8:30 – Arrive.
8:33 – Stare longingly at tin of Italian Cappuccino mix on desk. Have resolved to give up coffee for Lent.
8:36 – Wonder if, rather, should give up Starbucks for Lent and still be able to drink cappuccino from mix on desk.
8:39 – Decide to stick with giving up coffee, as have planned Starbucks run for Thursday, and can always order tea at Starbucks.
9:25 – Make travel arrangements for boss’s trip to Houston. He has requested the Marriott on Westheimer, the JW Marriott, which is sold out. Make reservation at the Marriott West Loop. Feel physical ache remembering delivering media packets to opposing team hotels. Often the Galleria Marriotts. Miss Houston and certain person there who has since moved.
9:32 – Meeting. Invite was sent yesterday for 30-minute meeting titled “Three Slides.” Spend first 20 minutes of meeting trying to figure out what in the world meeting is about. Finally figure it out in time to nod agreement, then meeting is over.
10:20 – Try to give insurance information to automated response line; outcome uncertain. Successfully sign up for online service and discover overdue balance listed on account, despite the fact that this was paid IN NOVEMBER.
10:22 – Call customer service at medical center. On hold for 20 minutes. Helpful customer service rep says, “Oh, yes, we show a zero balance. But sometimes it takes a few days for it to show up.” Sure, a few like 90.
11:03 – Drive co-worker #1, who lacks transportation, to local restaurant to pick up catering order for lunch meeting.
11:23 – Notice local restaurant has a coffee bar.
11:24 – Note that coffee bar has chai tea latte. Consider ordering it. Co-worker #1 says to charge it on company card.
11:25 – Saved by the arrival of the catering order. Nice employee at local restaurant carries it to car; no time for coffee. Or tea.
11:56 – Get “pre-meeting leftovers” from catering order. Woo! Free lunch! Debate merits of chocolate cookie or chocolate chip cookie. Decide on chocolate chip.
11:58 – Remember that homemade chocolate chip cookies are at … home already. Trade with co-worker #2 for chocolate cookie.
12:15 – While eating lunch, Google current and former Astros employees. Strike out. Why must they have such common names?
1:20 – Copier is not working. Will make copies, but they are all crooked. Commiserate with co-worker #3 who has had previous success sweet-talking copier.
1:26 – Co-worker #3 asks opinion on curtain panels from IKEA. Co-worker #4 comes up and, as UNC alums, we discuss the upcoming game against the evil empire.
1:45-4:45 – Work.
4:45 – Realize have not put up annual link to Ian Williams’ Insiders Guide to Hating Dook, perhaps best work of non-fiction ever written. Rectify situation. Also send link to co-worker #2, who did not attend North Carolina but nonetheless understands what it is like to hate the evil empire.
5:10 – Leave.
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Sure, the game sucked last night, but it’s not like we didn’t all see it coming. As soon as I heard the words “Ty Lawson” and “high ankle sprain” in the same sentence, I knew the outcome of this game. And I heard Eric Montross say this morning that it’s not like having Ty Lawson would have won the Tar Heels the game, but I’m not so sure I believe him. Look, I’ve never been a big fan of Lawson’s; as far as North Carolina point guards go, I liked King Rice better, but the dude is GOOD. And the sports radio guys have been trying to tell me that Quentin Thomas would be the starting point guard on almost any other team in the country, and I just don’t buy it. He’s not even #2 if Bobby Frasor’s healthy. Anyway, who knows what would have happened had Lawson played, but it would have been a different ballgame.
