A nebish tale: For as long as I can remember, I've been enamored of things time-related. My best Christmas present was received from my father when I was seven years old. It was a Timex watch. I don't know if it was intuition or restitution on my parents' part but I credit that gift with making me an efficiency addict - you know the kind of person who doesn't cross a room without three things in her hands and four things to do when she gets to the other side. Well, I guess it's kind of understandable since my mom left me in Jamaica when I was 18 months old and I waited and waited till she returned only to be taken to meet her in JFK airport the following year. Anyway, making the best use of my time became my quest and Stephen Covey tapped that vein in his now classic, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. From watches I graduated to planners and P.D.A.s. I began attending workshops on the theme and now use those seven habits as the community guidelines for the college classes I teach. Instead of someone with issues, he put mine to work and I am now a geek with portfolio helping others to move from theory to practice one hour/goal/day at a time. Mission accomplished. PS This semester's students will be reading the 8th Habit. Surprised?