The nice thing about springing forward, if you're a morning person and ready for it, is that the first morning or two you have a remarkably clear field for exercising. Sunday, for example, I had the swim lane to myself the whole time (I nearly had the whole POOL to myself), and today's aerobics class was about half as populated as usual (a third at start time). Historically, I've hated springing forward as much as anyone else, but this year I planned for it by pushing my alarm earlier, step by step, over the previous week. I feel so organized (a hitherto foreign sensation). I think this exercising thing -- which I've stuck to since January, by the way -- is paying off.

I hear it's snowing in Boston today, or will be. On a not entirely unrelated note, I love California.

copyright 2003 carrie lynn king.