I’m a little embarrassed to admit this, but I fell asleep last night well before ten o’clock. I was watching another episode of Fringe — which doesn’t speak well for the show’s ability to hold my interest, though I do seem to keep watching — and the next thing I knew, it was past two in the morning. I thought briefly about posting an update here anyway, but I opted instead for brushing my teeth, putting on pajamas, and going back to bed.
All day long yesterday, I felt like I was on a relaxed Friday schedule while everybody around me was still in middle-of-the-week, knee-deep-in-Thursday mode. That might have something to do with its still being Thursday, but I knew I would be taking today off as the start of a three-day weekend, so I wasn’t about to let a little thing like reality stand in my way.
Though stand in my way it did, and for some very long hours. It was capped by all sorts of confusion and delays on the railroad coming home. I got to Penn Station, where I was directed to a different track than usual, and then I panicked slightly when the doors closed several minutes before they were supposed to and I thought, “uh oh, maybe I’m on the wrong train.” It didn’t help that you couldn’t understand the conductor’s announcements at all over the train’s PA system, but by time we reached Queens, it was all but certain the train wasn’t going where I wanted to go — either because we’d been sent to the wrong track originally, or because they’d decided to change the plan, unannounced, en route. Whatever the problem — and by then they were calling it “signal failure” — I got off in Jamaica, where after a lot more confusion I managed to get on a train that was stopping at my station. In the end, I wasn’t home a lot later than usual, but I was especially glad I wouldn’t have to get on the train again the next day.
And I didn’t. I spent today not doing a whole lot, though I did mail out most of the current issue of Kaleidotrope — international contributors and subscribers tomorrow — and buy a few new pairs of shoes. My current dress shoes, and even my sneakers, are suddenly falling apart, so it was time to replace them. They gave me a coupon for $10 off (a $50 purchase), which would be great if it wasn’t valid only between May 2 and 22. That’s a pretty narrow window, and there’s almost no chance I’m going to need another pair of shoes any time within it. Or at least I hope not.
Beyond that, I watched a little of The Mighty Boosh (season 3) and finished re-watching season 1 of Slings & Arrows. I’d recommend both shows, though Boosh is definitely the weirder of the two. (And a ghost is a main character in Slings.)
According to my Forgotten English calendar, today is the feast day of St. Benedict Labre, the patron saint of vagabonds. Which isn’t exactly relevant, but a fun historical fact nonetheless.
Vagabonds, huh?
I suppose you could do with the coupon what I do with those kinds of coupons…buy another pair of the same style of shoes and stash ’em for use later.
That’s why I have several pairs of Keds in my closet, actually.
It’s not a perfect strategy…
it was all but certain the train wasn’t going where I wanted to go
It certainly must have been, if you ended up in Jamaica. 🙂
The neighborhood in Queens, not the island nation.