“OK, I’ll tell her.”

I hung up the phone and took another sip of coffee, trying to cut through the Saturday morning cobwebs.

“They want you to be at school at 9 o’clock,” I told Bonnie, as Julie hurriedly braided her sister’s hair.

For some reason, Bonnie’s alarm clock didn’t go off. She was running late for a morning team meeting before a Lawrence High School volleyball tourney.

Oddly, my internal body clock also was on the blink and I had overslept. Feeling guilty, I decided to see what new technology was out there to help us wake up on time.

Good day, sunshine

Most alarm clocks rely on a piercing sound to jolt us out of slumber. But some clock makers are using light and scent to help arouse sleepers.

Remington has created “Nature’s Clock,” which is shaped a little like a Mayan temple pyramid.

Thirty minutes before alarm time, it starts to glow softly. Its light gradually increases to simulate a sunrise.

Fifteen minutes before alarm time, it emits sounds of morning birds or ocean waves. It also stimulates your sense of smell, with aromas that include something called “Energy” and another called “Morning Cafe.” Finally, if you’re not up yet, a buzzer sounds.

After all that, it still has a snooze bar. You can also reverse the process, helping to lull you to sleep. The cost was about $75. (www.remington-products.com/usa/products/wellness/nc1000.html)

Pet sounds

If wacky is more your style, you might consider the WakeYoo, a little gadget that’s a cross between a clock, a tape recorder and an annoying little brother.

You record your own wake-up noise  up to 20 seconds worth  set the timer and then wake up to the recording. It also has a snooze alarm setting.

Can’t think of anything to record? Go to the WakeYoo Web site (www.wakeyoo.com/) and play one of 365 sounds into the recorder, including animal sounds and machine noises.

Alarms include a construction jack hammer, a car alarm, a dentist drilling teeth, a bugle and an air horn. My favorite was “crying baby.” From personal experience, I’ve found that’s one sound almost impossible to ignore.

Shake it up

If soft light, aromas or clattering sounds don’t do the trick, you might consider a clock that will shake you from slumber.

One is the “Shake Awake” vibrating alarm clock which costs about $30.

It not only helps those who are hard of hearing, but it’s good for roommates who have to get up at different times. It slips under your pillow and silently vibrates at alarm time.

Another is the Sonic Boom Clock (about $50 at www.elderestore.com /Store/p1129.html). It’s got it all  flashing lights, variable sounds and a bed shaker.

Mom alarm

In my dream, the alien was beeping his flashing ray gun at me. Then I reached out blindly toward a piercing ringing sound and picked up the receiver.

“Hi honey. This is your wake-up call.”

It was oh-dark-30 on Saturday.

The bus would leave school at 6:45 a.m. for another volleyball tournament. And my wife  who had to be away early on Saturday  was taking no chances her daughter would be late.

Technology is great, I thought, as I shut off the beeping alarm. But it’s also good to have backup.