it was worse that the Phillies lost or Brett Myers got the win?

Back in the day, I remember getting through most of the afternoon at school in a haze. It was OK in the morning, but by lunchtime, you could see the heads of your friends starting to dip every once in a while.
Knowing this, I tried to get classes that used little or no brain power late in the day.
Then, while taking a walk around the Internet yesterday, I stumbled on THIS STORY from the L.A. Times.
According to several studies, a later start time in school meant better grades and better behaved students.
Just think about it. Instead of rousting everybody out of bed and dressed (the first battle of the day), rushing through breakfast (the second), then running red lights and stop signs to get everybody there on time (the third), maybe going in an hour later wouldn't be so bad.
Everybody would be better rested. Students would be more engaged with their teachers. We might all be a little calmer.
Now, if I could only convince my bosses its a good idea.

Sleeping Policeman - watch more funny videos

Rise and Shine --- Messed up

Good Morning and welcome back to the fray!

So, ever get so tired after work you just lay down and, the next thing you know, it's the next morning? I'm sure plenty of times you've fallen asleep in front of the TV only to be awoken hours later by the sound of some infomercial.
So, yesterday after getting done work, I yawned my way home. It was nice out, so I figured it was a good day to do some wash and maybe a little yard work.
Got home, got changed, put my head down (you know, for just five minutes or so?) and the next thing I know it was midnight.
Now, what to do? You could get up, maybe make a snack and watch TV for a little bit. That might start a pattern of weird sleep, though. You could try to go back to sleep, but all those hours probably have your brain ready to go.
So, what to do? What to do?
Well, I tried a combination of both. Had a couple of cookies, some tea and sat in front of the TV. It lasted for about an hour, so I tried the bed mode again.
When the alarm went off at 3:30, it wasn't a pleasant sound.
Now, we'll see how this afternoon goes.

Rise and Shine --- Constant buzzing

Good Morning and welcome to one of those Wednesday's that follow a Tuesday!

You know, I've tried my best. I've kept an open mind. I've read the stories. I've listened to the podcasts. I've even put it on TV.
Still, I can't get seem to find much of the World Cup very interesting.
Now, I know soccer (or futball) is the biggest sport on the planet. I seriously hope the Philadelphia Union is a huge success.
If they were interested, I would travel all over to watch the little ones play soccer. I would even help them out, as much as I could, to learn the game.
The World Cup, especially this one with the constant buzzing in the background, is just hard to watch.
Maybe it's because, like hockey, soccer is a game that must be seen live.
Back in the day, I covered many a soccer game and found them interesting. Some were even exciting.
Despite the comical effect of the announcers on ESPN, this game just doesn't translate to the small screen.
So, I'll try again this morning as the U.S. team takes the field. I'll stand in the newsroom and watch for a couple of minutes.
Then I'll wait for the final score.
It's better than falling asleep on the couch.

Rise and Shine --- Heavy eyes

Good Morning and welcome to a glorious new day!

Now, after working at nights for nearly 20 years, I never knew anything about the morning. After all, when you get home after 2 a.m., the morning was just something to sleep through.
For the past three years, I've been starting work around 4:30 a.m. Last night, I had to do a quick transition thanks to election day.
Let me tell, you, today is going to drag. Still, it's fun to be in the newsroom on election night, especially during a night of upsets.
So, now it's time to think ahead to November.
Thank goodness for coffee.

Rise and Shine --- Of sleep and work

Good Morning and where did that frost come from this morning!

I'm going to admit something right now, just to get it out of the way, sometimes during the day (especially when it reaches the end of the work day), my head starts to bob. I'm sure I've dozed off once in a while. Hey, it happens. My alarm goes off at 3:30 a.m. and, now that baseball season is in full swing, well, I don't go to bed as early as I should at night.
Most of the time, though, a cup of coffee will do the trick. Either that or I get up and walk around a little.
Now, comes this story from the the Tacoma News-Tribune: Ken Griffey Jr. missed a chance to pinch-hit in a game last week for the Mariners because he had fallen asleep.
That's right. He fell asleep. During a game. While his team was playing.
Now, my grandfather used to fall asleep at the dinner table sometimes, but he was like 90 years old. Babies fall asleep on the floor while playing with toys, but they are like under 2.
Ken Griffey Jr., who has made millions playing a game, is 40-years old. Sure, he's at the end of his career, but how can you fall asleep during a game?
Now, I might fall asleep during a baseball game, but I'm watching it on TV. I'm not being paid to be a member of the team.
Sure, we could all use a couple of hours of shuteye, but work probably isn't the place to do it.
You know, if you can't stay awake at work, maybe it's time to re-evaluate what you are doing.

