This Is Me--2024 A to Z Theme

My A to Z Themes in the past have covered a range of topics and for 2024 the theme is a personal retrospective that I call "I Coulda Been" which is in reference to my job and career arc over my lifetime. I'll be looking at all sorts of occupations that I have done or could have done. Maybe you've done some of these too!

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Clocks and Calendars (#AtoZChallenge)

         As I cross out another day gone by on the calendar, I look at the clock on the wall.  Time will not stop--not yet.  It's like being on a train that never seems like it's going to reach its destination.  I decide it's better to enjoy the ride while that train is running because when I reach my station stop--well, that's the end of the line for me.











Clocks and Calendars

        Clocks and Calendars--they're in nearly every room of my house.  I am obsessed with date and time.  As a matter of fact, I've always kept close track of what time it was and what the date was.   But I suppose most of us are if we are functioning within some kind of framework of time.  It might be bad to show up to work on the wrong days.  Although if things were like they were at the last job I held, nearly every day was a work day except in slower times of the year.  And as the years went by, times got slower.  That's why they closed down my branch and put me out to pasture.

Clocks above the main entrance to Flinders Str...
Clocks above the main entrance to Flinders Street Station in Melbourne. The clocks show train departure times for various lines. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
        Even in retirement I'm still concerned with time and date because my wife still works.  If she didn't work we'd still keep track of the day of the week and the time of the day.  Most of us are likely creatures of time.  Television shows start at certain times on certain days so we keep track of that.  My mail seems to get delivered sometime after noon, but before five--I haven't pinpointed a more precise time than that.   I do know the mail doesn't come on Sunday.  Still I need to be aware when Sunday does come so we don't miss church.

         I probably look at the calendars several times a day which is probably weird because it's not like the day is suddenly going to change and I won't notice.  Sometimes if I take a midday nap (which I usually do) I might wake up and have to think about what day it is.  Sometimes I'll check the calendar as though that would really tell me.  Fortunately those moments of time disorientation are brief as my groggy mind awakens.

         In our house, clocks are even more visible than calendars.  Some rooms have as many as four clocks.  At least ones that are immediately obvious.  It seems like many appliances now have clocks built into them somewhere.  Some of those I could preset if I had a mind to--like my coffeemaker.  Freshly brewed coffee could be waiting for me in the morning if I so desired.  But I don't have a mind to prepare my coffee the night before.

           Each of our four land phone extensions has a clock.  I probably check those for the time as much as anything.  They must be set according to phone company time or something.  I never have to set those clocks and they change automatically when the time changes come.  Too bad all our clocks don't change like that.  Most of the clocks I have to go around and change manually.  Thank goodness those changes only come twice a year.  I'd rather there be no change.  That is, no change in time.

         Clocks and calendars keep track of my days and all that come in between days.  Perhaps I am like a slave to those measurement devices.  Time will likely always matter to me as long as live.  It's something that's built into modern people--even people in the past.  If there ever comes a day when time doesn't matter then I will assume that on that day life will no longer matter either.

          Time paces my days.  Days measured with clocks and calendars.

           Does your house have a lot of calendars and clocks?   Are you a clock watcher?   Do you have a favorite clock in your home?



54 comments:

  1. I only have one clock apart from my laptop and that is on my IPone. I am forever looking at it. I do have a Daniel O Donnell calendar, I find since I've become as certain age each moment in time is precious.
    Enjoyed your "C" post Lee.

    Yvonne.

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    1. Yvonne, still I need to value my time better. Those moments are as you say precious.

      Lee

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  2. Enjoyed your ruminations about time. Only one clock with moving hands remains on a wall in our house.
    I use the clock on my phone and ipad most as my adult children and my siblings live in a variety of time zones so the digital versions help especially at this time of year as daylight saving ends here and commences in the northern hemisphere.
    Carmel Earlier Years

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    1. CRG, I have those time zone issues as well, but the calculations seemed to now be embedded in my thinking whenever I look at the time.

