Morning routine

I'd like to start a dialogue today about your morning routine. As I've tweeted previously, having a good morning is the key to having a good day. I think Benjamin Franklin said this. Or possibly Cal Ripken, Jr.  I don't really remember which.

To get things started, here's mine. Every day I wake up at 5:15 AM to the pleasant sounds of nine variable alarm clocks placed throughout my bedroom. Each clock plays something from nature. A growling bear is one. A screeching hawk is another.

Next, I let my German Shepard, Hans, out to loose his bowels and mingle with the local wildlife around my New Hampshire cabin. During this time I prepare myself a triple espresso. Anything fewer than three iterations of espresso and I don't think I could fathom setting foot outside of my kitchen.

From 6:00 AM until 7:00 AM you'll find me nowhere except buried in the periodicals. While I've traditionally read the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Wired Magazine, I've also started dabbling on my Tablet (TM) and checking out interesting stories and factoids on ZergNet.com. I also like to use this time to practice my craft on Twitter by thinking up clever #hash #tags.  For more on this, please see my previous posts.

By 7:00 AM I am ready for a two-cup serving of steel cut oats, some freshly picked blackberries, and a small block of Vermont cheddar. You'll notice I get a little dabble of everything in there -- I want to make sure my system is running in tip-top shape. One day, I didn't ingest my typical morning helping of oats. I nearly wound up in prison. That's another story I'll share another time.

Immediately thereafter, I take my morning constitutional, where I usually will get in 2-3 games of "Threes" on my Tablet (TM). This game really is a treat and I recommend you pay $1.99 for the "ad-free" version.

By 8:00 AM I am ready for whatever hurdles and surprises the day might throw at me.

What do I do to pass the time? Bird watching, knitting, and writing detective stories chiefly interest me. I've also been recently employed by a nationwide burrito chain to come up with the literature on their soft drink cups. Can you guess which one? I know there are many, but I like the idea of making a game out of this.

So far, so good on that front, but I worry about their vigilance in providing only non-GMO meats. I really should write them a letter about that.

Well, that's that. I really hope you can take something from my morning routine and apply it to your own!