Rise and Shine --- What you do

Good Morning and welcome to a whole new week!

There are a lot of people who don't like Mondays. It's back to work for most and that means the too short weekend was over too quickly.
Then, you look back and wonder where it all went. Why does time have to keep marching forward, especially when the sun is shining and temperature is rising.
Then, slam, comes Monday and it's back into the grind.
Now, I try to look at Monday as something different. It's a whole new week, so there are infinite possabilities. Right? Isn't that the way it's supposed to work.
Then, when you don't get enough sleep Sunday night, the fog takes a long time to lift and you are left wondering what more you could have done or how much more fun it would be to have 'just one more day off.'
So, let's take this Monday as it comes and hope the sun keeps shining.

Rise and Shine --- Bedtime? What's that?

Good Morning and hopefully you got a good night's rest!

By about 8 most nights, I'm pretty much out of it. That's what happens when your alarm goes off every morning at 3 a.m.
So, about 7:30 p.m., it's time to get the troops ready for the bedtime ritual, which usually involves a lot of arguing and, sometimes, yelling.
Coming off the summer bedtime of about 9 p.m., the school-time sleep schedule appears to start too early for these three children.
Here's how it goes:
7:30 p.m.: "OK, guys, time to get ready for bed. Let's get a quick bath and put on the pajamas."
Five seconds later (spoken in unison): "WHY? WHY?"
7:40 p.m.: "OK, it's time to get ready for bed. Everybody upstairs."
Five seconds later: "It's TOO EARLY!"
7:50 p.m.: "Really, guys, lets get moving upstairs."
Five seconds later: "Your not going to bed why should we."
8 p.m.: "All right, enough fooling, up."
Five seconds later: "WHY? WHY? WHY?"
Five seconds later: "Move it."
So, after getting everybody bathed and dressed, the dance continues.
"OK, everybody's teeth brushed?"
"NO. No. No."
"All right, brush teeth."
A little while later, everybody's in bed. It's time for the 'Good Night's'
"Wait, I didn't brush my teeth."
"ARGHHHH!"
It would be kind of funny if it didn't happen EVERY NIGHT. Then again, it wouldn't be so, I don't know, interesting?
Eventually, everybody gets to sleep. Eventually.
Soon, it will be time to start it all over again. Maybe, I'll try some soft music tonight (although I don't know if this one would work for me).

Rise and Shine ---- Spring sleeping

Good Morning and welcome to what's supposed to be a pretty good weekend!

Well, we can only hope. This morning was pushing 30 degrees and there was some frost on the windows. Hey, maybe that will be the end of the cold at least until October.
By the way, as the days turn warmer and the sun shines brighter, how do you convince children it really is time for bed.
When the winter months are in full swing (or full dreariness), it's easy to get them to go up by 7:30 p.m. Hey, it's dark out. It's time for bed. Brush the teeth and get under the covers.
Now, though, the clock doesn't matter. It might hit that 7:30 mark, but it looks like noon. The arguments can be brutal. All you're trying to do is create a morning that can go a little smoother. Instead, you have a fight at night then a fight in the morning.
Any logical person would see if you have to get up early and put in a full day of school, it's probably better to go to bed a little earlier. Instead, children have no logic. They live by the moment. They don't care about tomorrow, because today is still alive.
Hey, maybe those brains have it right?


By the way: Il sole, la luna, i fiori non ha bellezza confrontata a voi.
If you have any cool links or photos, send them along to onlinedelco@gmail.com

Rise and Shine --- Late night Hollywood

Good Morning and welcome to the bleary eyed!

A long weekend was tipped off by a long night of the Oscars. The question here is how to do you explain all these things. Things that don't seem to make much sense.
First, you have to look at the sun, the clouds and the stars. See them shine and know there is more out there than just a blade of grass.
Then, make the best of any situation you can. Go to work. Pay the bills. Play with the children. Eat good meals. Read books. See movies. Watch television.
That is, unless the television is tuned to the Oscars. Sure, there are some good speeches and some interesting fashions, but, for the most part, the Oscars are boring TV.
In a world where GM is laying off 47,000 after getting an influx of government money, I want to see song and dance, not a costume designer rattling off a list of names.
In a world where we are stuck with an unending war (and unending wars all over the globe), we need escapism. This year's Oscar show gave us some, but was still bogged down in slower than slow moments.
Also, somebody please tell me why the show needs to stretch on longer than three hours.


If you have any cool links or photos, send them along to onlinedelco@gmail.com

Rise and Shine --- It's only October

Good Morning every people!

