LIFE: An Everyday Adventure

When the alarm clock shrieks at 8: 17 a.m., you jump a good three feet straight up, which is a tough trick to pull off from a supine position. You land with a jolt, thinking vile thoughts in the clock's general direction. It should have rung much earlier in order to give you time to catch a 6 a.m. plane. You needed to make that plane to reach a family reunion on

time.

As it is, you're likely to be on the receiving end of some cluck-clucks from your elderly relatives for being two hours late. The most extreme punctuality lecture will most likely be delivered by Aunt Gertrude, an elderly maiden aunt who used to teach grammar school and struck fear in the hearts of more than two generations of 4th-graders. If you don't make that next plane and show up at all, you'll get the silent treatment for years to come (and maybe even be written out of a few wills).

You get out of bed, but, unfortunately, after that feat nothing seems to go right. Maybe it was that company party you attended last night - the last thing you remember is a coworker who kept filling your glass from the punch bowl. And no telling what was in that punch. You put your head in your hands and groan as your temples begin to pound on cue.

Coffee, that's what you need. You pad into the kitchen and set up the Mr. Coffee. When you turn on the tap, nothing but icky brown goo oozes out. Then you remember the note saying the water company would turn off the water in your whole block to repair the main. You remember also that you forgot to fill up some jugs of water in reserve, as recommended in the note.

Who says that modern life is not challenging? That there are no quests left to complete? You have several. Your ultimate goal, of course, is to catch a plane and make it to the family reunion as soon as possible. The first in your series of quests is to make some coffee. For without coffee, your aching head might not quit throbbing enough to let you remember where you left such necessary items of travel as money, tickets, etc.

Also, you can't leave home without completing some of life's everyday, but important, tasks. For instance, you seem to remember that you have a pet. Ah, yes, that cat over there sunning himself. You11 have to do something about him. And if you can, you must find a polite way of escaping the clutches of nosy neighbors who talk, talk, talk - and never seem to take hints. On top of that, you11 have to put the mail out and get dressed (but not in that order).

Good luck! And don't keep Aunt Gertrude waiting.