Wednesday 30 July 2003

Pic of the day: E-mail before clothes. Such is my day. Screenshot from The Sims.

Diary

I apologize for the poor quality of the last couple entries, especially the latest gray one. I felt that they had potential, and even started off well enough. But in the end I kinda ran out of brain. Whatever I tried to say, was lost. And so I quickly padded out with platitudes and uploaded the corpse. Trust me, it feels every bit as bad as it looks. I felt like George W. Bush without a manuscript. I knew I had something to say, but I had no idea how and could only vaguely remember what. I guess this must be how non-geniuses feel every day. Poor bastards. And poor me, now. I could barely hold back my tears as I uploaded the stillborn shell of a perfectly good essay.

The oppressive heat has faded for now, but I'm so tired. Even though I sleep as much as usual, I am more tired than before. Today I felt completely like I had a fever: I was so weak I could barely walk, my eyesight was unfocused, my balance unsteady. I waited for it to pass, but the hours went by. I never went to work. Eventually I went to bed. The touch of my pillow was a pleasure verging on ecstasy, like a cup of cold water after a too long trek in the sun. I just lost myself in the feeling, long yawns and stretches that ran all the way to my feet. I let myself slide down into the shadows of sleep as if into a luxurious bath. When I emerged, I felt much better, but it was also too late in the day.

***

For your enjoyment, here is how a normal workday proceeds: I get up and take a long shower with gradually colder water. (A bit of useful information for my American readers: Here in Norway we don't have a tradition for self-gratification in the shower, so that's not what I mean by "long shower". It's just a fact, not an euphemism.) After the shower I dry myself off and sit down naked in front of my computer. (That's only in the summer, obviously.)

I first read my mail and my friends' LiveJournals. Cassie reads the news and Nova Notes, for me to enjoy during the bus ride. I delete the spam. I realize that I'm too late to catch the bus, especially since I'm naked and unshaven and hungry, and decide to take the next one. I reply to a LiveJournal entry or two, perhaps a mail if I was lucky enough to get some non-spam. I look up something interesting on the Net. I realize that it's only five minutes till I must run for the bus. I am still naked, unshaven, and even more hungry than half an hour ago. I hurry to shave and get dressed. My bowels suddenly start to move vigorously and I spend the next 10-15 minutes on the potty, missing the bus and the deadline for work. Eventually I return to the computer. I consider staying at home playing Dark Age of Camelot instead. I decide, regretfully, to go to work anyway. I while away the remaining minutes in front of the computer, most likely forgetting to eat. I suddenly have to hurry to catch the bus, an hour and a half later than what I planned for - just like yesterday and the day before.

The nearest bus stop is 12 minutes away, if I walk briskly. During this walk I get lots of ideas, both for fiction and journal entries. (I try to keep the two apart.)

On the bus to work it is too bright to read. Instead I plan my next journal entry in great detail. Shortly before we arrive in the city, I fall asleep. Somehow I manage to wake up and get off. I am amazed by the number of sexy women just walking around in the city. I remind myself that I'm a Christian and besides they are probably all married except those that are too young anyway. I walk to our workplace, another ten minutes. I walk the stairs rather than riding the elevator. Then work begins, which I am not allowed to write about.

Toward the end of the workday I fall asleep. I wake up and read a bit of an interesting e-book (presently The Tide of Victory by Eric Flint and David Drake). When fully awake again, I work some more. After closing hours I take a look at the national business newspaper. After everyone else has left, I turn off all the lights and go home. I have to hurry to buy food (mostly yogurt) before I catch the bus home. On the bus, I fall asleep, and wake up just before the last stop. Luckily, the last stop is where I should get off anyway.

When I get home, I decide to write my journal entry early, while I still have the energy. I just need to play a little DAoC first before it gets too crowded. (My favorite spot is Darkness Falls. Problem is, this is the favorite spot of about 30% of the server's population, so I better grab it before the Americans log on.) I play for a couple hours. The place grows more and more crowded. I get fed up and log off.

I read LiveJournals and mail again. I decide to write up my journal entry. Hmm, the computer is kinda sluggish, isn't it? Oh, there's less than 5% hard disk space left! Must be all the fansubbed anime I have downloaded. I better burn some of them to a DVD. But it would be a shame to not view them first. I can plan the entry further in my head while I watch.

Wow, catgirls sure are cute! And teen heroes in love! Wonder if they will finally confess their love for each other in this episode? Oh, finally they are alone together! It's now or never! Confess, confess! "Anou ... watashi ..." Look! It's a spaceship, or a witch, or a demon, or a teacher! Duty calls for our heroes, the magic moment is over, with no confession of love this time either. But there will surely be new magic moments next week! Mata ne, minna! Be sure to watch the next episode of Magical Catgirl Nurse Nyo-Nyo! (Not a real anime name, just a stereotypical one.)

That blinking icon shows that there are new LiveJournals to read. And perhaps I should check my mail while I format a new DVD for writing. But now I really need a picture to illustrate my journal entry. I know! I'll set up the Sims in a suitable situation. I just have to play for a while to get them into the right position ... OK, I have the right sims in the right place, but they are lonely and unhappy. I better let them kiss and make up first. But now I'm so tired I can barely keep my eyes up. Since when is it past midnight already? And my journal is only half finished! I have to think ... think ... think! I just have to finish this somehow and upload it before I fall asleep in my chair.

Tomorrow will be different ... Tomorrow...