So, does that cold air that was blowing through the windows last night mean it's time to pull out the air conditioners for another year. It's always a balance at this time of year. Sure, it's been cool at night, but that humidity that blanketed the area during the afternoon yesterday may have meant another blast of air conditioning.
That's really the last piece of summer that goes away. You can hold on to the dream of lazy afternoons in the sun all the way until the air conditioners come out of the windows. Then, it's only a short road until the heat starts to come on and we get the cold, grey doldrums of winter.
Of course, I have to remember what somebody much smarter than me once said: "What do you expect the weather to be like? You live in Pennsylvania."
Hey, at least our baseball team is still playing, so, it's still summer. Right? Right?
Well, I guess not.
So, instead, let's get a couple dozen pumpkins and carve them out. It's really the best way to celebrate October.
Or, maybe you could have the best of both worlds:


If you have any cool links or photos, send them along to onlinedelco@gmail.com

Rise and Shine --- What happened?

Good Morning red-eyed Phillies fans and those of us who gave up in the seventh inning!

So, after watching the Phillies for all these years, you can get a feeling about a game. Sure, the players change and all, but the uniform stays the same.
There are games where things just keep going wrong. The Phillies don't get a key hit, they make a boneheaded play in the field, they bring in Chad Durbin.
So, when the Dodgers took a 5-3 lead in the sixth inning of Game 4 of the NLCS Monday night, it was time for bed.
Hey, I was dozing off anyway, so, like somebody smarter than me said Monday morning: "Tonight's game doesn't really mean anything. Why don't you go to bed early and get some rest?"
Sure, sounds like a plan.
So, even though I was going to ignore the sound advice, it was in the back of my mind when Jimmy Rollins, Jayson Werth and Chase Utley went down without a fight in the seventh inning.
OK, if the Phillies big guys can't get it done, it's going to be a loss and a tied series.
By the time Shane Victorino and Matt Stairs (MATT 'freakin' STAIRS!) sent the ball into the California night, a soft pillow had me snoring. (Well, I don't snore but that's an argument for another day).
Well, I guess it's better I didn't stay up or, faithful readers, this would be about oranges or pears or something.
Expect that Thursday.
So, since it looks like the Phillies may be actually headed to the World Series, here's a blast from the past:


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Rise and Shine

Good Morning everybody who stayed up to watch the Eagles-Cowboys game and everybody else who's a bit smarter!

Yes, the Eagles lost to the Cowboys on Monday Night Football last night. Yes, it was an exciting game that ended with a frustrating play. Yes, it was on way too late, though not as late as it used to be. Yes, times have changed.
I remember staying up way too late to watch Monday Night Football with a bunch of people a case of beer and a couple of pizzas. The games, back in the old days, wouldn't start until 9 p.m. and they would stretch until 1 a.m.
For the most part, the games would be boring, but it was more about getting together and having a little fun. Every once in a while, something exciting would happen on the television screen.
The turnaround didn't seem too bad back then. Of course, time changes all that.
I learned to hate Monday Night Football (and, by association, Hank Williams Jr.) when I started working in newspapers. Now, Monday Night Football wasn't about pizza, beer and people, it was about waiting forever until the game ended. Then waiting again for a quick story, then waiting again until a longer story came through.
It was bad enough during a 'normal' week. When the Eagles were playing, though, it was pure hell.
An Eagles Monday Night Football game meant being in the office sometimes until after 2:30 a.m., most of the time spent waiting and waiting and waiting.
Now, the games are over at a relative decent time of midnight and I don't have to wait for the story.
Still, when the alarm goes off at 4 a.m., midnight isn't such a good idea.
Hey, at least there was a reason to laugh last night:

10 Iggles Not Smart @ Yahoo! Video

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RISE AND SHINE

GOOD MORNING, DELAWARE COUNTY!

Why is it the one thing you can never put in reserve is sleep?
You can make enough food to carry through a week. Put some in the freezer and it can last much longer.
You can get extra work done one day and take it a little easier the next (although for some, you can do no work today, no work tomorrow, no work the next day, then complain you're much too busy).
The chance for sleep, though, is here and gone.
If you for some reason have a restless night (be it nightmares of a George Bush presidency or whatever), the chance to 'catch up' is gone.
It's not like you can sleep later on say a Sunday, then stay up late Tuesday and be fine.
No, you might feel refreshed Sunday, but by Monday that's all gone.
A late night Tuesday then ruins the rest of the week.
Those zombies in every horror movie now aren't really the undead, they are just sleep-deprived people wandering the streets looking for a pillow.


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