I forgot to change my clock

[Rogerson785]

Today was a good day, even though I forgot to change my clock, watch, and microwave Saturday evening. Therefore, I spent all day Sunday an hour behind, but it did not effect me until Monday morning when I woke to shave for formation and physical training. I thought I was on time, but when I started my car and the announcer for NPR said, “Its 0615” I knew I was screwed. I phoned the platoon sergeant, a fellow Staff Sergeant and told her of my dilemma, no problem.

I also received my mounted miniature medals from Medals of America, who always do a fantastic job and my new weathered Mackenzie tartan with free flashes, which as you know are not advertised.





I also received letter from my probate lawyer in Grants Pass Oregon, and I guess I will be making a trip out that may soon.

Oh, and I also received the new Galls Law Enforcement catalog, which has some nice Gould & Goodrich leather duty belts that would be perfect for kilt belts for just $30.00!

[Tattoo Bradley]

The story reminds me of one from my days on Active Duty.

I can't remember the full situation. But, I'll do my best:

My unit had been doing a partial mobilization for some assistance to another unit several hours south of us. The half of us that weren't going to be part of the detail (luck us, it was a super-sucky one) were tasked ot ride in the convoy as shotguns and also to move some of the larger equipment (fuel trucks, 5 tons, Deuce and halfs... that sort of thing.) When we delivered the equpiment we were all trucked back in a troop carrier 5 ton. Anyway, we were all to report to the unit at 0600 on a Saturday morning. Thursday night before we did a ruck march and some land nav and winter training on a rural part of the base, set up our equipment, dug hasty scrapes and bedded down for a couple of hours. Next morning (Friday) we tore down, rucked back and prepped all the stuff for the Saturday convoy South down the interstate.

So, I drag my dirty cold behind to my apartment about 1700 or so Friday evening. I proceed to flop down in tshirt, boots, and BDU trousers on my air mattress (I had just arrived at that duty station and TMO hadn't boated my junk from Germany just yet.) Anyway, I'm out within minutes with my little buddy Ringo (a tabby cat) bunked up with me. The next thing I remember I open my eyes and it's just light outside. I look over at my digital alarm clock on the floor and see 7:15. "Oh man, I'm TOAST!"

I jump up and scare poor Ringo half to death. I can still see him, fur on end, wide eyed in the corner of the apartment. I'm in a panic and running around accomplishing nothing but geeking out. I grab the phone and give my Staff Sgt. a call. No answer. I call my Tech Sgt. Again no answer. I'm now dialing the number for the dreaded Master Sgt. when it hits me. The "just light" outside isn't early morning. It's late evening. It's still Friday evening. My NCOs aren't answering because they're not home. I walk over to Ringo, scoop him and my stomach from the floor and go back to bed.

[Rogerson785]

Ah, the life of a soldier and future NCO, I swear I should write a book. I have so many stories of reporting to PT drunk, late to work etc and many other stories that normal civilians would never understand but might find humorous.

[Tattoo Bradley]

Actually I just remembered another one. This one has to do with a time change for that matter.

I was in Germany and an E-2. I'd been there a few months, couldn't have been many. Well, I'd learned quickly that I could legally drink at the ripe age of 18 there. And boy did I ever. BOY did I ever. Lot of what happened lead me to where I am today as far as being straight edge, but I digress.

On with the funny story.

In my unit (a maintenance unit) we pulled weekend duty to the tune of every weekend for a month, about three months out of the year. You had one guy on day shift 0700-1900 and one guy on night shift 1900-0700. (Come to think of it, I schedule my guys in the laboratory this way now. LOL.) This particular month of weekend duty I was working the day shift, and an E-4 was pulling up the night shift.

One Saturday I get out of there about 1915 or so and head back to the barracks ready for some AFN on the tube, or maybe read on my book, and then some Zs. That was the LAST thing that was happening that night. I'm laying in my drawers in bed, just turning on the TV when comes the knock, knock, knocking on my door. I crack the door and am greeted to a familiar face: another E-2 from the unit and my best bud there. He's not alone. He has with him 20 friends of the German bottled sort. "NO! NO F#*#$ING WAY MAN! NOT TONIGHT! I've got 'the duty!' " He laughs and gives his usual reply, in the all too comforting Texas drawl of his "It'll be alright, just a few..."

Why? WHY?? Why did I not shut the door in his face and go to bed?

We tour through the rack of beer VERY quickly and the remainder of a rack of Guiness in my fridge. We weren't done even then. We ended up with my bottle of 18 year old Single Malt and two glasses in front of us. After a couple of those, I happened to look over at the clock and it's 0430! I panic, and dive into bed. I tell him to drink whatever he wants but to be quiet. He's laughing his butt off and leaves after he finishes his drink.

I awoke the next morning at 0800 to my phone ringing. It's the E-4 working the night shift. "Hey Henderson! You coming to work today? You're an hour late!" "Did you forget to set your clock ahead? I told you not to forget!" he exhaults. "Uh, yeah, the time change. i'm really really sorry man. I just woke up. I'll be right there." He was totally calm and pretty good about the whole thing.

I drove straight to the shopette and grabbed a half gallon of orange juice and a bottle of ibuprofen. Man, I was in NO shape to drive either. I was no where near hung over. I was still as drunk as ever. When I show up at the shop, he's at the far end of the maintenance bay. Within seconds of my walking in he yells across "WHOOOO! You go drinking with Warren last night or something?!?" (Warren and I were notorious for our drinking stunts.) "Uh, yeah, that obvious huh? He made me man...I ... I'm sorry". He's howling with laughter at this point . "No problem, you just owe me one next time we get the duty." he says. "No problem man, you're awesome!" I cry. He then reminds me the flight line is all quiet due to German laws, until noon and advises me to go upstairs and sleep off the Whisky while I can. I tell you what, that three and a half hours of sleep, plus OJ and Bayer, did more for me than any therapy could have. I actually had a spring in my step the rest of the day. lol.

[davedove]

I forgot the time change one year. Fortunately I didn't do anything that Sunday except watch TV. I must have been really dense that day, because it wasn't until mid-afternoon that I finally realized why all the shows were on an hour earlier.

[McClef]

You guys are early - over here we change them two weeks later.

[starbkjrus]

You guys are early - over here we change them two weeks later.

This is the first year we've changed this early. I'm still not clear why congress passed the changes. I'm sure in the interest of lining someone's pocket.

[Alaskan Kilted Guy]

Wow, the military stories bring back memories......

[RCallan]

I'm not in the military, but I can recall working on a show where we set up to film the Space Shuttle rolling out to the launch pad. It was in the late summer/fall time...and they like to roll out very early to avoid the Florida thunderstorms. So it's suppose to roll out at something like 4:30 AM from the VAB and travel the slow crawl to the pad. The film crew and I had been working on another part of the JFK Space Center, and took a much needed break after filming for some food and drinks. Ended up drinking too much..and due to lack of sleep, just slept in my car.

I woke up around 5:20AM and FREAKED OUT! "I'm going to miss the roll out!"
Raced my car up to the VAB....changing clothes as I drove...made it there in 15 mins...thinking ...I'm screwed!

Security guard..."hey...what's the hurry..."
"I'm late..and we need to film the Shuttle Roll Out....RIGHT NOW!!!!"

"Ah...time change...rolls out in about an hour....go back to sleep!"

Egg on my face....but we got the shot.