      Lee

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  3. Lee, We have one center calendar we referred to often but mostly we rely on our computers and smartphone for calendar events. Clocks are another story as you pointed out because other than a "real" clock, many of our appliances and electronics display the time. Some pull the time out of the air automatically, speaking of which two do this and I have no idea where they get their time but these clocks are always half an hour faster than the rest of our clocks. It drives me crazy. The rest of our clocks we have to change twice a year or every single time the power glitches and we've had a lot of stormy weather lately. This is another thing that drives me coo-coo. Excuse the pun there but my favorite clock and it doesn't work is the one my BIL made us from cypress for a Christmas gift many years ago. Clocks and calendars are a very important tools for our day-to-day living and we'd all be lost without them. :) Check your clock to see if you have time to pop over for today's edition of Art Sketching Through the Alphabet to check out some critters I sketched. Happy a2zing, dear friend and many thanks for hosting the fun!

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    1. Cathy, I still haven't mastered using a calendar on my computer, but I never tried. My blog date keeps me fairly informed. When time change comes or power shuts down I find myself changing a lot of clock times.

      Lee

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  4. No clocks or calendars in my home. Active timekeeping is through the cell phone alarm in the morning and then the laptop for the rest. I can also hear the Islamic call to prayer where I am, so get an idea of midday, sunset etc when they're sung.

    Egypt had DST which I found very inconvenient, but they did away with it while I was there. The other countries where I've lived don't do DST, so no changeovers to keep track of.

    Nilanjana.
    Madly-in-Verse

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    1. Nilanjana, since I'm on the computer quite a bit I do refer to that clock frequently. No outside prompts to tell the time where I am unless there's a passing train in the distance which I could use to gage time, but I'm not sure there is a consistent train schedule on which I could rely.

      Lee

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  5. The only clocks we have are on the cable box, microwave and stove. I have a small battery operated alarm clock in the bedroom but I mostly use my cell phone or the one on my computer.

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    1. JoJo, in our bedroom we have a digital clock radio which I've had for 25 years and it's still waking us up with accurate time whenever we need it. That clock has been a good investment for me.

      Lee

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  6. It's definitely good to know what time and day it is, so you can get your bearings. I used to have wall calendars all over the place, but now there's only one in the kitchen and I use a daytimer to keep track of things. Clocks in every room and on the stove, microwave and thermostat. It's a real pain to change them twice a year. They should just leave the time alone! At least the TVs, phones and laptops change automatically.

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    1. Debbie D, even if I don't have to be anywhere sometimes it's good to have the clocks to let me know that it's time to eat or go to bed. My internal clock doesn't always inform me of these things on any proper schedule.

      Lee

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  7. Am I a clock watcher? Only at work, where it moves slower because I watch it. Wish I'd learn to watch it at home so it would slow down, too!

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    1. CW, though I frequently glance at my home clocks, I don't necessarily "watch" them. Well, actually maybe that does count as watching the clock. The only time these days when time really seems to go slow is when I'm ready to go somewhere and waiting on my wife to finish getting ready.

      Lee

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  8. Hi Lee - my car and the oven here were one hour ahead - now we've had DST it's all back to normal ... I'm aware of the time ... now I have the tides to keep an eye - and they vary everyday - much worse than DST!! Calendars - I love them with beautiful pictures or art work on them .. cheers Hilary

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    1. Hilary, we get free calendars in the mail which often have very nice pictures--that's partly why we keep calendars in many rooms. However, every year my wife insists on buying a Thomas Kinkaide art calendar for her home office--she loves his artwork.

      Lee

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  9. I only have digital clocks built into other devices these days, not the physical kind with hands and faces, though I love old clocks. Cuckoo clocks are a particular favorite, as are grandfather clocks. I don't recall where my plug-in digital clock went to. It might be in storage with some of my other things at my parents' house in South Carolina, or in one of the crates of stuff here which I haven't gone through yet.

