Wake up. Late. Prick finger, blood test. Insulin shot. Eat fast. Cheerios. Fake Cheerios, actually. Needs sugar. Fake sugar, actually. Equal. Fake Equal, actually. Nutrataste. Brush teeth. Put in contacts. Moving fast. Extra time. Do 100 sit-ups. Curse sit-ups. Curse soreness. Curse getting up. Shower. Gel. Swish with hands, pffft, hair's done. Get dressed. Go to work. Hate work. Damn work.
Eight flights of stairs. Almost trip. Goddamn it. Muggy outside. 85 degrees. Ugh. Car is muggier. Uggggh. Curse stick shift. Curse slow drivers. Curse lights not changing. Curse construction. Still on time. Work door locked. Unlock. Walk through basement. Walk up stairs. Not many. Still hate stairs. Smile at co-workers. Smile at boss. Sit in chair. Frown.
Check e-mail. Sigh. Look out window. Check messageboard. New posts. Reply sarcastically. More websites. Play mp3. Softly, don't bother boss. Check e-mail. Sigh. Look out window. Write questions. Call interviewee. Apathetic secretary. Not there. Back late afternoon. Goddamn it. Check e-mail. Sigh. Look out window. Boss passes. Smiiiiile at boss. No return smile. Didn't see me? Meh. Bah. Feh. Poo.
Get city council agenda. Get notes. Stories? Transit application. Boring. Planning commission. Boring. Supervisor review. Boring. Event permit. Boring. Event permit. Boring. Event permit. Boring. Warranty deeds. No action taken. Intent to seek annexation. No action taken. MPCA effluent limits. No action taken. Sigh. Open desk drawer. Look at pens. Blue pens. Pretty. Lean back in chair, rub face with hands.
Phone call. For me. Sesquicentennial in '07. No events planned. No details planned. Nothing planned. Wants story written anyway. What the hell? Write 400 words. Worthless. Spellcheck. Fix. Print. Turn in. Check e-mail. Sigh. Look out window.
Lunch? YES. Drive home. Dead iPod. Bad radio stations. Booo. Home! Slow elevator. Very slow. Unlock door. Prick finger, blood test. Insulin shot. Eat. Peanut butter and butter. Four bread slices left. Two are crusts. Ugh. New can of pop. Crack open. Swig. Ahhh. Leave. Eight flights of stairs. Muggier outside. 92 degrees. Ugh. Get in car. Blast radio. Roll down windows. Ignore jerks. Wheee. Work door locked. Goddamn it. Unlock. Deadbolt locked. Goddamn it. Unlock. Back to desk. Back to work. Hate work. Damn work.
Layout pages? Yes. Story won't fit. Ad sizes wrong. Curse. Fix. Done? Print. Lousy Quark. Fix. Print. Done? Goddamn Quark. Fix. Print. Done? Lousy goddamn Quark. Fix. Print. Done? YES. Repeat. Ad nauseam. Bathroom. Cold water on face. Ahhh. More layout. Stick printouts to cardboard. Melted wax on hands. Ow. Wash hands. Wax still there. Grrr.
Work is done. Drive home. Elevator slow. Unlock door. Turn on air. Give up. Sit in faux leather chair. Stare at wall. 10 minutes. Turn on TV. FOX? Everybody Loves Raymond. Crap. NBC? News. CBS? News. ABC? News. PBS? News. UPN? The Parkers. Crap. Simpsons? No. Seinfeld? No. Sigh. Turn off TV. Stare at wall. 10 minutes. New can of pop. Crack open. Swig. No effect.
Beer? No. Money for beer? No. Trying to save. Dusty liquor bottles under sink? Risky. No. Dinnertime. Prick finger, blood test. Insulin shot. Cheesy hot dogs in microwave. Yaaay. Small hot dogs. Meh. Watch DVD. Seen before. Boring. Get laptop. Write column. Upload column. Adjust website. Adjust RSS. Done. 9pm? Seinfeld. Yaaay. Seen before. Don't care. Watch anyway.
Yawn. Stretch. Prick finger, blood test. Insulin shot. Brush teeth. Wash face. Oxy. Moisturize. Not just for girls! Q-tip. Aspirin. Climb into bed. Read book. 11pm? Turn off light. Bedtime. Can't sleep. Try to sleep. Can't. Mind too busy. Try to clear mind. Can't. Eventually tire. 1am. Drift off. Sleep.
