I just woke up. It’s 4 o’clock in the freakin’ morning, and I just woke up. As I have all week. Except for Monday, when I had to get up at 2 o’clock in the also freakin’ morning.
As I sat on the edge of the bed in numb shock, it hit me. The Broadway musical Oklahoma isn’t about singing and dancing, or a lovely ballet interlude. It’s about the Farmers and the Cowmen. Let us examine, please.
There is in fact a song called " The Farmers And The Cowmen " in Oklahoma. It is my theory that we are all farmers. We are not cowmen. Being a cowman involves getting up when it is still DARK OUTSIDE, and violating the body’s basic circadian rhythms by working when it is DARK OUTSIDE instead of awaiting the sunrise so you can go outside like HUMAN ANIMALS WERE MEANT TO and toil in the fields from sunrise to sunset and then STOPPING WORKING.
I believe that it is a fact that the Broadway musical Oklahoma was really written because there are some highly pissed off Farmers out there because of Daylight Savings Time. It does not work. It also violates our bodies’ inner rhythms. I stand up and proudly proclaim that Farmers, I’m With Yas !
THIS IS NOT NORMAL. I’ve posted this into IMHO instead of the BBQ PIT because I don’t do the pit any more, ever. Besides, there is no need for obscenity in this thread. I just felt the need to share the seemingly obvious fact that Broadway musicals are in reality a hand mirror, raised to reflect back to us small shards of the human condition.
Lovely. Does this mean when I wake up at 4:15 am (as I always do, though I don’t have to be up til 7), I am now compelled to weed and hoe my 6 little pots of fresh rosemary and parsley in my window herb garden before the sun is up? At least I’ll be near the coffee pot.
Guess I am also a farmer. Counting sheep obviously won’t work: looks like I start counting ears of corn.
Interestingly enough, I awoke shortly after 4AM also - Until this moment, I didn’t know why. Now it appears that your grumbling and whining disturbed my slumber. Fercryinoutloud, 'Toons, if ya gotta get up at that hour, at least be quiet out of consideration for the rest of us!!
[sub]Does that make it sound like we’re sleeping together?? Oh my![/sub]
As for me and my rhythms, I like to get up when it’s still a wee bit dark out. Of course, that means I’m pretty well pooped out by 8PM or so, but I’m old, so I’m allowed. Plus it works out well for them 4PM dinner specials at IHOP. But I digress.
I propose that we are neither Farmers nor Cowmen (Cowpersons?) No, my dear, I believe we are Sharks or Jets. Yep, carnivorous sealife or high-speed aircraft - I believe that sums up the human condition quite nicely. You theory is clever and all, but I’m sorry to say that it’s completely wrong.
Perhaps you should spend your waking hours contemplating issues better suited to your outlook - say, possible uses for hot fudge sundaes?? Or not. Just a thought.
screech-owl, you seemed like a relatively normal person when we met - what’s this about getting up voluntarily nearly 3 hours before you have to? :eek: Had I known, I’d have kept the Perfect Child[sup]TM[/sup] away from you…
[sub]yeah, I’m in a mood this morning - thanks for noticing…[/sub]
You are operating under the false assumption that farmers do not rise before sunup. Coming from a long line of farming families, I can assure you this is not the case. Now that my dad is retired he gets up around 5:30 am, which he considers SLEEPING LATE.
Having been born and raised in Oklahoma, I can tell you that I don’t believe the cowmen and the farmers can be friends. From my handle alone, you may be able to ascertain where my allegiances lie.
Both the cowmen and the farmers are hard-working, industrious folks.
The farmers are more conservative. They go to bed early, and they get up early (before dawn, but not much). They don’t drink. And they don’t much socialize. They are generally homebodies, and in fact, get a bit anxious if they are away from home for any reason besides trips to the general store. They actually have guilt feelings if they try to take a day off. Frankly, I don’t think they have much fun.
Cowmen, on the other hand, are bit more to the liberal side. They stay up late, and sleep in in the morning. They drink, cuss, spit, and like to party with lots of other cowmen (but mostly cowgirls). They have trouble with commitment, and tend to wander. Given the chance, they have no qualms about sneaking off for a nap, or otherwise directly avoiding more work. And they have lots of fun.
One other thought: I hate musicals. Especially broaway musicals. But if you were born and raised in OK, that one movie (ok, of the play), just seems to stick with you. And for some naggin’ reason, I have a compulsion to buy a shiny little surry with a fringe on top.
And who said my getting up early was voluntary? I have always awoken at 4-ish, even when I was but a wee owlet, to my parent’s chagrin.
Have I accidentally rubbed of on TPC? Is she now arising well before the lark greets the dawn with melodious salutations? Were I not a card-carrying member of the National Audubon Society, I’d be shooting the lark right now. Well, if there were larks in the area, and if I was of an avicidian intent, but I do have a mockingbird that is annoying the hell out of me.
Yup. Crabby here too. Gotta work from 7 tonight to 4 am, and the stupid lark, er, mockingbird has been singing and trying to attract a mate since 4 a.m., even though breeding season down here is still a good couple of months away. It’s 1:30 in the freakin’ afternoon, and he hasn’t shut up yet. It’s on the roof of the house, so I can’t climb there to chase him off, and someone took the garden hose so I can’t ‘wash the roof’.