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    1. Carrie-Anne, I'd say I have a few more clocks stored out in my garage, but no need to bring them in. Probably should pack them up for Goodwill. A grandfather clock would be nice, but I'm not sure where we'd put one.

      Lee

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  10. We seem to have clocks on all our devices: phones, computers, oven, microwave, so no need to a "real" clock. Though I think there is one in my bedroom, behind the TV.

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    1. Thea, my wife loves having wall clocks, but now with all of the device clocks those wall clocks are unnecessary.

      Lee

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  11. Clocks and calendars sure can keep one on task and catch our attention. I keep things in my head mostly. Have one clock and that is it here.

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    1. Pat, my head doesn't seem to hold much so I have to rely on other devices than this old brain of mine.

      Lee

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  12. I don't have many clocks, but I'm a planner girl. I am coo coo for my calendars and planners. I'm also in need of an intervention. I have what I call a planner library. I just love to plan. blessings <3 Clocks are very cool. My friend says her mom & dad collects clocks and the sound of tick/tock just makes her feel like home. I bet it does. Good luck with your challenge !!!!

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    1. Scarlett, not sure that I'd want too many tick-tock sounds in our house, but I guess one does get used to them. It's kind of like ambient noise.

      Lee

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  13. We have one calendar hanging in our kitchen. Alarm clock in the bedroom. Kitchen has clock on microwave and on coffeepot. And all our phones have clocks, and the computer. I pay more attention to the day of the week then the date.
    Perspectives at Life & Faith in Caneyhead

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    1. Barbara, I too don't pay as much attention to the exact date--the days are more important. I can approximate the dates.

      Lee

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  14. I can't think where I have a clock in the house (aside from those on appliances). I haven't worn a watch for years. My iPhone is my clock. Good enough.

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    1. Jacqui, I don't wear my watch as much as I used to, but there are times when I want to be discreet about keeping track of the time when I'll wear my watch so I don't have to take my phone out to look at it.

      Lee

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  15. Having been retired full-time RVers since 2007, calendars were only important for medical appointments. LOL! Everything was electronic - no room for print calendars.

    Now that we own a house and only part-time in the RV, I have a calendar in the kitchen and one in my office. It's been fun picking up free calendars from the community.

    C: Carolinas & Catskills
    DB McNicol, author & traveler
    Theme: Oh, the places we will go!

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    1. Donna, if not for the free calendars we wouldn't have as many on the walls as we do--or we'd get those cheap calendars you can find at dollar stores.

      Lee

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  16. We have one clock in the living room, our cellphones, my parents own watches and time stamp on television. Time is important. I have started keeping a calendar in my room over the last 3 years or so. The living room has a collection of calendars. Newest year in front of the previous year.

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    1. Sheena-kay, I'll save some older calendars when the pictures are nice, but otherwise it's off to the recycle bin when the year is done.

      Lee

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  17. I didn't realize how many clocks I have. 7 clocks plus the clocks on my phone, computer, TV, and kindle. I have 2 paper calendars and 3 digital. Most of the time I don't know for sure what day or time it is or where I am supposed to be. Retirement is wonderful...but sometimes confusing.

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    1. Patricia, if my wife weren't still working we'd likely get somewhat lost in time many days.

      Lee

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  18. I enjoyed your post, Arlee. David and I aren't really clock or calendar watchers. For the most part, we do what we want, when we want, and what time we do these things doesn't matter. The only real exceptions are when there's a doctor appointment. We have alarms set for when we need to give the girls their wake-up calls, so we don't have to watch the clock or calendar there.

    We don't have any actual stand alone clocks in our house. I do have a printed calendar from Our Daily Bread Ministries on the wall in front of me. Our phones and computers have clocks and calendars in them. The microwave and the stove and our car all have clocks in them.

    I do love clocks, especially the antique ones. I would love to have one like the clock pictured in my "C" post. Maybe some day.

