Your Weekly Antics - What the Hell Time Is It Edition...3/17/2022
- lisaalkap
- Mar 17, 2022
- 6 min read
Daylight Savings time. Hope you’re surviving the 1 hour modification in our internal time clocks we've all had to adjust to this week. I’m thinking that changing the clock by one hour every 6 months is not enough to send me over the edge, but that’s just me…I’m not everyone. My thoughts are, we have bigger fish to fry, but if I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again…what the hell do I know? We don’t get political here at The Antics, but sometimes things present themselves to us served up on a silver platter and we have to take advantage of it...here’s what I’ve got.
1. I’ll admit, curiosity got the better of me and I had to look up what this Saving Sunshine Bill or whatever the hell it’s called, is all about. I found it interesting that some supporters of such bill are quoted as saying that this change in Daylight Savings time is disruptive to the schedules and routines of children and pets. We can look at this a few different ways. Is it considerate that law makers are taking into account the happiness and well being of our children and four legged friends? Sure. Or, is this taking it a bit too far, as in, maybe we should just teach them to roll with it and adjust? Again, just my opinion. I vote for suck it up. Exhibit 1 – may as well review this if you want to keep up with the complaints this week…
2. Now back in the day, at the beginning of my parenthood, I’ll admit, Daylight Savings Time could be a struggle…messed with the little Kap people and their bedtimes, nap times, meals, etc…but it was all good in the hood within a few days. They were not mentally or emotionally scarred because we adjusted the clocks. I never had to seek counseling or sedatives to help them get over this one-hour gain or loss in their day, this was a mere inconvenience that leveled itself off within a few days. How about we stop adjusting everything all the time to make kids lives easier and maybe encourage them to do what's needed to adjust? This is the future of America people – we don’t need a bunch of wimps in charge of when we do or do not get shipped off to the Nursing Home. To that I say, Toughen Up.
Exhibit 2 - photo stolen from Andrea...her all time favorite St. Patrick's Day shirt...
3. We try to gather facts, opinions and look at the whole picture here at The Antics before we start ripping things apart. There are two sides to every story and everyone has an opinion. With that said, let’s talk about Circadian Rhythm…it’s a thing. It is explained as such; Your circadian rhythm helps control your daily schedule for sleep and wakefulness. This rhythm is tied to your 24-hour body clock, and most living things have one. Your circadian rhythm is influenced by outside things like light and dark, as well as other factors… the long and short of it…give it 24 hours kids and you’ll be fine.
4. Some say the change in Daylight Savings Time will give our kids more daylight to play outside ...okay, so where do I start? You want to get rid of Daylight Savings Time, go right ahead, but I hate to tell you, that extra hour of daylight isn’t going to get these kids outside longer, and if it does, will they even notice the daylight? That’s not going to happen. Kids are barely outside as it is. Why you ask? Several factors contributed to this - parents not home after school because we all have to work - kids being overschedule with organized sports - they would all rather be inside playing video games - now they’re all on their phones, all the time. Sure, they may utilize that extra hour of daylight and sit in your yard, but let’s face it, they won’t need that extra light because their faces will already be illuminated by the screens of the phones they’re staring in to.
Exhibit 3 - I've got no idea who these kids are, but I think this picture sums things up...
5. Apparently The National Association of Convenience Stores opposes the change, telling Congress this month "we should not have kids going to school in the dark." I’ve never heard of this association, not that my lack of knowledge of this group matters much, but that sounds like it makes good sense. Who would think that Convenience Stores would care what time kids are standing outside their stores waiting for the school bus. Kids don’t care if it’s light or dark, hot or cold, morning or night, if you’ve got Twinkies, Hostess Cupcakes, and Ring Dings and they’ve got extra change in their pockets, they’re shopping before they hop on that bus to school. All those goodies taste the same no matter whether it’s light out or not. .
6. Anyone who has dogs knows that changing the clocks messes with their meal schedules. Here’s what I’ve got to say about that, again, they’re going to have to toughen up. Even I know that dogs don’t use a clock to tell time. In the event that you are not aware, dogs cannot read a clock. Yes, they’re smart and intuitive and their internal clock works better than any clock we have on our walls, but let’s point this out… we are higher on the food chain than they are, and unfortunately, they too have to go with the flow and deal with it. They hassle me morning noon and night for free food so if they think a change in the time that my kitchen clock reads is going to make me feed them any faster, they’re out of their minds. Until they grow thumbs and can manage the dog food container and work the food scoop independently, they’re just gonna have to wait. Remember people – You. Are. In. Charge. You're the one with thumbs. You buy the food. You store the food. You distribute the food. Quit letting them push you around.
7. Some articles are saying that some who are backing this bill have stated that bidding Daylight Savings Time farewell will increase economic activity. Serioulsy??? Are lawmakers insinuating that America, as a nation, is afraid of the dark? Again, if more people listened to us at The Antics, it would be realized that one can still spend and spend and spend all of their money from the comfort of our own homes. We don’t need to go outside. We don’t need to hit the stores in the dark. If you’re afraid to leave your house when the sun goes down, get online. We can buy anything we want – amazon, Instacart, CVS – you name the item, it can be purchased on line and delivered directly to your home. No need to go out once the sun goes down. Please see #5 - like we've already discussed, if kids can stand in the dark at the bus stop and spend their money at their local Cumbies, we too can manage.
8. All of this talk dedicated to Daylight Savings time has made us stray from todays most festive holiday, St. Patrick’s Day, or the feast of St. Patrick. In case you readers out there aren’t aware of this, did you know that traditionally on St. Patrick’s Day the Catholic Church lifted its Lenten restrictions on eating and drinking alcohol for the day? This of course encouraged and propagated the holiday's tradition of alcohol consumption. I’m not saying you should sit back in your offices today with a Bloody Mary for breakfast because the Church may or may not have allowed this at one time, I’m just sharing this fun fact. Do with this information as you wish…
9. Tom Brady - I mean no disrespect, but let's get it together. He ruined St. Patrick's Day for many New Englanders two years ago, he's not ruining another one. I hate to break it to him but people are losing interest ...either you're in, or you're out. Figure it out and get back to us. In the meantime, life will go on. Get it together Tom.
10. Back to the Circadian clock...I've screwed mine up this week by staying up too late writing down all this nonsense. If you don't already, for crying out loud cut me some slack and subscribe - If I'm going to report all this nonsense and Tom Foolery every week, it does my heart good to know that someone besides Sue Miller, who's obligated to do so, actually reads it. SUBSCRIBE.
And last but not least, losing an hour or gaining an hour - more sunlight or less sunlight - use it all wisely people. Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!
Have a great weekend!
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