It does take me a "while". I am one of those crazy people who, instead of relying on their stupid superfluous cell phones, still wear wrist watches, and an analog one at that.
Which has not always been true, and that's the problem. When I was a teenager, my wrist watch was a digital one (with neon green highlights, no less; 90's FTW). So during the best time to get used to the damn hands, I just read 4 numbers (we don't use am/pm).
So yeah, now I look big hand, make mental note, look small hand, make mental note, then form the time-telling phrase ("quarter to two") from those two thoughts.
...
maybe I should just go with my cell phone after all...