    One of the questions they ask David any time he is admitted to the hospital is does he know what day it is. Most of the time neither one of us does until we look at our phone or computer because we usually just don't think about it.

    Have a blessed night!

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    1. Suzanne, probably not many people have stand alone clocks anymore unless they have large enough rooms and even if then the clocks would probably have to be antiques.

      Lee

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  19. I keep most of my clocks set 10 minutes fast. Helps keep me from being late. The clock by my bed has a mind of its own and advances itself. When it gets to be 1/2 hour fast, I reset it. Calendars, I have one main one in the hall for the family to keep track of things but I'm a planner girl too and have 3 of those. Every morning when I wake up the first thing I think about is what day it is. Helps me get myself together! I'm enjoying your time traveling.

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    1. Janet, I'm a bit of a stickler for precision time. I like my clocks as close to exact as I can get them and I like all of the clocks to be synchronized. Keeps continuity from room to room.

      Lee

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  20. Funny enough, I don't have many clocks...actually the main one is the one of the microwave but calendars, that's a different story. I love calendars because many are just so pretty. Heck, in my office, I have a wall calendar, a day calendar and a weekly calendar...pretty nuts:)

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    1. Birgit, I can picture you having a lot of calendars. I'm surprised that you don't create your own calendars. You might have more clocks in your home than you realize.

      Lee

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  21. I don't really need clocks and calendars because my phone tells me everything. But I do need them. Just as I wear a wristwatch because I have for so long and I like it (plus its useful on planes or when you're trekking and can't charge your phone) I hang calendars in every room for the pictures. Don't have too many clocks anymore, except like you, on the appliances and land line phones.

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    1. Kalpanaa, we will be kept informed by some means and don't have to look very far to know the time or day.

      Lee

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  22. Yes, we too have an array of calendars around the house, of varying sizes and layouts. And yet, I am always losing track of the date!

    Absolutely Amazing Alliteration

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    1. Duncan, I stay on top of the date though sometimes I do have to double check.

      Lee

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  23. We have the downstairs joint calendar, my upstairs personal calendar, and a clock in every room, including one that projects the time on the ceiling for all those times in the middle of the night we wake up and wonder if it's almost time to get up. (And mid-day naps are wonderful, but when I wake up, I'm never sure if I've actually slept or not, so the clock is once again required.)

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    1. Patricia, a clock that projects on the ceiling sounds pretty freaky. I've seen those advertised but have never been tempted to buy one. My LED digital clock beside my bed keeps me informed throughout the night.

      Lee

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  24. I gave up wearing a watch many years ago and keep a pretty good track of time. There's always something to tell the time, cell phone, lap top, in the car, the sun's position ... and my diary is always close by. Although I've been known to lose a day here or there -

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    1. Susan S, I rarely wear my watch anymore unless I think I might be in a place with no clocks. I don't know that I'd be all that accurate using the sun.

      Lee

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  25. Clocks and calendars - two of my favorite things!
    I too, have them everywhere. In fact, when my watch battery gave out I continued to wear the watch (over a month) until I could get a new battery. Time to admit I'm a nut, huh?
    I sigh to recall a time when sun and shadows were all a kid needed to know about time ;-)

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    1. Diedre, when I was a kid I rarely cared about exact time unless there was a special TV show that I wanted to see--no home recording devices back then.

      Lee

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  26. Time is important. It affects our everyday life. That's why I emphasize to the kids that they must know how to read time and know how to read the calendar. They're my husband's kids so when they came to me, the bigger one wasn't that aware of time. He knows now, although the smaller one is probably more into it (he's a show-off, but he's a charming kid, and I always say, better a show-off that get things done).

    Anyhoo, this is my C post: Contents with all the Feels...Talk about marketing!!!

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    1. JGIF, I can't recall when I first learned to tell time, but I've been a time watcher for most of my life.

      Lee

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  27. Clocks same to be dissapearing

    ReplyDelete

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