Ok ... so my day's pretty crappy so far. How's your's going? Right now I'm at Keri's apartment. She and Norm left a while ago to go get something for us to eat. I'm listening to her Matchbox 20 CD, sipping apple juice from a big glass with tiny gold beads or something scattered on the outside. Sipping the apple juice and trying not to explode.

My alarm went off at 8:30. With my long-standing tradition with alarms, I turned it off, rolled over and slept for at least 10 minutes longer. I checked my email and turned up the volume on my laptop which was still playing songs on my bummed playlist. Big Runga's 'All Fall Down' played as I threw the covers off and sat on the edge of my bed. I threw clothes out of my closet and settled on a plum-colored baseball tee with dark purplish blue sleeves and GAP jeans. I showered and brushed my teeth. Got dressed, turned my laptop off and packed my back. I grabbed two blueberry Nutri-grain bars and left.

Outside felt like a holiday. I mean ... it is and it really felt that way. It was probably a little after 9 by now and I stood on the corner waiting for the bus. It took forever to get there. Just as we were pulling up outside Port Authority ... I realized 'I ... don't ... have .. my cell phone!!' Normally not a big deal for me ... but ... but last night I gave the number to this guy, Jim, I sorta like. He's a cool guy. He might be in the city today and he suggested we hang out. I told him I wasn't sure when I'd be free but he could call me and we'd try and meet up. So ... there goes the chance of that happening.

Of course ... because I have shitty luck, he'll call since I don't have the phone on me. If I had it on me ... the chances of him calling would be so much less.

So I walk into Port Authority, already feeling the dark cloud hovering over me. The Escalator's out ... so I had to take the stairs. Not a big deal but ... little things like that add up and piece my day together. They're all connected. Leaving my cell phone at home ... and now the escalator.

I get to the Metrocard vending machine. It spat my money back out the first time. The little things. Connected. No biggie. I get to Grand Central and get pawed at by some woman who wasn't holding on to anything when the train stopped. Always fun. So I walk against the grain to get upstairs to take the 6 to 77th.

Five minutes.

Ten minutes.

No 6 train. It's now like 10 minutes to 10 so of course ... I'm late. Finally the train came. I got on.

"Stand clear of the closing doors"

The didn't. They didn't close. Two minutes later and ... nothing.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we're having a problem with the doors. We're getting someone to investigate."

Just what I needed. About five good minutes. That dark cloud I mentioned earlier? Now swirling above my head. Raining down on me. Thunder and lightning. I stood there on the train getting drenched while this kid I was looking at played with his trading cards. While the woman next to him read her Bible.

Y'know, you can read that all you like. Unless you really try to be a good person, you're not getting in.

They fixed the problem and I got to 77th. I didn't even want to look at my watch. I no longer wear it on my wrist. I leave it in my bag. I got out of the subway and called Norm.

"Where are you?"

"77th and Lex," I sighed. Trying to dry my face from the raining cloud hovering over me. My new pet.

"Wow ... and it's ten," I could hear her smiling. "Could you walk over 79th and 2nd?"

"... K." I hung up.

I like walking on the Upper Eastside. No tourists. As I walked, I caught my reflection in doors and windows. 'Wow ... I really have no ass. I mean ... none. I need to eat more. No ass ... hmmm .... and no life.'

I got to the corner and stood there a while. I didn't know if Norm was driving ... walking ... parasailing ... I dunno. I stood there until I saw Keri waving to me from across the street. We walked to her building. Quick stop to check on her laundry and came upstairs. Norm arrived soon after.

I started work on stuff I had to do.

"Have you seen my wallet?" Keri asked. "I can't find it."

She looked pretty much all over the apartment. Panic. Then a little screaming. Then more panic. And just when she was on the phone with American Express ... she checked her room one last time and the wallet was bulging from under the covers (she made her bed when we got up from the laundry room).

"Uh ... nevermind. I found it. Thanks." She hung up.