sub my_sleep { my $sleep_time = (shift or 1); # total time to sleep my $sleep_interval = (shift or 10); # wake up at least this often my $start = time; $stop_time = $start + $sleep_time; while (time < $stop_time) { sleep $sleep_time; # handle wake up tasks } my $elapsed = time - $start; return $elapsed; # total time actually slept (plus shipping and handling) }