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Tuesday, April 23, 2019

The Home Field Advantage!


The Home Field Advantage!

How can I put this delicately?  I’m old.  Old people have issues.  I suspect this is an issue many old people have.  Hmm…how to say, how to say?

I am a creature of habit.  There are some things that just always happen at around the same time.  For older people nature's alarm rings at the same time every day.  At least it does for me.  I like to be home when I answer the alarm.  I prefer the home field advantage.

When we go on vacation, I sometimes do not get the alarm for a few days.  Nature knows I prefer the home field advantage, and the alarm is shut down.  I have heard others who claim to have the same “Vacation alarm” system.

This year we visited with Mrs. C’s relatives on Easter.  We had great food, good drink, conversation, and lots of laughs.  We do this every year, leaving early in the day, and staying till well after dark.  

An early breakfast seamlessly morphs to brunch and with only a short respite is followed by dinner.  In between there is lots of liquid refreshment and knoshables.    

My issue is that early in the day is several hours before my alarm goes off.  Being away my system knows to delay the alarm, but by the time dinner is over the alarm is insistent.  Great food and near constant eating with a cup or two of coffee and maybe a beer as well does not quiet the alarm…it infuriates it.

At this point, as much as I am having a good time, I really would prefer to go home where the alarm can by answered with comfort.  As I drop hints to Mrs. C, she is oblivious to my issue and gets irritated with my hints that it is getting late.

“Umm, it’s getting a little late, you don’t want to miss the new episode of 'Game of Thrones', do you?”

“It will be on demand, I can catch up later, I’m having a good time, just stick it out…HONESTLY, don’t be a jerk!”

“OK”

My WASP upbringing makes it impossible to explain the real reason for my impatience.

Now I am getting more uncomfortable, and sneaking outside to hit the snooze becomes more frequent, and quite frankly a little risky.  I finally had to answer the alarm.  When everyone was occupied with gossip, I slinked off to the away-field.  

With more than just a little difficulty, I was able to quiet the alarm enough to reasonably enjoy the next hour and a half of family gossip and safely make the 45-minute trip back home.

Once we were home and all the dinner left-overs were put away (Italians will not let you leave their home without taking food), I was finally able to completely shut off the alarm with minimum effort.

There is nothing like having the home field advantage.



17 comments:

  1. Hubby and I couldn't agree more. This is spot on.

    Have a fabulous day, Joe. 😎

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  2. Yep, I totally agree with you. So can relate to a lot of what you said. But Easter did sound like a fun time with family and good food!

    betty

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  3. Heh, heh! Hitting the snooze! To be fair, Mrs. C did not know that the true reason for your impatience was your alarm. She might have pooh-poohed it anyway, but I have to give Mrs. C a pass on this one. I'm relieved that you were able to make that 45-minute drive home before silencing the alarm!

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  4. I'm a bit alarmed about the photo, though. Is there really a spectator section in some sites?

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  5. My alarm is not so predictable, it varies by an hour either way, and it doesn't matter where i am, i answer (and carry cleaning supplies to make sure i'm comfortable doing so, there's an advantage to being a janitor).

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  6. That photo made me smile! I have noticed lately that three meals a day come round too fast. I really should make it one big meal and get it all over in one go.

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  7. I don't have this problem. I agree the home advantage is great, but like my mum used to always say, "Any port in a storm." As long as there is paper and somewhere to wash my hands, I'm good to go.

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  8. P.S. I'm a little surprised Mrs C didn't suss out your near-urgent desire to return home.

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  9. My doctor told me it's totally normal to not have the alarm go off while on vacation.

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  10. That was funny... and so true!

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  11. Hum, she didn't get the hint? Maybe you need a safe word:)

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  12. It's even worse when you go upstairs in a friend's house to visit the bathroom and discover they live in a bungalow.

    God bless.

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  13. I long ago learned was best to avail myself of whatever services were available, adapting them to my requirements as best I could when I found myself where only one of those smelly outdoor accommodations was available. Now the grubby facilities in some business establishments could deter me and did my husband, too, if we were out driving around locally and could easily get back home. Don’t think I’d want to let an ordinary body function dictate when I had to go home if in more acceptable environs. You sure you didn’t just want an excuse to leave there? :-)

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  14. I used to relate but time has mellowed me. The uncomfortability of holding trumps the uncomfortability of foreign territory ......

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  15. ... and did I fail to mention, Queenie has this condition that does not allow her to leave unless she is the very last guest out the door??

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  16. i can relate ,as we age our habits overcome to us

    leaving comfort zone becomes quite a challenge
    i don't blame you for your urgency to get back to your home ,as clock inside you is working skillfully

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  17. So true - and it's universally known. They even have a word for it in German. Heimscheisser. I'm sure Google will translate it for you.

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